Camping Stove Advice

Which camping stove should I buy?

For all sorts of camping and outdoor activity a warm meal on your stomach makes it all the more enjoyable. That's why CheapTents has put together this guide to help you answer the question which camping stove should I buy?

Camping stoves come in a full range of shapes and sizes, fuel types, weights, camping purposes and of course price, but they are most often split into three categories: Mountain Stoves, Backpacking Stoves and Family Stoves.

Mountain Stoves: These camping stoves are ideal for when weight and size constraints are a premium. Climbers and long-distance mountain walkers appreciate the quality of these stoves as they tend to be weather-proof in a way that means they do not easily blow-out, are very small in their pack and are a very lightweight stove. Many of these sorts of stoves can use multiple fuel types (see below), including liquid fuel which performs well in low atmospheric pressure (at altitude). Mountain stoves are lightweight in their fuel choice, when liquid fuel is used at least, because they provide the most heat for the least weight - ideal for expeditions when access to more fuel is not likely. Many mountain stoves, and backpacking stoves are a simple single hob, primarily due to space and weight saving being the priority so don't start planning your next high-altitude gourmet meal with your MSR Superfly stove thinking you've bought an Aga!

Backpacking Stoves: These stoves are a particular favourite of our customers hence the wide selection, and also because of the versatility they provide to a multitude of outdoor people seeking a lightweight, compact stove that they are more than happy to carry around with them in their backpack whether it be hiking, fishing, mountain biking or simply lightweight backpacking around the world! Like mountain stoves, they are single hobs, with the priorities being a lightweight and small camping stove rather than a fully fledged family camping stove. In regards to fuel types, many backpacking stoves are great at dealing with gas, liquid or solid fuel so provide great flexibility wherever you're camping.

Family Camping Stoves: Although we do not sell what we might call traditional family camping stoves as we primarily sell only specialist outdoor gear, we can help to introduce them for you. Family camping stoves are usually for when you will not be carrying the stove any further from the car to the camping pitch, and are more concerned about cooking enough for all of your family using multiple hobs. Family camping stoves are most frequently gas fueled and often heavier and bigger than a typical backpacking or mountain stove. Some family stoves even have a gas grill below the hobs too!

Depending on your budget and intentions these are the three categories you should consider. Importantly too is the fuel type for your stove.

Camping Stoves: Fuel Types

Fuel is sometimes disregarded by the summer camper, but those who are looking for a more versatile stove, that can deal with high altitudes, high winds and weighs as little as possible, this is a must read section.

Gas Fuel: Most often found in family camping and backpacking stoves, gas fuel stoves are great for ease of use, as it's a matter of turn on, light, and cook. The draw back is that gas is not too effective at high altitudes, nor is it as light as liquid using the heat:weight ratio. The fuel of these stoves is often more expensive but the stove itself is often cheaper than multi-fuel stoves.

Liquid Fuels: Petroleum based liquid fuel stoves are able to overcome extreme colds and low atmospheric pressure conditions and therefore are a favourite with those campers looking for a warm meal at altitude and in the severe cold. Liquid fuels are lighter using the heat:weight ratio and sometimes considered more easily refuelable.

Solid Fuels: Camping stoves that use solid fuels such as fuel tablets / blocks or petroleum-based fuel gels are often a tad messier than gas and liquid fueled stoves, and don't quite provide the efficiency of these fuels either. They are on the other hand a favourite with backpackers that worry about carrying a gas bottle around with them or worrying about drinking from the fuel bottle by accident.

Read the manual!

Fuels: Make sure you use the right fuel for your stove - do not risk using another fuel unless your manufacturer states if it is possible.

Maintenance: the life of your stove, like any technology, directly correlates with the care and maintenance you have for it.

Tip:Use a wind breaker to reduce the sideways blow of the flame, if the stove is not already stormproof.

Camping Stove Brands

Camping stoves are manufactured by well known camping equipment brands such as MSR, GOSystem and Trangia - all of which are now renowned for making fuel efficient, wind resistant camping stoves - ideal for family camping, backpacking and mountain adventures. CheapTents sell a huge range of discount camping stoves and cooking equipment, such as cooking pans and cook sets, along with a variety of cooking utensils.

MSR Stoves

"Almost 40 years have passed since MSR first revolutionized backcountry cooking with the Model 9 stove and we've held a commanding lead ever since. Legendary stoves like the WhisperLite Internationale; and ground breaking designs like the new, award-winning and revolutionary Reactor® prove that our design philosophy of achieving excellence in performance though bombproof reliability and pure function is an equation that continues to work."
Source: MSR website

Trangia Stoves

"The Trangia stove is today used by outdoor people all over the world. For half a century, the Trangia stove has been the natural choice for stormproof stoves. Our approach to quality has put its stamp on manufacturing throughout the process, from the choice of materials to function. We have the accumulated skills and experience over 75 years and our proximity to the mountain environment and practical testing, combined with modern technology, design and constant development, means we can offer a complete, reliable, quality stove. The Trangia Original is and remains the original: a light, fast and, above all, reliable stove for the outdoors. In all weathers".Source: Trangia website.

Camping Cookware

Camping cookware, whether it be cooking pans, bowls and plates are often made from 3 different materials. These include stainless steel, aluminium and titanium pans and other cookware.

MSR FAQ's: Cookware and Stoves

To help you choose your cookware and camping stove, here are some frequently asked questions and answers provided by MSR...

"The best complement to the world's best camp stoves is the world's best camp cookware. Our exacting engineering standards have yielded a pot for every occasion while keeping the supreme functionality you expect from MSR. Whether you need the rugged durability of stainless steel, a non-stick fry pan for the trail-side gourmet, featherweight titanium pots, or a place to put your spices, we've got what you need".

MSR Stove FAQ's

How do I travel/fly with my stove?
Each airline has different rules regarding the transportation of camping stoves. Please ask your airline about their regulations. Please note: Carrying flammable fuel on passenger aircraft in carry-on or checked luggage is forbidden. Before transporting fuel bottles on passenger aircraft, safely empty all fuel, wash inside with soapy water, rinse thoroughly, air dry, and stow bottle uncapped. Take every precaution possible, including informing your airline on check-in.

Where do I get fuels in foreign countries and what other types of fuels can I use?
Camping fuel is sold in a variety of places worldwide. If you can't find fuel in an outdoor store, try a gas station or hardware store. Liquid Fuel Stoves - If you can't find white gas, you may use unleaded auto fuel in your white gas-only stove. It will, however, require frequent cleanings. If you have a multi-fuel stove, like an XGK, DragonFly or WhisperLite Internationale, try kerosene. Just remember to use the "k" jet included with your stove. Canister Fuel Stoves – The PocketRocket will only accept threaded, self-sealing canisters. If you have a SuperFly, it will work on both threaded and non-threaded self-sealing canisters, like Campingaz.

What pumps are compatible with what stoves?
MSR's stove pumps are compatible with all MSR liquid fuel stoves, except the DragonFly stove. DragonFly-specific pumps will only work with DragonFly stoves.

My stove lights, but has a very weak flame.
There are several reasons your stove may have a weak flame. The most common one is that the jet and fuel line are clogged. First try cleaning your jet."Shaker Jet" stove owners simply shake your stove vigorously up and down. Non-"shaker-jet" owners use the jet cleaning wire that was provided with your stove to poke out any debris that may be blocking the passage of fuel. If that doesn't resolve the problem, you will need to clean the fuel line.

I can't find white gas anywhere; is Coleman Fuel the same thing?
Yes, Coleman fuel is a white gas. MSR also makes a high quality white gas that will reduce clogging (MSR SuperFuel™). Camplite also makes white gas. Both MSR SuperFuel™ and Camplite are available at your local outdoor stores.

Can you simmer with an MSR Stove?
There are two effective ways to simmer with your MSR stove. The most efficient way is to run the stove with extremely low pressure in the fuel bottle. One pump stroke in a half full bottle is optimal. Another way is to put a "burner plate" on top of the stove. This will diffuse the heat before it hits the pot. You can purchase one at your local outdoor store or you can use the metal lid from a coffee can (the big ones). Note: our award-winning DragonFly stove has a fully adjustable flame, which makes simmering a breeze.

Can I leave my pump in the fuel bottle?
Yes, there is no problem with leaving the pump in the bottle. However, we recommend that the pressure is released when not in use. Do this by slowly unscrewing the pump, away from open flames, while holding the bottle upright.

How do I avoid the black soot that deposits on the bottom of my stove after I prime it?
Avoid the black soot by priming with alcohol or a priming paste (available at most camping stores). NOTE: Alcohol will NOT generate enough heat to prime your stove if you are burning kerosene or jet fuel. For these fuels prime your stove as described in the instructions.

Can I burn alcohol in my MSR Stove?
No, MSR stoves will not burn alcohol, and alcohol will damage MSR Fuel Bottles.

For maintenance advice please contact MSR directly.

MSR Cookware FAQ's

1. What are the cooking properties of titanium vs. aluminum vs. stainless steel?
Aluminum is the cookware of choice for backcountry gourmets. It conducts heat evenly, is easy to clean because of the non-stick coating, and is extremely efficient. Stainless steel is very durable; perfect for when your pots take a lot of abuse. It lies somewhere in between aluminum and titanium in terms of its cooking ability/suitability. Titanium cookware biggest advantage is its light weight. Titanium pots are ideal for boiling water, because they can be made with very thin walls. They tend to develop hot spots, however, making them less than ideal for cooking temperature sensitive foods like eggs or pancakes.

Cookware's efficiency is dependent on its color and material. MSR testing has found that darker pots (esp. the bottom) are the most fuel efficient. Older cookware, which blackens through use, is more efficient than new cookware. Following is a list of MSR cookware, in their order of efficiency, for boiling water:

• DuraLite cookware
• Blackened Alpine cookware
• Titan cookware
• New BlackLite cookware (we suspect blackened BlackLite would be second to DuraLite, but was not tested at the date this was published.)
• New Alpine cookware.

2. Will my MSR stove fit into my MSR Cookset?
The SimmerLite is small enough to fit in an MSR 1-liter pot. All other MSR stoves with a flexible fuel line will fit into all MSR cooksets that are 1.5 liters or larger. The MSR XGK stoves will not fit inside a cookset because of their rigid fuel line. However the stove and fuel bottle will fit nicely in the side pocket of most backpacks.

3. Is the Heat Exchanger the only difference between the XPD Cookset and the Alpine Cookset?
Yes. Everything else is identical.

4. Why do MSR potset lids have tabs on the side?
Originally the MSR cooksets were sold with a strapto hold them together rather then a stuff sack. We designed the new MSR Panhandler pot lifter with two upright tabs on the top of the pot lifter which allows you to easily lift your pot lid by this tab. These new Pot lifters are available from most MSR dealers.

Don't forget your lightweight camping cutlery!

Trangia Cookware and Stove FAQ's

To help you choose your cookware and camping stove, here are some frequently asked questions and answers provided by Trangia...

1. Is it possible to use the titanium pots over an open fire (like the aluminium pots)?
Yes, it is possible to use the titanium pots as well over an open fire. Please handle the titanium pots carefully, since they have worse heat distribution capacity than the aluminium pots. Thus, the titanium pots more easily get overheated, which causes a change in the colour of the pots (to blue/black) and dents.

2. Can the spirits burner and fuel bottle be transported by aircraft? According to the Swedish Civil Aviation Administration, the spirit burner and fuel bottle are not considered as dangerous goods, provided that they are empty or filled with water. However, it is advisable to check-in the equipment and not carry it as hand luggage.

3. Which burner should I choose?
The spirit burner is recommended for use in everyday situations, such as short trips (a couple of days), especially during summer time when high power is not required. The gas burner is appropriate for similar situations, except that it cannot be used when the temperature is below -10 degrees Celsius. The multi-fuel burner is recommended for more extreme situations, such as longer expeditions (a comparatively small amount of fuel is required) or when higher power is needed at very low temperatures. For more information, see the answer to the question below.

4. What are the pros and cons of Trangia's spirit burner, gas burner and multi-fuel burner?

The spirit burner's:

• It is easy to use, due to the simple construction.
• The burner works even at severe cold (below -10 degrees Celsius) if used together with the winter attachment.
• The fuel is rather cheap.
• It takes longer to reach the boiling point (compared to when using a gas burner), partly due to lower power.
• The spirit burner produces more soot than the gas burner.

The gas burner:

• It takes short time to reach the boiling point, due to high power.
• It is easy to use.
• It produces no soot.
• It is easy to adjust the power during use.
• It does not work at a temperature below -10 degrees Celsius.
• The fuel is more expensive than for the spirit burner.
• It is more difficult to determine when you are running out of fuel in the container.

The multi-fuel burner:

• It has a high power, even at very low temperatures.
• It takes short time to reach the boiling point, due to high power.
• It works with several different fuels. The most common fuels are white gas and kerosene.
• It is slightly more complicated to use than the other burners, because pre-heating is required.
• The multi-fuel burner is more expensive than the spirit burner and the gas burner.

5. How long does it take to boil one litre of water on the Trangia stove?
It varies due to several different factors. However, it takes approximately 3.5 minutes with the gas burner and the multi-fuel burner and 11 minutes with the spirit burner (during summertime).

6. Could Trangia multi-disc be used as a lid when cooking?
Trangia multi-disc cannot be used as a lid when cooking. (The multi-disc would then be heated to such a high temperature that it will be deformed). However, it works perfectly well to use the multi-disc as a lid to keep food warm (whilst off the stove), while the other food is cooked.

7. How to clean a spirit burner when food has being spilt over it such that the holes are partly clogged?
Use steel wire, a thick needle or something similar and try to clean the holes. Steel wool can be used to clean the burner. Try not to get food into the wick. After cleaning the burner, let it dry properly before use. It is advisable to test the burner after it has dried before it is used in the stove again, to make sure it works properly.

8. Is it possible to use the Trangia gas burner in the Mini Trangia?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to use the Trangia gas burner in the Mini Trangia, since the gas burner cannot be attached to the windshield of the Mini Trangia.

9. Is it possible to use gas bottles that can be refilled to the Trangia gas burner?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to use gas bottles that can be refilled to the Trangia gas burner.

10. What are the dimensions of the Trangia 0.6, 0.9 and 1.4 litre kettles?
Kettle Diameter Height 0.6 litre 13,7 cm 7 cm 0.9 litre 15,5 cm 8,4 cm 1.4 litre 16 cm 10,5 cm

11. If there is some residual alcohol in the spirit burner after cooking, can the alcohol be saved in the burner (with the lid closed) for the next day?
The fuel can be stored inside the burner for the next day (or the next couple of days), provided that the lid is properly closed and the o-ring is undamaged. However, it is essential that the burner have cooled down completely before the lid is closed. Please note that the alcohol must not be stored in the burner for a longer period of time.

12. I have a Trangia gas burner through which the gas is flowing at a dramatically reduced rate. How to solve this problem?
The problem is most likely caused by some dirt in the jet nipple. Loosen up the appliance as shown in fig. 3 in the instructions (both the jet nipple and the burner). Clean out the jet nipple by blowing through the tiny hole at the front.

13. I have an old Trangia set. How can I adapt the set in order to be able to use the gas burner?
The easiest way to adapt an older set to the gas burner is to cut out a bigger hole among the small holes on the side of the lower windshield that is four holes wide and four holes high.

14. At what temperatures does the spirit burner work?
The spirit burner works at virtually all temperatures. However, the power of the spirit burner is decreasing with the decrease in temperature. To avoid that the power decreases at low temperatures (below 0 degrees Celsius), it is advisable to use the pre-heater.

15. At what temperatures does the gas burner work?
The gas burner works well down to -10 degrees Celsius.