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We use a small 4.5kg Calor gas bottle (blue one) which is still going after 3 years!! We have a Sunncamp 2 burner stove with grill.

Blue bottle is butane and red bottle is propane - you only really need this if you plan to camp/caravan in sub zero temperatures. Butane is fine for normal camping.

Any reputable camping or caravan store will be able to advise you about an appropriate gas, hose and regulator.

You can also get Campingaz which is more expensive than Calor but is widely available throughout Europe (Calor isn't) if you plan to travel abroad.

The regulator will depend on the gas you choose to use. We have Calor gas as its cheaper in the UK. Campingaz is more popular on the continent so if you plan travelling abroad then you may want to go down that route.

We have a Campingaz Kitchen Extra with integral stand (so avoids the need for a separate kitchen unit), 2 burners and full griddle plate with water tray under for easy cleaning. The grills on camping stoves aren't the most effective, but a griddle plate will do most things and all you need for toast is the folding single slice toaster which toasts in seconds over a traditional burner and only costs £4-£5. You can pick one up for about £60 if you shop around.

Must admit that we opt for suitcase stoves for weekends as they are less hassle to set up and less to lug around and you can use the toaster with them and get a round griddle plate for them too. The gas is more expensive, but for shorter trips the ability to just whip them out and use them without any setting up gives them the edge.

Hi,

I think like all things it depends on your budget !  We bought a Campingaz cooker with 2 burners and grill for only £30 new ! The under cooker grills are OK but you need to use a metal top table as the heat from the grill will fry the synthetic ones. Perhaps the nicest I have seen is the Outwell grill with griddle between the two burners..... but they are more like £65.  Watch out for wobbly legs under the cooker, it needs to sit steady with kids around or a pot of hot water might end the trip in tears. One thing I liked about the griddle on top is the cooker sits lower on the stand thus keeping it more protected by the wind screen, if your stand has one.( amazing how easily these thigs blow out if it gets blown by the breeze.)

As for Gas, the bigger cylinders are a pain but then they dont run out quite so quickly on long trips. I hear that Calor has brought out Calor Lite, a new style of cylinder that is far less weighty, and has a tank guage on it so you know when its getting empty.  The little butane cookers with fly spray size canisters are easy to use ... but boy do they use cylinders !  On a longer camping session you might just end up needing more space for the extra stocks of cans if you trying to cook breakfast and dinner plus coffee/teas.  This is very user dependant, but a 5kg Calor bottle might last you six weeks of camping ! , and only cost £15 for a fill.

Once you hve chosen your gas type and cylinder size, you will then buy a regulator that will control the pressure from the cylinder ( related to the size ), and have the correct fitting for that cylinder. Some are clip on (Calor 7kg ) and some are screw on.