Cooking technique |
Using hot coals or a campfire |
Using a grill (standalone only)* |
Using a portable stove |
Regular stove (like a portable kitchen stove) |
Wood burning stove |
Solar stove |
Liquid fuel stove |
Canister stove |
Alcohol stove |
Tablet stove |
Example images |
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Can you use multiple pieces of cookware at once?
How many burners do you get?
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N/A |
Maybe
Could have a layout that allows multiple cookware to be used (e.g., double burner)
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Do you have to bring it yourself? |
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Some campsites have a grill |
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General fuel sources
Check manufacturer's instructions for your model, important consideration that affects total price, weight & size, and availability
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Wood or coals |
Coals or gas (propane) |
Gas** |
Wood |
Sunlight (may work when overcast) |
White gas (actually a liquid), kerosene |
Gas** |
Alcohol |
Solid fuel tablets (hexamine) |
Will this need specific cookware? And why?
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Ideal cookware has to tolerate directly sitting on hot coals or in a flame
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N/A |
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Cookware is integrated with the stove
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Cookware needs to be smaller since the stove top surface is smaller (a heavy, hot pot can tip over!). Some models may have integrated cookware
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Is this primarily used for individuals or small parties? |
Cookware is available at standard kitchen capacities. Have a cookout!
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Depends
Depends on integrated cookware capacity
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Is there a steep learning curve to use? |
Somewhat
Need to light & maintain fire
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Somewhat
Need to light & maintain coals
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Somewhat
Some fire starting & maintenance still needed
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Somewhat
May require you to follow the sun's angles
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Stove needs 'priming'
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Can you control the temperature?
With wood or coal, you could just let the fire die down, but here we're referring to an actual knob
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If gas-powered
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Is this best used to boil water? |
With the right cookware, you can do a lot!
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The flame can go out quite readily in wind & isn't very powerful
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Once lit, does it heat quickly?
Including average time to boil water
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10+ min
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1-2 min
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5 min
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20-30 min
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1-2 min
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6-8 min, in good conditions, see above
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Any other considerations? |
May not be permissible; check fire regulations |
N/A |
Butane (if that's what the model requires) doesn't work in cold temperatures |
May not be permissible; check fire regulations |
Cooks more like an oven (put it in & leave it) |
Best performer at high altitudes*** |
N/A |
N/A |
Leaves residue on cookware & creates noxious fumes so you should cook with a lid |
Effect on secondary factors
Excludes fuel
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Price |
N/A |
$50-200 |
$80-200 |
$10-50 |
Weight & Size
Large variation; data from models without integrated cookware & also excluded fuel weight
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10-40lbs
(5-18kg)
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5-12lbs
(2.3-5.4kg)
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~2lbs
(~0.9kg)
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2-7lbs
(0.9-3.2kg)
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10-12oz
(283-340g)
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0.9-3.2oz
(26-91g)
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0.7-3.5oz
(20-99g)
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3.3oz
(92g)
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Portable one likely won't fit in a backpack, but may have carry handle |
Depending on number of burners, could fit in a regular or hiking backpack |
Could fit in a regular backpack |
Could fit in backpack side pockets |
Could literally fit in pants pocket |
Rationale |
More material |
Less material |
Why we do/don't carry it
= we rent = we sell
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N/A |
Not as versatile for multiple use cases |
Standard for most outdoor uses for car camping
On our Catalog, this is indicated with "Portable stove"
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Not as versatile for multiple use cases |
For sale because some consider it a "classic". Not for rent because it requires more set-up & is heavier compared to the stoves at right
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Versatile for most outdoor uses, therefore more worth the money
On our Catalog, this is indicated with "Pocket stove"
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Not as versatile for multiple use cases |
*We're not referring to grill attachments, which may be available for the other stove options (e.g., kitchen stove, wood burning stove, or solar stove)
**Gas varies depending on stove. For example, Regular stoves usually take propane or butane, while Canister stoves usually take an isobutane-propane mix
***Since cooking at altitude isn't a concern for many, we have only highlighted the best performer, rather than going into detail about all the stoves (i.e., it doesn't mean that only liquid fuel stoves work at altitude)