My default stove is a Fancee Feest alcohol stove like the one in this vid. However, I have to admit, i do really enjoy my Solo Lite. If you load it right (top down burn), it is very efficient and fun to use. You can't be in a hurry., but there's something soothing about feeding the fire and relaxing while you wait for the water to boil.
I picked up a Firebox stove that I have been using lately. It is heavier then the Solo Lite. But folds up nicely. There is nothing better than cooking on a camp fire or on a wood burning stove. Other than these. My favorite stove is the Fancee Feest stove. That thing is almost always with me. They work well even in the extreme temperatures. Thank you for sharing that and watching McLost in The Woods. I really appreciate it.
The gassifing stove is my four season stove .Wood pellets long burn . Top down burn and you can regulate the heat by the amount of fuel you use to begin with , wrap your pot-in tin foil or coat with soap . Small foot print . Cooks every thing etc. Now not bashing your vid its awesome.takes a lot of work and time thank you. Best from B.C Canada keep up the excellent work and adventures. learned a lot from your vids.I love my Ohuhu Stove.. No comment on the Solo except way over price but the got many sizes . Bush buddies a different category compared to the Gassifier stove in safety etc but i think im rambling now . Thank again .you rock
The WhisperLite Universal is a great choice for the do all solution or for prepper. You can use it with gas cartridges as well. That's the ultimate universal burner solution. From experience in Scotland I can say though: most of the smaller outdoor shops often enough do not sell white gas because of alleged safety concerns or the possibility for their customers to burn down their tents. As if that wasn't an option with gas cartridges. Was very annoying. Had to try 5 different shops until we had fuel because we couldn't bring it on the plane. Lesson: do your research BEFORE you fly somewhere on how to get the last things for your trip. The further north we got the more likely it was to have a decent shop around that sells more serious gear. I mean, they could burn petrol from the petrol station but with all the additives in that stuff ... no thank you Other great stoves: MSR Reactor (it's gas cartridge burner but it beats the WhisperLite on white gas almost by a factor of 2 in terms of l of water per oz of fuel - but you cannot regulate the heat, it just boils stuff) MSR WindBurner (close to the Reactor in terms of efficiency but you can regulate the heat)
I have used that stove for over 20 years or so. Great all around stove. I will use my WhisperLite for winter camping mostly. Even in extreme cold temperatures , it is my go to stove. Thank you diotough for sharing that. Very good info.
I've never been backpacking, but I very much want to--and so I've been starting to watch videos like this one. You did a really great job explaining the different kinds of stoves and their pros and cons. Thank you!
Backpacking is not that difficult. Mater of fact. It is pretty easy. Just first start out with a over night in the back yard to get some experience. Lean the things that works for you. Than you are ready for the woods. Let me know how it goes. Thank you for watching Nathan. I really appreciate it.
thanks for making these 101 videos! My boyfriend and I are to learn how to hike & camp at primitive sites and it's over whelming. It was also frustrating because I kept finding these, like, suburban "outdoors" people who were just trying to get me to buy their shit??? I want to learn how to camp, not how many unused camp stoves you got laying around. It was really unhelpful to hear their opinions but I was glad I found your channel! :D Leave it to a Marine to be blunt and have footage of themselves DOING the backpacking LOL I SUPER appreciate all your videos!!!
Really nice overview video. Two quick things I would throw out there: wood gasification stoves work best if you fully load them up with wood before you start them (also reduces how long you have to wait, as you do not have to single-stick-feed them), and secondly, taking a piece of the carbon felt and putting it underneath esbit is a great bit of extra ground protection to prevent ground burn. I have burned through probably a thousand tablets using the same piece of carbon felt, that stuff lasts for freaking ever.
1:19 all those reasons you stated for carrying a stove are absolutely correct. There's also the *other* big reason: fire bans. Quite frequent around here in certain places, especially in summer. When I was a kid, I had an alcohol stove but it went missing somewhere along the years. I got a nice folding gas stove (Doite Spider) and canisters and that was all well and good but now I've just bought a Trangia alcohol stove because I missed my old one so much. Far lighter than the Spider and a plastic bottle of denatured alcohol ("methylated spirits") weighs a lot less than a metal canister of propane/butane as well. Unlike my old alcohol stove, the Trangia has a simmer ring and a screw lid to seal it after use. *Thank you so bloody much* for showing how to tell how much gas is left in the canister! In all my years of lugging partially-full canisters and a full "spare" (just in case the other runs out) up and down the hills, I've never seen that technique before. Every day's a school day - especially on this channel. Now I know how to check how much gas I've used, I'll seldom have to use the technique because I'll be able to top up my alcohol bottle between camping trips :) Still handy to know when using the gas cooker, though.
@@AdventureswiththeMarine no major trips planned hope to get out on a few 1-2 nighters. Actually slept in the wood behind my house last evening. Take Care
Great video. Still undecided on which one I’m going to take on my first 50 mile hike on the beginning of the A.T. In Georgia. I’m leaning to the cat can. Looking forward to your next video about how to pack a backpack.
I have used both alcohol and jetboil. Have been think of getting a folding wood stove. Just like you said there are drawbacks. Another great video. Cant wait for the next one.
I like how the "alternative" stove is the wood burning stove xD 100 years ago that' was ur primary stove, any fuel stove woulda been the alternative , great reviews man
Great video man! I plan on taking a motorcycle trip through many western states and am swaying toward the canned gas as I'm not wanting to deal with liquids leaking. I might take some chem. blocks as well. TY
best vid out there on the topic i've seen. i have several stoves, and they all serve there purpose, but my favorite is still the isobutane canister due to ease of use and versatility.
Hey Brother, great Video I’ve been sharing them with the Parents of my Scouts on the off chance the lads did retain anything I told them during troop meetings. Believe it or not yer saying the same info I say most be cause of our brotherhood. Semper Fi! YAT-YAS!
Have a couple stoves but always go back to the alcohol 'Penny Stove' I made about 15yrs ago with the Heineken mini keg (24oz?) can with the raised rings_ it's the best. Too bad they stopped using that can because with their shape, size and extra thickness none of the cans available today work quite as well. The simmer ring works great, it weighs nothing and with a little care will last forever.
There is nothing like making something that is very useful. And you are so right. With little care. It will last forever. I was taught. If you take care of your gear. Your gear will take care of you. Thank you Bravo21 for watching. I really appreciate it.
Actually a canister stove is faster to boil because you have to factor in the start up process of the white gas stove. In the south freeze is almost never an issue and wind blowing out the stove had never been a problem. So for my personal applications and personal preference the canister is my favorite. I will never have liquid fuel in inadvertently spill or leak in my pack and I have heard the wind screen myth about overheating a canister and never heard of an actual occurrence where a canister blew up.
Awesome video Bro... love the way you demonstrated all those stoves... you convinced me which stove to buy... thxs buddy... i subscribed to your channel...
Thanks heaps for the heads up on the wind screen. I have a Jet boil i plan on using in the back country and was gonna make up a screen for it. You may have just saved my eyebrows...
Alcohol stoves are often banned in California due to fire safety issues. The ease with which the fuel can be spilled and the nearly invisible flames make it a risk. Personally, I use a Jetboil "cartridge" stove ( the MiniMo). It has a "flux ring" built into the special pot that greatly reduces the effect of wind and enhances the transfer of heat. Also, the pot screws onto the stove so it is MUCH more tip resistant than other stoves. I use it for backpacking and I am continually amazed at how quickly I can set it up and get a pot of boiling water. Additionally, the pot comes with a cozy which helps it retain heat and makes it easier to handle. At 14 oz for the stove, pot and lid, it is certainly not the lightest option, but IMO it makes up for that in reliability and ease of use.
I have yet to try the Jetboil. I have nothing but good things about them. I will have to pick one up. Thank you for watching and the great info QuietStorm. I really appreciate it.
Great tips and demonstrations! Thank you! I do have a few questions about the alcohol stove. 1. Can you use rubbing alcohol instead of the Heet stuff? It looks like there's antifreeze in it and I wouldn't want to spill that in a forest or breathe that in. 2. How long would you estimate 1oz of alcohol would burn? 3. How hot is the stove after the flame has died? How quickly does it cool down and is ready to be repacked? I look forward to your guidance. Thanks again!
Unfortunately rubbing alcohol has isopropyl in it which dose not burn that great in a Alcohol Stove. I will pour the Heet in a bottle with a squirt top that dose not leek. Then I put the bottle in baggie. I am very careful that it dose not spill everywhere. ( I am big on leaving no trace behind ). 1oz of alcohol will burn on the average stove for about 10 minutes. With a simmer ring. Over 20 minutes. Because most stoves are made of thin aluminum. They cool down fairly quick. Thank you again for watching and your question and comment KaGirl606.
The 70ish% rubbing alcohol will work. It is not as efficient and smokes more..The 90+% alcohol (which is also available in most drug stores) works as well as the Heet (which comes in a least two different formulations too) or the denatured alcohol found in drug stores. The issue isn't they type of alcohol as much as how diluted it is.
Great video and great trick to estimate how much gas is left in the canister! :) By the way: During summertime, I usually boil 20 fl oz (about 600ml) of water with 20ml of alcohol with my Sidewinder Cone.
I like the alcohol stoves basically the Evernew Appalachian set in titanium. The whole mess weighs 5.8 ounces and the main part doubles as a wind screen , stove holder and pot holder. Plus it can be used as a wood burning stove if push comes to shove. Speaking of wood burning stoves.... My favorite is the Solo Stove lite. I coupled it with a titanium cup ( Snow Peak 900 ml and Titanium lid )i. For a total weight , without the stuff sacks , 13.0 ounces. Replacing the stainless steel 900 ml ( total set weight of 16.8 ounces ) solo stove offers. The other benefit with the solo stove lite is it can be used with a alcohol burner , Trangia or a Trangia clone or even a Evernew titanium burner. Easy way to get a hot meal without any wood or wet wood. Wet Wood , StillNo Problem !!!! There is one more benefit... by itself it can be a alcohol burner. The ash pan in the bottom of it is exactly like the Bush Buddies and will hold alcohol which can be ignited and cooked over , ideally to boil water in a hurry. I have done it with mine and it will boil two cups of water really fast. I'm sure the folks at solo stove would not approve of the following but it does work really well. Here is where I got that information.........TomsBackwoods ....ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LmD9zBaPgVQ.html
My kids are now grown. They tell me that there fondest memories are when we would take them camping every year. Now they are taking there kids camping. Great family time. Thank you for watching and your comment Maria. I really appreciate it.
I have an old Peak One Multi Fuel stove that's awesome.. I switched to that from MSR and sold the MSR... For quick jobs, I use me FF stove, for overnights I'll use my Emberlit UL ti stove.. Good job on the idiosyncrasies of stoves!..
I bought a Peak One Stove ( which was only white gas ). about 40 years ago. And used that stove for many years. It was a great stove. Unfortunately it finally died on me a few years back. Thanks again for watching The Video Stump.
I am heading down to the Wisconsin Frozen Butt Hang on Friday. It has been in the high 30s to mid 40s. We where going to hike in with our Pulk. But the snow is almost gone. It just may be the sweaty Butt Hang.
I measure my butane blend fuel level with a digital scale when I’m home. Then I can judge if a used canister contains enough fuel for what I maybe cooking, based on the length of the trip and number of meals and people etc. I get a weight on a full can and then an empty can. Then I can get a fairly accurate level (it helps to use the same size and manufacture)Not that I’m a gram weeny,but like many other backpackers I have a digital scale and don’t need to fill a bucket with water and guess at a float mark. I write the weight on the bottom of the partial canister with sharpie, along with the date for my own reference.
Air travel with a stove has been problematic for several years now. The stated TSA regulations are reasonable, from the TSA website "Camp stoves are allowed in carry-on or checked bags only if they are empty of all fuel and cleaned so that no fuel vapors or residue remain." But also remember (also from the TSA website) "The final decision rests with the TSA officer on whether an item is allowed through the checkpoint." At least some airlines impose additional requirements that make taking anything but a brand new stove risky. From the United Airlines baggage regulations. ". . . stoves . . . that use liquid fuel, propane, butane or similar fuels will not be accepted as baggage unless they are brand-new, the fuel source is removed or the fuel has been purged. If the fuel has been purged, the equipment must be accompanied by a letter from the company that purged the fuel" Please note I am not sure of how we should understand the "or" in "removed or . . . purged." One way to understand this phrase is the either removal or purging should be sufficient. But I somehow doubt the United understands it that way.
@@AdventureswiththeMarine I subscribed. I've been back country camping lately in the hammock. I'd rather watch your videos since it doesn't seem like an advertisement for gear.
Been using the same MSR Whisperlite for 24 years now and the same canisters I bought with it. Funny thing is that they still cost the same amount today as what I paid all those years ago when I was 15...
I’d like to see a comparison of different canister stoves (the second one in your video). I see the $15 ones on amazon and the $50 ones at REI, but what’s the difference? Thank you for these backpacking 101 videos! Looking forward to the next one.
Usually the main difference in these lower priced products are due to inferior materials used that won't stand the test of time or it could be a new company, with a quality product, trying to break into this market. I haven't personally tested the $15 ones so I feel I couldn't present a fair assessment. If you do buy the one from amazon, I would love to hear your feedback. Thank you for watching and your comment Meredith Ralls. I really appreciate it.
I pretty much stick to my twig stove. I just use the Ohuhu which has been around for cheap on amazon. If I’m going for a week. I may bring my little alcohol stove with enough alcohol for a couple boils just in case
Charlie i still have it but I don’t carry it nearly as much. It works just fine but more of a hassle. I got a cheap alcohol stove and my first one I made from an old aluminum water bottle. Any alcohol will work but I use HEET which is controversial cuz it’s not the safest but a bottle is $1.49
All of the above...depending on the situation. Usually some combination of alcohol stove and/or a Ti Firebox Nano. All the others are mostly for tinkering or car camping so far. S/F
Great review and comments. Some time ago, I purchased one of these devices that generates electricity, using the heat from the flame. I forget the name of the device but is worked reasonably well as a stove but the electricity that it generated went mostly to run a fan that pushed air at the flame. it took hours to recharge for the device to generate enough electricity to recharge an iPhone. I used it to make tea and to heat up soup. It wasn’t that hot or big enough to cook steaks or even fried rice. It seems to me that a real fire would be better both for warmth and cooking; on the other hand, given all the fires that have been occurring in many parts of the United States, it is likely that there will be bans on fires in most National Parks in the coming years and certainly in the West. What is the safest way of cooking with the least risk of fire? Are any devices that one can use for cooking that does not have an open flame?
Thank you for sharing that Wise Young. I prefer the Alcohol stove. There easy to use. No moving parts to break down. And I believe they are one of the safest. Probably the safest would be some type of heat tabs. But they are still a flame. Some day we will have some type of battier operated backpacking stove. But for now, this is what we have that works the best. Thank you foe watching.
Well, looks to me like a man should have more than one option even if option two is just a grill to put over a fire. Yeah...I’m one of those....”Two is One and One is None” guys. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.👍⛺️🔥
Good while this video can provide comparable good info. for some, the initial statement "one type of equipment that you are always going to need" is not the case. A stove is a luxury item. There are many options and one is going stoveless, in the opinion of many very exp. thru hikers, doing so keeps things very simple and very easy to do. if interested there are plenty of going stoveless videos ava.
The no windscreen policy is such bad service. I have thrown several canisters on large open fires for a laugh (once almost got skewed by shrapnel which embedded itself in a tree trunk right next to my face) and they always make a loud snappy "ding" noise from the bottom being forcefully pushed out to a convex when the gas inside expands, fairly long before the explosion. So its not like it just happens out of nowhere, you get a very audible warning if your canister might blow.
I’ve got a twig stove& the Trangia. The Trangia isn’t ultra light, 900 gramm with pots& pan, but it’s simple in use. And you get Alcohol everywhere around the world. Also, it’ll last generations.
I was just ten miles south of Canada last week in the BWCA. I always love to use a fire when I can. But other wise I will use the white gas stove to melt snow for water. And the alcohol stove for cooking dehydrated foods or for a cup of hot chocolate.
I got lucky my grandmother actually got me a jetboil for my first backpacking stove now that I've been backpacking and camping and Hiking for a while now I honestly don't even use it that much I mainly just use little rocket stove but I just started trying alcohol stoves
Too many backpacking trips I've ended up being the one servicing all the white gas stoves in the group at the first campsite. So I end up smelling like white gas the whole trip. I've gathered a couple of alcohol stoves, a tiny and remote cannister stove, and one of those wood gas stoves. Just need to get the kids out backpacking.
White gas is my go to stove in the deep winter. Kids are our greatest resource. Get them out and make some memories. Thank you for watching Brian. i really appreciate it.
This the 2nd vid of yours I've watched, and the 1st comment I've made (definitely not the last.) Have you used the old Swedish Svea123 stove? Over my years of backpacking on Colorado's Front Range, I've used a lot of different stoves, but my favorite was the Svea123 with the Sigg Tourist cookset.
@@AdventureswiththeMarine They worked just fine, didn't care about temperature. One of my friends used to use the Hank Roberts EFI Mini Stove, an item no longer made, that used butane/propane cylinders. One snow caving trip to Brainard Lake in Colorado left him without a stove unless he put the cylinder under his jacket. He used my Svea or my buddy's Optimus 8R. There was a product called "Fire Paste" you could use to prime it. You squeezed a little into the small dip and light it. Within a minute or two you had a good flame going. I have no idea how cold it has to be for white gas to freeze, but I'll certainly never be somewhere that cold.
@@AdventureswiththeMarine We'd set a piece of ensolite foam on the ground, and put a board, a flat pan, whatever we had for the stove to sit on. Put in some Fire Paste and start cooking. Before we found Fire Paste, we had one of those fuel tank lids with the pump that pressurized the tank, however when you opened the valve, liquid fuel started shooting out and it'd run down the side. That could be dangerous, so when we discovered the paste, that was all we used. I eventually got an MSR XGK stove which would burn and cook with anything flammable, but it was the Svea with the Sigg Tourist kit I always used growing up.
@@random_eskimo_in_the_rockies White gas is the best for cold temperatures. I have used it as cold as around 30 below zero. You are so right. You definitely have to prime them. Thank you for the great tips. The Svea stove will be the next stove that I will get. I will be using it next winter.
Whisperlite is what I use in the winter time. And I got a Firebox ( which I love ) for my birthday from my kids. It will be in my pack on my next trip. Thank you for watching Manitou. I really appreciate it.
@@AdventureswiththeMarine yeah I'm the same way. Whisperlite is awesome then its cold, both for performance, and me not enjoying waiting around and playing with the fire as much. Love using that firebox though, such a nice compromise.
You are always going to have some degree of danger with the first two. But with a little bit of know how. Than practice in your back to gain experience. It is unlikely you would have a problem. Unless you are melting snow for water. I highly recommend the alcohol stove. Light weight, pack-able,no moving parts to break down. Very reliable. And very in expensive. Thank you for watching pakidood. I really appreciate it.
Hi there would you mind giving your opinion on a dd hammocks ultra light jungle tent as my first hammock which will be my go too all year round system.i realise it’s a uk based system but if you get a minute would you mind having a look on there website.your opinion would be great
There hammock seem to run on the small size. But, the Jungle Hammocks are deep, so you still lie asymmetrical. The hammock will end up looking like it is twisted a little. But that is just fine. They are a great year round hammock. The negative with them being so deep is that they don't work well for sitting or lounging. And on a hot night. They will block a breeze form coming in. But now the plus. Because they block the wind. On a cold night, it will keep you toasty warm. And I love how you can unzip the top cover around your head and have in lie on your body to collect the condensation. In stead of it going on your top quilt or sleeping bag. I have a Clark NX 270 ( which is similar to the DD Jungle hammock ) that is my go to hammock in extreme cold tempratures. I have taken it down to 35 below zero which is -37 Celsius. I hope that helped. Thank you for watching Michael. I really appreciate it.
Side note on the solid fuel, there are a "new" style with "gel alcohol" that for example the UK military is using, they are a little bit better than the Hexamine/esbit fuel, and smell way better. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-UJ5hBOj_NE4.html
No. But I have been with people that have use them. They look like a lot of fun too use. I will have to get one some day. Thank you for watching Liam. I really appreciate it.
@@AdventureswiththeMarine that's the thing, we don't. Soil is too moist and a highly humid climate. Very sandy soil. Most wilderness fires you can put out yourself or if the state is needed just a single bulldozer. Just doesn't make sense. But they always have us on a burn ban lol
propane 1 burner ozark from walmart $20 and a refillable propane 1 pound "grill king" tank $12 and a $8 propane refill jig from Amazon = cheapest stove fuel all year just tap a 20 pound grill tank ..takes forever to use one up like that
Use the control valve or bottle pressure to regulate heat output. There’s a few seconds delay between adjusting the valve and the flame changing - needs some experience.
