The choice of a camping stove is first dependent on its use and
second depending on each individual desires. These two terms are
interdependent. If I buy a camp stove for a hiking event, certainly the
lighter the better, except for a person who likes to eat, and needs more
capability. You can cook at a tailgate party with a two burner (total
20,000 BTU) stove or you might want a three burner (30,000 BTU per
Burner) stove which will allow all kinds of cooking and speed.
So first let us break down choice.
1. Hiking Stoves.
2. Camping Stoves
3. Cooking Stoves
4. Party Stoves.
Under
hiking, you will find ultra light, single burner, tablet and other
light weight fuels such as alcohol or propane and butane gas stoves.
There are some ultra light two burner stoves, but they do weigh more.
You might be better with two, single burner stoves. Along with some of
the very light weight stoves come in a kit form with a pan, lid and
sauce pan, Some of the pans have graduated markings for more exotic
cooking. One I have seen allows the stove to be folded up and fits under
a pan which then fits inside two other pans, thus giving you a very
light system if the pans are made of titanium or aluminum alloy. Some
even are designed to hold heat and transfer it to the food quicker. Any
are even Teflon coated to allow cooking without a lot of washing.
Several
companies have a stove that fits on the top of a gas canister. Thus you
can easily carry a canister for your cooking and for light, on a short
trip. These are light and easy to assemble. The pot and pans are usually
separate. I have a light two burner stove that uses butane or propane.
This stove allows for more cooking while being light weight. Thus weight
and space are important when we carry it, and additional weight and
more pans are a choice.
When we think of camping stoves we look at
the old camp site fire, that the old grizzled chief would prepare
biscuits and gravy, or beans and other trail fair. With the advance to a
safer environment, we have sought to build a cooking machine that was
both safe and functional. Coleman introduced us to a stove that worked
under pressure, used white or un-leaded gas and made a great place to
cook.
Many others have followed and many different variations have been
provided. Now we have the choice of many fuels, and systems. Some will
burn almost anything. Some call themselves multi-fuel while truly being
very limited.
But most camp stoves will have one to two burners. Some
have two burner heads, but both work off the same fuel source. One I
know has a separate canister of gas for each burner, thus you really
have two stoves in one. But in a nut shell you have more cooking
capability. They will boil water rapidly, have wind shields, some have
variable burner controls to allow simmer or max burner use.
Some have a
built-in-grill and others have a detached grill that can be added.
Another thing you will find is greater burner heads and cooking space,
and the handle for both stove and pots will be made so that they do not
absorb heat, thus you can pick it up without burning your hand. Many of
these stoves were hard to clean and maintain in the old days (Last
Year), but times are changing and the systems are improved almost daily.
Like cars, a new model comes out almost every year. Some of the
stainless models are very easy to clean. Some use aluminum alloy or
titanium which is very light and easy to clean.
Thus the two
burner stove has become a standard for the old camp fire. The one burner
stoves are made more for individual use or for couples.
This range of
one burners has so many stoves and so many fuels that it is very hard to
keep up with changes and with the different fuels. Even new wood stoves
are appearing which will not scorch the earth or leave a trace.
The
single burner also brings out the purest who seeks the best of cooking,
with the lightest load and the smallest space and weight. There are even
websites where you will find Zin Stoves and data for each along with
fuels. If you are seeking the lightest and the best cookers, be sure and
look for these sites. They are not traps that will force you to a new
religion, but really some good and detailed sites about camp stoves,
their use and the best for any given situation..
When we talk
about cookers we are looking at stoves that can cook for lots of people
are a lot of food at one time.
there are high BTU single burner stoves
that can quick cook a turkey or 100 pounds of catfish. Camp Chief has
built a 3 burner stove with each burner producing 30,000 BTU's.
This
would cook a lot of food quickly, while allowing the cook to vary how
much fuel he was using on each burner, and how much heat he needed. Here
we equal the restaurants as far as cooking capability. Also we see the
stove in an outdoors environment which allows some variety in the foods
prepared and the types of spices used.
Chili, comes to mind along with
Catfish and some exotic brisket, hotdogs, hamburgers and many other fair
that have come about because of outdoor stoves and charcoal cookers
that have been developed. Again need has required a larger stove, not as
portable, but not fixed in the house.
Years ago, Army National Guard
Cooks in Louisiana were taking the old Korea war vintage water carriers,
called water buffaloes, and were converting them into charcoal grills
that could be hauled to anywhere, and unbelievable meals cooked. This
was the early 1970's. It was also a contained system. I have even seen
some cooking on the road, while moving to a new site. Sounds more like
today.
The Party stove ranges from the 3 burner above to some
charcoal and gas with up to six burners and also include infrared
systems and fire starters. Of course do not forget the rotisserie and
maybe even a sink and a refrigerator. This has come about in the last 10
years. These are truly chef stoves for the outdoors. They range in
price from the hundreds to the many thousands. Some allow the cooking of
anything and even have an oven.
To say this is all there is about
stoves, is un-realistic. We need to talk about choice. Every where you
look there is something different. This is caused by choice. Some people
want this and others want that, One guy will want an open burner and a
grill on the same stove. Thus a company will soon be producing the same.
If sales are good, then we see them all over the market.
Someone will
like a brand and see a feature on another stove. He will ask and soon it
will be available. Choice has a big effect on this market.
Coupled with
a need, we have a market that grows every year, and gets more
competitive. I like the choice part. I like to be able to go to several
stores and find camping stoves in several varieties. I enjoy a market
that produces new things with emphasis on safety and on portability.
That might be because of my age and the lighter weights, helping me.
People might think this is innovation from the Far East, but most of the
ideas are backyard America. Some one asked and the company figures a
way to build it.
One more comment on ends and outs. If placed in a
book, it would be a very big book, and most probably very detailed.
Even the breakout into 4 categories, is not sufficient. You can easily
break these areas down farther and add a few, like high altitude stoves,
stoves that start in very wet climates or several different variants.
Some of the pellet stoves will burn almost under water after they start,
and some of them are very toxic, so be careful. Alcohol is light but
does not get real hot. Thus, on goes the variants of both choice and
purpose. People have designed stoves for Mt. Everest where altitude and
pressure are critical as is weight.
We need stoves that work in
the desert, at the lake, in storms or emergency. We need stoves that are
ready for times like hurricanes when we find whole systems like water,
gas and electricity are not available for days.
These stoves will do the
job asked, if you just look for the right stove. Maybe it is not
perfect, because you were looking to take care of too many situations.
We also need to look at times where fuel will be limited, Could we need
more than one type of stove, to conserve fuel. On and on goes need and
choice in determining the right camping stove. We may come to the time
when gas is gone and only wood and solar systems are available. The
market includes some truly wonderful solar ovens and wood stoves that
channel the heat to conserve wood.
As an avid life long camper, Bill Nolan, 75, had see a lot and
developed as deep love for the outdoors and all aspects of camping. He
currently writes and works at a website that sells
Camping Stoves of every kind and seeks to provide one stop shopping for everyone and make us all happy campers. He. has your camping stove.
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