Space Heaters · owner-verdict comparison

Lasko 754200 Ceramic vs Portable Buddy MH9BX: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Lasko 754200 Ceramic: 81% of 32 owners recommend it, vs 67% of 36 for the Portable Buddy MH9BX.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Lasko 754200 Ceramic

81%of 32 owners recommend
81% recommend · 13% neutral · 6% don't
Owners praise
  • Heats small rooms fast
  • Runs for years without issues
  • Cheap, great value
Owners complain about
  • Thermostat or fan can fail over time
  • Fan noise bothers some
  • Fire and safety worries
Full owner report →

Portable Buddy MH9BX

67%of 36 owners recommend
67% recommend · 27% neutral · 6% don't
Owners praise
  • Puts out strong, fast heat — owners describe it warming a 12ft camper van, a 233S trailer, or a 40ft motorhome quickly, and keeping campers comfortable down into the 20s and 30s°F
  • Trusted for years of off-grid use in tent trailers, RVs, hunting shacks, and ice shacks — several owners say it's become a camping essential they won't go without
  • Hose adapter lets it run off a standard 20lb propane tank instead of small canisters, extending runtime to around 100 hours on low
Owners complain about
  • Safety auto-shutoff can trigger unexpectedly — some owners report the unit cutting out at higher altitudes or after roughly 30 minutes of use, describing the units as 'finicky'
Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Lasko 754200 Ceramic if
  • ✓People heating one small room like a bedroom, office, or bathroom
  • ✓Anyone wanting to lower whole-home heating bills room by room
  • ✓Travelers or RV and trailer users needing portable heat
  • ✓Cold-sensitive users who need steady, reliable warmth
Skip it if
  • Households with young children who could touch it
  • Anyone needing precise, set-and-forget thermostat control
Get the Portable Buddy MH9BX if
  • ✓Campers and tent-trailer users needing reliable heat down into the 20s-30s
  • ✓RV/camper van owners heating small-to-medium interiors on the go
  • ✓Hunters and ice-shack users wanting a dependable portable heat source
  • ✓Off-grid or power-outage backup heating with an easy 20lb tank adapter
Skip it if
  • Anyone needing sustained high-altitude use, since auto shutoff can trigger repeatedly
  • Garage or workshop use, where fumes and humidity build-up frustrated some owners

What Lasko 754200 Ceramic owners say

“I just bought one so far so good. I was warm in my bedroom last night.”
— @Deeplyrooteddj on YouTube
“For me it's only an issue in the winter, so I just put a [little space heater](https://www.amazon.com/Lasko-754200-Ceramic-Adjustable-Thermostat/dp/B000TKDQ5C) on the counter and point it at the mirror. Bonus feature: warmer bathroom.”
— arbarnes on Reddit
“it will get hot cause a fire and your house will burn down”
— @alexanderthibodeau8340 on YouTube

What Portable Buddy MH9BX owners say

“All we use”
— Sally2Dicks2 on Reddit
“We have the small 9000 btu for or 12 foot camper van, and it's more than enough for us in the winter”
— Coffee_and_Tarot on Reddit
“I've definitely had it shut off at those altitudes.”
— engrannie on Reddit

Lasko 754200 Ceramic vs Portable Buddy MH9BX: frequently asked questions

Is the Lasko 754200 Ceramic or the Portable Buddy MH9BX better?

Real owners lean toward the Lasko 754200 Ceramic: 81% of 32 owners recommend it, vs 67% of 36 for the Portable Buddy MH9BX.

Who should get the Lasko 754200 Ceramic?

Owners point the Lasko 754200 Ceramic at people heating one small room like a bedroom, office, or bathroom, and anyone wanting to lower whole-home heating bills room by room.

Who should get the Portable Buddy MH9BX?

Owners point the Portable Buddy MH9BX at campers and tent-trailer users needing reliable heat down into the 20s-30s, and rV/camper van owners heating small-to-medium interiors on the go.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Lasko 754200 Ceramic is thermostat or fan can fail over time. For the Portable Buddy MH9BX, it's safety auto-shutoff can trigger unexpectedly — some owners report the unit cutting out at higher altitudes or after roughly 30 minutes of use, describing the units as 'finicky'.