Camping with Canister Stoves
Camping stoves are very important. For those who worry about the environment, rubbing two sticks together to make a fire usually isn’t an option. There are just too many dangers associated with it, the least of them being a forest fire. For those who don’t want to lug a huge camping stove or a propane grill along on their camping expedition, there is always the option of using canister stoves.
The Advantage
Canister stoves are quite literally canisters attached to burners. These will sit nicely in an enclosure, allowing you to carry them around fairly easily. There are canister stoves of many different shapes and sizes, so you will be able to choose one that has the burn time you want.
Burn Time
Obviously if you have a larger canister you are going to get a much better burn time. When you choose one, make sure that you choose based on how long you plan to be in the woods, as well as how much weight you want to be carrying around. Remember, the larger the canister, the slower you will be. If you are planning to go to your campsite by vehicle however, the size should not be much of an issue.
Safety
Before you actually choose any canister stoves, make sure you read some customer reviews and look at the products very carefully. These are propane, and as such they can be very dangerous. The last thing you want is your canister exploding in your backpack, so make sure you are choosing one that is of good design. Obviously you should follow your own safety protocols when you are using one of these devices. In other words, don’t do anything that would obviously compromise the safety of the canister.
Ease of Use and Cleaning
When you buy a canister stove you need to make sure that it is one you can use. There are some that have rather strange designs, and you might even have trouble making them work on the fly. For instance there are some which have their canister in an enclosure, and there are others that prefer a more external design. Then there are those that have the canister attached to a hose which attaches to a cooking enclosure. Obviously the choice is yours, and you will make the right one.
You should also inquire as to whether or not the device is easily cleaned. For instance: is it dishwasher safe or will you have to wash it by hand? This may make a difference to you, or it may not. It all depends on how much time you want to commit to maintaining the device.
Canister stoves are great, and any hiker, camper, or wilderness enthusiast should definitely look into getting one. It is important that you take your time and choose the right one though! As long as you do, you will have a great stove at a great price.




