Considerations for Selecting a Lightweight Backpacking Stove

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I have a Coleman F1 canister stove and a Trangia alcohol burner.

I use the cannister stove when camping with a group and we need to turn out more hot water. Everyone gets to haul some fuel that way too. I bought it because it was inexpensive (under $30) small, light, easy to use, and the fuel is readily available. I use left over cannisters for car camping.

If I’m going solo I use a Trangia burner and one of the stamped aluminum pot stand/wind screens that comes with the Mini Trangia 28T model — you can buy them separately. I use a simple aluminum foil windscreen as needed. I like the simmering ring, the ability to extinguish the flame, and to carry fuel in the burner underway. It is heavier than a pop can stove, but it will last a lifetime. I use it with the MSR Titan Ti pot and the windscreen, burner, a butane lighter and a cut down pot scrubber sponge all fit in the pot. I bought the Trangia for the same reasons I got the Coleman F1– inexpensive, easy to use, compact and light, and the fuel is easy to find. It is also quiet and more environmentally friendly than the cannister stove.

It wouldn’t bother me to take the cannister stove on a short overnight trip. It is fast and I’ve boiled water and let it cool for the next day’s drinking water rather than use chemical treatment (Aqua Mira in my camp).

I carry a couple Esbit tabs as fire starters as part of my emergency essentials. The Esbit system is certainly useable, but I find the alcohol stove burns long enough on a single filling to boil the Titan, which the Esbit didn’t always do. My guess it would do better with a slightly smaller pot.

I also have a pop can stove, an Esbit folder, an Esbit wing stove, a Coleman Peak 1 white gas stove and a Coleman two-burner Green Monster. The white cas stoves are used for car camping and do double duty as part of our disaster kit.

Coleman F1. Easy, fast, clean, fuel efficient, nothing to pour or spill. Can be used even when fire restrictions are in effect. All components, including fuel, fit neatly inside small pot inside your pack.

I think BPL has done a good job exploring stoves, esp. for cold weather use. I’m looking forward to Roger’s part 2 on carbon monoxide as well as more on remote canister stoves and mods.

This year I’ve been using an Athena master glow stove/infrared heater. A fairly cheap made-in-Korea stove but one with the all important preheat loop. I might as well admit I use it in my BD firstlight tent, for both heat and cooking. For others doing the same (probably more than will admit it) I have several suggestions.

With the fuel canister inverted, the chance of a major initial flare-up is increased dramatically. One should be incredibly careful on initial startup, before the preheat loop is at its full temp. Place the biggest pot or cover over the burner so no tent surface is in danger should a flare-up occur. If a worst-case (outdoor!) test still results in a large flare, try preheating the stove outside, shut it off and relight inside.

I for one appreciate BPL’s articles on CO and rigging up stoves and heat exchangers for canisters. However, I think BPL should highlight possible safety problems a little more right up front when presenting these cutting edge mods.