Camping Tips and Advice...

Camping Stoves

There is a vast range of portable stoves you can purchase. So, before you choose, you need to think about the type and quantity of cooking you will be using the stove for. You'll also need to carry the stove in your backpack or store it in your car boot, so size is another important consideration.

Stoves can vary from a two-burner stove and grill, complete with side wind-protectors and lid (like the campingaz camping chef) to a single ring compact burner (like the Campingaz Bleuet micro stove).

The next issue is what type of fuel to use and this will depend on the type of camping you have planned. Different fuels vary in heat output, how well they work in the cold, how easy they are to light, how safe they are to use and how much they cost. Availability varies too, so the places you plan to visit may determine the fuel you can use.

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• Butane/propane gas cartridge stoves

  These use a butane/propane gas mix in disposable cartridges. The cartridges are small and lightweight, so can be packed separately. Gas can be relied on for lighting and performance, is safe to use and is very controllable. The cartridges attach directly to the stove and can come in piercable or re-sealable varieties (which can be removed and packed separately.) Cartridge stoves, like the Campingaz Bleuet micro stove or the Campingaz CV 270 stove are very lightweight. They are suited for use with smaller pans, like the Sunngas 1 person cook set, or the slightly larger Outwell Aluminium camping cook set.

• Butane/propane gas cylinder stoves
  However, they are not as stable as the larger stoves that use gas or propane cylinders. Gas cylinders are bulkier than cartridges, but last longer. Stoves requiring cylinders are attached by means of a regulator and flexible gas hose. These stoves can take larger pans safely, like the Sunnflair family cook set and often include a grill, as with the Campingaz camping chef. Some also come with lids and side windbreaks and some, like the Sunngas Grill master deluxe are even complete with legs. Cylinder stoves are ideal for family use and gas for refillable cylinders is widely available. However if you plan to camp in France, Camping Gaz cylinders are the only ones available and the suitable regulator and cylinder should be purchased before your holiday. If your trip includes cold weather camping, you should consider swapping to propane gas, as this freezes at a lower temperature than butane.
• Pressure stoves
  These stoves run on pressurised forms of petroleum. They burn very hot and are very fuel-efficient. Some work with a wide variety of oils including diesel, while others can only use one or two fuels, such as the Coleman Sportser 2 stove which runs on unleaded petrol or coleman fuel. For efficient performance only the cleanest fuels should be used. There is a range of stove sizes, from the small backpackers stove to the family size double burners like the Coleman unleaded 2 burner stove.

• Methylated spirit stoves
  Unlike other fuels, meths burns as a liquid instead of a gas, so does not need to be pressurised. It lights instantly without preheating. If spilt, meths will evaporate quickly. However, it can still be ignited, so care must be taken when refilling the stove. Also, be warned that a meths flame is hard to see in daylight, so you may not realise when a meths stove is on. The biggest drawback with meths is that it only gives about half the heat of other fuels, so you need to carry more. The Trangia range of stoves are simple, reliable, quiet and nearly maintenance-free. They are safe and compact, which makes them ideal for the inexperienced or backpackers who don't want to be over-burdened.

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