Purchasing your hiking stove can present its challenges as there are so many options out there.
Before making a purchase it's important that you first consider where you will be hiking (temperatures), the types of hikes you will be doing and the style of meals you want to prepare. It's also important to consider how many people you will be preparing for and what fuel sources are available in the area you plan to hike.
SHAPES, SIZES AND DESIGNS
Backpacking stoves come in all kinds of shapes, sizes and designs – from lightweight micro-stoves that fit in your pocket, to two plate versions that would fill your pack. Unless you’re car camping or travelling with a large group of people, it makes sense to stick with the lightest, most compact model you can find which accommodates any other limiting factors (like fuel availability, altitude etc.).
- It is important to look at stove design from the functional aspects of reliability, usability and weight and space restrictions.
- How easy is the stove to set up? Does it require assembly every time it’s used?
- Is the stove sturdy? Is it stable on uneven ground? How hard is it to balance a pot on top?
- If a gas canister is used, is it easy to attach and remove? Can it be detached before it’s completely empty?
- How easy is the stove to light? Does it require priming?
- How easy is the stove to control? Can the heat output be adjusted easily? How easy is the stove to maintain in the field?
FUEL TYPES
LIQUID PETROLEUM GAS
Pros:
- Convenient, clean burning and easy to light.
- Burns hot immediately and does not require priming.
- Can be adjusted easily for simmering.
- Can’t be spilt.
Cons:
- More expensive than other fuel types.
- You must carry and dispose of the fuel canisters (most are non-recyclable).
- Performance may decrease in temperatures below freezing.
- Fuel is not always readily available.
In general, LP stoves are more affected by temperature than other types of stoves because the user has no control over the internal pressure of the gas chamber (no pump). Liquid butane vaporizes in its canister, creating the pressure that pushes it through the fuel line. As the temperature drops outside, the pressure inside the canister decreases. At sea level, normal butane stops vaporizing at 0°C. Butane/Propane and isobutane work to much lower temperatures depending on the blend (ratio of butane to propane). As a result, they produce a more powerful flame at lower temperatures than other canister fuels. However, as this fuel evaporates, it cools its canister, and this evaporative cooling can reduce stove performance. To counteract this, you can:
- Place the canister upright in 3cm of cool water.
- Warm the canister with your hands.
- Alternate stove use between two canisters.
Recommendation – These stoves are ideal for general camping where you require quick and easy cooking and value ease of use over carrying extra fuel canisters and versatility.
WHITE GAS AND MULTI-FUEL STOVES
Probably one of the most popular types of stoves around, white gas and multi-fuel stoves can be used in both backcountry and international environments. White gas is also sold as Naphtha, camp fuel, or lighter fuel and can be found in outdoor stores as well as select service stations and hardware stores in North America, Australia and NZ. The scarcity of white gas in other parts of the world makes the multi-fuel option of these types of stoves more important.
Many (but not all) white gas stoves can be adapted for multi-fuel use which means with simple modifications, they can operate using other fuels like kerosene, automotive and aviation fuel. These types of stoves are highly suited to users who may find themselves in environments where white gas is not available.
Generally the use of fuels like automotive and aviation fuel, kerosene and the like are not recommended because of the additives placed in some of these products, which can result in very dirty 'burns'. This can not only release toxic fumes, but also leave a substantial amount of residue in fuel lines and tents. Relative to LPG stoves, these stoves can also require more maintenance.
WHITE GAS
Pros:
Inexpensive, easy to find throughout most industrialised countries.
- Clean, easy to light.
- Spilled fuel evaporates quickly.
Cons:
- Volatile (spilled fuel can ignite quickly).
- Priming is required (fuel from the stove can be used).
- Can be hard to find in some countries.
UNLEADED PETROL, AVIATION FUEL, SOLVENT
Pros:
- Very inexpensive, easy to find throughout the world.
Cons:
- Burns dirty/sooty.
- Extremely volatile.
Recommendation – These stoves are great overall performers, perfect for travel around the world (including remote regions if you have a multi fuel option) and suitable in just about any weather conditions. They are generally reliable, inexpensive and efficient.
KEROSENE
The use of kerosene is often dictated by the country you are travelling in and many of the other fuel alternatives are not available. Kerosene stoves also require the use of white gas and alcohol or priming paste as a separate priming agent in order to facilitate vaporisation.
Pros:
- Inexpensive.
- Easy to find.
- High heat output.
- Spilled fuel does not ignite easily.
- Can be used in many of the multi-fuel stoves.
Cons:
- Somewhat messy (burns dirty, smelly)
- Priming is required (best if different priming fuel is used), as kerosene tends to gum up stove parts
- Spilled fuel evaporates slowly.
Recommendation – Kerosene burning stoves offer a cheap and versatile fuel option for backpackers that plan on travelling off the beaten track in less developed countries.
METHYLATED SPIRITS OR DENATURED ALCOHOL
While unavailable in some parts of the world, this is the only fuel that does not require pressure for stove operation. Unfortunately, methyl alcohol does not burn at very high temperature and will produce about half the amount of heat as the same weight in gasoline or kerosene.
Pros:
- A renewable fuel resource, low volatility.
- Burns almost silently.
- Alcohol-burning stoves tend to have fewer moving parts than other types, lowering the chance of breakdown.
- Lower heat output, so cooking takes longer and requires more fuel.
Cons:
- Fuel can be hard to find in many countries
Recommendation – These stoves offer an environmentally sensitive option for backpackers and campers who enjoy the quiet of slow burning stoves and are not pushed for time on their travels. It is possible to carry an extremely reliable, light and compact emergency stove, using this as a fuel source and back up stove.