I'm Chitose Saito, a photographer and writer. It's hot, isn't it? Or rather, isn't it at a "dangerously life-threatening" level every day? Even I, who live in Hokkaido, can't get a good night's sleep because of the heat. However, it's summer vacation, and it's a season when children often go camping with their families
However, if you take your children camping in the scorching heat of over 30 degrees without any precautions, there is a real risk of heatstroke. So I came up with the idea of using a spot cooler to cool the inside of the tent, and when it gets too hot, they can escape into the tent cooled by the spot cooler. This is something that should be tried out immediately, so in this article I a spot cooler (air conditioner) in a tent in the middle of summer, and I would like to share my findings with you.
The tent used for the experiment was Captain Stag's " CS Classics One Pole Tent DX Octagon 460UV ," which I had been interested in for some reason (described below). This report will be divided into two parts: the experiment and a tent review.
table of contents
- Key Features of the Captain Stag CS Classics One-Pole Tent DX Octagon 460UV
- Detailed Review
- Testing a tent and spot cooler in temperatures over 31°C
- The temperature inside the closed tent in the sun rose to a whopping 45.1 degrees
- Tansu Gen's "Spot Air Conditioner QL03" and "JH01 Circulator" cool for 1 hour
- I also tried the Haier JA-SP25U Spot Air Conditioner, a slightly more powerful spot cooler
- Summary: In summer, set up your tent in the shade and make full use of air conditioning
- Captain Stag "CS Classics One-Pole Tent DX Octagon 460UV" Details and Purchase Information
Key Features of the Captain Stag CS Classics One-Pole Tent DX Octagon 460UV
The CS Classics One-Pole Tent DX Octagon 460UV in its stowed state. It weighs about 17 kg, so it can be stored compactly in a bag, but it is still quite heavy
The Captain Stag CS Classics One-Pole Tent DX Octagon 460UV (hereafter referred to as the DX Octagon 460UV ) is quite large among Captain Stag tents, measuring approximately 460 x 460 x 300cm high. Generally speaking, this tent would be too large for the author, who is a family of three with his wife and son, but there was one big reason why I was still interested in this tent. That is, it can be used with kerosene stoves such as the Captain Stag x Corona Kerosene Stove SL-51CS .
Needless to say, the cold in Hokkaido, where I mainly work, is a little beyond imagination. In spring, it's not uncommon to use a stove at home until around April, and in autumn, stoves are often turned on from around late September. Therefore, being able to use a stove in a tent is undoubtedly a major advantage when camping, and an invaluable benefit not only for Hokkaido residents like me, but also for those who love winter camping. This tent also has many other features that make camping comfortable, such as a spacious living space of approximately 10.7 tatami mats, excellent ventilation, and an inner tent that separates private and shared spaces, all while being reasonably priced
By the way, Captain Stag tents that can be used with this limited edition kerosene stove come in two sizes, 460UV and the 400UV . I chose DX Octagon 460UV You can also choose 400UV
Considering its size, the DX Octagon 460UV was easier to set up than I expected. However, it took a surprisingly long time to set up because there were so many pegs that needed to be hammered in
Recommended points
- You can use the Captain Stag x Corona SL-51CS oil stove indoors
- Approximately 460 x 460 x 300 cm high, with a floor size of approximately 10.7 tatami mats, making it very spacious
- Although it is a large tent, the actual price is reasonable at around 40,000 yen
- Setting up the tent is easier than you might think
- An indoor inner tent is standard equipment to ensure privacy
Points of interest
- The number of pegs that need to be hammered in during assembly is quite large, making it difficult to assemble
- The tent is large, so it takes a lot of effort to put away
Main specifications and evaluation
| item | Captain Stag CS Classics One-Pole Tent DX Octagon 460UV |
|---|---|
| Product size | Approximately 460 x 460 x 300 cm |
| Storage size | Approximately 77×35×35cm |
| Weight | Approximately 17kg |
| Material (curtain body) |
|
| Material (inner) |
|
| Material (pole) |
|
| accessories |
|
| Size | ★★★★☆ |
| Ease of assembly | ★★★☆☆ |
| Heating performance | ★★★★☆ |
| Ease of tidying up | ★★★☆☆ |
| livability | ★★★★☆ |
| Cost performance | ★★★★☆ |
| Satisfaction | ★★★★☆ |
Detailed Review
Testing a tent and spot cooler in temperatures over 31°C
The highest temperature in Chitose City on that day was predicted to be 32 degrees, but the actual temperature was over 36 degrees, and the WBGT value (heat index) was a dangerously high 31 degrees
When looking at the weather forecast for the whole country, there are predictions of temperatures in the high 30s, but in Chitose City, Hokkaido, where I live, the temperature will only rise to the low 30s, so I thought that the forecast might not be very useful, so I tested the DX Octagon 460UV
To measure temperature and humidity, I used a Kenko Tokina "black globe heat stroke meter" in addition to the thermometer I normally use in my camper van. Because there are often differences in the temperatures indicated by the thermometer and the black globe heat stroke meter due to differences in measurement methods, the the black globe heat stroke meter will be used in the text
We set up the DX Octagon 460UV Forever Camping Paradise , close to New Chitose Airport, to create more challenging conditions The DX Octagon 460UV , and once the floor sheet and other items were firmly secured with pegs, it was much easier to set up than we expected. However, one thing that concerned us was the sheer number of pegs that needed to be hammered in, and the fact that it was our first time, so it took two of us several tens of minutes to assemble it.
Incidentally, when we measured the temperature next to the completed tent in direct sunlight, the WBGT value (heat index) was 31°C, the temperature was 36.3°C, and the humidity was 55%, dangerous guidelines for everyday life. Even in the sun, this temperature level was recorded on a well-ventilated grassy campsite, so it's hard to imagine how hot it must be inside a closed tent set up in the sun
The tent, which was intentionally placed in the sun, ended up getting hotter than expected. I highly recommend placing your tent in the shade when camping in the summer, except for testing
The temperature inside the closed tent in the sun rose to a whopping 45.1 degrees
We placed the CS Classics Hexa Grill Table Set in the center of the DX Octagon 460UV, which was installed in a sunny, sealed location, and arranged a thermometer and other items on top of it
the DX Octagon 460UV a CS Classics Hexa Grill Table Set in its center placed a thermometer and heatstroke meter with black globe two Easy Field GI beds a CS Classics Aluminum Back Bench , a Trekker The Light Chair , and a CS Black Label Low Style Solo Bench , creating a sleepover setup. After closing and sealing the DX Octagon 460UV the heatstroke meter with black globe was 34.8°C, the temperature was 45.1°C, and the humidity was 32%, indicating a dangerous level. Just being inside the tent was enough to make us sweat, and it was far too hot to be inside with children. The heat inside a sealed tent in direct sunlight during the day was truly "life-threatening."
Even when equipped with the Easy Field GI Bed and CS Classics Hexa Grill Table Set, the DX Octagon 460UV still has ample space inside
Tansu Gen's "Spot Air Conditioner QL03" and "JH01 Circulator" cool for 1 hour
Tansu Gen's "JH01 Circulator" (left) and "Spot Air Conditioner QL03" (right). The exhaust duct is located outside the tent
To cool the interior of my DX Octagon 460UV, which was over 45°C, I installed QL03 Spot Air Conditioner and JH01 Circulator the QL03 Spot Air Conditioner in my article [Free Shipping, Actual Price Under ¥30,000]. Tansu Gen's QL03 Spot Air Conditioner is a portable spot cooler that's a lifesaver in my summer home, both in my camper and at home [Quality of Camping Life Improvement Committee #002] . While the size is adequate for cooling a camper, the DX Octagon 460UV tatami mats. Ideally, I would have preferred a more powerful model of the same Tansu Gen spot cooler, but this time I chose the QL03 Spot Air Conditioner In addition, to diffuse the cool air from the spot cooler the DX Octagon 460UV , we also installed a JH01 circulator, which can swivel not only horizontally but also vertically in 3D.
Below are the results every 15 minutes when the QL03 spot air conditioner
■ Cooling results of "Spot Air Conditioner QL03" + "JH01 Circulator"
| Hours (minutes) | WBGT value (heat index °C) | Temperature (℃) | Humidity (%) | level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 34.8 | 45.1 | 32 | danger |
| 15 | 32.2 | 40.4 | 39 | danger |
| 30 | 30.6 | 37.6 | 43 | High alert |
| 45 | 31.6 | 39.6 | 39 | danger |
| 60 | 32.1 | 40.6 | 36 | danger |
The cooling experiment was conducted during the hottest hour of the day, starting at around 1:30 p.m., the QL03 spot air conditioner and JH01 circulator , the temperature dropped by a maximum of about 7°C, and the WBGT value (heat index) also dropped from a peak of 34.8°C to around 30.6°C. However, because this was the time of day when the sun was strongest, the temperature did not continue to drop so much that it eliminated the risk of heatstroke.
However, if the QL03 Spot Air Conditioner and JH01 Circulator had not been used, it is quite possible that the temperature would have risen even further from 45.1°C, making the temperature inside unsuitable for humans to live in. With that in mind, these results clearly show just how dangerous it is to be inside a closed tent in "dangerously hot, life-threatening" conditions.
The exhaust duct of the "Spot Air Conditioner QL03" is placed outside the tent to allow hot air to escape. The great thing about the "Spot Air Conditioner QL03" is that it can be used on its own
I also tried the Haier JA-SP25U Spot Air Conditioner, a slightly more powerful spot cooler
The Haier JA-SP25U Spot Air Conditioner was provided as part of the rental equipment at Forever Camping Paradise to combat the "dangerous heat that can be life-threatening."
Forever Camping Paradise, which cooperated with us in this shoot, had the Haier JA-SP25U Spot Air Conditioner available for rental in preparation for the "life-threatening heat" of summer. The rental fee is 3,000 yen per night. It gets hotter than you'd expect inside a tent under the blazing sun, so it's a good idea to have a spot cooler or similar to escape the heat, especially if you're traveling with children, even at the danger and high alert levels of the WBGT (heat index), and even at lower alert levels
The Haier JA-SP25U spot air conditioner has a cooling capacity of 2.5kW at 60Hz and 2.2kW at 50Hz, which is slightly higher than the 2.1kW (60Hz) and 1.8kW (50Hz) of the "Spot Air Conditioner QL03," so we borrowed it and conducted a cooling experiment for about an hour, hoping to get better results.
■ Cooling results of "Haier JA-SP25U Spot Air Conditioner" + "JH01 Circulator"
| Hours (minutes) | WBGT value (heat index °C) | Temperature (℃) | Humidity (%) | level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 33.4 | 42.3 | 36 | danger |
| 15 | 32.3 | 42.4 | 30 | danger |
| 30 | 32.4 | 40.5 | 33 | danger |
| 45 | 30.8 | 39.8 | 33 | High alert |
| 60 | 30.7 | 40.2 | 31 | High alert |
These results were taken from around 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM, so the QL03 spot air conditioner PM. That said, the sun sets around 7 PM in Hokkaido at this time of year, so it's safe to say there isn't much difference. Even so, the temperature dropped by about 2°C and the WBGT value (heat index) by about 3°C from the start, which makes a big difference. When camping in the middle of summer, if you have a cooling system such as a spot cooler available, it's recommended to use it before you think it's dangerous.
In the case of the "Haier JA-SP25U Spot Air Conditioner," hot air is expelled from the main unit, so only cool air is sent into the tent. Therefore, it felt like the cool air was not sealed tightly enough
Summary: In summer, set up your tent in the shade and make full use of air conditioning
The interior of the DX Octagon 460UV is quite spacious. In the shade, I think Tansu Gen's Spot Air Conditioner QL03 and JH01 Circulator were enough to cool it down
In this test, we were too concerned that the results of experiments in the cool environment of Hokkaido would be useless, so we deliberately conducted the experiment in direct midsummer sunlight. However, this season has been extremely hot, even in Hokkaido, so in the end it may not have been necessary to go to such lengths
If the tent had been set up in the shade or under a tree, as per the basics of tent setup, the combination of the spot air conditioner and JH01 circulator would likely have kept the heat index low enough to maintain a comfortable environment inside the tent. Even in Hokkaido, on days when the weather forecast predicts temperatures will exceed 30°C, the sun at a campsite and the tents set up there will essentially be in "dangerously hot conditions that could be life-threatening." For this reason, the most important thing to remember is to carefully select where to set up your tent when camping in midsummer.
the DX Octagon 460UV which has a floor area of 10.7 tatami mats , and was able to enjoy a very spacious and comfortable space. However, the Spot Air Conditioner QL03 is a spot cooler that is suitable for 7 tatami mats at 50Hz and 9 tatami mats at 60Hz in wooden buildings, and 8 tatami mats at 50Hz and 10 tatami mats at 60Hz in reinforced concrete/prefabricated buildings, so I felt that it was a bit underpowered for use in a tent. One to upgrade to a more powerful spot cooler to match the DX Octagon 460UV, or conversely, to the smaller DX Octagon 40UV . It seems that a spot cooler with a higher output is required for a less airtight tent.
In either case, it turns out that the heat inside a tent in the middle of the day during a summer camping trip that reaches a "life-threatening level" can be truly life-threatening. We recommend setting up your tent in a well-ventilated area under a tree or in the shade, carefully managing the temperature, and actively using cooling products such as spot coolers and air circulators if necessary, to ensure a comfortable stay
It's also important to check in advance whether the campsite reception and front desk, areas where you can take refuge from the heat in case of an emergency, are equipped with air conditioners. Don't get hung up on the idea that it's just camping, but if you feel it's hotter than necessary, we recommend taking measures such as using a spot cooler right away
Captain Stag "CS Classics One-Pole Tent DX Octagon 460UV" Details and Purchase Information
For more product details, please see CS Classics One Pole Tent DX Octagon 460UV
Filming cooperation
Filming cooperation: Forever Camping Paradise
Chitose Saito
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