Every bug-out bag should contain a portable stove, because you never know what conditions will be like when you find you need to boil some water or heat up a quick meal when the lights go out.
With that said, here are three main considerations to make in determining what sort of portable stove to buy and what features and functionality to weigh in the decision making process
Stove Construction and Material
The material from which the stove is made is one of the most important things of all to consider.
Portable stoves are generally made from one of two classes of material: steel and aluminum alloys.
Aluminum alloys are lightweight and corrosion resistant, which makes them ideal for ultralight backpacking. However, even though they are lighter, they lack the robustness and strength of steel.
On the flipside, steel is heavier and can be somewhat expensive, but you can’t beat steel for strength. If it is stainless steel it will also be as good or better than aluminum with respect to corrosion resistance.
Construction is another thing – specifically, whether or not the stove comes apart, collapses or folds down. It’s a lot easier to pack and carry a tiny, folding portable stove – remember that, since not all portable stoves can be taken apart.
Fuel Type
Fuel type is another serious consideration you have to make, as it will impact the overall usability and practicality of the stove.
The majority of portable stoves accept some sort of canned liquid/gas fuel, like propane or isobutane, as a fuel.
Both of these are lightweight and convenient, but the downside is that in a SHTF situation, when you run out of fuel, the stove won’t work anymore.
This is where alternative fuel methods come into play. For instance, some stoves use liquid alcohol or tablets as a fuel source. If you can get more alcohol that is over 100 proof, you can find more fuel. Some can burn rubbing alcohol, too.
Then there are stoves that are designed to burn wood – you can use pine cones, twigs, leaves, and other dry woody material as fuel.
These alternative fuels tend to be abundant, free, and – most importantly – you just scavenge them as you need them, so you don’t need to waste extra space and weight in your pack for fuel.
Weight and Footprint
Lastly, you also need to consider the weight and overall footprint of the stove. Space comes at a premium in emergency preparedness kits and bug-out bags, so you need to make sure you have enough of it.
Also, there’s a saying – ounces become pounds – and what it means is basically that the lighter your gear is, the better for you, because you’ll be able to carry it for longer with less fatigue.
The footprint of the stove is also something you’ll want to consider because, even though a smaller stove might be easier to pack and carry, you’ll be limited with respect to how effectively you can cook with a small stove.
In some circumstances, a larger portable stove with a wider cooking area will offer you greater flexibility with what you can cook with it.
Shop Portable Stoves and Other Camp Cookware
All in all, any survival kit or bug-out bag should have at least one portable stove, but if you only have one, it makes that decision all the more important. This short guide should help start you out on the right foot so you know you’re getting one that will work well for your purposes.
For more information (and to look through a collection of portable stoves) visit CH Kadels. They carry stoves, camp cookware, and other survival gear, and plenty of it.
For more information about Survival Gear and Bushcraft Gear Please visit: CH Kadels.