Does a wood stove for hiking live up to the hype

[hawgrider]

Do you ever see a wood stove marketed as the ultimate backpacking stove? The selling point is, all you need is wood, no fuel canisters required. Then there is usually a picture of people smiling, sitting around a wood stove cooking something.

The question is, do the wood stoves live up to the hype? http://www.alloutdoor.com/2017/03/07/hiking-wood-stove-worth-the-hype/

[Kfilly]

Even in areas where they are banned, I would still carry one as a back up. My Vargo stove weighs 5 ounces. If it means survival with a fine or death, I will take survival.

[OSFG]

I know that you can always make a pan or pot holder to cook out of sticks or rocks instead of bringing a "Stove"; which is just a pan with the ability to suspend it over a fire. My thoughts are...if your going to carry the pan then get a holder for a fire if it can fit within the pan or is small enough....It sucks when your pan of water tips over due to a stick burning through or a balancing act on rocks fails....and it can scald your camping ass as well, which can create a serious situation.

[Arklatex]

I've used one quite a bit. The author complains about the soot on the bottom of your pots and pans. I think it's no big deal. You're gonna get that no matter what when you cook over fire. You don't have to spend an hour scrubbing the dang thing trying to make it look perfect... Unless it bothers you for some reason. So I personally would say to take that small bit of negativity and disregard it.

Another thing I'll add is that these stoves make a great pot stand for ultralight fuel burners like trangia or penny alcohol stoves.

[hawgrider]

I carry my mini butane/propane stove. It does weigh more than the portable soot machine. But..

It has benefits over the soot stove.

1. No smoke no fire. Which means concealment day or night time.
2. Pure convenience. I can cook or boil water inside a tarp shelter or tent and stay dry while its pouring rain or a snowstorm.
3. No soot to clean off before my canteen cup or mess kit goes back in the pouch or back pack.
4. One small fuel canister will make about a weeks worth of boiled water for mountain house type meals 2 per day. After that Id just build a fire using the Dakota pit or traditional on ground fire using just coals (less soot with coals and no flame) The burner weighs 3.8 oz

http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q761/hawgrider97/Things/41e1kjx4_bL._SY400__zpsmwnrjvyb.jpg (http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/hawgrider97/media/Things/41e1kjx4_bL._SY400__zpsmwnrjvyb.jpg.html)

[Arklatex]

I carry my mini butane/propane stove. It does weigh more than the portable soot machine. But..

It has benefits over the soot stove.

1. No smoke no fire. Which means concealment day or night time.
2. Pure convenience. I can cook or boil water inside a tarp shelter or tent and stay dry while its pouring rain or a snowstorm.
3. No soot to clean off before my canteen cup or mess kit goes back in the pouch or back pack.
4. One small fuel canister will make about a weeks worth of boiled water for mountain house type meals 2 per day. After that Id just build a fire using the Dakota pit or traditional on ground fire using just coals (less soot with coals and no flame)

I have the exact same one as you. And it is a great lil stove. Highly recommended.

[A Watchman]

I have two of them also, great little stoves. I picked mine up on Amazon.

[hawgrider]

I have two of them also, great little stoves. I picked mine up on Amazon.
Thats where mine came from.

[Inor]

I carry my mini butane/propane stove. It does weigh more than the portable soot machine. But..

It has benefits over the soot stove.

1. No smoke no fire. Which means concealment day or night time.
2. Pure convenience. I can cook or boil water inside a tarp shelter or tent and stay dry while its pouring rain or a snowstorm.
3. No soot to clean off before my canteen cup or mess kit goes back in the pouch or back pack.
4. One small fuel canister will make about a weeks worth of boiled water for mountain house type meals 2 per day. After that Id just build a fire using the Dakota pit or traditional on ground fire using just coals (less soot with coals and no flame) The burner weighs 3.8 oz

http://i1358.photobucket.com/albums/q761/hawgrider97/Things/41e1kjx4_bL._SY400__zpsmwnrjvyb.jpg (http://s1358.photobucket.com/user/hawgrider97/media/Things/41e1kjx4_bL._SY400__zpsmwnrjvyb.jpg.html)

I bought 4 of those on your recommendation. I could not be happier with them.

On the point of soot on the pan, the easiest way to clean up a sooty pot is to coat the outside with liquid dish soap before you put it over the fire. After cooking, the soot easily rinses off with just warm water.

[hawgrider]

On the point of soot on the pan, the easiest way to clean up a sooty pot is to coat the outside with liquid dish soap before you put it over the fire. After cooking, the soot easily rinses off with just warm water.
Good tip I'll have to try that.

[hawgrider]

The $6 Ultralight Compact Backpacking Stove
http://tinhatranch.com/the-6-ultralight-backpacking-stove/#.WL_voqhtnIV



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hiLB94Xr18

[Sparkyprep]

As many of you may remember, i keep an Emberlit folding stove in my BOB. It folds completely flat, burns found fuel, its extreamly stable, and works very well. I dont have to carry fuel.

3204

[Arklatex]

Here's the one I use from time to time. It all nests together into this

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170308/91f682d044c7b8b9f97f0207f030ebf2.jpg

Here it is unpacked

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170308/da1621c6761ec4e4176c61773591a54b.jpg

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170308/fff000d719f58f63563061d067961f42.jpg

That trangia spirit burner is filled with alcohol. Enough for several burns and it is o-ring sealed so it doesn't leak or evaporate. Nests right in the stove. It's a versatile setup but it's bulky.

[Coastie dad]

I've been using a bush box original in stainless. May try one of those butane though.