Pros and Cons of Other Portable Cookware Systems

A hot brew on a cold day, a sizzling steak outside the tent as the sun rises, a nourishing meal after a long hike, these are the moments of joy available to us all with the right stove for the job, of course.

Figuring out the best camping stove requires a bit of trade-off between size, weight, and fuel type, with all kinds of exciting compromises in between. 

Let us look into the pros and cons of various portable cookware systems.

1)Solid fuel tablet stove

Example: Esbit solid fuel stove

        Price: $ 12

        Size: 4" by 3" by 0.75"

        Weight: 3.25 oz

        Material: Galvanized steel.

        Fuel: -14g solid fuel tablet.

              - Cost around $ 0.15- $ 0.60 per use.

              - Delivers up to 1400 ℉ of extreme heat.

              - Each cube provides 12 minutes of burn time.

              -Safe and effective fire-starter for campfires.

Pros:

• Simple

• Light

• Compact

• Unlimited shelf-life when stored properly.

• Inexpensive

• Solid fuel is practically smokeless, odorless, and residue-free. 

Cons:

• You cannot adjust the heat emitted.

• Wind sensitive.

• Not readily available as compared to others.

2)Fuel based canister stove

Example: MSR pocket rocket deluxe        

        Price: $ 70

        Size: 3.3" by 2.2" by 1.8"

        Weight: 2.9 oz

        Heat: 10,400 BTU

        Fuel: Isobutane-propane

        Push-start ignition: Yes

        It comes with a 1.2-liter aluminum pot, strainer lid, non-BPA bowl, pot handle, and stuff sack.

Pros: 

• Light 

• compact 

• Easy to use. 

• Least maintenance.

• Energy-efficient.

Cons:

• For most, the top is heavy, raising stability issues.

• Effectiveness reduces when the temperature goes below freezing.

• Overheating may lead to explosions and fire.

3)Camping stove

Example: Jetboil Genesis Basecamp System

        Price: $ 380

        Weight: 9.1 pounds.

        Burner: 2 @ 10,000 BTU 

        Fuel type: Canister

        Fuel: Propane

        Dimension: 9.8 by 4.6 inches

        Material: Aluminium and steel.

        Fuel regulator: Yes

        Jet link compatible for extra expansion.

        It comes with a 5-liter pot and a 10-inch non-stick pan.

Pros:

• Excellent burner output.

• No fumes.

• Superfast and efficient.

• It is easy to control the heat.

• Work fine in frosty conditions.

Cons:

• Need to carry sufficient gas canisters wherever you are camping to avoid running out.

• Overheating may cause explosions and even fires.

• Prices range from $14.99 to over $ 250, subject to your choice.

• Larger ones can be pretty cumbersome.

• There is a need to check for gas leaks.

4)Alternative fuel (BioLite) 

Example: BioLite CampStove 2+

        Price: $150.                                 

        Fuel: wood                    

        Weight: 2 lbs. 1 oz

        Burner:1

        Power storage: Integrated 3200 mAh battery.

Pros:

• Various accessories allow one to grill, cook, and boil.

• Power bank with an external USB to charge electronics.

• Nice handles for carrying around.

• Easy to light.

• Leaves no ground scars.

• Smokeless.

• Ambient to look at.

• Fitted with four fans to enhance heating productivity.

Cons:

• No much control over flame and heat.

• Wood is not regularly at one's disposal.

• Needs power unit to work correctly.

• Noisy, you can hear the fan humming pretty heavily.

• Small firebox. Loading too much wood will lead to smoke issues.

• Rust prone fire pit.

• The bag sack material is low quality and super thin. It does not zip around the fire pit.

• It is heavy.

Are you planning to add a camping stove that is safe, portable, and eco-friendly on your camping trip? For a worthwhile investment, NEVERFLAME got you covered.