What are you using to prepare meals on overlanding trips?
For the trip last weekend, I broke out my oldest backpacking stove, a little Svea 123 white gas stove that I bought for backpacking when I was in high school, more than 40 years ago. It's battered but has never failed. Keeps right on cooking, even in harsh weather. Sometimes I have to use a little voodoo to get it going, but I learned the voodoo long ago.
Great little stove that boils water pretty quickly, and also has the ability to be turned down and nicely simmer food. The photo here is of some venison backstrap steaks I cooked with onions on Saturday evening:
The faithful Coleman gets the job done just fine. This is supposed to be able to run on unleaded fuel as well a white gas. I've only used white gas in mine.
Last year on my trip to Alaska, I used the MSR Whisperlite - great little stove that I've used on many backpacking and camping trips. Superb performance in cold weather or at higher altitudes when many stoves give up.
Rocket stoves definitely can serve a useful place. how small do they pack down to?
I recently had the opportunity to get a hold of a EcoZoom Versa Stove. Impressive little stove. Efficient, multiple biomass or charcoal fuel options, heat adjustable via fuel feeding and lower damper door, high quality material, and cool to the touch exterior while cooking. Can also simmer, with both doors fully closed.
I am guessing you could grab just 2 logs for a full weekend of cooking. The 3 split pieces I used lasted for 40 mins, before I pulled them out of the fire to let it cool. Half of the pieces hadn't burned yet.
I replaced my bulky Weber grill and another small Coleman stove for a Skottle and this EcoZoom Should be a nice cooking change.
I LOVE the Volcano! So fun and I love that I can use wood, charcoal or propane! I actually use it as my BBQ, so easy to manage and take on the go.
https://www.volcanogrills.com
We use a Camp Chef Everest when we set up for a few days or more with a 4 ft folding Lifetime table from Costco. On day trips we have a couple coleman single burners that rub on LP cans, I built a clamp on stand that has 3 legs that sit straight on ANY surface. Soon to have a home built Scottle type setup.
I am, at the moment, using this incredible JetBoil setup, seen on the left. WOW if you need hot water NOW for coffee or Mountain House food, you have it in 15 seconds. Great for soups etc., too. You can eat out of the big cup on top that pops right off when you need it. Folds up into a very compact package, the propane cannister is an integral part of the unit when assembled, (the cannister comes in a couple of sizes as you can see).
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..And, on the right side of the photo is a butane powered Camp Chef for fryin' and scramblin'. Simple, very light, not expensive, got it at Sportsmans Warehouse. You just insert the fuel can over on the right side - it has a spark lighter built in.
Well, here is my new tailgate kitchen setup Dan and I just put on this winter. Got a nice slide out cutting board to prep on, or so your drink of choice has a stable home that won't tip over when you do. One may cook and sip at the same time and never get out of your chair. Bon Appetit and Cheers.
We primarily use a Camp Chef Ranger II. We bought it because it was one of the few stoves that runs on low pressure LP. Our trailer is plumbed for low pressure (no built in stove) so this is our trailer stove and truck stove. Each burner is 17,500BTUs so it has plenty of output. I think it was only $100 too.