The vast selection of camping stoves tagged with technical terms a layman wouldn’t understand, may be scary for some who are not that experienced when it comes to camping and buying camping stoves. However, purchasing the right camping stove is not as hard as it may seem.
Here are some considerations you should take into account when buying a camping stove. With these information and simple tips, selection and purchase would be much easier
Size
Camping brands like Coleman offer one, two and multiple burner camping stoves. What you should opt for should depend on the volume of cooking you intend to do. If you’re solo packing, a camping stove with one or two burner may do but if you intend to go camping with the whole family or plan to have a camping cook feast with a bunch of friends, go for a camping stove that has two or more burners to save time cooking.
Type of Fuel
After deciding which stove size is suitable for your camping needs, the next thing to consider is the type of fuel you’ll want to use. Your fuel options include propane, white gas (otherwise known as Coleman fuel), unleaded gas, butane or kerosene. However it is mostly recommended to use either propane or white gas only.
Out of all the camping stoves, those that are fueled by white gas produce the most heat. It is the more environment-friendly choice for it burns cleanly without any odor or effect on food taste as well as produces less waste.
Many of the Coleman camping stoves that are fueled with white gas operate on dual fuel system which means that the stove can run either on white gas or unleaded gasoline. However, it is best that you use only white gas unless during cases when you run out of it and can’t buy any.
Propane camp stoves on the other hand are simpler and more easy to use, but weigh a lot heavier compared with white gas. But propane Coleman camping stoves are also great choices because of their easiness to operate and ignite, and good performance in warm climates and at low elevations. Most Coleman camping stoves powered with propane fuel even have electronic ignitions to save time and energy.
Type of Camping Activity
Another consideration to make is the type of camping you intend to do during your trip. For example, if you plan to go backpacking, choose a camping stove that is lightweight, has a single burner for this is easier to carry in your load.
But if you intend to go on a family camping trip, a group hike or RV camping, it is more appropriate to opt for three or four burner stoves that would allow you to create a grand fiesta for everyone.
Now, if you’re planning to go on a beach camping trip or have a backyard party where you’ll probably want to do some grilling on the side, a combination of a stove and grill is the perfect choice for you.
Many camping brands such as Coleman provides you with a wide array of quality camp stoves and background information on its features to make your choice much easier.
