Alternatives for outdoors cooking during winter?

[elkatsa]

Hallo all.
I think of starting winter camping and I would like your advice on winter cooking devices.
Specifically, my questions are:

1. What are the main categories for cooking equipment out there? I only know the trangia-like devices (working with liquid fuel) and the gas burners. Are there any other alternatives? (apart from simply starting a fire).
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages for each of them (trangia, gas burner, …)?
3. Any specific product you would recommend?

Please note, that I would like to have the possibility to cook in temperature even below 0c (e.g. to melt snow and boil water). I am interested also in light weight, as I will be doing lots of cross country ski.

I searched in the forum and could not find a similar thread. If there is one though, I am sorry (in this case I would appreciate if you could send me relevant links).

Many thanks!

 

[rik_uk3]

The Trangia can use its own multifuel stove or others like the Primus Omnifuel or Optimus Nova and both will burn kerosene or alkylate fuel which you can get in Finland. This combination with the Trangia makes a very very good snow melter. The Omnifuel will also burn gas.

Trangia own multifuel shown here
http://www.blacktoe.co.uk/trangia/trangia spares.htm

 

[udamiano]

Have a look at a 'Honey Stove' http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product397.asp?PageID=118

really versatile you can use a Trangia type burner or wood to power it, for long cooks i use charcoal. its light and portable.

After that your options are

Gas = mean carrying addition gas bottles
Petrol/white fuel = again mean carrying addition fuel (this is also effected by the cold0
Solid /Gel = Hexamin or petro gel sachets (what happens if you run out)
Alcohol based / sometimes a bit tricky to use/ and again require additional supply of fuel

However IMHO having more than one option is the best, for example if you run out of one or loose it, you have another as standby (try to have different types, or types that are able to use a multiple types of fuel)

hope this helps

 

[Paul_B]

Melting snow does require a more vigorous burner I think to do so efficiently. Rik is probably right about a multi fuel burner being best. Afterall that is what expeds into arctic and antarctic and high mountains use.

IF not melting snow and not too far below zero celsius you can get away with gas and meths and other fuels with a few tricks or techniques. Gas with a good pre-heat can cope with about zero ok. A slightly heavier gas stove that particularly extends the temp range of gas cans is the Coleman exponent fyrestorm stove. It has a liquid gas feed stand where the can is attached inverted so the liquid in the can gets used first. Together with the pre-heat tube which ensures the liquid vaporises this accounts for it's improved temperature range. It is quite heavy though and a good multi fuel stove is probably about the same weight with a better performance.

BTW check out Optimus's website before you look at the Nova as there are links about product recall. I reckon with new Novas the issue is sorted but you need to be sure if you get one you have one which does not have the cause of the recall still. I mean there could still be some faulty ones out with retailers still perhaps. Certainly with second hand sellers if not.

Would something like the bushbuddy wood gasifier type or woodburner be any good? I know there was that Alaskan exped that used the bushbuddy ultra exclusively (can't recall the name of it).

 

[elkatsa]

Many thanks!!! It is valuable info you all give me!

I understand that for low temperature the “Honey Stove” with burning wood is the simplest, cheapest and lightest solution. Of course you need to spend effort to collect wood, start a fire and I guess performance is not as good as the multi fuel burners; but it will do the job even when the temperature is minus a lot below zero (plus you will never run out of fuel).
On the other hand, multi fuel burners are expensive, heavy, require cleaning evry now and then but perform best.
If I got it wrong, please let me know.

One question I have. Do you know if Trangia multi fuel burner can be used alone, without the Trangia windproof stove system? I mean will the Trangia multi fuel burner itself can stand alone safely on the ground and receive firmly a camping pot for me to cook? Or I can only use it if I have the traditional Trangia windproof system (which is bulky and adds weight).

And second question, what kind of fuel should I use for multi fuel burners? Minus and plus of the different fuels? (e.g. in terms of performance, safety, cost, maintenance of the burner). Do I get them from the gas stations? If not, where?

Thank you all in advance!

 

[Paul_B]

Trangia burners of all types are designed to sit in the hole in the base of the windshield and as such would not sit too well on the ground on their own. They also have no pot supports since the windshield upper section does that in the Trangia. I daresay you could rig some system up. Perhaps using Ti pegs but I doubt it would be secure and I also doubt if you'd get good performance without some windshield. I'd stick with the whole system if you go with a Trangia personally.

I could be wrong though as I have only seen the gas and meths burners and only every used a meths burner in a trangia personally (and also inside a honey stove and on its own with Ti pegs for the pot support over the meths burner).

I have heard of people buying a cheap remote can gas burner online and converting it by removing the legs and pot support to use as a gas kit for a Trangia. I think that was because the burner was actually slightly better or more efficient. I think someone on some forum also talked about doing the same with a multi fuel burner too.