A stove for overnight camping trips or extended backpacking expeditions is an important tool for cooking a warm, delicious meal or boiling water to enjoy a hot drink. There are several kinds of stoves available on the market, and they have different purposes.
Isobutane Canister Stoves
Isobutane stoves burn butane that has been compressed into a pressurized canister, with the stove screwed into the top of the canister. These stoves can quickly boil water for a hot drink or for cooking dinner.
An advantage of these stoves is that they make cooking a quick task, and are lightweight for weekend trips. The disadvantage of isobutene stoves is that one must carry replacement canisters for longer trips, and pack out the empty ones, which can be a lot of extra weight. Canisters can be bought at specialty outdoor shops. Some examples of isobutene stoves include:
- Jetboil Personal Cooking System: designed with a cup that snaps onto stove top for boiling water for hot drinks.
- MSR Pocket Rocket: very lightweight stove with a compact design.
- MSR WindPro Stove: has a stable, three-legged design to support pots.
White Gas Stoves
These camping stoves utilize white gas, which can be stored in refillable fuel bottles when hiking. Stoves that burn white gas are often used on extended backpacking trips, and there are no empty fuel canisters to carry out of the backcountry. White gas can be purchased at outdoor retailer stores, as well as hunting/fishing shops and other stores. Examples of white gas stoves include:
- MSR WhisperLite Shaker Jet: cleans easily by flipping the stove upside down and shaking it to remove carbon.
- MSR DragonFly: easy to adjust flame for cooking.
Multi-Fuel Stoves
Multi-fuel stoves have an advantage in that they can burn different kinds of fuel. This can be an advantage when traveling to countries where traditional camping fuel, such as white gas, is not readily available. Some stoves can burn kerosene, unleaded gasoline, even jet fuel. These fuels do not burn as clean as white gas, and the stove will require cleaning more often to prevent buildup.
- MSR WhisperLite Internationale: includes the shaker jet for easy cleaning.
- Optimus Nova Multi-Fuel Stove: has a compact design.
- Coleman Exponent Feather 442: the fuel compartment is part of the stove, not a separate bottle attached by a tube.
More Information
To find more information about camping stoves and purchasing one, visit REI or EMS online.
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