Let's Talk Gear - Stoves

Okay, so we'll come back to the hiking and camping with kids soon (I'll actually be taking my 6, 4, and 2-year olds camping next weekend), but for now let's go to something that's on every hardcore hikers mind this time of year, including those of us at the Wildernest: gear.

It's spring, and for those who either loathe the winter or haven't taken the plunge into winter camping, it is a time to get the gear out, clean it out, or head out to upgrade your gear. One of those technical pieces of gear that (nearly) every backpacker ends up owning is a stove. So, what to choose?

Backpacking stoves fall into three main categories these days: alcohol stoves, canister stoves, and liquid fuel stoves. Yes, I know there are other options - no cook, cook on the fire, fuel tablets, gel, etc. - but we're talking the big three here - any of which would be a necessity on a backcountry adventure.

The lightest choice is an alcohol stove. To clarify, you're not cooking using rubbing alcohol or your favorite libation; you're using denatured alcohol. The benefits of an alcohol stove are inexpensive fuel and one of the lightest functional cooking options available. There is also something cool about making your own alcohol stove. I haven't done it myself but one of our former employees at the store made each of us one that can be measured in grams. Man that thing is cool! There are also some great pre-made models like those offered by Trangia that are still pretty light but a bit more polished. There is a distinct down side to alcohol stoves, and that is fuel efficiency. Boil times are not near those of gas powered stoves so you will need to be patient come dinner time. I often take my alcohol stove when I am going on a quick and light overnighter that only involves 1-2 meals to cook, that way my entire stove and fuel weight is an incredible three ounces.

Not ready to make the plunge to something so extreme, but you still want to to light? Then maybe a canister stove is for you. Canister stoves are typically filled with isobutane/propane mix whose ratio varies by manufacturer. The different canisters leads to the inevitable question: Do I need to use the brand of fuel that matches my stove? The rule of thumb is that if it fits, it works; nonetheless some manufacturers have proprietary canisters that fit only their stoves, like Camping Gaz or Coleman. (My Personal Liability Disclaimer: Use the fuel that matches your stove! The manufacture will have used their own fuel in determining statistics such as boil time and canister life anyway.) One of our personal favorites here at the Wildernest is the Pocket Rocket by MSR, although there are many different designs. The upsides of canister stoves are weight, compactness, and ease of use with instant gratification. The downsides are an uncertainty of how much fuel remains and less than optimal performance in cool weather. In addition, you can't enclose most with a windscreen since you are enclosing your flame and fuel in the same area - a big no-no. However, that is where some companies like Jetboil and others come up with remote canisters and the ability to flip canisters to burn more fuel. Believe it or not, there are more details we could discuss, but we'll move on for now.

The third major category is liquid fuel stoves. The fuel of choice is typically white gas. Even though alcohol stoves have become extremely popular among long distance hikers, liquid gas stoves such as the MSR Whisperlite have been a staple of the hiking community. The Whisperlite has been hanging on to my generation like the Svea did to the prior one. Why are they so cool? Many white gas stoves are field serviceable and maintainable, plus you always know how much fuel you have left. Refilling fuel bottles can be clutch when on long distance trails like the Appalachian Trail, where you can purchase fuel by the ounce at some outfitters. Looks like you might run out of fuel before the next town stop? Engineer a trade with a fellow hiker for some of your signature GORP and you are still in business. Another plus - you pressurize the bottle so they perform better in colder conditions that other stoves. Before you get too excited, there are of course some negatives... These stoves are generally the heaviest and bulkiest, plus they often involve priming which means you have a couple of extra minutes to wait before you can start dinner.

Can't decide which one? Then do what some of us do and own one of each kind... (envision wry smile and please don't tell my wife I don't need one of each). If you have any questions about stoves or anything else gear related, feel free to contact me at thewildernestchris@gmail.com. Happy camping this spring!