Choosing the one that’s right for you
Perhaps you’re a regular camper and all-round outdoorsy type. Or perhaps you only hit the trails once or twice a year. Either way, a portable camp stove is an essential part of your kit. There may be times where it’s not possible or convenient to cook over a camp fire, and at those times a camping cooking stove can really come in handy.
But how to choose? Browse your local camping supplier or online camping store and you’ll find camp stoves ranging from compact to elaborate, from cheap to rather pricey. Before you commit to a particular camping stove, take a little time to figure out what you actually need.
How?
Do you drive to a park and set up camp? Do you camp out of a car or RV? Or do you hit the trails with everything on your back? Your style of camping greatly determines how much you can carry. While the size of your stove may vary slightly, you should look for a stove that is easy to transport and requires minimal setup.
Your stove should sit stable on its base and not tip easily. You won’t always have a flat countertop to cook on, so you need something that will be sufficiently sturdy and stable. A good rule of thumb: if a stove seems wobbly or less than stable, avoid it.
When?
How about the time of year? Will you just camp during summer vacation? Or do you plan to be out during the winter as well?
If you’re out in the heat of summer, consider the fuel you’ll be burning in your stove. Some burn hotter than others, and cooking can quickly become unpleasant if the stove is too hot for the weather. So consider your heat source:
- Alcohol burns cooler, but is hard to find abroad.
- Kerosene is cheap and widely available, and though it burns dirty, it is safer than other fuels due to its slower rate of evaporation.
- Unleaded gasoline is also easy to procure, though it is both a dirty fuel and a dangerous one. Spills can quickly ignite into a dangerous blaze.
- White gas is an inexpensive and efficient fuel. It’s definitely the best option, though it’s not widely available outside the US.
If you’re not sure exactly what you’ll need, a multi-fuel stove might be the best choice for you.
With Who?
Are you heading out solo or with a buddy? Are you camping with your whole family? If you have a group of more than four, you may want to consider a two-burner portable camp stove [http://www.ez-camping.com]. The two burners make it possible to heat more food at once, getting grub to your hungry troops as quickly as possible.
Remember though, that a two-burner stove will be heavier and less portable, so this is probably a better option if you’re planning to stay in one spot. If you’re hiking or climbing â€" especially with a very small group â€" definitely avoid these heavier two-burner options.
Perhaps you’re a regular camper and all-round outdoorsy type. Or perhaps you only hit the trails once or twice a year. Either way, a portable camp stove is an essential part of your kit. There may be times where it’s not possible or convenient to cook over a camp fire, and at those times a camping cooking stove can really come in handy.
But how to choose? Browse your local camping supplier or online camping store and you’ll find camp stoves ranging from compact to elaborate, from cheap to rather pricey. Before you commit to a particular camping stove, take a little time to figure out what you actually need.
How?
Do you drive to a park and set up camp? Do you camp out of a car or RV? Or do you hit the trails with everything on your back? Your style of camping greatly determines how much you can carry. While the size of your stove may vary slightly, you should look for a stove that is easy to transport and requires minimal setup.
Your stove should sit stable on its base and not tip easily. You won’t always have a flat countertop to cook on, so you need something that will be sufficiently sturdy and stable. A good rule of thumb: if a stove seems wobbly or less than stable, avoid it.
When?
How about the time of year? Will you just camp during summer vacation? Or do you plan to be out during the winter as well?
If you’re out in the heat of summer, consider the fuel you’ll be burning in your stove. Some burn hotter than others, and cooking can quickly become unpleasant if the stove is too hot for the weather. So consider your heat source:
- Alcohol burns cooler, but is hard to find abroad.
- Kerosene is cheap and widely available, and though it burns dirty, it is safer than other fuels due to its slower rate of evaporation.
- Unleaded gasoline is also easy to procure, though it is both a dirty fuel and a dangerous one. Spills can quickly ignite into a dangerous blaze.
- White gas is an inexpensive and efficient fuel. It’s definitely the best option, though it’s not widely available outside the US.
If you’re not sure exactly what you’ll need, a multi-fuel stove might be the best choice for you.
With Who?
Are you heading out solo or with a buddy? Are you camping with your whole family? If you have a group of more than four, you may want to consider a two-burner portable camp stove [http://www.ez-camping.com]. The two burners make it possible to heat more food at once, getting grub to your hungry troops as quickly as possible.
Remember though, that a two-burner stove will be heavier and less portable, so this is probably a better option if you’re planning to stay in one spot. If you’re hiking or climbing â€" especially with a very small group â€" definitely avoid these heavier two-burner options.
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