What camp stove should I buy?
Question:
I remember being taught to pump the stove tank AND the lanterns on my childhood camping trips. But somehow I too came across propane and ditched the liquid….. That all changed about 3 years ago when I went fishing/camping with an "old-timer" and he brought out his Coleman gas lanterns and stove. All the childhood memories of pumping up the gas came back…… I’ve since either given the propane lanterns away or the lanterns and stove I have are sitting idle in the garage as I’ve gone back to the gas. It IS a religion. While my friends are spinning the empty propane tanks off of their lanterns or stoves I’m filling mine with gas and pumping away. Hell, I even have one friend that dusted off his stove and lantern and has started using it again when he realized how much more economical it was. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Lately, I’ve been vacillating between two choices on camp stoves. I > want something portable, long lasting, easy to use, and frugal. > To make a long story short, my wife and I received a George Foreman > electric grill for our wedding. After thinking about it, we realized we > probably wouldn’t use it much, if at all. However, we do like to go > camping, and would like to have a stove that we could use just about > anywhere. We took the George Foreman grill back, and they actually gave > us cash. Suddenly finding myself no longer restricted to just one store, > I started looking around. > Right now, I have essentially narrowed the field down to two choices > that fit both our price range and other needs. They are: > Coleman propane Grillin’ Griddle > $53, www.walmart.com > or > Coleman 2 burner white gas stove > $60, www.sportsmansguide.com > I’ve thought over the positive and negative aspects of both, but still > can’t seem to make a decision. (after almost a week) I need help! Here’s > what I’ve come up with: > Grillin’ Griddle > + no pan needed, already has cooking surface > + lower price > + available locally > + propane relatively cheap, available all over > + fewer moving parts > – when griddle surface wears out, high Coleman replacement cost > – have to clean out fat, oil from reservoir in stove > – says it has a new ‘no thread’ hookup for the propane canisters > (I equate this to being unsafe) > 2 burner white gas stove > + can cook/heat two separate items with the two burners > + appears sturdier > + no bulky propane canisters to throw away > + least expensive fuel, 128 oz. is about $3, vs about $16 for the same > amount of propane fuel, in 16 oz. canisters > + can operate for up to 7 hours per fill, using just one burner > – requires small amount of pumping, and filling tank with liquid fuel > – working parts more likely to gum up > – replacement parts can be expensive – ~ $20-$30 > So, you see, I’m stuck. I’m mostly looking for something to put in the > trunk of the car for camping trips, and either of these would work fine > for my purposes. Since I can’t make up my mind, I’m going to just go with > whichever one gets the most votes by the end of the week. If you’d like > to help me make a decision, please send me an email at > Thanks, > Dan
Response:
Up in Ontario, Canada, gas is more economical than propane. Not to mention the fact that it is wasteful if you are always pitching the canisters in the garbage; the local recycling depot won’t take them as they are considered hazardous waste. (At least in my area). On the other hand, If you have a typical 4 liter/1 gallon can of gas, you can simply jump on the can, squash it and make a neat little package to take home and toss in the recycling box. J.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I remember being taught to pump the stove tank AND the lanterns on my > childhood camping trips. But somehow I too came across propane and ditched > the liquid….. > That all changed about 3 years ago when I went fishing/camping with an > "old-timer" and he brought out his Coleman gas lanterns and stove. All the > childhood memories of pumping up the gas came back…… > I’ve since either given the propane lanterns away or the lanterns and stove I > have are sitting idle in the garage as I’ve gone back to the gas. > It IS a religion. While my friends are spinning the empty propane tanks off > of their lanterns or stoves I’m filling mine with gas and pumping away. > Hell, I even have one friend that dusted off his stove and lantern and has > started using it again when he realized how much more economical it was. > Lately, I’ve been vacillating between two choices on camp stoves. I > want something portable, long lasting, easy to use, and frugal. > To make a long story short, my wife and I received a George Foreman > electric grill for our wedding. After thinking about it, we realized we > probably wouldn’t use it much, if at all. However, we do like to go > camping, and would like to have a stove that we could use just about > anywhere. We took the George Foreman grill back, and they actually gave > us cash. Suddenly finding myself no longer restricted to just one store, > I started looking around. > Right now, I have essentially narrowed the field down to two choices > that fit both our price range and other needs. They are: > Coleman propane Grillin’ Griddle > $53, www.walmart.com > or > Coleman 2 burner white gas stove > $60, www.sportsmansguide.com > I’ve thought over the positive and negative aspects of both, but still > can’t seem to make a decision. (after almost a week) I need help! Here’s > what I’ve come up with: > Grillin’ Griddle > + no pan needed, already has cooking surface > + lower price > + available locally > + propane relatively cheap, available all over > + fewer moving parts > – when griddle surface wears out, high Coleman replacement cost > – have to clean out fat, oil from reservoir in stove > – says it has a new ‘no thread’ hookup for the propane canisters > (I equate this to being unsafe) > 2 burner white gas stove > + can cook/heat two separate items with the two burners > + appears sturdier > + no bulky propane canisters to throw away > + least expensive fuel, 128 oz. is about $3, vs about $16 for the same > amount of propane fuel, in 16 oz. canisters > + can operate for up to 7 hours per fill, using just one burner > – requires small amount of pumping, and filling tank with liquid fuel > – working parts more likely to gum up > – replacement parts can be expensive – ~ $20-$30 > So, you see, I’m stuck. I’m mostly looking for something to put in the > trunk of the car for camping trips, and either of these would work fine > for my purposes. Since I can’t make up my mind, I’m going to just go with > whichever one gets the most votes by the end of the week. If you’d like > to help me make a decision, please send me an email at > Thanks, > Dan
Response:
I find that 2 backpacker type single burner gas stoves (one a Svea 123) give me a backup should either fail. I seem to have problems with the double burner Colemans, and usually only use one burner at a time anyway. My lantern is also gas, but it has not been used on any of my last several trips. It is nice for early or late season trips when I am by myself and want to read in the evening though. If I am out with a group, I tend to socialize in the evening and only need a light to return to my campsite. Ron – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> It’s really religion rather than science (gas vs propane) and I’m devoutly > in the gas camp. ;-) >week we were camping in Big Basin Redwoods (developed, but then again, I >took my wife with me) and the damn propane lantern refused to light. The >small throw-away tank wasn’t empty, but almost gone. Maybe it was the cold >at night, or maybe something else. Hell, I don’t really care:) >I dug out a candle, and spent a nice evening sipping some nice Burgandy. I >cooked on our small Dutch Oven and also on the Coleman propane with 5 gal. >tank. I also barbecued on a small, but nice, portable grill with briquettes. >Here’s my take FWIW: Having lived in the mountains most of my life, and only >recently started "camping" (Heck, I’ve been CAMPING the whole >From now on, if the wife wants to go, then I"ll take nothing but a gas >stove. Either the 123, or something else. No more damn propane, and no more >worth it. Sorry for the rant, but I’m tired of the junk being sold >— >Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. >Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Response:
My take on this: Whatever you buy, become familiar with it. Clean it and service it regularly. Carry spare parts and tools. Check it BEFORE every trip. They will work pretty good, if these things are observed. (Results may vary 
Steve
Response:
Well spoken. Alan
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> It’s really religion rather than science (gas vs propane) and I’m devoutly > in the gas camp. ;-) > I have heard the prayers and cussing from the gas crowd, and I like the > propane. It is all a matter of choice. They are both good. You just have > to know what you are doing. > You say you can pump yours up and make a fire in twenty seconds. My hat is > off to you. The problem with most folks is that they use their stoves so > irregularly, or are so unfamiliar with them, that when one of the common > malfunctions happens, they don’t have a clue what to do. Most people leave > gas in them between seasons. Most people don’t clean them. Most people do > not know how to oil the pump, or that it requires oiling, or which lubricant > to use. > Propane is easier for the average person, having fewer parts. You just turn > it on, and it works. Most of the time. > Whatever cooks yer grits. > Steve
Response:
>It’s really religion rather than science (gas vs propane) a
How true. Lots of ‘religious’ discussions in usenet groups 
>With the new fill spouts you screw right onto the gas can, you really >don’t have to spill fuel any more either.
I will look around for those. >Propane canisters at Kmart here are $2.99, 1 gal fuel is $3.49, which >lasts about as long as 4-5 propane canisters.
My lantern is propane, so it is an advantage to have the stove be the same. I also have one of those small BBQ things that I use at home, which sometimes comes along where there are fire restrictions, so again, the propane makes it easier. Not necessarily a better thing, but the convenience is the reason I am using it. Well, that and I bought it years ago, and haven’t given it much thought. FWIW, propane is about $1.80 around here. Still, it is a bummer no knowing how full it is, so you always have to carry a spare full one. Then I get them mixed up and it gets pretty confusing. I haven’t tried weighing them yet, but I may have to….. >My experience with the propane stoves is that they seem flimsier and >thinner than the gas stoves.
I haven’t seen a gas stove since I was a kid, so I don’t know about that. I will have to check it out tho. >It has been my experience that gas burns slightly hotter than propane. >I’ve had both and got rid of the propane lanterns and stoves.
I live at 5000 feet, and usually go up to camp, so maybe I should take a look at a gas stove, as I am not impressed with the output of my propane one. Perhaps if I can do a two or three day trip with one fillup, we don’t cook on it much, then it might pay to make the switch. Thanks for the info. Best Regards, John
Response:
> It’s really religion rather than science (gas vs propane) and I’m devoutly > in the gas camp. ;-)
week we were camping in Big Basin Redwoods (developed, but then again, I took my wife with me) and the damn propane lantern refused to light. The small throw-away tank wasn’t empty, but almost gone. Maybe it was the cold at night, or maybe something else. Hell, I don’t really care:) I dug out a candle, and spent a nice evening sipping some nice Burgandy. I cooked on our small Dutch Oven and also on the Coleman propane with 5 gal. tank. I also barbecued on a small, but nice, portable grill with briquettes. Here’s my take FWIW: Having lived in the mountains most of my life, and only recently started "camping" (Heck, I’ve been CAMPING the whole From now on, if the wife wants to go, then I"ll take nothing but a gas stove. Either the 123, or something else. No more damn propane, and no more worth it. Sorry for the rant, but I’m tired of the junk being sold — Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Response:
Daniel – the choice is simple – the gas stove for many reasons. Lighter in weight – as you don’t have to carry the relatively heavy propane bottles. And remember – you hauled the propane bottles in – you haul them out (well, those that are worth anything, haul them out). Hotter – particularily at higher altitutes. Anywhere above say 5000 or 6000 feet there is no comparison – gas is much hotter. And around 10,000 feet, wood is faster than propane – well, I might have stretched that a bit. Besides, when you need to get a fire going with nothing but wet wood – a little coleman fuel does the job nicely. My gas coleman stove has been running for over 40 years and I have replaced the generator just once. That is service!!!! — Jerry/Idaho
Response:
> It’s really religion rather than science (gas vs propane) and I’m devoutly > in the gas camp. ;-)
I have heard the prayers and cussing from the gas crowd, and I like the propane. It is all a matter of choice. They are both good. You just have to know what you are doing. You say you can pump yours up and make a fire in twenty seconds. My hat is off to you. The problem with most folks is that they use their stoves so irregularly, or are so unfamiliar with them, that when one of the common malfunctions happens, they don’t have a clue what to do. Most people leave gas in them between seasons. Most people don’t clean them. Most people do not know how to oil the pump, or that it requires oiling, or which lubricant to use. Propane is easier for the average person, having fewer parts. You just turn it on, and it works. Most of the time. Whatever cooks yer grits. Steve
Response:
Related Posts