In order to end up with the camping stove best suited to your needs, you have to clearly understand what you are looking for and what options are available to you. This is done by researching in two areas.
Firstly, you research the market to find out what kinds of camping stoves are available, familiarizing yourself with the different features, styles and price ranges etc. Secondly, you examine your own unique requirements in a camping stove.
Research the market: Camping Stove essentials
There have never been a broader variety of portable stoves available for such a huge number of camping situations. Your shopping task may be daunting, but the end purchase should be ideal for your type of camping.
The first part of the research step is to investigate just what's available in the camping stove market. The range of options can seem overwhelming, but you can make a good start by understanding the following major features:
Types: One or two-burner units, collapsible-cartridge stoves, screw-top units, multi-fuel and liquid-gas stoves are the main types to choose from.
Features: The two-burner units are usually heavy and bulky to backpack with. They are great for car camping, but the one-burner camp stove or cooker units are much lighter. Newer models often fold and come with a plastic or mesh outer casing. Some stoves screw on top of a small-bottled tank of gas and are called cartridge stoves. They will usually run on propane or butane.
Tip: Most screw-top unit don't fit the cartridges or gas tanks in other countries. If you're planning an expedition abroad, you may be better off buying a new stove upon arrival.
Other multi-fuel burners, called liquid-gas stoves, often come with a hose attachment that connects to a tank so you can fill up with any sort of fuel that is available - even diesel. They are the most versatile and are great if you're travelling abroad.
Accessories: Some camp stove or cooker accessories include extra fuel tanks or cartridges. Most likely you'll have to buy extra ones and return the empty tanks each time. For liquid-gas stoves, you might consider investing in a second tank for longer expeditions. You might also want to invest in a small wind barrier that will help your fuel efficiency and prevent the flame from blowing out. Additionally, you will need to buy the necessary cookware (small pots, pans, and utensils). Size depends on how many people you'll be cooking for.
Cost: A budget model single-burner stove from a national department store will cost you a fraction of a quality one bought from an outdoor recreational store. Multi-fuel, liquid-gas stoves can cost significantly more than a cartridge unit.
Research your needs: Questions to ask yourself
Now it's time to determine what your requirements are in a camping stove. For example, will you use the camping stove only for occasional camping trips or do you need something that will withstand hard use in the woods every weekend?
You can start this process by considering the following questions - as well as any others you think of yourself - and recording your answers.
| Have I used a camping stove before? |
| | If you have used a camping stove, work out what you did or didn't like about the camping stove. You may be looking for one exactly like it, hoping to upgrade, or even trying to avoid any particular features that you found inconvenient. |
Q. What do I want a camp stove or cooker for?
A. You might just want to be able to boil some water for a cup of coffee or maybe you need to cook a meal for the whole family.
| Where will I use the camp stove or cooker? |
| | If you are going to car camp, a two-burner, heavier stove will be fine to use. If you are going to be trekking or hiking, then you'll want something lighter. If you're travelling abroad, you may need one that burns different types of fuels. |
| How often will you use a camp stove? |
| | If you are only going to use it for one outing, you may not want to invest in a fancier, more expensive model. |
| How much can I spend on a camping stove or cooker? |
| | Prices vary depending on where you buy it. Look in camp retail stores, department stores, or supermarkets. |
Understanding your needs is the key to a successful purchase and you can revisit your list of needs at any time during the buying process.
Once you complete this Research step, having informed yourself about the essentials of camping stoves and identified your needs, you are ready to move on to the next step: Evaluation.
Video Links
Buyz123.com Research Links:ChoosingSelecting a stove for backpackingGeneralThings to consider when buying a camp stoveCamping stoves and cookwareTypesCopious camping stoves