Buying a camping stove: everything you need to know

Gas stove

Gas stoves are popular with trekkers and in the mountains. They’re easy to use, work reliably and very small, light models are available. Gas stoves are therefore suitable for multi-day trekking and bikepacking, while larger versions with a two-burner réchaud are suitable for camping or vanlife.

Pros:

• Easy to use

• Require little maintenance

• Are quickly ready for use

• No soot is produced during combustion

• Heat can easily be regulated

Cons:

• Less efficient at high altitudes and low temperatures. For temperatures below freezing, a canister with winter gas should be brought

• Gas cartridges are difficult to find in some countries/regions

• Depending on the country, cartridges have different connectors (insert or screw), which may not fit on the burner

• Cartridges cannot be transported on airplanes

Remember to check which gas cartridges are common locally before you go abroad and whether this system fits your burner. To be on the safe side, you can also buy an adaptor. For safety reasons, make sure you have good ventilation when burning.

Petrol stove

Petrol stoves are an especially good choice for adventures in remote places, as the fuel – petrol – is available almost everywhere. However, petrol does not always have the same level of purity; the stove therefore produces more or less soot, although you can also cook with an impure fuel. Exactly how the petrol stove works varies depending on the model and manufacturer.

Pros:

• Petrol is available almost everywhere in the world

• Fuel delivers constant heat, even at low temperatures

• Petrol is often cheaper than other fuels

Cons:

• Maintenance is complex because nozzles and lines have to be cleaned regularly

• More difficult to use

• Burning is relatively noisy

• Before flying you must clean the stove and fuel bottle thoroughly, otherwise you may not be allowed to take the equipment on the plane

• Petrol can leak in luggage if handled incorrectly

Remember to get a detailed explanation of how your petrol stove works and how to look after it. In most cases, you have to first create pressure in the bottle by priming it and then preheat the burner before cooking.

Multi-fuel stoves

Multi-fuel stoves be used with just about anything you can find. They are therefore a safe choice for expeditions and adventure trips to remote or high places. With a multi-fuel stove, you can be flexible and are certain to have hot food.

Pros:

• All types of fuels are suitable (pure petrol, unleaded petrol, kerosene (paraffin), diesel, sometimes even aviation petrol)

• Work reliably at altitude and at low temperatures

• Robust construction

• Liquid fuels are often inexpensive

Cons:

• Maintenance is complex because the nozzles have to be cleaned regularly

• Burning is noisy depending on the model

• The stoves are comparatively larger and bulkier than gas stoves

Remember to get a thorough explanation of how the stove works, what you need to look out for and how you can replace and maintain parts before you travel.

Esbit stoves

Esbit stoves are more suitable for short adventures where it’s clear from the start how often you’ll cook, as you’ll pack Esbit tablets accordingly. This fuel can mainly be used to boil water for tea, coffee or ready meals, or to heat meals. Preparing food takes a long time.

Pros:

• Esbit is easy to transport (small pack size) and store

• Simple and easy to use

• Burning is silent

• Works at sub-zero temperatures and at high altitudes

• Is a dry fuel, can’t leak

Cons:

• Replenishment can be difficult on longer journeys

• Temperature is hard to regulate during cooking

• Heating takes longer than with other fuels

Remember to never light Esbit tablets indoors because of the gases.

Spirit stoves

You’re probably familiar with cooking with alcohol from a fondue caquelon. Spirit stoves for camping work the same way, but with significantly more heating capacity – fill up the fuel, light it and off you go.

Pros:

• Fuel is cheap and available almost everywhere

• Spirits can be filled flexibly

Cons:

• Low efficiency

• Spirits cannot be transported by air

Remember that if the spirit runs out during cooking, do not refill it directly! This will cause a jet of fire. Instead, make sure to wait until the flame is completely extinguished.

Wood-burning stoves

With a wood-burning stove, you can light a fire with a few thin branches, creating a cosy atmosphere. However, you’re of course dependent on fuel such as dry wood or pine cones.

Pros:

• The fuel is available on site, so it’s not an additional weight

• Stoves are compact and lightweight

• No fossil fuels required

Cons:

• There must be dry wood on site

• Heat is difficult to regulate

• Not suitable for cooking above the tree line

Remember to keep a small distance between the stove and the ground. Nevertheless, you should not cook on very dry ground. In addition, the flying sparks can occur. Choose a non-combustible substrate, such as stone, or place a metal layer on the ground. Make sure that sparks cannot ignite anything – there shouldn’t be anything flammable three metres around you, including above. These stoves cannot be used if there is a risk of forest fire.

Electric stoves

A hob that’s easy to plug in and ready for cooking is a convenient solution. Of course, you have to be in a place where there’s electricity. That’s why this stove is particularly suitable for van life and campsites. Transa does not carry electric stoves in its range.

Pros:

• Temperature can easily be regulated

• Very easy to use

• No maintenance required

Cons:

• A power connection is required

Remember to think about a socket adaptor if you’re using it abroad. An extension cable might be handy, so that you have more flexibility when placing your electric stove.

Tips for choosing the right camping stove

Before you buy a camping stove, think about for which adventures you’ll need it most. If you like to travel to remote areas, very cool climates or high-altitude places, a petrol stove or a multi-fuel stove is a good choice. If you want the camping stove to be easy to use, we recommend a gas stove. Esbit stoves save lots of space and are well suited for short trips. If you want to cook in an environmentally friendly way and especially in dry conditions, a wood-burning stove is a good choice – as long as you are travelling in places where there is wood available and no risk of forest fires. An electric stove is a convenient option when you’re out on a campsite.

So, compare the different camping stoves carefully and choose the one that suits your adventures best.