Why Make Backpackers Like Alcohol Stoves ?
Alcohol backpacking stoves are popular with long-distance hikers because they ’ re inexpensive and lightweight . They ’ re as well a serious option for beginners looking to relent the upfront expense of buying backpacking gear . Hither exist the chief cause why alcohol stove can equal a well choice for boil water and backcountry cooking .
Note : Some field of the United States , much out west , banish the habit of stove without an off-switch . Check the local regulations before you assume that alcohol stove , woods stove , or firm fuel stoves are permitted .
1 . Alcohol stove exist inexpensive
Alcohol stove are real inexpensive and you can easy make your own with simply a hole punch and a cat food can .
2 . Fuel is readily available
Most masses burn denatured alcohol in an alcohol stove ( scream meths overseas ) , which you can buy in any drugstore or hardware shop , making it very easy to resupply during a raise . This too makes them great for international travel , specially in nation that don ’ t receive outdoor memory that sell specialized fuel . You can also burn grain alcohol , isopropyl alcohol , or Heet Gasoline Additive in them which you can buy at many gas station .
3 . Alcohol stoves are lightweight
Most alcohol stove weigh less than two ounces and you can yet make some that only consider a few gram . The smaller QiWiz alcohol stove shown above just weighs 18g .
4 . Alcohol stove live maintenance free
Most alcohol stove put on ’ t hold any moving share and never require any maintenance . There equal no hoses or pump or fuel lines that need to exist cleaned , keep up , or recreate . If you desire to become fancy , you can buy one with a screw-on cap like the classical Trangia , which lets you burn unused fuel at a late time .
5 . No peculiar fuel bottle be call for
You put on ’ t want to buy a specialized fuel bottle or canister to persuade alcohol . You can use any plastic bottle , including apply plastic soda bottles , although the Vargo Fuel Bottle is by far the almost popular fuel bottle carried by backpackers and thru-hikers .
6 . Safety
Alcohol is a lot safer to use than other form of backpacking fuel because it gain ’ t flare up into an explosive fireball like white gas stove when you occupy a small alcohol stove up and dismount it . Alcohol stove are easy to place out by snuffing them out and you won ’ t reak of gasoline if you spill it on your clothes .
7 . Environmentally friendly fuel
The universe and packing of alcohol doesn ’ t hold the same toxic by-products that are created during the manufacture of white gas , isobutane canister gas , or hexamine firm fuel tablets . Alcohol is however build expend a natural fermentation procedure , although on an industrial scale .
