Choosing the right stove

BY SHANNON PEDDELL

A stove on the trail can be a blessing, making a rainy hike day less miserable with a hot cup of coffee or soup. Lightweight backpacking stoves have their pros and cons, worth exploring so you buy the one that suits you and your activities best.

We’ll look first at iso-butane canister stoves, the kind with a screw-on canister containing a mix of propane and butane. They’re quick and easy to use – screw on the canister, turn the knob and light. The flame is adjustable for heat control and they are quick to boil. Prices vary a lot, from $20 to more than $150. More money buys faster cooking time, lighter weight and more uniform cooking. (Cheaper stoves are prone to hot spots.) Drawbacks: you can’t tell how much fuel is left in the canister; they’re expensive and hard to dispose of responsibly; and they wimp out in cold weather because low temps reduce pressure in the cans which means flame or none at all.

WHITE GAS OR LIQUID STOVES

These are free from cold weather failures. They are refillable (no throwaway canisters) stoves that require priming. This can take practice to avoid over priming, but the refillable cans mean you can pack just what you need and always know how much fuel is left. Liquid stoves cost from $100 to $250 but the fuel is cheap. They require more cleaning be cause the fuel burns “dirtier,” but are typi cally more durable than canister stoves. You have to be a careful cook because it’s hazardous if you spill gas near or around cooking or campfire. TABLET STOVES

ALCOHOL STOVES

Think lightweight, small and cheap, from $30 to $120. You can make your own with empty cat food or other small tins. Just pour fuel into the empty can and light it, but there is no heat control. A major ben efit with alcohol stoves is fuel versatility, so you can resupply even in towns without an outdoor store. Fuel sources include methyl hydrate (in any hardware store), high proof alcohol and fondue fuel. As with liquid stoves, you have to be care ful not to spill the fuel bottle or knock over an operating stove. The heat and “dirtiness” of the burn varies depending on the fuel. Methyl hydrate burns hot and gives off no toxic fumes.

These are cheap, from $15 to $35, have no heat control and their solid tablet fuel – it’s called hexamine – burns without smoke, leaves no ashes, and costs a lot in comparison to other kinds of fuel. These are a good emergency stove in a car or camping gear, but not great for backpacking.

BIOLITE STOVE

The biolite stove is a relatively new arrival in the backpacking world. It’s a large device that burns sticks and leaves, so you need no camp fuel. It has a USB outlet to charge electronics! It’s heavy and costs about $125 and up depending on accessories.

Before you buy any backpacking stove, read online reviews, and check local fire regulations – open fires and certain kinds of stoves are sometimes prohibited.

And never leave any kind of stove unattended. Never. At all.