A STOVERVIEW
OUR GUIDE TO CAMP COOKERS Text: Anna Kernell / Photo: Emelie Voltaire
What could possibly beat a meal that's cooked and enjoyed in a leafy corner of the forest or on a mountain with majestic views? Not much. Perhaps the journey there? Is it the fresh air, or a sense of following in the footsteps of our ancestors that makes it seem so special? Eating out in harmony with nature just feels right – like we used to do, long before highrise buildings and high-speed broadband were even conceivable possibilities. And, in fact, long before the first camping stoves made an appearance. Camping stoves from Swedish Trangia, Primus and Optimus rightfully enjoy a good reputation around the world – and have a long history to boot. As early as 1892, Primus created the world's first soot-free kerosene stove, hence their name, which means 'first' in Latin. And when Roald Amundsen became the first person to reach the South Pole in 1911, he was (appropriately) accompanied by a Primus stove! In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay carried a Primus stove in their pack when they became the first to climb Mount Everest (and manage to make it back down alive). Trangia was founded in 1925 and initially made aluminium household pots, but when two weeks' paid holiday became a statutory right in the 1930s, the demand for camping equipment dramatically increased. In 1951, the first prototype was launched and the rest, as they say, is history. Today, there are a whole host of different camping stoves on offer, which of course, makes it difficult to know which one to choose. But, Hooked has accepted the challenge, and we hope we can help you out!
THE FIRST STEP Time to ponder
When buying a camping stove, there are two questions you should start by asking yourself: What are you going to use it for? And when are you going to use it? There's no point in lugging around a fully equipped Trangia if you only intend to make a cup of coffee or satisfy your hunger on a day trip with a pack of instant noodles. Which qualities are most important to you? Light and easy to set up, or stable with smart features which increase the weight? Nowadays, there are alternatives that meet most requirements, but usually you have to prioritise something.
Fuel decision
Buying a camping stove is in many ways a matter of choosing fuel and burner, which in turn depends on the conditions the stove is to be used in. If you go hiking in the woods from spring to autumn, it's really just a matter of taste what kind of fuel you use. When it gets really cold, however, you have to consider more carefully. Then it's usually safest to use petrol, diesel or kerosene. If you're on your way to high altitudes, it's petrol that withstands the cold best. BUT, it's also explosive, so most high-altitude climbers usually use winter gas as it's safer!
Thing to keep in mind when choosing a stove: • What kind of adventures will you bring it on? • Do you want to be able to use it in the winter? • Will you mostly use it for yourself or for the whole family? • What other requirements do you expect it to meet?
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