My bodum travel mug (blue), vaccuum pack of coffee gourmet grinds (in a ziplock bag) and a newly purchased bottle of kaluha, stored iin a SS flask! (Thanks for the idea Paul!)

[url=]Bodum Travel Mug[/url]

I have been contemplating including a stove of some sort so I can make coffee. In a stressful situation, things I would need would be candle light, coffee, notebook and pen for writing, and a radio.

Jeanette Isabelle

There ae many light, compact stoves out there and they can be critical in a tough situation, but their highest and best use is that all important nice cup of tea...

For some of us, morning coffee is definately a "survival" item. You would not want to be around me in the morning when I haven't had my coffee.

For years when camping I managed with a MSR white gas stove, a small filter cone, and some ground coffee. Then I discovered the Jetboil SOL and Starbucks VIA. Life is good!

(I still keep the MSR handy, since it works better in the cold, which has been known to happen around these parts.)

I am the best person to answer the question of what I need in such a situation but suggestions don't hurt.

Jeanette Isabelle

I believe I am the one who is unclear. We agree I am the best person to make the final decision on what I NEED. However, there is always that possibility there is something I am overlooking. That is where the suggestions come in.

Jeanette Isabelle

A small stove and a medium saucepan is one of the "essential" luxuries. Being able to have coffee and a hot breakfast in the morning, and a hot dinner and chamomile tea in the evening does wonders for your morale. It also allows you to pack more dried goods (instant rice, pasta, couscous, etc) since you can now cook.

I've got an old Camping Gaz burner nested in a 2 qt saucepan, instant cofee, and about 5 days worth of fuel in my kit. If you want to go super cheap and light, an Esbit stove ($10-$15) will heat up water. Going up the cost scale are the Wal-Mart propane stoves ($15-$30), basic backpacking stove ($30-$70), and the ultimate is a multi-fuel backpacking stove that will handle gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and the usual stove fuels ($100+)

In many situations, a stove/campfire can be critical to survival, not just a nice feature.

Also add to your spectrum of stoves - alcohol stoves - free for the making (various models) yo about $35.

You can spend as much or as little as you wish....

The ability to just boil water goes a long ways. A lot of good stoves out there can't simmer well, but they are awesome at full power and can boil water. With boiling water I can make tea, coffee (a thermometer so you can use the water at 200°F also helps the brew), hot chocolate, Ramon, Lipton Cup-a-Soup, et al.

For the purpose of boiling water I have an old tea kettle and a Pocket Rocket with fuel canisters in my truck. That said, most any good stove will do.

If nothing else, I sure do like the title of this thread. The French press is my pleasure item.