Small stove & pot or cup

C

cardimon

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Sep 20, 2000
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In another thread, a kind soul recommended I get myself a "small stove and a sierra cup" to keep in my car so if my bottled water freezes up in winter, I can thaw it out.

I haven't seen any camping stoves or anything like that since my boy scout days, so I have no idea what's available now. I'd like to keep it on the dependable yet economical side of things, if I can.

So if a few kind folks would point me in the right direction and give me some equipment names they themselves depend on, and maybe a website or two where I could take a gander at some gear, I would appreciate it.
 
I personally prefer the USGI combo canteen / cup / stove / carrier. When coupled with a supply of very inexpensive trioxane or hexamine tabs, it's an efficient way to heat water, soups, or other liquids.
The cup is sufficiently durable to use over coals or open flames, too.
The newer model stove works very well for controlling the flames from the heat source tabs and regulating the ventilation to the tabs by ambient winds.

Mike
 
The GI stuff has been the standard in this area for years. It is durable, inexpensive, and readily available. The only downside is the weight. Recently, some commercial products have come pretty close to the overall utility of the GI equipment.

Stoves: There are a variety of solid fuel (esbit/trioxane/hexamine) based stoves available in the $3-10 range from surplus camping stores. The fuel stores well, and the stoves fold up really small. There was a thread on this a while back. Actually, a search of the forum using Esbit will turn up a number of interesting threads.

Cups: Sierra makes a good steel cup, but it doesn't nest with anything. There's a new 16 oz cup that nests on the 1 quart nalgene bottle that I've been meaning to try. Campmor has them. If my wife didn't get me one for my birthday, I plan on buying one in the next month or so.

Total cost for the commercial gear should be about $20 for cup, stove, fuel, and a cover. The GI gear will set you back a little bit less, maybe $5 for the cup. $2 for the tri-ox stove, $2 for the canteen and 4-5 more for the cover, add maybe $2 for some trioxane feul.

An inexpensive combination I've seen lately are the Swedish mess kits. $5 or so for nesting pot, cover and windscreen, alcohol burner and fuel bottle. Add a few bottles of Heet (the yellow one, I think) for about $1 each, and a small cup to drink from, and your done. You could do away with the issue stamped steel windscreen/pot support and make a replacement out of lighter materials.

Patrick
 
One of the niftiest items I've learned about on this very forum is the Sierra Zip Stove. A bit pricey but very dependable, very versatile and fuel efficient. Check it out at:

www.zzstove.com/sierra.html

FYI --
Glen

EDIT: Oh yes, I like those Esbit stoves that Alco mentions below. Probably the ultimate for compact carry, literally pocket-size; I carry one for day hikes. If you keep triox fuel bars with these, however, be sure that the packaging doesn't have any holes, as the triox slowly evaporates once its package is opened or punctured. My add'l two cents -- gmm
 
i usually carry one of these when hunting, the fuel and stove are very light, carry a 1 quart bottle of watter, ramen noodles, hot cider, coffee. workd well for these uses, i have a G.I. canteen cup and it fits on top ok. the gi cup will hold about two people cups of water for coffee or soup. i usually cook in the cup and give half to my daughter when we hunt together.

have fun,
alex
 
Hi Ya Folks
I have a sierra zip stove and have had it for quit sometime now. its great!!. You dont have to worry about going to the store to buy fuel for it or having your fuel lines chocked up.
Simple if youre stranded in your car, get out, find some zip sticks on the ground oh maybe a few acorns or whatever and youre good to go. You will need one AA Battery that will last a week or more. buy a pack and youre good to go for a month!!.
One other neat feature is that the stove folds into the kettle it comes with. its a one quart kettle and frying pan that contains the stove inside when folded. i really cant say anything more about this stove other than its great!!. no other stove has come close. its durable, its dependable and its versatile. hey it also comes with its very own optional bbq grill that you attach atop the stove and youre ready to do some serious grilling.
One downside i must point out is that the stove does call the kettle black. the bottom does get black, that may not necessarily be a bad thing in that it optimizies your heat efficiency. when you get home just clean it out with a little soap and water.
Thanks and take care.
 
A question for you on Esbit fuel tabs, how stable are they for storage? Can they stay in the trunk of a car fine and survive the tempature fluxuations?

Thanks.
 
It is the cheapest and is worry free the fuel tablets will last for years as long as the foil isnt broken I find that if they are kept in the cardboard boxes until ready to use they last forever. I take them
camping they are great for lighting wet wood. They also burn smokeless so you dont give away your position. I always have a box in my kit. Dont worry about the cold affecting them. However DO worry about any breaks in the foil they come in they seem to evaporate and shrivle up after a few months. They can even be broken in two and just a portion used. The rest put back in the foil and used on the next meal. Try Cheaper than Dirt . com I am shure they have it all canteen cups stoves and fuel. the whole setup will be alot cheaper than some cheesey little stove that may or may not work.
 
I have used Peak gas stoves in the past, a few years ago I bought the Sierra and love it, dont' have to worry about fuel and it's very dependable. Just my two cents!
 
For economy, the plain ol' Coleman burner that screws onto the top of a small propane canister is hard to beat. They cost about $10. The fuel canisters can range from $2 to $5 so shop around.

My favorite stove is my MSR pocket rocket. About $35 plus the fuel canister. It would easily fit into a glove box.
 
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