I received an email from a company promoting a self-powered forced air wood burning camp stove. Seems an interesting alternative to liguid or gas stoves. I wonder though how it would be viewed in wilderness areas where open campfires are prohibited.

Be interested in the camping stove experts' opinion on this one.

Most likely it would be prohibited. That may vary with the area. Key would be whether sparks and ash can escape from the stove.

If the company making this product is on the ball, they would settle this issue with the Forest Service, Park Service, and BLM, and let you know.

i was about to say it's just another Zip Stove until i read it makes the power to charge LED lights and such.
the fan powered wood stove issue comes up on the canoeing site and if i recall it's seen as a open fire and not allowed.

Just looked at the specifications - at more than 2 pounds, it is way too heavy for any backpacking use. Of course, it is probably perfect for paddling - now Canoe Dogs can have three stoves!

While I love the idea of a small, lightweight wood burning stove (as hikermor mentioned, this one might be a bit too beefy), our provincial parks prohibit the burning of deadwood so they have a limited application for where I am.

The criteria for a fire using device is that it can be turned off with a knob or similar control. Most wood burning, charcoal etc do not meet that requirement.

At least that is how it was explained to me when we volunteered in a National Forest as camp hosts.

Nomad

Interesting point. So most alcohol stoves would be banned?

Yes, that's my understanding from the guys at Angeles National Forest (near me).

Alcohol stoves are banned except in developed campgrounds. Also hexamine (ESBIT) and trioxane stoves. If it doesn't have an "off" setting, it's banned.

Now, why they would ban an alcohol stove while still allowing a white gas stove is beyond me. I was at Hoegees camp in the Angeles National Forest last weekend when a Boy Scout put too much white gas into the priming cup when firing up his Whisperlite. Gas and flames all over the place, not just at the stove. Fortunately it was a developed site, so not much to burn and it had rained earlier in the day.

If they really want to cut fire danger, then they should restrict things to gas stoves or at least require non-priming stoves like a Coleman 400.

HJ

I spotted the Biolite stove a couple of years ago. At the time they were talking about coming out in 2010. Looks like 2010 has become 2012, but maybe that's a good thing. The problem, or so I am told, with thermoelectric generators (TEG's) is that they're a bit frail. The question I've heard asked is "how will they hold up out on the trail?" Hopefully, with two years now of additional development, they've got the bugs out. It certainly is an interesting idea, although as noted, with limited application in areas with fire restrictions.

Wood stoves seem to be really popular on the US East Coast.

HJ

Hikin Jim,

Have you looked at the Kifaru stoves? Haven't used one myself, but I've heard good things about them. They are made to go with their shelters.

http://www.kifaru.net/stoves.html

Wow, nice Kifaru stove. Although not as nice as the Kifaru, Ti Goat also makes a box stove out of titanium.

I've seen those, but only on the internet. The look gorgeous.

Unfortunately, living in a high population, high fire danger zone like Southern California, wood fires are discouraged to say the least. Generally they're illegal unless you're in a developed campground. A developed campground? Sheesh. Where's the fun in that? I'm kidding a little bit, actually I like camping with my family, but my main interest is in back country stuff -- where I can't use wood stoves. I've deliberately stayed away from some well known ones like the Bush Buddy and the Caldera Tri-Ti as well as some really promising new stuff like the Backcountry Boiler or the BioLite since I can't really use them where I live.

Gas, gasoline, kerosene, hexamine, trioxane, and alcohol are the fuels I know.

HJ

Does anyone here have the BioLite? If so, can you post your personal experience?

There's a review of it on the Backpacker Mag website (just search for it on the website if the link below doesnt't work).
qjs

http://www.backpacker.com/fall-winter-gear-guide-2012-biolite-camp-stove/gear/17011

My take on it is that they created the larger Bio-lite home stove for remote locations to add burning efficiency, create less emissions and to generate power. Designed for 3rd world sitations, the thermal generator makes use of the heat to operate the fan. Surplus energy from the stove can be used to charge small electronics where there is no or limited electrical facilities.

Then they created the smaller portable version for "backpacking". They are probably hoping that proceeds from the selling of the backpacking version will subsize the homestove production for the 3rd world. In that, I hope they succeed and it seems to be a worth while goal.
http://biolitestove.com/homestove/overview/

On the marketing to the eco-geeks who feel the need to bring their electronics with them on every trip -- meh, not so much. If it charged things like sat phones and gpsr, etc that would make more sense to me but really who needs to charge their iphone, etc.

It just so happens that I did a little write up about it. You can read it here.

Great review Phaedrus! Thanks!