Thanks for explaining the differences between the stoves. I didn't realize the blue one doesn't recharge itself. TIP: When using the kettle pot, don't position one of the vents in the bottom of the pot over the plastic housing for the fan, it can melt it. EBay has a few stoves for sale with this melt damage!
I did a 5 day backpacking hike on the foothills trail in 4 days carrying a 35 lb pack which included the BioLite "camp" stove and kettle pot. I'm 5'3" and weigh 135 lbs and I'm 65 yrs. old. I cooked 2 meals a day. I liked the fact that fuel was all around me in the form of easy to gather twigs and it recharges it's own fan battery every time it is fired up making it totally off grid. I recently did a 3 day 50 mile hike on the same trail with a 31 lb. pack using the BioLite "cook" stove. It was a bit lighter. Most backpackers would prefer lighter stoves. I like the BioLite stoves immensely. I have done many camping trips with a vehicle and of course the weight of the stove is not a factor then and the stoves are awesome. To me the kettle pot makes those stoves very efficient and I would recommend them with the stoves. The Biolite stoves are much safer in my opinion than the alcohol stoves I have used but then again there is the weight factor that many backpackers would like to avoid. I own about everything BioLite makes and I am very impressed with all their quality inventions. The solar panel 5+ recharges all of our Biolite gear and is worth checking out if you like being totally off grid with all cooking and lighting needs. Of course their stuff can be charged with a usb port too. I also own the much larger BioLite "basecamp" stove but use it very seldom since it is best suited for larger needs and our kids are all grown and gone. I bought all my kids the basecamp stove for their family preparedness situations but it is amazing how the little BioLite camp stove performs with the kettle pot and would be adequate for many needs. Hope this was helpful for those like myself who like this kind of information. :)
Metric system retarded while US army use it for ammunition and what not..right The United States is also the only country using this inaccurate system. You always end up with decimals..
I have the camp stove. I've used it many times without failure. It doesn't just charge cell phones. It will charge any USB rechargeable device. I've used it with a standard (AA, AAA, CR123, etc...) battery charger, my rechargeable head lamp, my rechargeable radio, my rechargeable hand held ham radios and my rechargeable flashlights. It works for a heating stove and a cook stove. It's one of the best pieces of kit I own...Way better than any chemical fuel stoves that I've used.
@@owendigity1581CampStove 2 is the most powerfull woodstove Period (Depends on the user)...i admit its harder to keep it very hot but its so much hotter than anything else
For your pots: get the biolite cookpot it's so freaking amazing and the stove and thermoelectric generator fit right inside slick as a whistle. I love mine! I have the whole shebang for this beauty. I love that the camp stove charges itself... no love for the cook stove because it needs to be wall charged and I think that sucks. PS. Pellets in this thing are amazing.... a cup of pellets boils your water and a full chamber does dinner nicely on the grill!! About the grill... there's specified, in the instructions, a hot zone, medium and a cool zone.. you'll never get it even all over. Brown by the feeder and move back to finish works well.. have to say it takes getting used to but generally a great system.
I like your video. You did a really good job in demonstrating it. I was just thinking it'd be nice if someone did demonstrate the stoves. Thank You for including the links.
I was just at REI yesterday and saw a this I am surprised at this product I didn't really know what it did at the store thank you so much your channel is amazing and I also love camping
Thanks! I went with the CampStove Bundle. I found the best deal at lowes for $159. Can wait to try it on my first camping trip. The bundle has the grill, like the new one has, and it come with a light.
I got the Camp Stove 2 with the grill. It works great. One needs some practise with the right amount of „fuel“ but after a few tests, it is pretty easy.. The only disadvantage, if I am allowed to call it this way, is the time to wait until it is cooled down.... But that is something you have to deal with. I can recommend it.
I have one and take it camping most times, great item to use and helpful in charging my GPS and phone when in the hills/mountains.... Nice handy item...
these stoves are awesome. I just purchased a bundle package, with the stove, grill top, and some lights. Simple easy to use and charges your phone. Going to pre order a Base Lantern XL as well.
Do you happen to know of any molle water bottle pouches that the cook stove can fit into? I currently own the cook stove and think it would be pretty nice to have it on the outside of my bag rather than the inside. Thanks!
I have the older version and the fan noise doesn't bother me at all. You can add fuel if you use wood pellets. I use pellets in mine and it burns a long time and you don't have to keep adding sticks. I have the stove 2 now. It is brand new for late 2016 early 2017. I plan on reviewing it soon. These are the best little stoves. I love them.
I also have the kettle pot and the grill. The campstove fits into the kettle pot so it doesn't take up any more room than the pot. The grill is good because if you are cooking something greasy like burgers the grease goes into the burn chamber as fuel so clean up is easy. Also the kettle pot comes with a silicone bowl and the cover for the grill can be used as a cutting board and your dinner plate. Less things to pack. I use it when I go kayak camping or partying on the spit at low tide
Thanks for the review, ive had one for two years and still haven't taken it outta the box but now im thinking,its small and will be perfect for my bus, I like the bio light pellets you can buy for it.Handy for emegencys, too put in yr car or truck ice fishing hut, boat,back packing for sure:)
I have the original CampStove and though it is bulky it fits perfectly in one of the pockets of my rucksack. I love it, and the sound letting me know it is going gives me that assurance that my usb corded items will stay charged. I backpack with it no matter where I am, back yard, park, or Appalachian Mountains. I love it. I do not have the new version but might get it as a back up incase something happens to the original one but all and all, I don't backpack anywhere without my BioLite CampStove.
Thanks for the review. I have been thinking on one of these and was worried about how functional it was. Looks like you have a slow charger and have to constantly fill it with wood.
@1:48 "BK2 for the win" so... I guess it is Ka-Bar Becker BK2. Check out Fallkniven knifes before buying anything. If you can find one that you like, and you can accept the price for the quality, you will be set for life! At least that happened to me with their A1.
Went camping last weekend in Big South Fork River and Recreation Area in Tennessee. Other people coming by saw my Biolite camp stove and you should have heard the people making jealous comments. When they saw that I was only using small sticks for fuel people began to covet everywhere. It was awesome.
That is one thorough review, you deserve more subscribers! I was wondering: What material are those outer things made of? (orange and cyan colored parts) Is there a danger that the material melts from the heat?
Can anyone attest to the lifespan of this stove. Im planning a 3 month river kayak trip and would prefer to avoid having to carry numerous gas canisters so this seems a great option (plus it charges itself and other devices). My main concern is heat damage to the power unit or possible corrosion/oxidation from heat.
I have a BioLite Camp stove and a Base Camp. I haven't taken the opportunity to use the base camp yet, but I've used the camp stove several times. The stove does need feeding a lot but still actually uses very little fuel overall. Mine came with a pot stand for smaller pots. I would recommend the camp stove to anyone. It's a good idea to charge the camp stove before you use it (this is a recommendation in the instructions). The grill attachment does take some getting used to as it does heat unevenly but it is still very workable. The grill is also a little hard to clean.
We usually just use whatever we can find that has fallen, there is a lot of easy to gather biomass out there. Most of the camping areas where I live only have various pine so that's mostly what we use.
You had mentioned that the sound was higher for the one stove and stated that it might keep you awake, I would think that is great, I don't think it would be safe to go to sleep while it is burning.
Thanks for the demo, an interesting stove. I'll stick to the MSR Dragonfly though. It looks like the BioLite stove/s get pretty dirty from wood and then to pack it. I'd say your pots get dirty also. The phone recharging is nice. What would happen if the stove was out all night in a heavy rain or got submerged in water(electrical parts)?
If the fan portion gets wet it is toast, the circuit boards are not protected if water gets in there. There is a video out there that shows the innards. Keep it dry and you are good to go.
Great review Ben! I have the Original as well, along with the same kettle. Works really good and agree you will need a wider item to set on the top of the stove. Keep up the great videos!
not as of yet.. It's in my car kit as it was mentioned. But that does sound like a good test too. Their Charge Kettle I have been looking at for awhile, but do not have it. I have mine nested with the BioLite stove inside my 1 ltr kettle in the provided pouch and then inside a Red Dry Bag for quick ID and everything is self contained.
Larry Norris There are some other options, like the Power Pot. I believe I heard it was a more efficient thermo exchanger than the one found in the biolite stove (which I think charges faster, but at lower amperage than the kettle). I haven't seen a lot of direct comparisons, so it's all still a little ethereal for me.
yes, heavier stove but we must consider that unlike a propane or gasoline stove you do not have the weight of the fuel in your pack, so it comes out even in the end.
Got all 3 and like the new yellow 2+ more than the other 2 . The first blue one without the thermocoupler is nice just for an extra, i also take some gel fuel with its easier to get a fire
Strange about that cradle at the top, I guess they want you to buy their kettles. Question: Have you tried it with wood thats a bit damp, or other sources like pine cones, etc. Wondering how it would perform.
I have to say I'm really interested in the original. I like that it charges itself and my phone. The mug/pot is pretty cool too that would make one awesome cup of coffee in the morning!
Nice work! I'm very interested to see the comparison! Also very curious to see what you think of it after more usage. A common issue for all wood gasification stoves is the build up of ash and the need to stop the fire, let the stove cool, dump the ash, and restart the fire. If you're just boiling some water for a couple of quick meals this isn't likely to ever be a big issue. If you're intending to fully charge a device or two this may be a become a challenge
+zero11010 i will certainly be using it much much more and for longer periods. had it going for about an hour or so today and there was so little ash build up it was great. easy to dump over and relight though so i don't see it being an issue.
I'm not sure about the stove (camp stove) I was going to buy one for while I am building my cabin but it doesn't look stable, I don't think it would work in that situation. I'm now wondering if you can buy the charge controller part for use in other woodstoves as it would be handy to have something to recharge my phone.
Living Survival I was looking at it and thinking I might be able to rig it up to my woodstove which probably burns much hotter and would probably give a better charge. ..of course I don't want to melt the thing lol!
Screw the noise complaints. The fact that the fire runs the fan AND charges your phone is a big plus. Also I heard about this kelly kettle. But do they make them in different sizes?
In the instruction sheet for the "portable grill", it's mentioned that different areas of the grill do have different temperatures. So, yes, you do need to adapt your cooking methods to use the grill. That said, I'm very happy with my Biolite Bundle. I have seen that LED lamp available as an accessory, and I don't think it comes with the standard bundle. But, I might just get it one of these days. I also have the Nano-Grid, which is a great system.. very useful. Good quality gear from Biolite.
I really like the ability to recharge devices that the Camp Stove offers. Their new solar panel looks nice, but the Stove will work at night and in bad weather.
Before I get into the comments and constructive criticism I want to thank you for making the video. I appreciate the comparison. What I am trying to understand is why you took so long to put the water on the flames when it was very clear the fire was not going to go out. As far as getting small pots / cups to fit on top of stoves, it seems a no brainer to use a multitool to rig a tin can and/or a coat hanger into a platform that would support odd shapes. I might even be possible to set a pair of metal tent stakes across the top of stove to do the job. It seems a waste to run the stove to only generate power. Can you use the battery of the camp stove to charge devices when it isn't burning fuel? I really like the design concept, but the price is rather high balanced against the cost of making something yourself out of scavenged/cannibalized parts i.e. a coffee can, capacitor, computer fan, a old USB cable and various parts to control the voltage and the fan. It seems a nice piece of kit for those who like to buy the win. What I really want to know is how well is it made in the long term. Will they work for more that a year or two?
I think it's wonderful that you and your lady get out and do this. I love her thermal under shirt with the thumb hole cut out. You both did a very good job!!!! My only question is if they make something like the charger fan for the kelly kettle... Also... the Kelly kettle seems to produce a much higher heat and faster boiling temperature. Could you do a fair cross comparison?
Living Survival Have you ever watched Survival Lilly videos? She gets pretty natural sometimes about building fires, and once made a rocket-like stove out of stones and digging a tunnel in the dirt.
Your video is beautiful but people in our country don't have the money to buy one. I love it biolite camp stove 2 I wish you to make such a beautiful video
Another good review. Seems to me like they should have thought about a better stand/heat sink to transfer the energy. It's all about draft. I personally like the emberlit better for a wood burner just because of sheer weight. Keep the vids coming!
can you buy the thermal generator separate? This would work fabulous in my arctic oven tent with wood stove. heat my tent and charge my phone at the same time.
Really like the BioLite stove, but weird thing happened at our campout in January. Guy was charging his Iphone 6 and it kept shutting off not allowing it to charge due to the cold. Even wrapped it into a mitten and it still wouldn't take a charge. Went inside, plugged it into one of those battery pods and charged right up. BTW, hunkering down for the Snowmageddon hitting the state? Where I am, we're looking at over a inch of rain but "maybe 1-2 inches of snow. keep safe!
