Homemade Stove vs. Fire?

I think a wood stove gives me the best of both worlds. My fully enclosed titanium stove adds 4 ounces to my pack, but it is much more fuel efficient than an open fire. A few twigs will boil 2 cups of water. If it's raining, peeling the bark off the first handful of pencil sized twigs gets the fire going, after that, I feed it with wet twigs (but not wood that was in direct contact with the ground). An enclosed wood stove can be moved when it's lit. That lets me start the fire under my tarp, and then move it just outside the sheltered area so it doesn't smoke up my tarp or hammock.

No scorched earth, and only a smidgen of ash to dispose of.

I made a paint can wood stove (bushbuddy knock off) that works great and was fun to make. Fits into my IMUSA mug and then i bring a couple esbit tabs with, i can cook with them or start an emergency fire. Super light, no spilled fuel. Works great for me.

A wood fire has its place. However, there are many places where wood fires are prohibited, especially at higher elevations near timberline where there aren't many trees.

–B.G.–

I almost solely rely on my Ikea wood stove and MSR Titan kettle. I tend to carry some wetfire when I don't want to mess around with wet wood. I just light one and throw it in with some branches. Starts my fire pretty quick and once its hot enough it dries out any subsequent wood.

Part of me wants to buy a Jetboil.. not sure why I just think its pretty cool but carrying fuel makes me cringe.