For some, there is nothing better than cooking directly over an open fire. Fire can be mesmerizing—I challenge you to look away from the campfire when there’s one near. You can’t, and no one else in your party will be able to either. The way the flames dance seems to transfix all those whose gaze happens to fall upon it. There is certainly is something about the crackling roar wood gives off as it succumbs to the flames surrounding it, transforming into embers. And wood smoke definitely has a certain appeal to it, as well; the way it cloaks your clothes in the earthy burn that will stay with you long after the flames have been extinguished. And food just seems to taste better when it is served with a side of fresh air and fantastic views.
Unfortunately, all the romance of cooking over a campfire doesn’t eliminate the challenges. Regulating heat can be difficult; even if you are an experienced fire-maker and –tender. Getting the right amount of flame and ember to put that perfect sear on a steak can difficult, but will reward you with a flavor you simply cannot duplicate. If you are going to take on this task, there are some things you can do to tilt the odds in your favor. Using a Tri-Pod Grill can help you regulate temperature by moving the grate closer or farther from the fire. It also eliminates the chore of trying to balance a grill on top of wobbly rocks inches from a flame. You can also use it to keep your pots at the right height to boil or simmer, and double as a lantern stand when you are not cooking.
There are some stoves on the market that use wood for fuel, bridging the gap between a gas stove and an open fire. Some are simple models, offering a pot support and little else. Others are more complicated affairs, with built-in fans and even power-generation capabilities. The benefit to using the wood-burning stoves is more complete combustion. Wood starts to release combustible gasses when it reaches a temperature of around 400 degrees Fahrenheit or so, and these gases can be harnessed to create a hotter flame. Stoves like the Toaks Outdoor Titanium Backpacking Wood Burning Stove take advantage of this principle, and uses such design to create a downdraft, which increases the velocity at which air enters the combustion chamber. This helps the organic material burn completely, helping to eliminate ash and fully utilize the gases created.
Biolite wood stove
Biolite has taken a different approach to getting enough air to the wood for a clean burn. These stove designs use a small fan, similar to the one found inside your computer, to force air into the blaze. This unique system has power-generating capabilities and a battery built in, so the fire keeps the fan spinning. The power generation is efficient enough that the stove has a USB output so you can charge small electronic devices as you cook. There is even an attachment that lets you grill steaks and other items right on top of the flames, infusing them with smoky flavor. Just keep in mind that some regulatory agencies consider these and wood gas stoves open fires; as such, you may not be able to use these in certain areas.
Wood stoves produce more smoke than other stoves and need a vent system to allow fresh air in to burn wood more efficiently. This Biolite stove transforms the energy from the fire to electricity with the TEG to energize its vent system and power a charger.
There are two main types of gas stoves for cooking in the out-of-doors: backpacking stoves and those that are intended for car camping pursuits. The backpacking models are one-burner units that are smaller and lighter weight than the ones that are intended to be transported by a motor vehicle, since they are made to be carried on your back. The stereotypical camp stove consists of two burners with a flip-up lid that doubles as a windscreen. These are aimed at feeding groups of people instead of one or two, unlike backpacking stoves. The size of your party, and the distance from your car, will be the determining factors in your stove selection. Another consideration is the type of cooking you will be doing—are you boiling water for dehydrated meals or more gourmet food stuffs?
Backpack stove (left), and two-grill car stove
Beyond the size and weight differences, there are differences in what these stoves use for power. There are a few different types of fuel out there; each with its own positives and negatives. The biggest difference would be those fuels that are liquid, and those that are gas contained by some sort of canister. Probably the most ubiquitous nowadays are the green canisters of propane, though that is not the only fuel in canned form. There are also blended fuels, bottled in different mixtures for better performance at different times of the year. The type of fuel that is right for you depends completely on your application and circumstances.
Car–camping stoves primarily use propane as fuel. Propane, or Liquefied Propane Gas (LPG), is a hot-burning fuel that works well at low temperatures and high altitudes. It is bottled at high pressures and is prone to expansion due to temperature changes, so it needs thick steel canisters to handle the variations in pressure it can exert. Those heavy steel casings pretty much rule them out for backpacking use, but still make them an excellent choice for everything else. Because of propane’s many applications, from cooking to construction, it can be easily found even in small towns. I even picked up a couple of canisters at a truck stop once!
Propane, mix, and white gas. Their differences in weight are a factor when choosing camp stoves.
The other entries in the canned-fuel game are lighter than propane bottles. Most of these canisters have an industry-standard Lindal valve, which seals itself when not in use. This valve also allows one manufacturer’s stove to be compatible with another’s fuel, so you don’t have to worry about finding a can from your stove’s maker. These are generally a mix of isobutane and propane, with the ratio adjusted for peak performance in a certain set of conditions. Summer mixes have more isobutene; the warmer temperatures help with atomization for a complete burn. The ones designed for colder weather use often have more propane, which helps keep the mix pressurized for an even flame. Many stove manufacturers have made their models utilize what they call “liquid feed”—inverting the canister to force the butane out in the coldest conditions, but only after they have been lit long enough to pre-heat the incoming liquid using the stove’s generator tube.
Perhaps the most common liquid fuel for camping and backpacking use in the United States is white gas. This fuel has earned the nickname “Coleman Fuel” as it was popularized by its use in the company’s iconic green stoves and lanterns. Clean burning, just about any pressurized liquid fuel stove can utilize white gas. Many stoves can burn kerosene, which is good news for the international traveler since it is often available in even the most remote of areas, though the quality will vary from country to country. There also less traditional fuels that can used by some stoves in a pinch, but they are even less desirable. Many stoves that can use white gas can also use unleaded gasoline, or petrol. Gasoline contains additives designed to help car engines; these can harm the seals on your stove. Auto gas often contains ethanol; this can cause pitting in aluminum fuel bottles. Diesel is another option, but it burns dirty and has a strong odor. Prone to flare–ups, it can also be difficult to light. Check your stove’s directions to ensure compatibility with these fuels.
Car–camping stoves are the most familiar to those who don’t often venture into the woods. They are remarkably similar to the range that you would find in your kitchen, except much more portable. They primarily run on propane, fed from one–pound bottles or bulk tanks using an adapter, but some older models used white gas. As stated earlier, most of these have double burners, but there are notable exceptions. The Coleman Camp Propane Grill/Stove+ has a burner on one side and a grill on the other so you can do hot dogs and beans right next to each other. If you have a truly large group, consider a three–burner unit like this one from Stansport. You can extend the use of these stoves beyond camping since they can help out during a backyard barbeque, saving you from running inside to mind the stove.
Stansport three-burner car stove
Canister stoves come in two main iterations: top mounted and remote canister models. The top–mounted models screw directly to the canister, and as such, don’t have much of a footprint as they rely on the base to keep them upright. Unfortunately, this can make these tippy, and the center of gravity is high. An additional concern comes with the use of a windscreen; because the canister is directly below the flame, a windscreen can hold in enough heat to potentially cause the fuel to overheat. Because of this, you shouldn’t completely enclose the stove with your wind foil; leave some room for air exchange. But for those concerned with weight, they are a solid choice. The MSR MicroRocket weighs only 2.6 ounces, yet performs as well as a much larger stove. A kit such as the Optimus Crux Lite Stove with Terra Solo Cook System can provide a backpacker with all they need to cook and still weighs less than ten ounces.
Top-mounted (left) and remote canisters offer differences in stabilty and size.
The remote canister models use a short length of fuel line to place the canister away from the ignition source. These stoves have a lower center of gravity, and often have wider bases. These features make them more stable than the top-mounted models. You also don’t have the concerns about heat with these; you may make the windscreen as tight as necessary to provide a good flame without worry of explosion. Many of these also offer improved cold weather performance, as their designs permit inverted canister operation, such as the Optimus Vega Remote Gas Canister Stove, which has fold-out wire wings to keep the can upside–down during operation.
If your pursuits keep you outside when others would be huddled under a pile of blankets, sipping a cup of cocoa, then a liquid–fuel stove is the right choice for you. These designs are among the oldest, with the Optimus Svea stove being perhaps the oldest design still commercial available, initially being created in 1955. The stove's self-pressurizing fuel tank requires no pumping, puts out 4780 BTU, and will burn for approximately 50 minutes at full output on four ounces of fuel, which is pretty incredible for something more than fifty years old. Modern versions use a pump to pressurize a separate fuel bottle, as seen here in the Primus OmniFuel II Stove. The flame is regulated by a valve on the bottle, although these aren’t known for precise flame control. There are some all-in-one models, like the Optimus Hiker+ Multi-Liquid Fuel Stove, for those who prefer the convenience of a one piece design. It is important to note that you need to prime these in order to get them started. This can be accomplished using some of the stove’s fuel, or a dab of Fire Paste which doesn’t leave a sooty residue.
Primus OmniFuel II Stove uses a pump to pressurize the fuel.
If your climate dictates that you must use liquid fuel, but you still want to cook a gourmet meal, you may want to pick up the MSR DragonFly. This stove is well-known for its ability to simmer, even rivalling propane and mixed-fuel canister models. Despite its terrific low-heat performance, it can still boil water in less than four minutes. This is a great benefit if you are relying on melted snow for hydration, or are extremely cranky until you have had at least one cup of coffee. It can run on white gas, kerosene, and diesel, so odds are pretty good you can find something to power it no matter where you are. It is also ideal for groups, as the wide supports hold cookware 10" or larger.
The MSR DragonFly is a precise stove that uses liquid fuel.
If you were looking to get only one stove for your backpacking adventures (One Stove to Rule Them All!), then you should take a good look at the MSR Whisperlite Universal Hybrid-Fuel Stove. This innovative entry works with both canister and liquid fuels. All you need to do is change the adapter and swap the jets out to take advantage of different fuel types, from white gas all the way to kerosene or unleaded gas. This is a boon to those whose travels take them to many different corners of the globe. Almost no matter where you are you can find a suitable combustible material to handle all of your cooking needs. And when it’s around, you can take advantage of the simmering abilities of canned mixes. There’s even a stand to flip the canister over to boost cold-weather performance.
MSR Whisperlite Universal Hybrid-Fuel Stove can run on canned or liquid fuel.
There are a number of stoves that are designed to boil water extremely efficiently to preserve fuel on longer journeys. These are often called integrated stove systems, and feature a pot designed specifically for the burner. At the base of the pot is a heat exchanger consisting of fins and often incorporates a windscreen to keep that heat from blowing away. The pots usually feature some sort of insulation, usually in the form of a tight fitting sleeve. Many companies utilize neoprene or crushed felt for their excellent R-values. Most of these are top–mount canister models, such as the MSR WindBurner Stove System and the Primus ETA Lite All-In-One Camp Stove, but there are remote canister units on the market like the Primus Eta Spider Stove Set if you prefer the lower center of gravity those designs. The addition of accessories such as a French Press keeps these from being one-trick ponies.
Integrated stove systems are compact and used to boil water effeciently.
Maybe the lightest stoves out on the trail are alcohol stoves. The earliest models of these stoves were created by creative do-it-yourselfers with an urge to have a reliable cooking unit that weighed much less that the others on the market. These bantamweight heaters consist of a chamber to hold the fuel, vented by some orifices that help atomize the liquid as it heats up. They use denatured alcohol, ethanol, or isopropyl alcohol to provide combustion, with denatured alcohol having the edge in terms of BTU output. Besides them being lightweight, the burning characteristics of alcohol are largely unaffected by altitude, so many Mountaineers have come to rely on them. While the form factor remains similar to those pioneering models, the modern counterparts are much more durable. Commercially available examples include the Toaks Outdoor Titanium Siphon Alcohol Stove, which is built to last, with titanium construction that keeps weight down to less than an ounce. A caveat is that you will need a pot support with many of these, though many consider the weight savings to be worth it, even with the added equipment.
The last type of stove I will mention is the solid fuel, or tablet, and so-called canned-fuel models. While these stoves are very compact and lightweight, they often leave a lot to be desired in terms of heat. The so-called solid fuel is usually a hexamine tablet, though some have slightly different chemical make ups. Advantages of these tablets are that they do not liquefy when burning, and they don’t leave behind any ashes. Models range from somewhat disposable to more intense backpacking units, like the Toaks Outdoor Ultralight Titanium Cooking System. Canned-fuel refers to what you probably know as Sterno cans, used to keep chafing dishes warm. When combined with a suitable stove, they can be used to cook and boil water. While somewhat limited in their applications, ultra-light backpackers use these stoves and they can provide a potentially life-saving back up for others on extended trips.
Canned-fuel stove
If you’re in the market for a stove, come up with a realistic picture of the adventures on which you want to take it. Will you be heading way off the grid, taking with you only what you can carry on your back? Or will you be pulling up to a scenic vista in the family truckster and making camp for the night? Will your travels take you into a country that may not have commercially available canister fuels, making a liquid fuel model your only option? Whether your tastes range from the way out of bounds to the occasional overnight with a few tailgate parties thrown in for good measure, there is a stove out there that suits your needs to a T. Be sure to keep them handy around the house as well—if the utilities go down you will be glad you had one around.
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