Backpacking Stoves

Stoves Designed for Adventure

Camped on the edge as the sun begins its ascent into the sky above, the stove begins to whine as it starts up and the flames begin to encompass the bottom of the pot.  It is time for that morning coffee for a day of adventure will soon begin.  The type of stove you can carry up to places like this depends on such variables as the restrictions in the area you are hiking and the availability of fuel. 

THE BASICS

Alcohol Stove
Sometimes referred to as spirit burners, they primarily use denatured alcohol as a fuel source.  They are simple to use and have no moving parts therefore they are maintenance free.  The burner consist of an inner and outer chamber.  The inner chamber is lit and heat build up causes the fuel in the outer chamber to vaporize and as pressure increases the vapors are forced out of the jets and these vapors are in turn ignited by the flame in the inner chamber.

Canister Stove
They rely upon propane/isobutane canisters as fuel.  The unit consists of pot supports, a burner and a valve which screws unto the top of a canister.  They are relatively lightweight, efficient, and easy to use. Some stoves in this category are capable of boiling two cups of water in approximately two and half minutes.  

Remote Canister Stove
They also use propane/isobutane canisters. This unit consist of pot supports, a burner, a valve, and a stand which folds down around the stove. The stove is connected to the canister by a hose.  The burner sitting closer to the ground helps negate the effects of the wind and makes the stove more stable.  Another advantage is that in colder temperatures the canister can be inverted which will help increase fuel pressure. 

Liquid Fuel Stove
These stoves use white gas, jet fuel, diesel, or kerosene as fuel.  The stove unit consist of pot supports, a burner with housing, and folding legs which collapse around the stove.  Fuel is fed from the fuel bottle to the burner through a flexible fuel line.  To start the stove the fuel bottle needs to be pressurized by pumping and the stove needs to be primed by filling the priming bowl with fuel and igniting which heats the line and vaporizes the fuel further increasing the pressure. You can then adjust the flame by using the valve.  These stoves are ideal for very cold conditions.

Wood Burning Stove
Often referred to as Twig Stoves.  These stoves will burn combustible material such as pine cones, leaves, twigs, and small branches.  Most stoves in this category can also be used as pot support for an alcohol stove.