Outdoor stoves are mainly used to heat water, cook meals and keep warm during outdoor activities, such as camping. Outdoor campsites are far from the city. If food and water are not thoroughly heated and boiled, it is easy to get diseases such as gastroenteritis, which brings a lot of inconvenience. Secondly, outdoor scenery varies dramatically across seasons, but nights can be quite cold, making warmth crucial. However, incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels (such as oil, alcohol, and wood) can easily lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. Therefore, choosing a good stove is very crucial.
Currently, there are mainly five types of outdoor stoves: gas stoves, gasoline stoves, wood stoves, kerosene stoves and alcohol stoves. Each of these five types of stoves has its own advantages and disadvantages and is suitable for different outdoor usage scenarios. For outdoor beginners, the overall order of consideration is: gas stove -> gasoline stove -> others (wood-burning stove, alcohol stove, kerosene stove, etc.).And among gas stoves, the recommended order is: detachable > cartridge-type > integrated > combined.
1. Gas Stoves
Gas stoves are currently the most commonly used outdoor stoves during outdoor activities, mainly including four types: integrated, combined, detachable and cartridge-type.
1) Detachable Gas Stoves
The bodies of detachable gas stoves are usually very small and convenient to carry. And it can be connected to various gas tanks. When outdoors, there is no need to worry about not finding suitable fuel. If you want to be economical and practical, you can choose a long gas tank. For high altitudes or low temperatures, a flat gas tank is a good choice. The split-type gas tank has a large heat supply and a relatively high safety factor. Due to the presence of gas pipes, the possibility of the gas tank getting heated is small.
2)Integrated Gas Stoves
The integrated gas stove omits the gas pipe and directly connects the stove and the gas tank for use. This type of stove is generally very mini and suitable for use during hiking and mountain climbing. However, its firepower is slightly inferior to that of the detachable stoves. The burner head can usually be held with one hand, but its stability is slightly poor and its wind resistance is not strong. It is only suitable for one person to cook in small groups and is not suitable for group camping with many people.
3)Combined-type Gas Stoves
These stoves are mainly used in plateau areas, generally with large firepower and fast heating speed, but they consume more fuel. Combined-type gas stoves cannot be used for stir-frying. Because the usage scenario is single, there is no need to buy it if it is not for high-altitude outdoor use.
4) Cartridge-Style Gas stove
Most gas furnaces are of integrated structure, and the square structure can provide stable support. Good cartridge stoves have comprehensive safety designs,such as adsorption buckles to prevent abnormal pressure. They can automatically disconnect the gas tank in case of risk. The piezoelectric ignition is also very convenient and reliable.
2. Gasoline stoves
Gasoline stoves are one of the most popular and commonly used stoves. They use white gasoline as fuel, which has a higher combustion capacity than gas. They can be preheated with their own fuel oil. When using them, it should be noted that high-grade gasoline and unleaded gasoline should not be used, and foreign objects should not be allowed to block the nozzle. The stove will have a slight odor after vaporization. The advantages of a gasoline stove are its strong combustion power and no black smoke during combustion. However, its disadvantages are extremely strong volatility, high risk, not suitable for carrying around, and relatively high price.
3. Wood-burning Stoves
The greatest advantage of a wood-burning stove is that you don't have to worry about fuel. Nowadays, wood-burning stoves are all foldable. Some wood-burning stoves are very light, and with the material of aluminum alloy, they are not very heavy, weighing between 500 and 2000g. Of course, there are also those slightly larger wood-burning stoves. Generally, larger wood-burning stoves have a stronger flame and cook faster. There are also disadvantages to wood-burning stoves. For instance, a newly bought wood-burning stove usually turns black after just one use. Moreover, wood-burning stoves cause significant damage to outdoor cookware. After one use, the bottom of your cookware becomes very black and is difficult to clean. Even if you clean it carefully, it still cannot be as good as new.
4. Alcohol stove
The structure of an alcohol stove is simpler than that of a gas stove, and thus its failure rate is lower. Therefore, friends who want to save trouble can choose this type of product. At the same time, liquid alcohol or solid alcohol used as fuel is also easier to purchase and store. Generally, as long as it is well sealed, there is no need to worry about the gas tank being damaged by bumps during the journey, which would bring safety risks, like gas stoves. The smell of burning alcohol is milder compared to that of gas. Those who are concerned about the smell of fuel can also consider alcohol stoves more.
5. Kerosene stove
The principle of a kerosene stove is the same as that of a gasoline stove. The main difference lies in the choice of fuel. The greatest advantage of a kerosene stove is that its volatility is lower than that of white gasoline, the risk of explosion is low, it is suitable for carrying around, and the price is relatively moderate. The disadvantages are as follows: Preheating requires the use of white gasoline or alcohol, and it cannot be preheated by itself. When the combustion is incomplete, black smoke will be produced. Insufficient wind pressure is prone to yellow flames and a strong oil fume smell. Moreover, some carbon particles may appear, making it unsuitable for use inside tents. Comprehensive consideration shows that kerosene is also the most suitable fuel to carry for hiking and mountain climbing.
Safety Tips for Using Stoves
All kinds of accidents may occur when using stoves, and the most common one is a fire.
To prevent a fire, it is essential to check whether there is any gas leakage after the fuel tank and the burner are properly connected before ignition.
Additionally, using a hanging pot system can significantly reduce the possibility of accidentally knocking over the burning stove system.
Try to keep flammable items such as sleeping bags, down clothes and fleece garments away from the working stove system. In addition, it is also crucial to develop good tent living habits and be aware of fire prevention.
No matter which outdoor stove you choose, you must pay attention to safety when using it. After picnicking, garbage should also be cleaned up thoroughly.
