Burning to Buy a Stove? Then Read this: Stove Buying Guide

Gone are the days when you have to bring a very bulky and very dangerous stove when you go camping. The stoves of today are small, lightweight and very efficient, not to mention very safe. One of today's portable stoves would probably be your best buddy when you go out camping.

Here are a few factors that you might want to look at when choosing your very own stove.

Price

Generally stove prices can range from $20 - $200, depending on the brand and fuel; however, you can probably find a good quality type at around $50 - $90, or maybe even cheaper if you're a good bargain finder.

Efficiency

Efficiency is often measure in BTU or British thermal units; however, you'd be hard pressed to find someone who actually understands the terminology. Generally 25,000 - 30,000 BTU is a good range. Another measure of efficiency however, is boiling time. This is the measure of how long your stove can run on high with a full tank of gas. But watch out for this figure, your stove might boast a 1 hour running time, but on 32 ounces of fuel. 10 minutes of burning time with one ounce of fuel is a fair measure.

Performance

Performance is measured by the time it takes for the stove to boil a quart of water under ideal conditions (ideal fuel, new stove) both at 70 degrees Fahrenheit and at sea level. A good range would be 3-5 minutes. A good performance stove will ensure faster cooking especially if you're on the go.

Fuel

Most stoves come in either solid, liquid or gaseous fuels, here is a profile of each.

Alcohol

Pro: Clean burning, stable and safe.
Con: Alcohol burns at a cool flame so it doesn't pack much heat when burned, you'd be hard pressed to find stoves that burn with alcohol. In addition, alcohol burns with invisible flame, so there is a danger of a fire spreading.

Blended Fuel

It is a mix of butane propane and/or isobutane. You can buy it in disposable canisters and tanks.
Pro: If it is blended with isobutene, the fire is more efficient even if the pressure in the canister gets lower. Blended fuel is more dependable than simply butane or isobutene and safer than simple propane.
Con: It loses efficiency if used in temperatures below 30 degrees Fahrenheit and higher altitudes.

Butane
Butane is sold in disposable canisters and is pressurized when bought; this type of fuel is typically popular in Europe.
Pro: It is very efficient and provides a high temperature
Con: It cannot be used in cold surroundings, mainly temperatures below 5o degrees Fahrenheit and it doesn't burn as hot as blended fuel

Gasoline

Gasoline is the liquid fuel that powers most cars, however stoves like this should only be used as a last resort and you should make sure that the fuel has an octane content that is below 86 and is unleaded.
Pro: Burns fast and very hot
Con: This fuel is very poisonous, even the fumes can be a bit nauseating, not to mention the soot being toxic. The soot may get into the food you are cooking so it's best to keep the food covered at all times. It is also hard to keep gasoline going in extreme cold. There is also a need for an extra pump to increase the pressure because of its liquid form.

Isobutane

Isobutene ha a chemical structure close to butane, it is used for plane fuel. Isobutene comes in disposable canisters.
Pro: It burns more efficiently than butane and can be used in temperatures down to 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Kerosene
Kerosene is probably the oldest type of fuel and is also used in jet fuel because of the heat it generates.
Pros: It is available anywhere and burns very hot in any condition.
Con: Like gasoline, the soot from kerosene is also very poisonous. It also burns with a lot of soot. Generally kerosene burners get clogged quickly because of the excess soot. And like gasoline, needs an extra pump because of its liquid form.

Propane
Propane is a highly combustible, clear gas that is used in most household stoves and barbecue grills. Propane comes in disposable canisters.
Pro: Propane burns with a very hot and steady flame. There is practically no soot with a propane flame. In addition to that it has good cold weather performance.
Con: Not very good for very trepid and high altitude locations.

White Fuel

Pro: This fuel is very inexpensive and can be bought by the gallon at almost any supermart. It burns in almost any weather condition and unlike others can withstand low temperatures and high altitudes.
Con: The fuel is a liquid and will therefore need a pump to keep the pressure steady.

Wood

Pro: Wood is as old fashioned as you can get, but if you have an excellent source like for example the twigs on the forest floor, a wood stove would be a good idea.
Con: A wood stove would be hard to use during rainy season because wet wood is hard to heat up.

The Propane Stove Buying Guide

If you are looking to buy a propane stove, you should get acquainted with the technology before you buy. This equipment is a must for every trip and camping. If you don't have a good propane stove you can't do much of anything else.

1. Propane Stoves

Propane is cheap and will last many camping trips. It is because propane stoves propose good features and dependability on the field. Propane stoves are very portable. And ease of use is an attribute mostly preferred by consumers.

2. The Purchase

If you are going to buy propane stoves and see for yourself, you can check out these tips so that you will be getting only the best buy. Here is a comprehensive guide in buying propane stoves.

Select the propane stove that is easiest to clean. When you are out in the woods camping, water may not easy to come by. The best propane stove is the one that does not need water to clean it. And cleaning should be done in one easy feat. Cleaning and maintenance should be breezy enough for users even look forward to the experience.

Get the one that is built for heavy-duty use. This one echoes durability from all sides. As the point implies, your stove should be able to withstand the outdoor weather and the ragged use. Propane gas stoves should be made of strong materials. And each of its components should be as sturdy as the base.

Select the one that is most reasonably priced. The best stove would deliver quality and price down to a level reachable by consumers. It is not always true that good products are the pricey ones. There are still some manufacturers out there that could make good products but cuts on price.

Consider your needs. Propane stoves can come in double or a single burner types. If you do a lot of cooking while onsite, you are going to need the double burner kind. A single burner should be enough for you if you do more heating than real cooking. Whichever the case maybe, get the one that matches your needs while you are out having fun.

Get the one with variable power. A propane stove that can be adjusted to meet your cooking requirements would be ideal while on the road. The heavy-duty cooking needs more butane power to cook. While light cooking just needs ample heat. If the propane stove is versatile enough, it should be able to accommodate whatever you might be cooking.

Select the propane gas that has the longest warranty period. A long warranty period means the product is made to last a long time. It is noted that the warranty period of a device determines the durability of the product. If the product is guaranteed for a year, then it is bound to last for about five years, perhaps.

Get the brand most trusted. You know what they say. If it comes from the best, it must be the best. Companies who have been around for ages manufacturing propane stoves would sure be the best choice. A good company would have its own name to protect. Hence, it would deliver only the best line of products.

Select the one with a customer service hotline. For any device, electric or otherwise, it would be superb if they have some sort of a hotline number to assist customers with what you call the out-of-the-box experience. This is especially helpful for people who havent really tried using a propane gas stove before. Sometimes, instruction leaflets and manuals are hard to understand. It would really be better if there were a real person to talk to in some cases.

Get the one with the most positive ratings. If there are resources available, like online ratings, customer feedbacks, and survey forms available to you, you can well use these things to help you decide. It is a no-brainer that if the product has a lot of rave reviews, then it is worth evaluating further.

The trips you will remember the fondest will be the trips that you have the proper ammenities for. These are listed with the hope to lead you to the finest quality product out in the market. Propane gas stoves are sure to be the best equipment brought along by any outdoor enthusiast. If you get more work done when you are camping that means more time to spend with your family.