How to choose the right stove

26 June 2008 15:58

Cold food, water and shelter will keep you going in the hills, but having the right stove makes life so much better...

Fuel type
Gas stoves burn pressurised propane/butane mixes. Petrol stoves burn pressurised liquid fuels such as refined petrol like Primus Powerfuel or paraffin. Trangias burn unpressurised fuel such as methylated spirits.

• Diesel
Cheap and very easy to get hold of, but dirty and smelly to use.

• Methylated spirits
No need to be pressurised, so stoves are easy and safe to use. But it is slow and the fuel isn’t always available.

• Propane/butane 
Widely available in a choice of canister sizes. It is easy to use but the power of the flame reduces as the pressure reduces inside the canister during use. To overcome this problem, use a new fuel canister for boiling and an old canister for simmering.

• Petrol
Easily obtained. But 4 star may rapidly clog the jets of a camping stove, and anyway it contains harmful additives. Your stove will work best on unleaded petrol or ‘refined’ petrol, such as Primus Powerfuel or white gas. Petrol has to be pressurised and converted into vapour, so more care is required when using it.

• Paraffin
Widely available, it burns under pressure like petrol. But you also need a volatile liquid, such as petrol or methylated spirits, to prime the stove. Paraffin also has a strong odour.

Ignition
Some stoves need lighting with matches, while others come with easy-to-use piezo-electric igniters.

Windshield
Some stoves have an integral windshield built in to either the pan supports, the legs or the burner, while others have a folding stand-alone barrier around the burner. In windy conditions a windshield is essential, so, if not provided, one will have to be improvised from rocks, boots, or rucksacks to protect the flame and ensure a reasonable boil time.

Fuel
Stoves with the fuel canister to the side of the burner have a lower centre of gravity and they are therefore more stable than stoves with a fuel canister located directly under the burner. The latter are usually more powerful though, as no pressure is lost through fuel having to travel down a tube.

Flame control
For boiling and simmering, the amount of fuel reaching the burner is adjusted with a flame control valve. If this is near the burner it is usually easier to control the flame, but it can get hot. A valve on a separate fuel tank is safer, but doesn’t always provide immediate control.

Burn times
Average minimum times to boil 1 litre of water are provided in the data tables. The length of time the fuel will last is also listed so you can judge how much fuel you need. The times given are based on 0.5 litres of petrol or a 250g size gas canister.

Pan supports
Pan supports vary from under 12cm to over 20cm in diameter. On uneven ground a wide support is best for stability. When cooking for two or more people a large-diameter pan support will be required to hold a large pan stable.

Size
It makes sense to carry the lightest and smallest packed size that will suit
your needs.

Burner size
The bigger the burner, the wider the heat distribution, which means a quicker boil time and more even cooking. A solo camper can save weight by using a stove with a small burner and smaller pans.