I have had a few gas ones the last one being the hi gear one from go outdoors and this is probably the worst one we have had.Deffinetly wouldnt use one in a tent.
In windy weather they struggle when used outside.
this season i bought an electric hot plate (£12 off ebay bargain) but I tend to use it outside on a cooking stand as they do get very hot and stay hot for ages when switched off, and obviously dont use it outside if its raining. but we caravan so can put it in the awning.
Aldi or Lidls (not sure which one) have an induction one on sale for about £40 plus the new pans if you havent got any to suit. these are safer as they dont actualley heat up.
It depends on your setup, ei. how big is you tent, will you use it on a stand, do you have kiddies etc
Just as a follow up on the safety aspects. Having used stoves that stand on top of a gas cylinder (both shorter and taller ones) for over 30 years as a family we had so many near misses with the stoves toppling or getting knocked over (scolding water and hot fat injuries are not nice) that as soon as real alternatives became available we jumped at them. We now either use a double burner with a integral stand that is fully adjustable to uneven ground and very stable or really stable low profile stoves - the Campingaz Bistro and a low profile, wide based folding backpacking stove that has a hose to the cannister. As with all stoves you must follow the instructions.
Many of the safety reports that have been cited on the forum on the suitcase stoves are from mis-use, such as not turning over the pan support, using them on top of another stove that was still warm , using pans that were too large so that they deflected heat down towards the cannister and faulty cheap gas cannisters. There is also the risk of a faulty piece of equipment, but that can effect any type of equipment. I must admit that given that they appear so easy to use, there is a real risk that people don't bother to read the instructions or keep them maintained. The stoves are not all made to the same specification either, just studying them will reveal the differences. We have certainly found the aerosol type gas cannisters to perform very differently so only use Campingaz ones now in combination with a Campingaz stove.
No appliance is without its risks, some of which will be reported and others not (we certainly never reported the near misses we had as a family as they were just the risks associated with camping stoves at the time).
If you go for electricity make sure your appliances are off the ground and not likely to get wet or in an area of heavy condensation. As we all know electricity and water don't mix.
Good luck with whatever you decide to go with...
Post last edited on 04/11/2011 12:10:16
------------- Love our set-up and need no more tents or gear, so trying to stop looking!
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