How To Choose A Camp Stove For Beginners
48How To Choose A Camp Stove For Beginning Hikers, Climbers, and Campers.
Let's talk about the two most popular camp stoves: The Snow Peak Giga Power Stove and the MSR Pocket Rocket.
And, right away, let's talk about the 4-prong surface versus the 3-prong surface...and let's do it by demonstration.
So, if you have your cup -- and I have an inexpensive cup from Wal-Mart -- if your are going to warm up water on that 4-prong surface, it is very stable, you're not going to have any problems with that accidentally getting knocked off. And the same goes for the 3-prong surface of the MSR Pocket Rocket. It is stable for this small diameter container. If you have a cooking container that is approximately that big, you wont have a problem. So both stoves are about equal.
Let's now look at a light weight, not an ultra-light weight pan, but a light weight...this is just a KitchenAid 8-inch pan, no-stick that I like to take camping with me. Let's put it on top of the Pocket Rocket first.
Because there is so much weight in the handle, this is an unstable surface. Even if I line up the handle with one of the prongs, it still feels very unstable. You have to get it perfectly. If you are cooking your food, you don't want a chance of that bumping off.
Now let's compare that to the Snow Peak. The four prong surface is also still not that stable -- a degree more stable but there is so much weight in the handle, it is going to be unbalanced.
So let's look at a different pan...a good old 8-inch cast iron pan. Since the weight is central, that sits right on the 4 prongs very easily. That is stable. It is shaking the table and the camera.
Let's compare that to the MSR Pocket Rocket. Also stable...a little bit wobbly, but still stable. I would be very comfortable cooking all of my meals...I am comfortable cooking my meals on that surface.
As far as using your kitchen tools on top of both of the stoves, I would say it is about equal: MSR and Snow Peak.
Let's look at the lighting mechanism. There is a build-in igniter on the Snow Peak. This, for me, is far and away why I bring this one with me. I don't have to look for matches...even my lighter is starting to go out. So I'd hate to need to warm up water in the middle of a camping or climbing trip and not have access to matches or a lighter.
So I always choose my Snow Peak first as my personal first choice.
The last thing to compare is when I go to take the stove off of the canister, the MSR Pocket Rocket folds up nicely, goes right into the container. Packed and stored easily.
The Snow Peak, however, I'll show you something. You only have to learn this once. When they made this -- the switch -- the flame control valve handle goes off to the side. So when I wrap that up to put it in the container, I have to spin the flame control valve, which opens the valve, which I have to remember, then, so it folds away nicely....put it away. And when I go to camp next time, when I take the stove out, I have to remember to close that valve all the way before i put it onto my fuel canister. I think that is the only drawback of the snow peak. Again, I only had to learn that lesson once. Now every time, it is easy.
So, my personal opinion, I choose the Snow Peak because it is more stable, has the built in igniter, and then the flame control valve handle - you only have to learn that once. Then every time after that, you'll be okay - you'll remember to close it.
That is how you choose a new camp stove if you are a beginner climber, camper or hiker.
For even more tips on enjoying your outdoor adventures, visit http://www.hcrbeta.com
For even more tips on enjoying your outdoor adventures, visit http://www.hcrbeta.com