Camping stoves: features, types and tips for choosing

Real lovers of outdoor activities will not be stopped even by the cold. And what could be more pleasant than warming up and eating hot, returning to the tent from the cold? The inventory of a tourist includes a lot of useful accessories that make life easier, sometimes it's even a camping stove.

Portable camp stoves are designed to make field conditions as comfortable as possible during the cold season. A camping stove not only makes it possible to warm up outdoors or heat a tent, it can be used for cooking or heating food.

There are many varieties of tourist and camping stoves, differing in design of varying complexity, material of execution, type of fuel used, size and technical capabilities. Some models make it possible to heat only a small tent, others - to cook something or warm tea. As well as each model is designed to operate in certain conditions.

What are the ovens, consider in more detail.

You can find models of various designs, the hallmark of which is a small size. A primitive device, small dimensions and low price are the main trump cards of this type of stove. They are usually melted with wood chips or firewood, they do not have combustion control, the principle of jet thrust is used. They are usually made from sheet iron. Some models have a hob that allows you to heat something: for example, boil water for tea or fry something in a small frying pan.

Most often it is an ordinary gas burner, to which a small gas cylinder is connected with a hose or screw connection. This type has its advantages: even a small portable gas cylinder will provide the stove with fuel that will not have to be found on site for quite some time. The device itself does not take up much space, but has more weight compared to mini-stoves. The design is nothing complicated, but requires certain skills to use.

Such a furnace, as a rule, is non-separable and has more impressive dimensions. The simplest design of a wood-burning stove can be of various configurations: with and without combustion control, with and without a hob, the principle of operation may vary slightly, it may even be collapsible.

The material of execution also differs: from thin steel, stainless steel or titanium. A titanium furnace will cost more, but has less weight and an impressive margin of safety, which ensures long-term operation. Such a stove is heated with firewood, dry wood and wood chips, which you can take with you or get on the spot.

The simplest design based on jet air thrust. Usually it is a pipe and a combustion chamber.The main task of the “rocket” or “fire flint” stove is to heat water or cook food: such a stove heats up quickly and cools down quickly.

A separate type of construction, the main advantage of this type of stove is its compactness and low weight. Important, that you can take such a stove with you, put it in a backpack and go hiking, for example, in the fall. Structurally, such stoves resemble a brazier - this is a collapsible structure made of thin iron or stainless steel.

A separate type of stoves with an air blower. Usually they are a small wood chip oven with a battery-powered air blower. As a power supply, some models provide the ability to connect a power bank or other power source. A holder is provided in the upper part of the stove, which allows you to put the dishes on the fire and heat, boil water. Such an oven is an interesting, modern device that allows widespread use.

Such furnaces involve the smoldering of fuel in the combustion chamber. These are non-separable models that include a spark arrester and protective screens on the walls of the stove, which increases safety. Fuel briquettes or firewood are used as fuel. One load of the combustion chamber can provide heat in the tent for up to 5-6 hours, which is very convenient and economical.On such a stove, you can fully cook, heat water or melt snow.

It is a multi-furnace of a closed type. When assembled, it resembles a small suitcase, it is very convenient to carry it. Such an oven cannot be used in tents - the oven is intended for use exclusively in the open air for cooking and barbecue.

The main advantages are light weight, ease of transportation, rich equipment and the ability to use the stove where it is forbidden to make fires. The pipe is equipped with an effective spark arrester, and the legs allow you not to damage the grass cover. The set includes cutlery, some crockery and skewers.

Long-burning stove: one load of the combustion chamber provides heat for up to 5 hours, the smoldering mode allows you to save fuel and not overheat the walls, which increases fire safety. It is a cylindrical structure, which is installed on a collapsible frame. The weight of 3 kilograms and the convenient shape provide easy transportation. The design allows you to use the stove like a hot smoked smokehouse.

A furnace that runs on diesel fuel and waste oil. The design weighing up to 6 kilograms is an assembly of the following assemblies: housing, removable fuel tank, block with a wick, burner and reflector. Such a device will evenly heat the tent, you can cook food or heat water on the burner. However, at the time of ignition and extinguishing, it may smell unpleasantly of diesel fuel.

It is the simplest stove based on a “wood chipper”: a steel cylindrical body, also known as a firebox, with a mount for a pot or iron utensils at the top.Such a stove does not take up much space and does not require skills in handling equipment. At the same time, it allows you to warm up food or water, and also helps to keep warm.

The market is saturated with a huge number of models and manufacturers. You can find a stove for any conditions. It can be a hiking trip or an outing with the use of transport, a “savage” rest or a civilized one with comfort. There are even such specific models as stoves for a cauldron. The selection factors are the type of fuel used, weight, design and price. Choosing a camping stove should be based on the following criteria:

• compactness – the stove should not take up much space, or it should be easy to transport;
• the weight - the product should be light, which is especially important in cases of hiking;
• simplicity of design - it is convenient when you can assemble the product on an intuitive level;
• the ability to regulate combustion - there are models that do not provide such an opportunity, as a result of which the fuel burns out quickly;
• high efficiency - the longer it burns and the more heat such a stove gives, the better;
• moderate fuel consumption - its type and consumption is of great importance, because it is not always possible to take fuel with you;
• the ability to use the stove not only outdoors, but also in a tent, other conditions;
• multifunctionality - the presence of a large hob for cooking or heating food, as well as the ability to use the oven as a smokehouse;
• safety - it is important that the fire and sparks remain inside the firebox;
• shielding - the impossibility of getting burned on the body.

If the stove is heavy or non-separable, it will be difficult to go hiking. When a hike involves a long pastime away from civilization, a wood-burning stove or "chip stove" will be more relevant than a gas burner.

​​​​If the stove is located in a tent, it is recommended to use a spark arrester on the chimney so that sparks do not fall on the tent and cause a fire. And also a safe distance must be observed to the walls of the tent (usually indicated in the instructions). A special rug should be placed under the stove so that coals or sparks do not fall on the tent or things. The oven is not recommended to overheat.

In field conditions, less stringent requirements: it is enough to clear the installation site to prevent the spread of fire in case of careless handling of fire.

Review the camp stove "Time does not wait" (analogous to "Shaitan buckets"), see the following video.