BACKPACKING STOVES:
Which Stove is Right for You?

The invention of pressurized-burner stoves in the late 1800s and the dawn of “leave no trace” ethics in the 1970s have lead to the ever increasing popularity of using portable stoves among backpackers and other outdoor enthusiasts. Fire restrictions that are a common occurrence in the Southwest make portable stoves even more essential in this region. The various advances in portable stove technology and the multitude of different models available on the market today can make choosing the best stove a complicated task. Camp stoves that are designed for recreational/ family-use are convenient for RV and vehicle based camping purposes, but are not geared towards today’s backpacking crowd. These stoves are often too bulky and way too heavy to carry any considerable distance and; therefore, will not be covered in this article.

Portable stoves designed for use in the backcountry can be divided into two main categories: canister fuel stoves and liquid-fuel stoves. Ultra-light backpackers trying to reduce their carrying weight by as much as possible can also utilize a variety of alternate fuel stoves. Each category has its own set of advantages and disadvantages that should be considered when choosing a stove.

At Manzanita Outdoor we suggest that you consider the following when selecting a stove:

• Length in days of most of your trips.
• The time of year you do most of your backpacking
• The amount of food or beverages you will need to heat
• The type of cooking you prefer: Just boiling water or actual cooking.

Here is a basic breakdown of stove types and features.

CANISTER FUEL STOVES

Designs:
Canister stoves are compact, lightweight, and run on a pressurized canister that is filled with isobutane or a butane-propane mixture. The canisters have a threaded, self-sealing mount that makes it easy to attach and detach the burner from the stove or on some models the fuel hose that separates the burner from the canister (remote canister stoves). High efficiency, integrated canister stove systems that include a pot and stove, such as Jetboil’s Personal Cooking System, have dramatically grown in popularity in recent years.

Pros:

• Easy to use
  
• Highly Efficient
  
• Fast Heating
  
• Good flame control, burns clean
  
• No priming required, no spills
  
• Igniter buttons (some models)
  

Cons:

• Fuel is expensive
• Less BTU per ounce than most liquid fuels
• Poor performance in cold temperatures (below 20 degreed F)
• Can be unstable (small base and high center of gravity)
• Difficult to tell how much fuel is left in canister

LIQUID FUEL STOVES

Designs:
Liquid-fuel stoves run on white gas (in the U.S.) that is stored in different sized refillable bottles that have a pump and fuel line running to the burner. The fuel bottle must be pressurized by using a manual pump and the stove must be primed in order to vaporize the liquid fuel and ignite the burner. Liquid-fuel stoves offer some advantages over stoves that require a pre-pressurized fuel canister. Generally, liquid-fuel stoves are more appropriate for longer trips or for large groups compared to canister stove.

Pros:

• Excellent performance in cold temperatures
• Fuel is inexpensive, bring only what you need
• No empty canisters to pack out
• Stable (wide base, low center of gravity)
• Multi-fuel models available (international travel)
• Windscreen and camp oven safe
• Most models are field maintainable
  

Cons:

• Generally heavier and bulkier than canister stoves
• Most models require priming before lighting
• Flame control can be tricky
• Potential for fuel spills
• Some regular Maintenance is required.Higher initial cost

ALTERNATE FUEL STOVES

Denatured alcohol and solid fuel stoves offer super ultra\light cooking options for folks that are really counting ounces. These stoves are compact, easy to use, and are capable of bringing water to a rolling boil. The potential drawback is that the boil times are slower than other and can be even slower in windy conditions. For this reason, alternate fuel stoves are not suitable for large groups but are perfect for solo trips.

BOILING IT DOWN

Today’s stoves are light efficient and very easy to use. Finding the weight, size and fuel type of stove that’s right for you can take some time so be patient. Come in and let us help you with a simple side-by-side comparison of stove features and performance. We carry a variety of stoves from major manufacturers as Jetboil, MSR, and Primus. We are happy to help you sort out which stove will work best for you.. Whether you just want to heat water for a de-hydrated meal or bake a pizza, we have great stoves and accessories to fit your needs.

BON APETITE !!