Hi, I'm in need of some help with choosing a new gas stove.
I camp mainly with my OH, so just cooking for 2 and over the last 5 years we've been using various incarnations of the camping gaz bistro stove but now feel it's time to move on for 2 reasons:
1. We only have 1 burner
2. The little gas canisters get so cold so quickly and get slower and slower and slower....
I've been having a look around but haven't found what I feel is our perfect stove so need some advice on where to compromise...
Have looked at the camping gaz 400s xcelerate but it's huge and when I've looked at in the shop it seems a bit flimsy... has anyone had any problems with it? And is the xcelerate worth the extra size and money compared with the 200s?
The coleman equivalent seems a bit more robust but it's even wider and runs on those funny wee coleman propane bottles: do they suffer the same issues as the aerosol type canisters in terms of getting slower? And are they widely available?
Also been looking at the primus range: I really like the onja as it's so compact and unbelievably cute but I'm guessing it'll have the same slowing canister problem we already have... also the website says the duo takes lots of types of gas but doesn't say what - does anyone know. The atle and oden also look like options. Does anyone have any experience of them or know where they are stocked in the UK (west mids would be best). Also can they be run on calor or camping gaz bottles?
And what else should I be looking at? We would consider a single burner and would then keep our bistro as the second burner and to boil the kettle inside the tent when it rains...
We don't use a hook up so no electric stoves and I've had a bad experience with dual fuel so not that keen on that...
You easiest solution will be a 2 burner stove, there are much cheaper & smaller ones than the Xcelerate. You also need gas bottle & regulator.
The larger Coleman cannisters are propane so will work at low temps but expensive as is the stove that uses them & Coleman cartridges probably not as widely available as Campingaz cartridges.
If you are camping in cold weather as presumably are if your butane cartridge stoves are failing to work properly then you need a propane gas bottle. Propane works at low temperate. Smallest available propane bottle is Calor 3.9kg, still bit of a lump to cart around but at least you have reliable cooking in colder weather.
If you do want to stay with single burner & disposable gas cartridges then the other Campingaz stoves use the screw in CV cartridges are butane/propane mix which will work at lower temperatures than the Bistro type cartridges which are just butane & will fail even at low temps above freezing.
As Opensauce says, if you want to cook in cold temperatures (close to freezing), Butane loses pressure while Propane doesn't.
However, the Butane/Propane mix in disposables is 80 - 90% Butane, so I don't think you'd be that much further forward.
Coleman cartridges have a standard EN417 screw fitting, and there are many good-value brands out there - just check Ebay. Campingaz on the other hand uses exclusive fittings to keep you brand loyal.
My own advice would be to bite the bullet and get a double burner with a Calor Propane cannister. Double burners need to be a certain size or you'd not get two pans to fit side-by-side.
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I'd agree with opting for something that runs from a propane cylinder(rather than a "disposable" canister).
Don't forget that,you don't need any documentation when you take one in to exchange it for a "refill". So it's worth asking around to see if a friend /relative has an unused cylinder behind their shed?...or try ebay, freecycle etc...maybe at your local *"tip"?
(*although I believe some now pass them back to Calor etc..as they do own them after all)
Another vote for propane, especially if you're using it in colder weather. The only downside about the double burner I bought the other year is that I end up doing more bacon butties for all and sundry when their butane ones don't work!
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We've only had it a year but the 400 is sturdy enough (& sturdier than a lot we've seen) & we're pleased with it so far. It does seem better than a regular stove in a breeze but jury is out on the increased economy as I've not been keeping tabs on that yet. The one thing that is a bit feeble is the grill. It's ok but won't do anything bigger than a slice of toast. It'll run on propane but I don't. I find I can cozy the Gaz cylinders pretty well & if proper hard cold I'd switch to a paraffin stove for car camping.
I have a primus njord duo. It takes camping gaz clic and en417 screw on canisters. It slows down in the cold even with butane propane mix but it doesn't slow down as the canister empties. It is a powerful burner but I find it expensive to run.
We now use liquid fuelled stoves as they are more economical. The njord is still used in the kitchen for when we need to use a wok.
Bought one of these added one of these so it now works with this and these too there will be someone along to suggest that it is not ideal due to slightly different US and UK fittings, hey ho but it does work and is significantly cheaper than the screw in canisters and Propane will certainly work much more effectively at lower temperatures.
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Topic: Gas stoves
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