The team at Great Walks answer your gear questions.
Q: I want to buy a camp stove but I don't know if I should buy a spirit burner or one run on gas. Is there a big difference?
Gary Christal, Marion, SA
A: Choosing a stove and billy system can be extremely confusing as combinations and permutations seem endless. But never fear, there is an easy way to make your decisions simpler, just answer these questions:
- How many consecutive days do you use the stove for? If your trips are for one to five days then gas is an option, for trips of more than five days liquid fuel stoves become more attractive.
- Are you using the stove only in Australia, or do you want to take it overseas? Finding gas canisters can be problematic in some countries, or even in some rural areas of Australia. Liquid fuels are easy to find, but you’ll need to keep an eye on fuel quality.
- Are you only boiling water or do you want to cook fresh ingredients? Even simple camp-gourmet meals can use up a surprising amount of fuel, especially when you start simmering.
So the bottom line is that for trips that require shorter cooking times (eg just boiling water, or short duration) or when weight is of little or no issue then gas is great. In fact, I love carrying a small easy-to-use gas stove to make a quick brew of tea on longer day walks.
But if you are on a longer trip either domestically or overseas, especially to developing countries, or if you are cooking for longer periods (larger group size or you’re a gourmet) then liquid fuel stoves are probably more appropriate, but remember to take a field maintenance kit!