Comments on: Choosing the Right Backpacking Stove

By: John

John — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:32:25 +0000

We’ve pretty much settled down to just using alcohol for everything. We even used a one-burner propane stove when we paddled the Mississippi (never, ever again! That stove was a complete, top-heavy pain in the butt). If we end up going down another big river, we’ll likely use something like a Trangia 27 set with the full windscreen setup. Backpacking trips, we still use that little alcohol stove I carved out of refried bean can almost ten years ago!

$2.00 / 10 years = one really, really cheap stove!

By: Ralph Alcorn

Ralph Alcorn — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:17:45 +0000

Been thru the same stove series except the esbit. My wife and I always hike together, so always cooking for two. We have hot beverage in morning, and a freeze dried meal at night, so always doing two boils a day, 1 liter each time. We put the pot with the boiled water in a pot cozy immediately, and it stays hot till the 2nd cup of coffee, tea, etc.

Both kerosene, white gas and isobutane put out more heat per ounce than alcohol, but they require a heavier carrying container. We carry the alcohol in a small plastic soda bottle.

Which stove you use depends on how many days between fuel resupplies. For the two of us, the breakeven point is between 2 and 3 days. For that short distance alcohol is better, anything longer the canister stove means less weight carried including fuel. I still use the whisperlite, but only for snow camping, where you are using enormous amounts of fuel to melt snow.

By: John

John — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 23:11:29 +0000

Awesome – the more you play with these things, the easier they are to make. You might want to carry another can that’s a little bigger than that catfood can so you can snuff out the flame if need be.

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 23:18:08 +0000

John,

I made a Super Cat Stove today and cooked some pasta for supper in my kitchen. It works great. Thanks for keeping this website up. It’s very helpful.

I’m going to make another one of these for my girlfriend, then try my hand on some Super Cat accessories and a pot cozy.

By: John

John — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 14:38:57 +0000

Ben,

If you’re planning on making and alcohol stove, you’ll probably want something a bit smaller. The one I have pictured is a Frito Lays Refried Bean can, and that size (about 3″ across) has worked well for me.

Here’s a great link for a stone-cold simple stove to make: The Super Cat Stove. All you’ll need is a cat food can (or similar) and a plain hole punch. These stoves work great. http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/SuperCat/index.html

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:56:17 +0000

John,

I’ve located what I think is a good can for making this thing – 1 Café du Monde tin.

You got any tips for constructing it? Especially for cutting and placing the holes in the sides?

Thanks

- Ben

By: John

John — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 21:03:45 +0000

Ben,

Good to hear from you. Always use Denatured Alcohol in any alcohol stove. You pick up a quart at any hardware store, or just buy the yellow bottles of HEET at a gas station. They come in 12 oz bottles, and that’s generally what I use. The red bottles of HEET are mostly isopropyl (“rubbing”) alcohol, and don’t burn nearly as well (not as hot, smokey, etc). You can use rubbing alcohol in a pinch, but I’d rather just use a fire for a couple of days if I had to go that route.

Take it easy,

-John

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 21:38:56 +0000

John,

Hey man. I met you on the AT up near grayson highlands this summer and you gave me a few pointers. One question:
- what sort of alcohol do you use with this thing?

- Ben

By: Garrett

Garrett — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:40:31 +0000

Great story!

Are there any tutorials out there on making your own stove like that?

See you tomorrow morning