Mr. Heater Big Buddy Portable Heater vs Mr. Heater Portable Buddy Heater

The Big Buddy is the stronger pick for heating a cabin, garage or job site: 18,000 BTU, 450 sq ft and an integrated fan that blends radiant and convection heat. The Portable Buddy is the better fit for tents, decks and tailgates where you want less bulk and a simpler single-cylinder setup. Both carry the same 4.4 rating, and owners of both lines praise the ODS and tip-over shut-off; the Portable Buddy has far more ratings behind it, while the Big Buddy draws more complaints about the fan and the cost of feeding two 1 lb. cylinders.

• Choose the Big Buddy if you need to heat a space up to 450 sq ft and want three heat levels plus a fan to push warmth around.
• Choose the Portable Buddy if you are heating a tent, blind, porch or small room up to 225 sq ft and want the lighter, simpler unit.