Tent sauna with stove for tourism: do-it-yourself portable sauna

Mobile baths are a useful device known since ancient times. There is nothing better after a tiring day full of impressions than the opportunity to steam in a forest clearing or a picturesque lakeside. This is good for health, relaxing, and well recuperates. A sauna tent with a stove for tourism is a simple way to relax after a hard day. It is not surprising that many people take with them not only essentials, but also equipment that provides comfort. Portable saunas are good for hiking, for a summer cottage, and for traveling on wheels: steam, fold, put away.

How a sauna tent works, what to look for when buying and how to make a mobile sauna yourself, you will learn from the article.

What is a mobile sauna

Essentially, it’s just a set of a special tent and stove. When traveling, it replaces a stationary sauna. Sauna tents are used during hikes, fishing or hunting, in camping camps, at dachas and in sanatoriums.

Portable bathhouses have their advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:

Relatively compact - the kits fit into a backpack.
Quick assembly, if we talk about professional options.
Possibility to use them as regular travel equipment. Food is cooked on the stove, and the tent is suitable for spending the night.

Flaws:

The need to observe certain safety measures when using.
The covering material can take a long time to dry, which is not always convenient when hiking.
The price of professional products is quite high - approximately 20 thousand rubles for a tent alone, plus the cost of a stove.

Features of visiting hiking steam rooms

We looked at how to make a sauna while camping, but we should note the basic rules that should be followed to ensure safety and achieve the best effect:

Until the firewood burns out, one of the walls or the ceiling should be left open to prevent the accumulation of smoke and carbon monoxide.
When the stones are hot enough, a container of water is placed on them, which will be used to water the heater.
After the wood burns out, all the heat is carefully removed, after which the tent is completely closed.
It is reasonable to additionally protect the walls around the heater with thick fabric or a screen made of wooden poles.
You should ensure that the canopy is securely fastened; the less heat loss, the longer the good temperature in the bath will remain.
The stones are watered, causing steam to be released. Cooling down takes one and a half to two hours, this time is enough for an average tourist group to take a steam bath.
You should not build a structure that is too large for several people; the larger the frame, the greater the heat loss.

Small sauna for two or three people

What types of camping baths are there?

There are options on wheels, professional tent baths, as well as a variety of homemade products.

Autobahns are not very popular among hikers. Such designs are convenient, but they cannot be ordered in all regions.

Another thing is portable bathhouses, tents with stoves. The frames for them are made from special lightweight alloys; high quality awning ensures minimal heat loss. Assembly and packaging options are constantly being improved.

The most famous manufacturers in the segment are Nova Tour, Teplodar and Mobiba.

Nova Tour produces wear-resistant tents made of polyester with the addition of nylon; The designs provide small windows for lighting and ventilation. Previously, the company sold only models without a frame - tourists had to either buy it separately or assemble it themselves from scrap materials. A frame version is currently on sale. The price for a tent is about 7,000 rubles.
Teplodar sells Altai stoves packaged in special travel bags. The chimney in them is disassembled and placed in the firebox; The legs fold down and lock securely to prevent them from tipping over. The average price of a stove is 13-15 thousand rubles.
Mobiba is a well-known brand that offers tourists bath tents of completely different design, price and volume. The company's catalog includes both budget and expensive camping tents; for hiking, backpack-type tourist saunas costing from 17 thousand rubles are suitable; they weigh about 7-10 kg. Large options for a summer residence, equipped with a multi-segment frame, are not cheap, from 50 to 100 thousand rubles.

DIY camp sauna, drawings with dimensions

The entrance to the bathhouse is closed with a zipper sewn into the center of the front wall of the structure. A cool ventilation window can be created to breathe in fresh air while your body soaks up the humid heat.

The front wall is attached to the end parts of the tent with Velcro so that it can be folded back and turn the sauna into an awning with a wind wall.

We have already used this tented sauna on several hikes, as well as on winter fishing (convenient for two holes). Its total weight is 3 kg, weight without arches is 1.5 kg.

Pros of a camp sauna that I made with my own hands

This is a ready-made bathhouse; if you are staying for more than one day and you want to repeat the cleaning, then you don’t need to remove it, just fold back the wall. And you can safely heat the stove again.
Very ergonomic. The half-barrel or hangar design provides a lot of space inside.
Convenient when cooking on a burner in the rain.
Suitable for use at festivals, gatherings, and as a public warehouse.

Disadvantages of the design of my homemade product

The bathhouse cannot stand on its own; it is installed using two guys. If it were of a “dome” design, then it would be more convenient to install it - I put it already assembled on a hot stove, and it stands on its own.
As an awning it has a large sail area. It’s good in calm weather, but in windy conditions you have to secure it with a lot of additional guy ropes so that it doesn’t collapse.

I hope that I answered the question “How to make a camp sauna with your own hands” as fully as possible. I wish all readers of our site interesting hikes and light steam.

What to look for when buying

To ensure that a bathhouse does not “let you down” on a camping trip, you should choose it carefully. Proceed according to the recommendations below.

Bake

Do not confuse it with a regular tourist one, you need to take a special one. A steam room stove produces maximum heat in a short period of time, while conventional appliances, on the contrary, must maintain a comfortable temperature for as long as possible.

There are two types of sauna stoves:

With built-in steam generator. This one works like a samovar - water constantly boils in the container, saturating the space with steam. The humidity rises very high.
Kamenka. Stone masonry is laid in it; it becomes heated from the heat, water or a flavored infusion is poured on top. The good thing about this method is that you can regulate the humidity level yourself; but in the end the steam will be much less than from a steam generator.

Which option to choose is a matter of taste; both have their supporters.

What else should you pay attention to? On the quality of the material. Almost all mobile ovens are made of stainless steel. But steel comes in different grades: AISI 430, 321, 304.

All brands are considered heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant, but they differ in composition.

AISI 430 alloy contains very little nickel; When heated strongly, such a metal loses the properties of stainless steel and begins to behave like ordinary black steel. Unfortunately, most budget models use it because of the low price; this greatly shortens the service life.

Also, when purchasing, do not forget to find out:

Chimney diameter. Check that it fits your awning.
Weight. For a hiking trip, you will need a model no heavier than 10-15 kg.
Availability of a spark arrester. This is a mandatory element to ensure your safety.
Ease of assembly. Do I need to screw the legs, doors, how long will it take?

One of the best stoves for mobile baths is the Altai model. It provides the desired temperature, is made of high-quality steel, fits in a bag and is convenient for transportation - you can take it on a road trip or on a hike. Also, “Bereg”, “Merida”, “Poshekhonka” stoves are suitable for traveling on foot.

Tent canopy material

The main difference between a bathhouse and a regular tourist one (except for the hole for the chimney) is the mandatory fire-resistant fabric. In addition, in order for the temperature inside to rise to the desired level, the awning must have waterproof and windproof properties. Oxford is considered the best material. Some combine it with nylon or polyester.

Nylon Oxford is stronger and resistant to chemicals.

Polyester has higher heat resistance.

Overall, both options are good.

Frame

There are two main options:

Collapsible aluminum tubes are lightweight and fireproof. An oxide film forms on the surface of aluminum, which prevents corrosion; You should not choose painted, shiny, attractive-looking tubes - these break quickly. A good tent skeleton is made from unpainted, stain-resistant aluminum; To assemble the frame, you will need gloves. The exception is anodized tubes. They look beautiful, do not get dirty, but are expensive, and have no advantages over unpainted aluminum.
Frameless designs. To install the canopy, the tourist will need to collect suitable poles in a wooded area. Do not use too dry ones: they are fragile and flammable.

Frameless sauna tent
Frames vary in volume. The diameter determines how difficult it will be for you to set up a tent: straightening a wide awning and pulling it over a skeleton alone is quite difficult.

The weight of the structure depends on the diameter of the aluminum tubes:

10 mm - the lightest, used in backpack-type baths. Optimal for hiking. The weight of such a tent does not exceed 8 kg.
13 mm - lightweight design. The weight of a tent for 3-4 people will be around 10-15 kg. Can be used on hikes.
16 mm - reinforced design with increased strength. Such a frame will not lose its shape even if it is knocked over by the wind. But it is heavy: a tent for 3-4 people weighs 30 kg or more. Suitable for a summer residence, for a beach holiday, for winter tourism on wheels.

It’s good if the frame design includes several arcs and the model has detachable internal partitions. The presence of a vestibule eliminates the need for tourists to change clothes in the car.

Another important parameter for convenience is transport dimensions. Pay attention to the dimensions of the equipment when folded. Many manufacturers sell portable tents already packaged in special backpacks/bags for comfortable transportation.

Frequently asked questions and answers to them

Users who are interested in the idea of organizing a camp sauna often have the same type of questions. If they are of interest to almost everyone, it would be advisable to answer them immediately and save users time searching for information.

How long does it take to heat up a medium sized heater?

The duration of heating depends on various factors - the size of the fire, the type of fuel, the configuration of the dome itself (or another type of heater). On average, it takes at least 3 hours, but if you use an oven, you can speed up the process by about a third.

Is it necessary to remove the fire from the dome, or can you let it burn out and put it out?

The presence of coals inside the dome is not important, but it is strongly recommended to remove them. There is always a risk of the presence of smoldering coals that produce carbon monoxide. Getting poisoned while traveling is an extremely undesirable and dangerous event, therefore, it is better to be on the safe side.

Where is the best place to install a camp sauna?

The best option is on the gently sloping shore of a lake or river, where you can cool off after the steam room and wash. It is recommended to first examine the bottom and make sure there are no sharp stones, holes, or a sharp increase in depth. However, you should not install a sauna in the lowlands - there are many mosquitoes there, turning pleasure into a serious test.

If I use plastic film, will it melt from the heat of the heater?

The heater should not be installed in close proximity to the fireplace. It is necessary to maintain at least a small gap - from 30 cm. If there is one, there is no need to fear for the integrity of the canvas.

Is it correct to light the fire first and lay down the stones, or vice versa?

It is difficult to lay a dome on a burning fire - it is easy to get burned, smoke and sparks get in the way. It's easier to first make a dome and then build a fire.

Homemade sauna tent

Professional options are very convenient, but the price is not suitable for everyone. You can make a sauna tent with your own hands, spending no more than a couple of hundred rubles. It is enough to have a piece of tarpaulin and tape with you - everything else will be found on the ground.

Covering material

Polyethylene film will do. Don’t take a construction one, a covering one for greenhouses is suitable - it does not release toxins when heated. The film is fixed to the skeleton of the tent, gluing the seams with tape. It is advisable to make a two-layer tent to reduce heat loss.

It’s even better to use a tarpaulin instead of film - it’s fireproof. You will need a single piece measuring 6 by 6 meters - enough for a bathhouse for four people.

Frame

In addition to poles (8 pieces with a diameter of 300-400 mm and a length of 1 meter), the skeleton can be made from aluminum posts (from under an old tourist or retail awning) or from polypropylene pipes. We connect it in the form of a cube and fasten it with tape. The ends of the poles will need to be wrapped with the same tape so that they do not damage the coating.

After the frame is assembled, we stretch the tarpaulin on top. We leave the edges to lie freely on the ground, press them down with turf or stones - this is necessary to reduce heat loss. We position the entrance towards the water so that you can immediately take a dip.

Floor

We line the bottom of the tent with spruce branches: spruce branches not only insulate the feet from the cold, but also scent the air in the steam room. You can sit directly on it, or you can use folding chairs.

Heating part

There are different “recipes” for making them - from gas cylinders, from copper wire, from barbecues. But the simplest option is a heater made of cobblestones lined with firewood.

The stones need to be flat, ten centimeters in diameter - large ones will not warm up quickly, small ones will cool down immediately. Layered rocks cannot be used - they explode when heated.

Before installing the sauna, firewood is collected. Dead wood with a diameter of 10-15 cm is suitable; it burns well. The stones are stacked on top of each other in a “well”, covered with dead wood on top and a fire is lit.

There are two ways to heat a camp sauna: “black” and “white”.

Firebox “on white”. The awning and fire are laid out separately from each other at a safe (but not too large) distance. A recess is dug under the awning. When the boulders warm up, they need to be carefully but quickly moved under the tent. To do this, you can use, for example, a sapper shovel or a spear - dig a groove to a recess under the awning and roll hot stones over it.
Firebox "black". The coals are removed from the burnt-out fire, and the tent-covered frame is installed directly above the hot stones. This sauna is hotter, but at the same time smoky. Pay close attention to the process of extinguishing the fire. Hot coals and fragments left behind can burn your feet, so you should not go under the awning barefoot.

The main stages of constructing a bath using improvised means

This chapter is a kind of instruction on how to make a sauna in camping conditions, and by following each of the stages, you can easily take a steam bath even far from the benefits of civilization. The requirements are quite simple, but the reliability and convenience of the structure depend on their implementation.

Selection of location

The following factors should be considered at this stage:

The soil at the construction site must be quite dense, especially if a frame of stakes driven into the ground is being built. It is impossible to build a reliable structure in soft soil.
It is best to choose a place next to a body of water - after the steam room it is pleasant to plunge into cool water, in addition, in the wild this is the only way to wash.
The stove for a camp sauna is made of stones, so it is worth inspecting the area for their presence. Carrying boulders for a kilometer is not very smart, and it’s hard.

The stove requires quite a lot of heavy stones

Construction of the stove

Perhaps this is the most important stage, which determines how good the steam room will be.

To achieve a good result, you should follow a few simple rules:

In the place where the heater will be located, it is necessary to remove a layer of soil and lay out an improvised foundation of stones.
The stones must be oblong in shape, the surface must be smooth and uniform without foreign inclusions. The size of the stones is 20 cm or more; as is known, the larger they are, the longer the heat lasts.
The construction of the hearth can be carried out in two ways: alternating layers of stone and firewood and subsequently maintaining the flame, or laying out a kind of hearth with a diameter of about 70 cm and the same height. Space is left inside for storing firewood, and a flat stone is placed on top. So that you can put a bucket of water on it to heat it up.
After finishing the installation, you can make a fire, since the improvised stove for a camp bath heats up for quite a long time - about 4 hours, until the stones are white-hot or red-hot, depending on their type.

Advice: do not use layered stones, as when heated they lose strength and when water is poured over them they can simply explode, which can lead to quite serious injuries.

If you can find steel pipes or other elements, it’s much easier to make a hearth

Frame structure

A bathhouse in camp conditions is constructed from any available means that provide the necessary reliability of the structure. It’s a good idea if you have a ready-made metal frame of a suitable size - this greatly simplifies and speeds up the process.

If there is no ready-made frame, you can build it from improvised means:

Wooden poles are quite strong and can be prepared on site.
Rope, insulated wire (metal can melt the canopy when heated), twine and other materials to strengthen connections. If you have a hammer and nails, even better.

First, the size of the building is determined, after which 4 poles are hammered into the corners; if the building is long, then additional poles can be placed between the corners. Two more crossbars are laid crosswise on top; they are designed to prevent the ceiling from sagging.

Some people prefer a safe design in which the heater is located in a separate area, this minimizes the danger of touching hot stones. You can see the features of its device in the figure.

One of the options for a camp bathhouse frame that you can build with your own hands

After this, the frame can be further strengthened with spacers or cross members and all connections can be checked for reliability and stability. If everything is fine, you can proceed to the next step.

Canopy for camping steam room

Most often, one or two pieces of plastic film are used for these purposes. It is quite light, in addition, it can be used as a means of protection from bad weather. You can also use an awning for a camp bath made of tarpaulin or other fairly reliable material that retains heat well.

The size of the material should allow the canopy to be strengthened near the ground using stones or sand (a reasonable solution is to dig a groove around the perimeter, with its help you can significantly increase the tightness of the structure).

The floor in the steam room also needs insulation. First, coniferous spruce branches are laid, and branches of deciduous trees can be laid on top.

Using this simple method, you can significantly improve thermal insulation and increase the comfort of your stay in the bathhouse. The easiest way to use logs as seats.

In the photo: insulation with spruce branches and seats made of logs

Advice: never use synthetic materials used in the manufacture of modern tents as canopies - when exposed to high temperatures, they emit harmful substances, in addition, this option is very short-lived, and after several uses the fabric will become unusable.

How to choose a place for a mobile sauna

The frame is placed on the shore of a suitable body of water - a lake or river. An area with dense, non-flowing soil is suitable; The tent must be secured, otherwise burns and bruises are possible.

See if the parking lot has everything you need: suitable stones, poles for the frame, dead wood for kindling. Sometimes it is not possible to find a site that suits all parameters - you need to act according to the situation. In any case, the tent is set up close to the water, and you can bring stones and firewood.

DIY manufacturing steps

A tent bathhouse is set up according to almost the same principle, regardless of the available material. The difference is the location of the stove.

Making a camp sauna “white-style”

“The white way” is to set up a sauna in a tent with your own hands without a stove. It is built outside the steam room. Only hot stones are brought inside the tent. The advantage of this method is the absence of smoke. The downside is that the camp bath takes a long time to warm up and cools down quickly. It is optimal to build a small tent so that there is enough space only for the necessary procedures. A large camping steam room will take a long time to warm up, you will need a lot of stones, and in cold weather this is almost impossible to achieve.

Due to the absence of a stove inside the tent, film can be used as a covering material. The frame in the traveling version is most often made of poles. You will need 8 poles more than 1 m long. The poles are tied together with wire or tape. You should get a cube or parallelepiped.

Advice! For a group holiday, it is better to build a bathhouse for 4 people and take turns to steam.

For 1-2 people, you can get by with a wigwam-shaped frame. 3 poles are placed at an angle, forming a cone. Before stretching the film, tape all sharp knots on the sticks. The polyethylene sleeve is opened with a knife. The resulting single-layer fabric covers the frame. The film is taped to the poles and secured with clothespins.

2 large sheets of film are left on the entrance side. The doors should overlap so that steam does not escape from the camp bath. Inside they set up a place for hot stones. It is fenced off with sticks 30-50 cm long driven into the ground. The floor of the camp bathhouse is covered with spruce branches. For sitting, you can lay a rug or find a stump.

The stove is installed at a safe distance from the tent. The spark should not reach the film cover. You also can’t move the stove too far away, because you’ll still have to carry hot stones into the tent. After the construction of the stove, the remaining stones are not thrown away. They press the bottom of the tent's film cover to the ground. It is important to place the stones tightly together, otherwise steam will escape from under the unpressed areas.

Making a sauna tent “the black way”

Using the “black” method, a do-it-yourself sauna on a camping trip is installed in the same way. The difference in the design is the location of the stove inside the tent. The frame of a camp bath is tied with willow twigs or vines. The easiest option is to fasten 4 poles about 1.5 m long with tape. If you can find long poles about 3 m, then 2 of them will be enough. The poles are simply bent, tying them with a cross in the center to form a hut shape.

Film can serve as a shelter for a camp bath, but polyethylene is afraid of fire. The stove will have to be folded efficiently in order to protect the film tent as much as possible from sparks.

For a “black-style” camping sauna, it is better to install a collapsible frame made of thin aluminum tubes. It is guaranteed not to ignite in the oven. Instead of film, the tent is covered with a tarpaulin. Durable posts will withstand the shelter even if it is covered with snow or rain accompanied by strong winds.

A quick camp sauna with a stove is organized in a factory-made tent, only with a tarpaulin cover. The frame is assembled from folding arches in a few minutes. For convenience, first a stone stove is laid out in the tent, and then a tarpaulin cover is pulled up.