Okay, have a dilemma that I need all you experiences campers to help me with. Have decided on my camping kitchen and now need to think a bit more carefully about stoves.
My dilemma is size VS use. My wife is a veggie and we tend to live off bread, cheese, salad, etc, when abroad. Lots of people have advised a double ring with grill jobby but from seeing the gas bottles I feel a bit worried about the size. I was wondering about two of the little ones that take those little disposable cannisters that also fit in the little ceramic heater. My wife and I have thought about what we (meaning me) would be cooking and since we don't eat that much meat we have got it down to fried potatoes, omelettes, boiled eggs, and the such like. I've never grilled anything in France so far.
So my dilemma is (and thanks for bearing with me here) is do I give it a go with a couple of the smaller stoves first or do I go the full monty with a double burner and grill with one of the big gas bottles.
Thanks in advance for reading this. We've been to France a lot recently but this will be a first in a tent.
We use ours with a griddle plate on it to griddle bacon, sausages etc. You might feel you only need a single burner which would take up even less space but they are slightly less stable. We use both the double burner for real cooking and the single burner for the kettle, percolator etc.
The current wisdom in this area is don't bother with the grill as most of them are rubbish, if you want toast get one of those folding jobby's that go on the gas ring.
As for my choice I went for a Coleman dual fuel furnace........er.......... stove. It folds up to the size of a brief case, it lasts well on a tank of fuel which is available more or less anywhere.
------------- Love a lot. Trust a few. But ALWAYS paddle your own canoe!!
Minds are like parachutes:- They only function when they are open!!!
Those who talk don't know.
Those who know don't talk.
Quote: Originally posted by PigletandTigger on 13/2/2007
Quote: Originally posted by mattlad on 13/2/2007
I went for a Coleman dual fuel furnace........er.......... stove.
Next time the engines pack up on the Starship Enterprise.................
------------- Love a lot. Trust a few. But ALWAYS paddle your own canoe!!
Minds are like parachutes:- They only function when they are open!!!
Those who talk don't know.
Those who know don't talk.
Quote: Originally posted by PigletandTigger on 13/2/2007
Quote: Originally posted by mattlad on 13/2/2007
I went for a Coleman dual fuel furnace........er.......... stove.
Next time the engines pack up on the Starship Enterprise.................
You wanna see how much damage I did to our kettle when I couldn't work out how to prime the stove properly. I paid a fortune for the shiny kettle and then melted the handle!! It was very very funny
Not for long! We have used as you suggested 2 of these wee single burners with disposable cartridges. Got on really well, you can get the gas very cheaply now.
This year we got a very cheap cadac on sale in Halfords for 25 quid!!! so I'm thinking that plus 1 wee single stove will cover every need for least packing space.
P.S the wee folding one slice toasters are essential!!!
We have both the large gas double burner and grill, and a couple of the single ring canister cookers. We usually just take the single burners as they are more compact, very portable yet stable and easy to change canisters when they empty. We find that they tend to heat quicker too, but others on this site have found the opposite.
I tend to try and stay pretty lightweight, were talking camping gear here not people, and I use one of the UNO type single burners. I hope eventually I can get the heater to match. I've tried a backpacking stove and compared to the UNO it sucked!
I've been really pleased with the little stove, safe, easy to use, reasonably powerful, rock steady, but I fancy a bit more versatility now I have the use of 4 wheels, (my son cheu... chaou... cheau... drives me about ) instead of 3 (bike and trailer, see gallery) and I've promised myself one of these before I go away for 10 days in May. Should be great for a wok!
Each to their own, but I don't like the idea of petrol/Coleman fuel, at least a gas ring can be used safely in the tent (unless it's a very small tent) to make a brew if it's hissing down, but if you tried to melt a kett... light a Coleman stove in a tent you could soon be sans tent. Not only that, if you spill the fuel it'll stink forever and ruin anything it soaks into!
We went the other way and bought a cooker unit from a trailer tent - 2 rings, grill, sink and stands on 2 'A' shaped legs. It's big but we have room in the trailer and use the Calor 4.5kg butane.
------------- HelenD
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We must be experts - we are out standing in our chosen fields!
we have one with a grill but never use the grill, does not work very well and easier to use a toaster, or a griddle pan over the two rings. If i was buying again would not get one with a grill.
I don't often use the grill ... but I wouldn't want to be without it for the few times I do use it. I find it works well.
With a double burner plus grill you don't have to use a large, heavy gaz bottle; most double burner plus grill cookers use a gaz regulator [fits on the gaz bottle] with tubing which fits onto the cooker. So use the smallest of the refillable gaz bottles which are not so cumbersome and readily available [like this] and refillable/exchange.
Very small double ring cooker with no grill? This is the one I have and it folds smaller than two of the cartridge stoves, plus it has an integral windshield and legs.
A regulator and hose (and utensils) will tuck inside, so you`ve only got the gas to worry about. And a 907 bottle fits neatly inside your bucket and lid. Or you could take a 904 to save space.
I recently bought a coleman dualfuel after reading many posts (thanks all) and haveing sought advice at don valley (gearing up for this year). The only drawback i can see is that i should have waited as i really wanted a three ringer and is see for £100 coleman now do a triple burner in dualfuel at world of tents.
I have used it in the yard to test it out (as i am waiting for the tent to come into stock) very clean to use etc and well thought out, a nice piece of kit it will last years, powerful as well and the fuel is readily available.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Stoves Dilemma
Next time the engines pack up on the Starship Enterprise.................
) instead of 3 (bike and trailer, see gallery) and I've promised myself one of 
