Thread: Cooking systems - gas vs hexamine stove/ open fire

Hey guys, been finding my gas stove a bit of a pain in the arse of late, and thinking of switching to using a billy & open fire with mess tin & hexamine stove for quick feeds. Im thinking this is gonna be a lighter system for more extended trips, just wondering what other people are using to heat up there tucker.

Cheers,

Josh

Have moved to a gas pocket rocket from my Msr whisperlite, after i almost blew a hut up when a valve leaked running it on petrol....

What do you find a pain about the gas? I use a tiny cheap gas stove with the little gas cylinders, fits in a cup, quick and easy. Use a coleman peak2 multifuel (liquid fuel cooker) for fly in stuff as it kicks ass and is great at altitude, the only downfall with gas is it uses more fuel the higher you go, but I would imagine the same using hexamine blocks

I have had problems with stoves failing in the past i.e breaking in my pack despite being in protective container/ not working when there wet (im sure this has somthing to do with the fact that im particularly hard on gear). Just though hexamine & open fire would be a bit more bomb proof.

Originally Posted by Dawg

I have had problems with stoves failing in the past i.e breaking in my pack despite being in protective container/ not working when there wet (im sure this has somthing to do with the fact that im particularly hard on gear). Just though hexamine & open fire would be a bit more bomb proof.

Lighting an open fire in the wet/wind is challenging.
Always take firelighting equip as a minimum survival gear,lighting a fire as your only means to cook is far less than ideal.
My little kovea must be 30 years old and still works perfectly, fits in a small pot with canister.
I am in more danger of loseing it than breaking it I think, even throw it up the bow of the boat to bounce around on fishing trips.

Lots of options previously discussed here:

http://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co.n...ad.php?t=20747

@Ryan_Songhurst where did you find the small gas canisters? Saw @akaroa1 had some for his jet oil and been looking for them but only seem to find standard ones, bit too much for a quick overnighter

Originally Posted by 223nut

@Ryan_Songhurst where did you find the small gas canisters? Saw @akaroa1 had some for his jet oil and been looking for them but only seem to find standard ones, bit too much for a quick overnighter

Usually buy them from bivouac (cheapest) or hunting stores

Hexies are bloody dirty things and iirc taint your food.

As soon as we were allowed to use a primus in the Army the only people you seen using hexies were newbies or tight ass stubborn pricks.😆

I always carry 2 small units in case one does crap out.
I would only ever have a fire on a hunting trip in an emergency.



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Relying on an open fire is a bit dodgy not only weather wise as Vc mentioned but in large areas of the country open fires are a no go... Think central Otago Canterbury middle of summer 2 years of Drought!

I carry hexi tablets and three 5 in nails stick em in the ground to form a tripod base and your away. Don't get smaller or lighter than that. There is no drop off in heat at altitude like gas. Only down side is there is a little spitting of burning "sparks" a couple of inches, and no way to turn a tab off once lit.

Have had all sorts of setups and have settled on this, 600ml stainless pot, fits two canisters and cooker perfectly, two canisters will last me a week.

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Have had all sorts of setups and have settled on this, 600ml stainless pot, fits two canisters and cooker perfectly, two canisters will last me a week.
Attachment 52220
Attachment 52221

Snap, same stove and same billy, never done the 2 x gas tho, always the 1x gas and the cut down cup

Originally Posted by Kooza

Snap, same stove and same billy, never done the 2 x gas tho, always the 1x gas and the cut down cup

Snap same here. I put a silicone folding cup in now rather than a cut down green one. Its still heavy being stainless. So anythibg looking like an overnighter and ill switch to the msr reactor.

If your hadd on gear a jetboil (the brand) isbno good

I have a variety of set ups. The most convenient is the basic gas stove and billy.

But on some trips I will take a home made folding wood burner stove which can also act as a wind shield/ pot stand for an alcohol stove or hexies. Essentially its a hinged fire box with one side with an opening through which you can feed the wood in or light the alcohol stove/hexies etc.

The wood used are small twigs up to finger size or so - much easier to find in most areas than dry larger campfire sized logs. The fire box itself directs the flame/ heat on to the pot making it much more efficient than an open fire.

The floor of the unit sits on a couple of wire pegs that can be positioned at various heights up and down the unit depending on whether you are using alcohol, hexies or wood. I have drilled the floor full of holes to allow air flow in wood burning mode.






Wood Burning mode


Alcohol Stove mode