Isn't hikin jim our resident stove guy? Wonder why he hasn't wieghed in on this. Been wanting to ask him about a couple of cannister stoves.

Check his blog, Adventures in Stoving. He probably has already answered your questions. A lot of good stuff there.

Hikermor, the geezer with only one (hand)gun...

I guess my stove anti's is the fact of carrying fuel.If at home,I dont have to carry the stuff,and can stock a lot. A stove long term,outside,the fuel issue about finishes the stove line for me.A couple Bic lighters will make me a lot more fires than anything stove/fuel wise I can backpack.And being OLD me,the less I carry is a PLUS PLUS to me.

I rarely find myself in a situation where I cant start a fire,If thats the situation,I dont need to be outside.If the situation is so dire that I have to be,I would adjust as a means of long term survival.IE,Id light a fire in/made up of the rusting Yugo,that sort of 'end of world' situation,which is extremely unlikely in my plans.

Fire danger is common sense,I wouldnt do it in a 60 mph wind,exposed.Not to say there arent plenty who do.

When we get reduced to the lowest common denominator we all get treated at that level.Dont like that.

But for frequent hikers,short term situations,I see your point,its a good one,just that isnt me is all.

Love my ruger 10/22,thats my go to bugout gun.Weight vrs ammo vrs utility,does it best for me.When we go shooting its always included and gets the most use,but we arent experts,just recreational shooters.

If fuel is your issue, you may want to take a look at the Sierra Zip stove. It burns twigs and sticks and is safer and more efficient than an open fire.

Some campgrounds do not consider it a stove however, and may not allow it's use, but it doesn't sound like you have that issue to deal with.

I've come to the same conclusion, Conway. I usually use a twig and stick fire, and have relied on my trusty canteen and esbit stoves for backup for years. Liquid and gas stoves have always scared me a little bit, and seemed too much hassle when it comes to storing fuel. We do, however, have a Coleman two burner propane stove and single burner canister stove for emergencies, and have had for years, but I can count on one hand the number of times I've used the canister stove and the Coleman is still in the original packaging. We unpacked it to make sure we had all the parts and I think DH test fired it when we first brought it home too, but that's it. I use our Scout group stoves all the time but haven't given my own a second thought.

After years in the gear closet, I took the canister stove out this fall and had a huge, almost dangerous, fail with it. Never again. From now on, unless it's a twig or esbit stove, it gets regular testing and practice. I'm trying alcohol stoves for the first time right now, and they'll probably go into the rotation too as permanent back-up fin the packor the twig/esbit stove.

Love it Greg,my kind of stove! Kind of like a rocket stove. LOVE the fuel!

A youtube and comment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mO3bfGrbso

Been wanting to buy one of them for 15 years. And 15 years ago they only cost $25 plus shipping. They are hotter than a alcohol stove and burn sticks and charcoal. You could drink tea and coffee every day and never buy fuel. And when you are on the trail drinking creek water it is best to boil it for tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or herbal tea.

Thanks, Greg! That is a really cool little stove! I may have to add this to my wish list.

The sierra Zip Stove has been around and surely has made a lot of coffee, but it is heavy - a total weight of one pound. I know that doesn't sound like much, but many alternatives are much lighter. Whether it is feasible to pick up your fuel in the woods or carry it depends upon the length of your trip and the type of cooking you do. That is probably why most folks wind up with a variety of stoves and are also proficient fire builders.

I have found an alcohol stove a good item, especially on SAR missions. When you want a fire, you want it quickly, and easily, with no messing and fussing around. The fuel is reasonably safe, and (depending upon the precise type you have) useful for other purposes. For winter SARs, I would go to a traditional Primus-type white gas stove. It was well worth the additional weight. On one occasion, we carried two, just to be sure. And yes, you can always light a traditional camp fire,either for warmth or as a signal beacon. I have done that a time or two.

I don’t know if you’re joking or serious. I pray it will never happen; I may if the city has to be evacuated.

Jeanette Isabelle

I was (and am) absolutely serious. For me, the best nights are those spent outside, in a tent or just camping cowboy style, under the stars. We are a diverse lot here, at ETS. I come to the forum oriented toward outdoor survival - trips and expeditions gone wrong, bad weather incidents, plane crashes in the back country, and similar situations.

Fortunately (IMHO) both my career and personal choices have steered me outside, luckily concentrated on the western US (well west of the Metroplex) where there is lots of really neat country. I know something of the Metroplex because I was raised there until I fled west at the onset of college, ne'er to return. While the landscape surrounding Dallas-Fort Worth isn't entirely without interest, it is pretty dull compared to what lies beyond, especially when you reach West Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Living in Dallas, come to think of it, I didn't find the outdoors to be particularly interesting, either, aside from the occasional hunting trip, which isn't nearly as fascinating as climbing mountains.

The advantages of being familiar with the outdoors are fairly obvious - a much lower stress level and a much higher comfort level, for starters.