ClarkTX and I did a 20-mile overnight backpacking trip this last weekend and he brought along his new BioLite stove to test.


BioLite by merriwether, on Flickr

We weren't impressed. The unit actually contains a battery that you are supposed to charge up at home. The battery by itself was capable of giving almost two full charges to his iPhone. Burning wood inside the stove generates electricity at a very low rate. We calculated it'd take almost five hours of continuous fire to recharge the unit's battery once it was drained. The thing was a major fuel hog, burning through a load of sticks in just a few minutes. He had to keep removing the pot, adding more sticks, and then continue with his cooking. As far as backpacking goes, a small 9volt or multi AA phone charger would make a lot more sense, especially considering how heavy the unit was.

Basically, it was a solution in search of a problem. Even in a grid-down situation a solar panel would more likely be more useful.
-Blast

p.s. After using it for lunch the first day it was too hot to put back into his pack so ClarkTX strapped the burner unit to the outside. Somehow without us noticing, it fell off. In an amazing twist of fate it was found by a group of hikers from Dallas, one of which is a fellow ETS member (Hi John) who recognized me! Clark got the burner back, thank goodness.