With summer nearly here and the camping season in full swing, its the perfect time to think about buying a new camping stove. Stoves come in all shapes and sizes, burning a variety of fuels, allowing the adventurous chef in you to cook a meal in any environment, whether its at a summer festival, or halfway up a mountain. When buying a camping stove then, it is important to consider what you are going to be using it for.
There are a wealth of companies producing durable, quality camping equipment, and great stoves are produced by well known brands such as Coleman, Campingaz, and MSR.
Basic Camping Stoves
A basic camping stove should be sturdy, reliable and small enough to be carried by hand. These stoves, which often burn butane (available in easy-to-use refill canisters), normally consist of a single hob (although it is not uncommon to find dual-hob versions), and are ideal for weekend camping and festivals. The classic style of stove in this bracket is simply a butane canister on top of which is placed a grill so a pan can sit above, but those camping with small children may prefer the added stability of a low profile stove that is less likely to get knocked over.
Camping Cooker
Next up in the size stakes, and suitable for larger family camping and caravanning trips, is the Camping Cooker. These units are larger, typically comprising two hobs as well as a grill, with some even sporting a small oven. Accessories may include a a windbreak and legs, and as such these stoves will typically be heavier than normal stoves, although obviously not so cumbersome as to make transporting them difficult. Campingaz’s CampChef range are trusted by many family campers around the world.
Expedition Stoves
Top of the range, expedition stoves are essential kit for hardcore hikers and climbers, featuring sleek design and lightweight materials in their construction to minimise the burden for the user. These camping stoves are all about ruggedness and reliability, and many of the best have multi fuel capability, meaning they can burn all sorts of fuel, from butane to diesel and even unleaded petrol. Expedition specialists MSR are market leaders in the field and their Dragonfly Stove is a prime example. One innovative type of expedition stove, exemplified by the JetBoil and Reactor models, features a sealed pan for super efficient boil times.
Get the best out of your camping cuisine with the correct stove for your requirements and you wont have to worry about another can of cold beans!