Criteria to consider in evaluating camping stoves

Choosing a camping stove is not a clear-cut decision. There are many criteria to consider...

• Portability
  • Compactness when stowed
  • Weight of stove (including accessories)
  • Weight of fuel
  • Robustness

• Ease of use
  • Ease of setup
  • Ease of lighting
  • Control of heat output
  • Ease of extinguishing

• Safety
  • Fuel hazards and volitility
  • Stability of stove

• Cost
  • Cost of stove (including accessories)
  • Cost of fuel

• Fuel availability
  • Is fuel widely available or only from specialist shops?
  • Availability overseas

• Performance
  • Time to boil a litre of water
  • Fuel needed to boil a litre of water
  • Fuel efficiency in simmer mode
  • Performance under windy conditions
  • Performance at low temps and/or high altitudes

• Reliability
  • Level of maintenance required
  • Probability of failure in the field
  • Expected lifetime

• Environmental friendliness
  • Quietness of operation
  • Products of combustion
  • Use of disposable fuel containers
  • Is fuel a renewable resource?