Topic: The Best Alcohol Stoves of 2022 (Read 62 times)
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Why It Made the Cut
The wide base of the Vargo Decagon adds stability (especially helpful in windy conditions) while still co*ing in at one of the lowest weights in my test.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Product Description
The first thing you notice about the Vargo Decagon is its base. Whereas other alcohol stoves are only as wide as they need to be, the Decagon is exceptionally stable due to its wide base. You’d think that would make it heavier than the co*petition, but this stove was only two grams heavier than the Evernew (the lightest in my test). Credit that to the titanium construction, which is significantly lighter than the brass or alloy metals used in some other stoves.
Despite its titanium construction, the Vargo Decagon was significantly less expensive than its main co*petition for weight, the Evernew. That makes this a smart choice for dirtbags looking to cut down on the weight of their kit.
Why It Made the Cut
This classic design has many imitators, thanks to its overall functionality and ability to efficiently (if not speedy) boil water
Pros
Cons
Product Description
While the Trangia Spirit Burner shouldn’t be the first choice for ultralight diehards, it’s an iconic staple of many a backcountry kitchen. In fact, its design has inspired a spate of would-be imitators vying for the title of best alcohol stove: I was a little surprised at how obviously the Trangia had inspired the Kewis, Esbit, and Solo Stove versions.
While this stove took longer to co*e to a boil than others I tested, it held the boil for over eleven minutes—an impressive amount of time that speaks to how much fuel weight you would save on a longer trip. I also liked that this version came with a simmer-ring lid and a screw-top lid, allowing you to snuff out the flame and then store the rest of your unused fuel directly in the stove. The only downside is that it takes significantly longer to reach a boil with this design than with the titanium models I looked at.
Why It Made the Cut
This off-brand alcohol stove works just as well as others that cost twice as much—and it co*es with a handy stand to prop your pot on.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Product Description
This one co*es by several names, including Redcamp and Tiny Spark, but the basic package is the same: an aluminum-alloy stove in the Trangia style (and the spitting image of both the brass Esbit and Solo Stove stoves), a stand for your pot (handy), and a mesh storage bag (destined for the trash). First the pros: this is an extremely affordable stove that held a boil for a considerable length of time.
The bad is that it took longer to reach a boil than the Trangia, and significantly longer than the titanium models. Its fabrication is also flimsier than other versions I looked at, easily bending under pressure. But if you don’t mind treating your gear gingerly (and there is no reason an alcohol stove should take a particular beating), then this one will work just fine in most settings.
Why It Made the Cut
This homemade version of the classic alcohol stove costs pennies, is virtually weightless, and works as well (if not better) than more expensive models.
Key Features
Pros
Cons
Product Description
All an alcohol stove is a vessel for burning an alcohol-based fuel. Do you really need to spend fifty dollars to get a top-notch titanium version? Does the classic Trangia design really produce better results? To find out, I set out to make a staple of the DIY backpacking world: the cat food can alcohol stove.
The concept here is pretty simple: just clean out a cat food can and then drill or punch holes in it around the rim of the lid. The classic can to use for this is Fancy Feast (due to its co*paratively small size and low price), with a single or double layer of holes punched in around the top of the lid (more holes equals greater weight savings but less fuel capacity). During testing, I drilled in a single layer of holes without incident but found the structure of the can became too flimsy after this to continue to drill in the second layer of holes.
One advantage of this design is that you don’t need a pot stand, which helps you to save weight further, as the holes in the side give the fuel enough oxygen to burn on without it. (During testing, I also found that it was considerably more efficient without it.) But the best part? This stove does a great job of boiling water—as good or better than the rest of the alcohol stoves in my test.
Restrictions
Alcohol stoves cannot be used in every wilderness area, especially in the West. Check current restrictions where you plan to travel before making a purchase.
Fuel Weight
For many, the biggest reason to carry an alcohol stove, as opposed to the more co*mon isobutane-co*patible stove, is the weight savings. The lightest-weight alcohol stoves can weigh as little as half of the isobutane-co*patible variety, and the fuel for an alcohol stove can be stored in a plastic bottle (disposable plastic water bottles are co*mon) as opposed to a metal canister. Where the weight savings start to decline, however, is on longer trips, as more fuel is required to boil a liter of water with an alcohol stove than with an isobutane stove. Take your alcohol stove with you on a few shorter trips to get a feel for how much fuel you’ll need per day before taking it on a more extended trip into the backcountry.
Fuel Availability
Another reason to carry an alcohol stove is fuel availability. Whereas not all towns located in the mountains (a very distinct entity from a classic “mountain town”) are equipped with isobutane canisters, you can almost always find something that will burn in your alcohol stove: denatured alcohol from the hardware store, isopropyl from the drug store, or HEET (yellow bottle) from the gas station.
Fuel Storage
Denatured alcohol looks a lot like water, and more than one backpacker has made the mistake of drinking from the wrong bottle in the middle of the night. If you choose to store your fuel in a plastic water bottle, be sure to mark it in a way that is instantly recognizable by both touch and feel to prevent such an error deep in the backcountry.
co*pleting Your Setup
Choosing an alcohol stove is just the first part of creating an alcohol stove system. You’ll also need to figure out what fuel to use, what you want to use for a windscreen, whether you’ll need to raise the stove off the ground (useful for improving efficiency in cold conditions) or provide additional stability to your setup to ensure it doesn’t tip over, and, of course, choosing the best camping cookware to boil your water in.
Alcohol stoves can cost anywhere from practically free (if you make your own) up to $50 for a fancy titanium version.
Alcohol stoves can be a good choice if you are patient, willing to experiment to maximize your fuel use, and are camping in a place with a low risk of fire. If any of the above is not the case, it would be better to go with a traditional canister stove, like the Soto Amicus or MSR Pocket Rocket.
Alcohol stoves are banned (or are effectively banned, due to ongoing fire danger) in several places, including Rocky Mountain National Park and the State of California. While there may be certain times when these stoves are permitted, if you plan to do a lot of backpacking in these areas, investing in one of the best backpacking stoves would be better. When in doubt, a call to your local land manager can help clarify current restrictions in place.
While one ounce is frequently cited as the amount of fuel you will need for your alcohol stove, in reality in greatly depends on the amount of water you are trying to boil, the type of fuel you are trying to use, the ambient air temperature, and—as the above table demonstrates—the efficiency of your alcohol stove.
While the best alcohol stoves continue to be a popular choice among ultralight enthusiasts, thruhikers, and minimalists due to the simplicity of their design and the ease with which you can obtain fuel, other adventurers should weigh the pros and cons before choosing to go this route. Remember that in addition to choosing an alcohol stove, you will also need to procure a windscreen and a pot stand and figure out what type of fuel to use in your stove.
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