I have no personal experience with EcoZoom items. looking at their website, they seem to be focused on improving cooking conditions in less developed countries, certainly a very laudable enterprise.

However, for emergency use in the developed world, I would see no significant benefit. There is an enormous range of small, light, portable stoves that utilize gas, propane, alcohol, etc. that are far more useful in emergency conditions.

When I started serious hiking, I built campfires exclusively, using my first gasoline stove during a winter climbing expedition. I soon shifted to gas stoves because they were more efficient, safer, and generally easier to use. Doing SAR, I routinely packed a small alcohol stove - even safer and lighter, but able to heat up quickly. Now I use iso-butane canisters with a small burner head. The unit, ready to roll, weighs under a pound. I still retain the capability to use available wood in a standard campfire as a backup,but that application is rare.

I note that the EcoZoom Versa stove weighs 14 pounds. Way to heavy for what it does. Walk blindfolded into any sporting goods store and you can do better.

My recommendation for a versatile cookset, quite handy in emergencies would be a mini-Trangia cookset, complete with stove, fueled with Everclear - fuel, disinfectant, and celebratory fluid to toast your success.


Edited by hikermor (05/26/18 04:54 PM)
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