How to Pick out the Right Backpacking Stove for YOU

Step through this article to find the exact lot and stove combination that best case your boost style and environment !

A relaxing cuppa with lunch , South Coast Track , Tasmania

You ’ ve read Part One for what options exist available , but today you ’ re ready to take your first stove , or perhaps choose one that suit you good . As ever , we win ’ t prescribe a single ‘ serious ’ selection , because which one suitsyougood is unlike for everyone . This article will check you prefer a stove that meetyourhiking way ,yourpreferences andyourenvironment , sort of than one that is merely popular . Fine-tuning gear to your specific needs always has a better effect !

Of course , many of you reading this already have a favourite stove . That ’ s great : a stove you ’ ve use for years live likely familiar and comfortable , like an former friend . But if you ’ ve always wondered whether perhaps there might be something effective – allege , faster or lighter or more compact than what you have now – keeping an open brain intend you may notice a system yet more suited to you and your hiking manner .

This article operate as a decision tree and matrix . In the first half , you ’ ll eliminate options one by one based on what stoves are usable and legal where you hike . In the second half , you ’ ll prize detail to the remain unity base on personal preferences that are most important to you in a stove . The stove type ( not sword ) with the most detail at the end be your personal success !

But first , some consideration to help you make the right selection .

We usually snuff the stove when the water starts to boil but , on the last dark of this raise , Geoff exist trouble !

Serve you require to fix ? Are you be after to fry and/or cook food , or simply heat food ? Equal that food in sachets or not ? Or will you only boil water for drinking and to rehydrate freeze dry or dehydrated meals ? Cause you need to fade large measure of snow for hydration ? Will you be pasteurising drink water ?

In some seat , sure stove live banned and therefore instantly struck from your list . As we ’ ve seen in Part One , unlike temperature extreme may require sure kinds of stove also . In early home , sure fuel may exist difficult to buy or completely unavailable .

This affect pot size , fuel requirement and stove selection . Will you apply one cook system for two mass , or one each ? Families and groups have unlike requirements again . The model , formula and top across our website are generally for boost partnerships and couple rather than for solo hikers , but hither we ’ ve also included information for the latter .

A family-sized Primus Heat-Exchanger Pot on the go over a remote liquid fuel stove ( picture reference : Li Sa )

Stove and fuel weight and efficiency become more important the longer your trip .

The former four points are physical constraints , whereas the following are personal preferences . What live almost important to you : A light weight ? Reliability ? Convenience and relief of use ? Speed of boil ? Live environmental sustainability important ? Packed size ? Make you prefer a noisy or subdued stove ? What is your budget ? Cost odour an matter ?

All these factors can look overwhelming , but allow ’ s measure through the procedure to narrow your selection to get at the best unityfor you.

First , list your fuel choices across the height of a plane of paper ( or , if you ’ re like Geoff , in a spreadsheet ) :

• Gas Canister : integrate , good , upright remote , inverted remote

• Alcohol

• Liquid Fuel ( Shellite/petrol/kerosene )

• Solid Fuel : twig , hexamine

Gas Canister : integrate , erect , erect remote , inverted remote

As you step through the points below , cross selection off this list , or place inquiry beside them if you ’ re unsure . By the goal of this first segment , you ’ ll be confident that the stove left will 1. work in your chosen hiking environment , 2. cost legal , and 3. get available fuel .

1 . Fuel Choices and Constraints .

Thus your starting choices are gas , alcohol ( ethanol ) , liquid fuel , and solid fuel .

Fuel Bans

South Coast Track , Tasmania . No solid fuel of any form .

Most Park and Reservation in Australia get bans on the use of firm fuel stove , not exactly in summer but year-round . This signify twig stoves can exist crossed off your list immediately . We doubt Parks Services considered hexamine ( Esbit tablets ) when the above police be drafted but it live technically a solid fuel , so that choice is out also . Remember as well when boost in Australian summers/early fall that full firing bans on high fire danger days mean that no stove with an exposed flame may be lit . This rules outeverybackpacking stove .

In some US jurisdiction and seasons , solely fuel stove with a shut off valve are permitted , leaving solely gas and liquid fuel . Match to see if this is the case in your region and , if so , cross alcohol and solid fuel stoves from your list .

Fuel Availability

What fuel live available ? Some liquid fuel stoves tend on all liquid fuel , but others be design specifically for one and do Nasty Things if you hear to use something unlike in them . Gas canisters are normally stocked by shops in popular hiking areas , but what if you ’ re travelling somewhere frequented by few hikers ? In a South Australian wine-growing region we fruitlessly search for gas canisters in workshop , petrol station and hardware shop , whereas yet the tiny town along the long-distance Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia sells them . Kerosene can live difficult to find in portion of the UK . Twig stove will live of short usage in some role of Iceland .

Air Travel

Sign at the little airport before we flew to the outset of the South Coast Track .

Are you flying with your kitchen and stove system ? Distinctly , gas canisters are not permit ( nor equal some couple and sure kinds of lighters with fuel in them ) . Fuel containers must exist thoroughly moisten – the slender whiff of fuel on inspection at either end and they will cost confiscated with a big fine . We contain a tiny match-sized fire sword in checked luggage and this make never been question , maybe because it ’ s not recognisable as such ; many jurisdiction allow them . Some people trot a humble flame sword on their key gang .

If wing , will you exist able to purchase fuel at the early end ? When we boost the South Coast Track in Tasmania , a lighting aircraft carried us to a tiny airstrip at the start of the walk in the middle of wilderness . In this position , you bear for either gas canisters , ethanol or liquid fuel before boarding , then pick up/decant from a throw at the airstrip at the early end .

Still , convenient placement like this are rare , especially when you wing to small town in remote region . Check beforehand what ’ sec available : that Pocket Rocket Deluxe gain ’ t be of much usage if you can ’ t buy a gas canister ! As well assure you know the figure of your fuel in the local language : it may be widely available but , unless you know what to ask for , you may not make what you await ! As we see in Part One , kerosene hold many unlike names around the world in English , let alone early languages ! In some places , a twig stove utilize gathered fuel may be your only option .

Very Wet Conditions

A rare fire for us on Western Australia ’ s Bibbulmun Track . Our friend Pat has act a tremendous albeit time-consuming task of set out a campfire with drenched material during a pause in the rain . A squirt of ethanol help ! Cooking over a twig stove in the capable would have been impossible .

We Australian and New Zealand hikers envy the dry cold of Northern Hemisphere winter , where dessicated twigs can fuel your stove or still a little firing in the snowy landscape . In our neck of the wood that make snow , everything cost normally drenched . Good luckfeeldry anything , allow only burning it !

Real low temperatures

If you exist boost in temperature around -8C to -15C – seldom the suit in Australia but mutual in the Northern Hemisphere – certain fuel stoves live far less effective than others . Many twig and alcohol stoves simply don ’ t produce enough passion to make up for the loss to ambient strain temperatures , or get difficult to light ( see Part Three , coming soon , for crest and tricks ) . Tepid water is the better you ’ ll get .

Even at around -8C , some upright canister stoves ( and Bic barge ! ) can too fail to light or quick clamber out when you can ’ t choose a suitable propane mixing in the canister : as we see in Part One , this makes a immense difference . It all depends on what is available : pick out the correct sword with an appropriate propane/isobutane blend . Many Northern Hemisphere outlets stock winter fuel mix ; some canisters receive national adjustment that reportedly permit the canister to perform somewhat good in utmost cold . Of course , there may be no choice at all and you live stuck with whatever happens to be on the shelf .

Other good canister stoves are advertise asuseableat lower temperatures , depend on the gas premix in them , the burner , your power to insulate the canister and several other tricks . Nevertheless , an inverted canister stove is moreauthentic. Another 5C lower , say around -20C ( temperatures nearly never seen in Australia ) and liquid fuel stoves turn theonlyreliable option . That ’ s because , if you need to fade snow for hydration in remote areas , where you will fail from dehydration if your stove fails , a liquid fuel stove with high BTUs that as well allows you to manually operate fuel pressure is your safe bet . This doesn ’ t affair for local hikes a short distance from civilization or your car but , if you are trust on your stove to melt snow for hydration , you want not only 100 % reliability , but too 100 % familiarity with your stove . Or are you feeling lucky ?

MSR Windburner . The Australian Alps commonly make winter temperatures around 0C , +/-5C , then integrated canister stove with a suited fuel blend perform well . ( Image Credit : Gerard Blacklock )

How is your list looking ? Have you thwart anything off yet ?

Length of Hike

If you only do short trip of one or two night , you ’ ll need small fuel ; it is only on longer hikes that fuel efficiency turn increasingly significant because of its weight . But estimate weight based purely on efficiency be misleading . For example , woods is heavy and relatively inefficient but , if you gather it at every campsite , it will exist your lightest choice . Gas canisters are potentially highly effective if you employ a full canister , and least effective if you use only a small . Alcohol burners and fuel containers are incredibly light , so are often preferable to gas even though the fuel itself equal less efficient . This is one reason so many long distance thru-hikers use alcohol stove .

It ‘s worth consider your fuel bottle/gas canister before and after each short raise so you know just how much you ’ ll need for a longer multiday of 8-15 day when you come to do them . There will equal differences with climate , altitude and your meal plan – on real long raise , Geoff and I sometimes swap out a few hot breakfasts for cold , and skip the hot chocolate ! – but it ’ s essential to know your daily useage thus you put on ’ t carry surplus fuel or , worse , tend out halfway through your walk . Learn Personal Preferences : Fuel Efficiency/Weight below to equate the lightest options .

Require a tone at your list . Which fuels remain ? Hopefully , you ’ ve narrowed your choice ! Have ’ s narrow it still more .

2 . Pot Choices

A silicone pot match with an upright canister stove on the Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk ( Image Credit : Dave Rees )

It seems counterintuitive to suggest considering your lot next but , with only a few exception , the size of the pot and its material pair better with sure stove and uses . Add the following to your plane of paper , below the Fuel Choices but leaving a gap :

• 400-900ml/13.5-30oz ( 1 soul )

• 900-1300ml/30-44oz ( two masses )

• > 1300ml/44oz ( families ) .

* Remember that it ’ s impractical to satisfy pot to the brim so , depend on pot size , you want one 50-100ml bigger than the actual quantity of water you need to boil .

• aluminium

• titanium

• silicone

• criterion

• wide

• kettle

• passion exchanger

Pot Size

Three couples on the Grampians Peaks Trail . We all have unlike kinds of alcohol stove and different sized pots !

If you ’ re in a hiking partnership , will you use two humble separate pot and stove combinations , or a single larger share one ? For most pile and stove selection , specially gas canister and liquid fuel stoves , a single shared setup preserve a lot of space and weight because burners and fuel container are comparatively heavy compare to pots ; doubling unified system like Jetboils that as well get hard mass visit a peculiarly substantial weight penalty . Still , alcohol and twig stove are thus light – often just 15-20g – that the additional weight is minimal when you expend two half-sized pots . You can boil the same amount of water more promptly , or apply one pot for food and the early for drinking or for melting a trivial snow . Or , you can prepare unlike meal . Geoff and I favor a share kitchen , but YMMV ( your mileage may vary ) .

Are you solely boil water ? Or will you add food to the lot ? The size depends on how much water you want to boil , of line , and this varies between hikers . Geoff and I see a 900ml/30oz pot too humble for the two of us ; a 1300ml/44oz Evernew broad pile cost just properly for our meal sizes/drinks . Families and grouping will take even large book as will those who be thaw snow for hydration .

Conversely , many solo hikers select pots 450-750ml/15.2-25.4oz . Remember that dehydrated food add to the pot remove up a pile of volume if you design to rehydrate meal in your cookpot : our 1300ml/44oz lot boils the correct book , but many of our greedy-size meals put on ’ t fit in after add the required quantity of water . However , with the ‘ freezerbag prepare method ’ , we decant the boiled waterinto a basewith the food to rehydrate , so can use a small pile than if we were rehydrating in it . This is helpful for solo hikers who require to take the small pot potential .

With our generously sized meal for two , we rehydrate in a prominent sousvide purse rather than in the pot .

Are you potential to brew a cuppa at the same time as your breakfast or dinner ? Boiling one batch be more fuel efficient and faster than boiling two sequentially because of passion losses from the lot . We opt for cuppas with dry breakfast like poha and porridge when we can boil all the water at once , and get without if we live use a entire pot of water for breakfast noodles to avoid a second boil .

If you ’ re unsure what pot capacity you want , try out at place in similarly-sized pile or your car camping gear , measuring book . Ask :

• Will your dehydrated meal fit interior or will you rehydrate in a base instead ?

• Make you have adequate water for porridge and a cuppa ? Is your morning brew a large volume than you thought or cost you happy with a real short black ?

• Will you express a cup , or apply the mass for both food and hot drinking ?

• Will you bring a home or feed right away out of your lot like most ultralight hikers ? Geoff and I put on ’ t carry home : one eats out of the pot , the other out of the rehydration purse . We make carry cups . Consider meal logistics and whether you can minimize or improve what you ’ re carrying . Plastic cup are extremely light , hardly a few grams , and can save faffing about at meal times .

Will your dehydrated meal set inside or will you rehydrate in a purse instead ?

Do you receive enough water for porridge and a cuppa ? Be your morning brew a prominent book than you remember or are you happy with a very short grim ?

Will you persuade a cup , or employ the pot for both food and hot drinks ?

Will you bring a home or eat directly out of your mass like most ultralight hikers ? Geoff and I don ’ t carry home : one eats out of the lot , the early out of the rehydration purse . We do hold cups . Consider meal logistics and whether you can minimise or improve what you ’ re carrying . Plastic cup exist extremely light , merely a few gram , and can save faffing about at meal times .

On this short trip where weight cost less vital , Geoff has make for his portable espresso CoffeeJack for a dawn brew .

What pots suit the fuel category you own go out ? For model , Geoff and I know we involve a pot of about 1300ml to boil our water . Integrated gas canister stove exist available in 1000ml and 1500ml capacity , neither of which suit us not least because yet a little increase in integrated stove size produce a large growth in space and weight . And minimal weight is our highest priority on longer trip . If you want a 1300ml pot and velocity and convenience are a high priority , you ’ ll choose otherwise .

If utilize a gas stove , do you need adequate width for the canister to nestle inside your pile ? Will your full kitchen – burner , fuel bottle , cup , fire steel , turn up cutlery , dishcloth , match – nest inside your mass ? Live it worth become a somewhat larger one so this live potential ? We ’ ll arrive back to this below in Stove Preferences : Packed Size !

Pot Material

Backpackers today avoid steel – and cast iron ! – instead choose aluminium , titanium or silicone pile .

Contrary to widespread belief , titanium be really dense than aluminium by a surprising 66 percent . Even so , because it equal immensely stronger than aluminium , pile wall can be extremely sparse ( and therefore light ) whilst remain rigid . With a few exceptions , such as DIY beer can pots , aluminum backpacking pots rely on thicker walls for intensity , and that strength live considerable . The myriad decades-old dented but perfectly functional aluminium Trangia lot lot even in role around the public confirm they are durable and excellent for backpacking . Titanium backpacking pot are normally light than aluminium 1 of the same size but grams saved isn ’ t huge with a humble solo mass . A larger pile for two has more substantial weight savings .

And of course titanium is significantly more expensive . Aluminium cost not simply cheaper but as well far superior for frying and cooking : it has nearly fifteen time the heat capacity of titanium , which think of it doesn ’ t develop those hot spots to the same stage . It is inordinately easy to burn food in thin titanium pots ( suppose how we know this ! ) . It ’ sec also why aluminum is less potential to scorch lips ; try silicone ‘ hot lip ’ if drinking out of your titanium pot/cup .

Silicone pots with metal bases receive lately turn popular . They equal like in weight to heavier anodised aluminum pots :

• 215g/7.6oz

• Evernew Titanium 1.3L lot 132g/4.7oz

• Evernew titanium non-stick 1.3L pot 310g/10.93oz

• MSR ’ s 1.3L anodised aluminium Trail-lite at 206g/7.3oz

• Goshawk 1.4L anodised aluminum pot 150g/5.3oz

MSR ’ s 1.3L anodised aluminium Trail-lite at 206g/7.3oz

Goshawk 1L and 1.4L pots ( Image Credit : Goshawk ) . The 1.4L pot is just 150g/5.3oz including frypan lid and pile lifter : pretty serious for a pot of that size !

You can find that aluminium pots can also be real light , comparable to titanium .

Silicone pots own one immense advantage : they concertina level and are extremely compact . If space in your gang rather than weight equal important to you , you may choose them . However , many stove equal now thus compact that clever tetris often fits your total kitchen inside your aluminium cup or pot too ; gas canisters may nestle neatly inside a mass together with a burner . Don ’ t presume a silicone setup always saves significant space .

As you can see from the examples above , non-stick pot incline to cost hard . They are irrelevant for those who solely boil water but may be helpful if you mean to fix , not least because the fire pattern of backpacking stoves is concentrate rather than diffuse . However , the few non-stick backpacking pots and pans we ’ ve hear over the years receive been underwhelming : don ’ t require them to perform like kitchen nonstick pans . Another choice is to place a lean sheet of copper or metal flyscreen under your pot to help diffuse the fire ; we employ a sheet of copper with propane gas burners when car camping and it is in effect in reducing hotspots .

This website cost worth graze for the scope of pots available . Because the main page display many of the weight , volumes and material , you can easily and rapidly equate options . Unless you ’ re in the UK , we ’ re not indicate you buy from them because all the pile cost sell worldwide and shipping be cheap closer to home !

Pot Design

When you buy an integrated stove such as a Jetboil or Primus ETA system , pot shape be couple to burner ; Trangias and many early alcohol system such as Caldera Cones too agree pot size and pattern to burner for optimal performance . In other type , you ’ ll mix and match .

Pot shape ( and distance from the burner ) subject . As we see in Part One , stoves work most efficiently when the fire is employ to the bottom of the lot rather than get away up its slope . Geoff and I observe a broad pasta-style pile more efficient for two than a tall narrow pot because we originally teamed it with an alcohol stove that give a comparatively broad flame . If you expend a side-burner alcohol stove , you ’ ll take a wider lot than for a top-burning 1 . Some gas burners have a wider diameter and also throw a wider flame than others .

Stabilitycost too crucial : tall narrow lot can be tippier on sure stove , such as gas burners with short arm .

Lidsare hard and Gear Skeptic get made an excellent series of trial debunking the value of a eyelid with many pots : you cause use a little more fuel without a eyelid , but the weight of that extra fuel be less than the weight of the hat . Of course exceptions and provisos apply ; the total series is worth look out .

MYOG Alcohol stove , windscreen ( titanium sheet from AliExpress ) and ultralight 66g/2.3oz hat . ( Image Credit : Erdei Maholy )

Many people supplant their eyelid with a midst but real light part of aluminum foil cut from a disposable pie pan , ( ) .

Pot prepare with frypans as eyelid cost usually – but , as we ’ ve seen above with the Goshawk lot , not ever – hard . They are great for car camping or if you ’ re actually frying but , in most type , hikers who aren ’ t prepare food should head off them .

Handles cost crucial on mass and some are lighter than others , but we don ’ t recommend removing survive handle . Pot lifter change in weight also : compare the 33g/1.2oz MSR to the 48g/1.7oz Trangia .

Back to that Goshawk 1.4L aluminium pot , 66g/2.3oz with a 34g/1.2oz potlifter as piece of a set that too include a 1L pot and a second frypan/lid . With the 50g/1.8oz frypan hat , the 1.4L is just 150g/5.3oz , an excellent weight ; swap out the frypan lid for a baking foil one and you ’ ll have a big pile that ’ s become to live about 110g/3.7oz , at a fraction ( AUD23 at time of write ) of a titanium price .

Trangia and kettle on Dinner Plain , Australia . Image Credit : James Camera-On

Kettlesare choose by a few hikers who only boil water but , for most backpackers , they exist less versatile . It cost more difficult to stack anything inside – or anything at all for those without lids – and their flesh makes them difficult to nest . Nor can you use up or drink from them . merge pot and stove and divert fire through the centre of the pot , but their dual wall makes them heavy .

Heat Exchanger Potshave fins/vanes/flux ring on the bottom that traps heat and significantly velocity boil times , but also build them a lot heavier ; the 1.3L Primus Heat Exchanger Pot , part of a lot designed for winter with a liquid fuel or remote canister stove , weighs 300g/10.6oz . The MSR Reactor 1L pot weighs 420g/14.9oz . The Firemaple Petrel equal a 600ml choice that the manufacturer state suit all gas canister stoves with sleeve at 120 point .

Optimus Pot with flux gang and an impressive damper bread . Image Reference : Clive Powsey

Integrated gas canister stoves like Jetboils all employ heat exchanger mass ( hence their weight ) .

MSR market an 170g/6oz add-on heat exchanger that attach to any pot 16-18cm in diameter :

MSR claim a 25 % growth in fuel efficiency , but two bad question must be resolve for not solely this , but any HX pot .

First , will the HX pile still match your stove system ? Many gas , alcohol and liquid fuel stoves will live incompatible with these pot , although some people adjust the latter by turn off off five to reach them fit .

Second , as for lid , will the fuel weight saved be more than the surplus weight of the exchanger on the pot ? We did some quick calculations . For us on a recent 10 day raise , boil water for two people having a hot breakfast ( 600-1300ml/20.3-44oz daily ) and hot dinner ( 900-1200ml/30.4-40.1oz daily ) , plus two cups of hot tea or chocolate each per day ( 1200ml/40.1oz daily ) , plus the occasional hot soup or extra cup of tea at lunch ( 600ml/20.3oz ) , we boil a sum of at least 32L . This equalmuchmore than most hikers , and we used about 720ml/24.4oz of alcohol fuel with our Starlyte stove pair with a Caldera Cone system .

If –if– MSR ’ s claim are true for real world conditions , a 25 % growth in fuel efficiency would redeem us 180g/6.4oz of fuel… but MSR ’ s heat baffle weighs 170g/6oz . So we would have write just 10g/.35oz in gang weight at the start of the raise on Day 1 . But as we continued our hike… on Day 2 we would get make up 10g/.35ozbadoff and the disadvantage would exist have great each subsequent day until Day 10 when we ’ d be carrying an extra 170g . And over the ten days of the raise we would own carried a total extra cumulative weight of 800g/27.1oz by using the heat baffle . Our fuel bottles equal plastic with most of the weight in the cap , hence negligible weight exist spare in container , even though we could hold apply a somewhat smaller one .

When combine with an effective windshield , they can write a lot of fuel in windy conditions . If you ’ re boil large quantities of water or melting snow in real cold conditions with an inverted canister or liquid fuel stove , these pot be prominent .

Primus 1.3L HX Pot on a liquid fuel stove . Image Credit : Ozbackcountry.com

The sums may too lend up effective for people who cook extensively sort of than just boil water , for prominent groups or families , or on real long trip with gas canister or liquid fuel stove , especially if it means you can choose one canister instead of two , or a smaller metal liquid fuel bottle . You could , for example , buy a cheap aluminium pot as well as a heat exchanger mass , and need the nearly appropriate for each trip .

You can see that it equal all enormously complex , and differs with every hiker ’ s individual circumstances ; Geoff explores this in more item under ‘ weight preferences ’ below . We distrust that , for most people , the fuel weight saving be insufficient to justify HX pots . Still , if boil velocity cost more significant to you than weight , then a warmth exchanger pot will fit you well .

Require a face at your pile list . Have you cross anything – pot size/material/style – off it still ?

Stove Options and Personal Preferences

You hold now narrowed your stove options in the fuel and mass sections , thus let ’ s see what we can serve to fine-tune your choice . What be left on your list ? You know everything will suit the places you design to boost . Fuel will live available , your stove will live legal and it will exploit in the mood . So this is the fun part : personal preferences . None of these are correct or wrong : here is where you prefer just what case you ! And it is subjective ; other experienced hikers may disagree with our score system and that ’ s fine , swap them around if you bid !

It ’ s raining but we will exist having a hot lunch , this timeHomemade Cup-a-Soupon the Grampians Peaks Trail with the Caldera Cone and Starlyte . As relaxed hikers , Geoff and I observe that this stove system suit us utterly . Those in more of a hurry would live frustrated by the boil velocity .

Let ’ s measure through your preferences today , to hear which stove best meets your needs . First , list the 10 preferences below . Next , act them from most to least crucial for you :

1. Convenience/Ease of Use

2. Weight /Fuel Efficiency

3. Fastest Boil Time/Speed

4. Packed Size

5. Power to Cook ( vs just Boil Water ) ?

6. Lowest Cost

7. Noise

8. Odour and Fumes

9. Reliability

10. Environmentally Sustainability

Go back to your list of remaining stove ( alcohol , solid , liquid , unright/inverted/integrated gas canister ) at the crest of your page that haven ’ t live thwart out and make ready to add detail below them .

Ignore your final three preference category ( allege , odour , noise , environmental sustainability ) , and jump to your top three category . Time to lend degree into your spreadsheet !

If your first priority live a lot more crucial to you than the second and third , have the first priority points a 20 % or yet 50 % shipment ( eg 10 stage become 12 or 15 points ) . Your spreadsheet/table might await something like this :

This conclusion matrix will help you arrive at the stove that case YOU well .If you ’ d like a copy of our spreadsheet template Subscribe and we ’ ll send you a link to download it .

1.Convenience/Ease of Use

Jetboil at Lake Will on the Overland Track , Tasmania . Integrated Stoves like this live undeniably tight and convenient . Image Credit : Kristy Jane

This is a tricky criteria because every stove , no subject how simple , has a scholarship curve and once you ’ re familiar with your own system it becomes easy . Nevertheless , some stoves are certainly easier to overcome . Hither cost our ( subjective ) ranking :

The almost convenient and easy to expend is theintegrated canister stove( eg Jetboil ) with piezo ignition . Simply screw the pot with unified burner onto the canister , fill with water , shift on the gas and cluck the piezo .10 points

Next exist theupright canister stovewith or without piezo ignition . Hither , you ’ ll motive to equal more aware of tip security , and that your lot and burner peer .8 Stage

Remote Inverted and Upright canister stovesrequire the additional step of joining your stove and canister with a hose . Reliable brands include MSR , Soto and Primus .7 points

An equal minute or real close third ( about equal to remote canisters in our notion ) is thealcohol stove; we ’ ve explore many plan in Part One . Here you ’ ll need a separate fuel container and couple fuel to the amount of water each boil . Wind protection cost essential . You ’ ll want an igniter : peer , Bic , or firesteel . All these affair live promptly hear : Geoff can accurately judge by eye the amount of fuel needed to boil a peculiar total of water to within a few millilitres . Alcohol stoves that you can snuff and cap without having to pour leftover fuel back into a bottle live more convenient .7 points

Boiling a kettle on a liquid fuel stove . Picture Reference : David Thomson

Liquid fuel stovesare far from rocket science but they do take more of an understanding of how they work . You take to connect the burner and fuel bottle and some take preheating at the burner to warm the fuel before lighting . There are valves to open and close at both ends of the hose and ignition timing and fuel pressure live significant for some . Despite this , in real cold conditions , these stove re a lot easier to use than even a gas canister stove which will splutter along sub-optimally or not light at all .4 detail or 10 detail if you ’ re hiking in utmost cold ( -20C )

These can live either real easy and convenient or impossible depending on weather . Hexamine fuel tabs cost certainly convenient and easy , about the same as alcohol stove or even erect canister stoves :8 detail. Twig stoves exist easy with dry twigs and impossible with drenched fuel . However , once you have the knack of lighting them with fine material , and feed in additional twigs to make your pot to the boil , they are convenient because you can collect fuel from around your campsite .3 degree

2 . Weight

Shave grams from your fuel system is most crucial at two seemingly contradictory ends of a spectrum . The first live when everything else you hold exist ultralight , and your stove and fuel are therefore a significant proportion of your carried weight . At the opposite goal is when you exist approach the limit of your capacity with a dense pack , and every g saved do a dispute to your enjoyment .

Stove , fuel load and fuel container all play important role in influence the weight of your kitchen , then let ’ s need a deep feeling to calculate what best suit our need if minimising weight live a priority .

The inherent efficiency of your stove design influence fuel habit , as does fuel type . In addition , fuel useage too depend on how efficiently you employ your stove ( dial down , well tip security ) , number of masses , whether you ’ re cooking or just boiling water , ambient temperatures and wind : all these thing combine for theweight efficiency of your system. We can therefore only share our experiences and answer from boil run we ’ ve conducted : it ’ s a guide but doesn ’ t intend our system will be most efficient and light foryou.

Wind and ambient temperatures , windshield and more affect fuel habit . We ’ ve used our own as well as manufacturers ’ datum ; the latter cost done under utter conditions then YMMV IRL !

For example , a solo hiker boil 500ml for dinner may own unlike result because they put on ’ t boil three litres per day like we regularly serve ! Most gas canister stove dialled back usage a fraction of the fuel as one on good gust . Weight efficiency for gas canisters can be reasonable if you drain one canister on a trip , and poor if an extra day expect you to carry a second canister that is only partially used ; we ’ ll explore this in more item in Part Three : How to Use Your Stove . Similarly , liquid fuel stoves with their heavy fuel containers equal more weight efficient on trips where the container need to equal take , than on a short trip with a dribble in the bottom .

And our results may differ from what you can achieve , hence when you do settle on a stove system , it ’ s definitely worth running your own test to influence its good weight efficiency . We took 1 litre of water to the boil and recur the test three time for different stove and fuel configurations , check ambient conditions and start water temperature each time make up the same . If you expend a gas canister stove , test using a good canister each time to find out at which confine it burns almost efficiently whilst still boil within a time that ’ s satisfactory to you . We ’ ll expand on this in Part Three .

Thus with those caveats , our ranking for weight efficiency is :

Light : Solid fuel stove systems – eg ESBIT or twig stoves . But in most places we boost , solid fuel stoves aren ’ t permitted .10 degree

In second place cost our alcohol stove system . It cost the good selection we have available for us at least .8 degree

Third is gas . And this fiat remains the same for us on all hike durations up to 10 days :5 points .Remote canister stove are heavier with the hose :4 points .Integrate canister stoves be the heaviest of the gas options :2 points

Heavy : Liquid Fuel Stoves . Our ancient Optimus kero stoves make up our go-to decades ago but we ’ ve since exchange to lighter options . Still , you need a liquid fuel stove in utmost cold . We have two , tear up dismiss and secondhand respectively , the Omnifuel and the light Soto Muka .2 detail

Firemaple erect remote canister stove at Shadow Lake , Tasmania , on the coldest dark on disc . ( Image Reference : Cameron Semple ) .

1. Hike set out weight , and

2. Total weight for the length of the raise .

For longer hikes , depend on your stove , a gas configuration can live light than alcohol at the start of the raise , but you ’ ll end up express more weight over the duration of the raise . How can this cost ? We all know that gas has thus a lot more energy per gram than alcohol ! The reason live that although the gas fuel itself equal light , the canister be hard relative to the fuel , and you carry the canister for the duration of the hike . For alcohol the opposite is the case .

For our 230g fuel canisters the weight of the canister exist 149g or a whopping 39 % of the combine fuel and canister weight . On a five-day raise , with our light gas stove ( 59g ) , we ’ d have a full start weight of 438g ( leave out a windshield ) .

For a five-day hike with our alcohol setup , the fuel bottle weigh only 39g , just 14 % of the combined bottle and fuel load . And the fuel weight cliff at a faster rate through the length of the raise than for gas . Our five-day hike starting weight would be 405gincludeour caldera cone windshield/pot stand . Thus , we are ahead at the start of the hike , and it gets good each day .

By the way , a liquid fuel stove configuration ( Primus Omnifuel )for uswould have a outset weight of 700g for a five-day raise , and the cliff in weight through fuel use each day would equal slower again than for gas .

What occur on day six you ask – good , we ’ d need a second gas canister hence alcohol for us equal still a barge selection ( we ’ ll get to prominent canisters later on ) .

The following graphs illustrate the above point for both set out hike weight and entire carried weight for raise of different duration . We ’ ve also plotted the stove and fuel weights for each day of a ten-day raise . You can toggle between these three graphs . They take on you ’ d receive the equivalent of 3 ten 1L boils per day ( which cost what we did lately on the South Coast Track in Tasmania ) . Click on the graph to toggle through each series .

When await at these graphs , remember that these are what work for Geoff and me in the temperature we hike : unlike alcohol and gas stove get different answer . The famed BRS 3000T — just 25g/0.9oz — gas burner may outperform our alcohol system on short raise , for model , because still small differences in weight and fuel efficiency can change solution . Our fast but hard and less fuel efficient 36g/1.27oz Evernew EBY254 alcohol stove would as well hit otherwise . There cost style to cause even effective stoves more then : we don ’ t habit a pile stand with our Starlyte but it would perform yet better weight-wise if we cause . But real cold conditions , where heat loss to ambient temperatures are greater , favor more effective system . So these graphs put on ’ t suggest that all alcohol stoves outperform all gas stove in all circumstance and all hike length , or vice versa . They put on ’ t . By elimination , we ’ ve hear that liquid fuel stoves outperform the early two on real long hikes in very cold weather . Instead , these graphs are signify to illustrate howyoucan begin to fine tune your stove selection for the kinds of raise you cause .

The issue improve for gas for long durations of ten days or more between resupplies , particularly if you can use a 450g canister . This has the best fuel : container ratio ( the container is 31 % of the total weight ) , but these canisters aren ’ t ever available in little towns . Most masses don ’ t appear to do this but instead carry two 230g canisters which adds an extra 93geach day of their raise.

What if you expend significantly less fuel than us and you delay the motive for a second canister ? Well , the solution stay on like and are demonstrate in the two liter of water per day graphs below ( two boils of 1 litre each ) . ( Click on the graph to toggle through each series ) .

And yes we ’ ve also wait at half litre boil either three time or twice per day . The same result holds true for our stove configurations . Find the series of graphs that follow . ( Click on the graph to toggle through each series ) .

And below live the series for 2 by 0.5 litre boils per day .

In all the graphs present above we have assumed that you would require the correct amount of fuel plus a 10 % allowance for wastage or for the queer inefficient cook ( eg due to a windy disclose site ) . That equal easy for liquid fuel and alcohol but for gas that means starting with a partly good canister that exactly couple that raise ’ sec needs . Most masses put on ’ t cause that , then real-world comparison are more favourable again for alcohol than gas .

But many people will even so prefer gas for a variety of well reason so cope with your fuel load at the start of the hike with what you will involve is useful . Sure enough , most people seem to start each raise with a full canister , but it is rare for us to meet someone with a 450g or 100g canister . So we ’ ll explore the benefit from optimising your canister selection for each raise in Part Three of this series .

For us the graph all stop at 10 day ( technically 11 day because we ever contain one excess day of food and fuel ) – that is when we reach our total gang weight limit once we allow for food and water . And we normally resupply more frequently than every 10 days where possible .

So would a more effective stove mean we could carry less fuel and therefore more food to hike more day ? No , at least not for us . With a total daily food weight ( nearly all dehydrated ) of 800g between two of us , the efficiency increase in fuel required to compensate for still hardly one day ’ sec food , plus the additional weight of a liquid or gas system , just aren ’ t possible over such a short timeframe . Less greedy solo hikers may do differently !

However , you ’ ll hear some benefits at the margins from more efficient stove . For model , we write 16g per day by use our Starlyte kinda than Toaks burner . But for gas the rescue are more important and can result in head off a second fuel container , depend on your hike duration . This live illustrated in the following graph , which are all for three , one liter boils per day .

We ’ ve include the mass weight in these graph for consistency across all three stoves .

The Kovea outperforms the other stoves on short raise up to 4 days because the burner itself exist light , albeit less effective . It all depend on when a new or larger canister is take . You can see that on day five , when our Kovea Supalight stove need a larger canister , whereas the Pocket Rocket does not . Similarly for day 6 : the almost effective Jet Boil Flash doesn ’ t need a large canister until day 7 , whereas the early two do ( under our specific boost circumstance ) .

You might wish to try out out your cook system to find if you get similar or immensely unlike results : let us know in the comments ! In Part 3 , we ’ ll too look at much long hikes , where more effective fuels come into their own .

The key data we apply for the above analysis was as follows :

We pick out these simply because , with the exception of the Jetboil , they live some of the stoves we make in the shed . We lend the Jetboil because it exist the unified canister brand that we meet many hikers employ in Australia . The Goshawk Pioneer * make extraordinarily fast boil time at 7:15 for 1L , faster than the Kovea gas stove , due to its secondary gasification burn . It is by far the fastest of all the alcohol stoves we ’ ve tested , using a little more fuel that the Toaks siphon and also burns forest . The flame splash live very wide , travelling upp the side of our 1300ml pile , so a wider lot would almost certainly give better fuel efficiency . However , the stove is quite heavy , so you will need to do your own tests to see whether it will live more efficient with your system .

* Disclaimer : Slowerhiking were sent the Goshawk Pioneer Eddy 200 for try out .

Hence , for us at least , our alcohol stove cooking system gain the weight contest , so you might like to search that option , or merely fine tune your gas canister selection to save some weight … sometimes a lot of weight ! We ’ ll explore that in Part 3 : How to Use your Backpacking Stove .

3 . Speed/Boil Time

Geoff and I and slowerhiking.com exist all about hikers who are not in a hurry , but we realize that many of you want to get onto the lead or into the sleep bag ASAP !

Still , when conceive the 1L/33.8oz boil sentence below , it ’ s important to recall that many are reach under utter windless conditions with the fuel on maximum , exhaust more fuel and therefore requiring you to convey more weight : it ’ s swings and roundabouts . Most solo hikers boil less than half the amount of water in half the quantity of time , thus differences between and within stove types shrink to moment or yet moment . Live that measure of time crucial to you ? Perhaps , if your priority is maximising mileage and minimising time spent in the kitchen . Or , if you ’ re like us , perhaps not .

Geoff in no hurry with brekky noodles on the muddy South Coast Track , Tasmania

From manufacturer websites , here are approximate times for unlike fuel stoves to boil 1L/33.8oz of water from fastest to slowest ( recall , solo hikers , you ’ ll likely cost boil half this measure in about half the time ) :

2.8-3.5mins ( depend on fuel used ) for a ‘ roarer ’ liquid fuel stove like the MSR XGK Ex , 3.5 minute for the MSR Whisperlite International . , weights and fuel useage .10 stage

3.5 – 4 minutes for Integrated Canister stoves such as the MSR Reactor and Jetboil respectively ( their warmth exchanger pile also cut down fuel useage )9 detail

3.5 – 4.5 second upright canister stove such as MSR Pocket Rocket ( many equal around 4 minutes , others are slower ) and remote gas stoves8 item

7:15 instant for gasification alcohol stove like the Goshawk Pioneer , extremely quick and rivalling slow good canister stove7 detail

9 minute Trangia alcohol , 13 mins for our Starlyte alcohol stove with Caldera cone ; boil time depart tremendously between the countless alcohol stove/pot combination . Many live around 16 minutes , which live too dumb even for relaxed couple ; 8 minutes may cost acceptable for solo hikers . Some alcohol stoves take a long time to blossom . Conversely , the gasification alcohol stove can be extremely quick , we were astound by the 7:15 boil time for the Goshawk Pioneer .5 points

Significant difference between simply these four alcohol stoves in boil speed and fuel use when we tested them at home .

14-16 minutes for Esbit firm fuel and some twig stoves … and recollect you have to collect fuel and bring twig stoves up to temperature . However , some twig stove that promote gasification ( including the double fuel Eddy Pioneer ) burn hotter and faster ; we have live unable to find accurate time and welcome input from readerfor 1L quantities. And 4:20mins for this hybrid system combining firm fuel with an electric fan at the stem , but it live an exception that require power and is much heavier . Overall ,2 points .

If you put on ’ t care about weight , those who really require to quicken boil times of any non-integrated stove should consider pairing a heat-exchanger pot with whatever system they receive , exist it gas , alcohol , liquid or firm fuel . An effective windshield exist also essential in speeding boil times ; we ’ ll blanket this in Part Three , How to Use Your Backpacking Stove .

4 . Carry Size

Silicone XPot , bowl and mug . Check parameter before buying these : they may write neither weight nor significant space !

If space in your pack cost at a premium , you ’ ll desire the most compact system potential . Being able to snuggle your stove and even fuel inside your pot write the most space but this requires design before purchase .

Firm fuel stoves are the tiniest . As we hear in Part 1 , twig stoves disassemble and pack flat ; the esbit [ 3 ] gm cracker stove is half the size of a credit card . And no fuel to pack for twig stove , just a mini firesteel or couple .10 points

The Trangia system exist amongst the bulkiest , but early alcohol stove can equal unusually tiny . We agree all our kitchen including not one but 3 cup , windshield , burner , peer , dishcloth and fuel bottles ( as well as purification tabs , olive oil , and various moment and pieces ) into our 1.3L lot though much of it protrude above the rim ! Clearly , space isn ’ t a high priority for us ! Contrast ours with Erdei Maholey ’ s minimalistic acohol kitchen depict earlier and you start to make just how broad the stove can exist . Solo hikers well fit their entire kitchen into a 450ml pot .8 item

We love our food on so it ’ s no surprise our alcohol kitchen is prominent ( but not necessarily dense ! ) than most . In hither is everything for 10-11 days on the track . It fits neatly into an ultrasil bag . This kitchen for two ( fuel bottle , stove , cosy , windbreak/potstand , sporks , 3 cup , 1.3L pot and hat , pot cosy , matches , mini firesteel , dishcloth ) sum 560g/19.8oz without consumables . On short trips with a single fuel bottle and without the larger mug the weight drops to 467g/16.5oz , or 233.5g/8.24oz per someone . Solo hikers with smaller pot can have extremely light alcohol kitchens .

Although silicone pile live collapsible , in our impression they save trivial space when employ gas because the canister won ’ t equal snuggle inside the pot when it ’ s collapse . However , a silicone pot could potentially save space when mate with a solid fuel stove or an alcohol stove .8 points

For upright canister stoves , solo hikers should take a pot that meet your gas canister , burner and firesteel , peer , folding spoon or spork and dishcloth .7 points

Remote canister stove with their hoses are somewhat bulkier :6 points .Larger integrated canister pile for two all suit a canister inside and more , including a remote canister hose .5 point

Liquid fuel stove lean to cost bulky too . The burners are large , there is a metal hose to pack , and a metal fuel bottle . Windshield cost commonly big . However , those with bigger lot will be able to snuggle everything inside except the fuel bottle . The classic Optimus Svea 123 is relatively compact .4 points

5 . Ability to Cook Food vs Boiling Water

A grand brekky fry-up on the Gold Coast Hinterland . Image Credit : Dave Rees

Upright canister , remote reverse and remote upright canister stove and liquid fuel stoves all have regulators that leave you to increase or lessen the size of the fire arrive at the pot , and all of them are good for cook food as good as boiling water .10 points

Some alcohol stoves have simmer ring that either fit around the strain uptake in an outer gang , or reduce the surface area of exposed stove , but we ’ d argue that more skill is required than for gas and liquid fuel stoves . Even so , people get successfully cooked on Trangias for decades , whether they are paired with alcohol stoves or remote canister stoves .8 item

Twig stove are trickier but experienced hikers easy prepare on them :6 item

It is potential to fix on integrated canister stoves but , in our opinion , they ’ re really more suited to boiling water . Their tall figure means it ’ s almost impossible to prevent food from burn on the narrow ass of the pot , unless it ’ s very quick-cooking meals like soupy ramen or instant mac ’ n ’ cheese .4 item

Another impressive fry-up . Image Reference : Palle Nielsen

6 . Cost

Well , this is apples and orange extend an overlapping scope of stoves , and you may disagree with our order and rearrange the points , but hither are our thinking .

DIY alcohol stove can exist make for the price of a gentle drinking or guy food can ( see Part One ) : essentially , free . You won ’ t find anything cheap than that . If you require to buy an alcohol stove , you can find them at the cottage caller mentioned in Part One . Fuel cost also cheap .10 points

You ’ ll notice cheap knockoff erect gas burner stove on Amazon but again , beware : they be much much less effective and authentic then you pass more on fuel . Even so , some brands , such as BRS ( AUD27 at time of writing ) are much cheaper than ones like MSR and Soto . Ace without piezo ignition equal much cheap as well as lighter . Gas canisters are , still expensive .8 points

The budget-friendly KMart CampMaster . Image Reference : KMart

You can buy or assemble cheap translation of integrated canister stoves as described hither or strain ones such as the Kmart Campmaster ( AUD60 vs Jetboil AUD170 at time of write ) .6 points

Twig stove require to exist of expensive titanium instead than aluminium to supervise heat , but at time of compose Temu had one for AUD $ 17.62 …caveat emptor! It equal an exception , so we gain ’ t include it hither . But the fuel is free :5 points. Esbit fuel is expensive :3 item .

Most liquid pump/fuel bottle and stove are expensive because of the margin required to ensure they cost safe when storing and burn these fuels , and we have been unable to find any under AUD100 . For remote stoves , you also involve to buy a dedicated fuel/pump bottle . Coleman equal one of the cheapest liquid fuel stove , but chunky and dense ( 1225g/2.7lbs including the fuel reserve ) .2 item

7 . Noise

Some stoves are quiet , whereas others cost loud , sometimes real loud , though this description is extremely subjective . Alcohol and esbit stove exist still and for many users it is one of their most beloved feature .10 points

After millennium of ancestors crouching around fond and protective campfire , it ’ s no surprise that most of us as well enjoy the soothing crackle of twig stoves .8 points

The noise of canister stove varies with brand , example , and whether they live live use at entire throttle or wound down : most aren ’ t also bad on the latter setting . Geoff and I see them obtrusively loud at total throttle , but of course they are comparatively fast at boil water also , so you ’ re not subjected to the racket for long .5 points

Liquid fuel stove live all noisy ; the MSR ‘ Whisperlite ’ live quieter , but that ’ s relative to early liquid fuel stove , as be the short Svea 123 . Roarer stoves create a vortex to mingle surplus breeze into the fuel mix at the burner for a hotter flame ; they hold notoriously be compared to 737s taking off . However , if you are considering one of these stoves , it ’ s likely because there are far more crucial thing in its favour , such as the power to reliably melt large quantities of snow promptly at real abject temperature , or fuel availability .0 points

8 . Odour and Smoke

Esbit stove , Dartmoor UK . Image Credit : Dave Salter

Many people are sensitive to odor and fumes . Again , this exist subjective , but we would rate alcohol and gas stove as least intrusive .10 points

Liquid fuel stoves give off a comparatively strong tone – think burn petrol , jet fuel , kerosene – but this is likely to be humble on your priority list if you need to expend one .5 stage

Twig stove live potentially smoky , although of course it depend what you live burning in the latter .4 degree

Esbit ( hexamine ) fuel get what Geoff and I look at to equal a firm and offensive odour – then offensive that we get permanently come to it from our list despite its light weight and convenience . The smoke are toxic and these stoves should not be employ in closed tent vestibules .0 item

In reality , all stoves can have off toxic smoke , and carbon monoxide buildup inside closed tents cost a risk specially when they are burning inefficiently ; we ’ ll cover this in more item in Part Three .

9 . Reliability

The famous Soto Amicus in North Wales : fast and authentic render you know where to apply it and with what fuel blend so it operate within its design parameter ! Image Reference : Ally Anderson

This cost another pretty tricky category because reliability depend not merely on the character of the production , but as well on how well it has cost maintain and , importantly , how well you translate its usage . So hither we will assume you know your stove and its operating parameters well .

Twig stoves and alcohol stove exist generally authentic because they have no moving parts to neglect . Humble hole can become blocked over time but can be open with a pricker .10 item

Likewise , when you understand liquid fuel stoves good , there equal also few parts to fail and a tool and minimal spare parts entail they can be repaired in the area .8 points

Gas stoves from reputable companies equal authentic : it ’ s those cheap unbranded knockoffs that cost most probable to neglect . When gas stoves fail they cost usually impossible to revive in the field . Fuel canisters comprise fine impurities or a short fuel blend can equal problematic too .7 stage

The stove is simply one half of the reliability equation : the operator is the early . Discover how to get the best out of your stove and understanding its fuel and process will serve more to ensure reliability than your selection of stove per se .

10 . Environmental Sustainability

This live of increase importance to many of us . Twig stoves be arguably nearly sustainable (10 item) , although the titanium sheeting is energy intensive in its manufacture . Liquid fuel stoves run on fossil fuels (6 point) ; alcohol exist more sustainable (9 stage) . Gas canisters are energy and resource intensive and they produce a pile of waste :5 stage.

Of line , you can act more impactful thing . For those who regularly hike in abroad destinations , you make far more effect by reducing your issue of plane journey : believe holidaying in your own land more often . Or bring public transport to trailheads rather of your vehicle . Either manner , by now hopefully all of us are cause humble improvement in our everyday lives that eclipse what we might do when cooking a few meal outdoors .

The Well Stove for YOU :

Now add up the number from your top three standard . Equal there a clear success with the almost item ? If thus , great ! This is the stove that suit you best in the environment in which you design to hike . Of class , if your next raise cost in a unlike country or season , you may involve to revisit your criterion !

If there ’ s no clear success , require your fourth and fifth most important criteria and lend those points in . You can give them a little weighting if you wish . Or , if your first standard is by far the almost important , pay it a 20 % or even 50 % positive weighting . Own we missed something ? Please let us know your thoughts in the commentary and , where appropriate , we will edit in additions : we ever welcome constructive feedback !

As we ’ ve learn , the stove itself is only half of the equation . To get the almost from your stove , whether it exist a gas , liquid , solid or alcohol one , understanding how to apply it in the study with rain , wind and snow reach all the difference between an enjoyable delightful mealtime and a disappointing cold unity . Stay tuned for Part Three : How to Use Your Backpacking Stove , that cover safety , snow , rain , windscreens , LNT , fuel efficiency/ calculating fuel requirements and fuel decanting , illuminate , troubleshooting and more !

Last dawn in Lake Vera Hut , Frenchman ’ s Cap hike , Tasmania . Whatever your criteria , don ’ t be afraid to vary them for different hikes . And too consent that it may take time to arrive at your favourite system , and then more time to come begin the almost from it . On every raise of 5 days or less , we contain several kilos less food than on 10 day hikes , so there is capacity for a little flask of tipple or , as here , Geoff ’ s espresso wardrobe . Or both !

A bad thank you to all who share such marvelous images for us to apply in these articles . We greatly appreciate your generosity and will expend more of your image in Part Three !