Choosing a camping stove that suits your needs is easy once you know how. There are a number of different camping stoves available on the market. Your choice will be based on what kind of camping trips you have planned. There are camping stoves with one, two or three burners and ones that make use of propane, butane, white gas, unleaded gasoline, or kerosene.
If you’re choosing a camping stove for your trips here’s some handy advice to help you make a decision:
If you are just starting out, choosing a camping stove that has at least two burners is the best option. You can make a two-pot meal, like pasta and sauce. You can also keep one warm and make a third dish with a two burner stove. Coleman has a few versions of each two-burner stove.
The main difference is the space for the pots. A standard size is adequate for a small family - bear this in mind when choosing a camping stove. For larger groups there are larger camping stoves, but up to ten people can be accommodated by a two plate stove if some dishes are kept warm or cooked over a fire.
When choosing a camping stove make sure you learn about the different kinds of fuels that are used. Propane or White gas ("Coleman") fuel are usually recommended for use in a camping stove. Camping stoves that run on white gas get the hottest. This gas does not have any noxious fumes or odors and won’t change the taste of your food. If the fuel is spilled it evaporates and won’t leave an odor.
Several white gas stoves can be bought in a "dual fuel" version. This means you can use unleaded auto gas in the stove. It will leave an odor if you spill some, however. You can use white gas only in the dual fuel stoves. The benefit of using unleaded fuel over white gas is its cost. Auto gas is about $1.50 per gallon and white gas is more expensive (about $4.50). Bear this in mind when choosing a camping stove.
You can also use propane fuel but your stove won’t get as hot. However a propane stove is very easy to use. You simply attach a bottle to the stove, start the gas and light the burner. The second fuel option when choosing a camping stove is propane. Propane does not give out as much heat as white gas stoves, but it has some very significant advantages for family camping. Some of these models are fitted with an electronic starter. Tanks of fuel can be bought in 5, 10 and 20 pound sizes.
Stove extras can be helpful during a camping trip. So invest in a windscreen, a starter, a stand, and a fuel funnel (if using white gas) if you can afford them.
A stove starter is a long handled sparker that helps you light the burners. If you’re using propane choose a stove with built-in ignition. A folding stand may make your stove easier to use so keep this in mind when choosing a camping stove.
