The Post-Propane Lifestyle

[carbon60]

Ok, my Propane setup has begun to annoy me. Couldn't thread the hose onto my Primus two-burner stove last weekend. My tank is too large, small tanks are stupidly expensive. Doesn't really work well below freezing. And I'm almost always camped around lots of dead tree matter.

So, I'm thinking to either get a small traditional wood stove:

http://anevay.co.uk/camping-stoves/frontier-stove-tent-bundle.html



Or a fancy rocket or TLUD stove:

http://www.silverfire.us/page_10_15/silverfire-survivor-rocket-stove



http://www.silverfire.us/page_11_15/silverfire-hunter



I don't yet have a tent to heat, but some day I might. For now, I'm more concerned with cooking.

I'd pare one of the above with a cheap butane unit.

Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks,

A.

 

[life_w_vagabonds]

I agree 1lb bottles suck. Never could get a straight answer to what you are supposed to do with the empties.

Not much for tree matter where we are so I bought an MSR that runs on white gas or unleaded or etc...

I use charcoal and a dutch oven when there are no fire restrictions. Dutch ovens are quite efficient.

 

[summerprophet]

So a small propane bottle ($60-$80) is stupidly expensive, so you are going to shell out $150 for a wood stove?

Am I missing something with your math?

 

[carbon60]

Actually, I managed to sell ll my propane gear for $100 and I ordered a $150 Silverfire Survivor. Houle arrive tomorrow.

We'll see how it works in the real world!

 

[Honu]

sadly where I live now its burn ban city every summer ?

seen some pretty cool smaller stoves these days would be fun to be able to do but since its mostly for cooking curious why not just use charcoal ? or just cook over a wood fire with some of the grate systems that poke into the ground ?

have ya had a look at the snow peak folding campfire setup and one of the grill grate systems that go on top build up a nice bed of coals ? and folds packs flat etc.. don't work for em just a huge fan ahahah
seems the stuff they make well works insanely good and the other half ? I can leave without but most of it is very nicely thought out http://www.snowpeak.com/grills/fire-places.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSuTeHvphJ8

also have a small if its just one or two of ya ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mala3Uo2pmc

 

[carbon60]

sadly where I live now its burn ban city every summer ?

Even if the fire is completely contained?

seen some pretty cool smaller stoves these days would be fun to be able to do but since its mostly for cooking curious why not just use charcoal ? or just cook over a wood fire with some of the grate systems that poke into the ground ?

I tried out my new Silverfire Survivor and you can go from cold to water-boiling in only a few minutes, that's the difference.

 

[Honu]

Yeah not even contained !


That silver fire sounds pretty slick then post up a review etc.. If ya can would be fun to see more on it

 

[highdesertranger]

carbon60 butane is even worse than propane in cold temps. white gas is best for cold temps. however I got retired all my white gas stuff years ago went to propane. white gas was to expensive. I have used propane several times I single digit temps (f) with no problems. highdesertranger

 

[luk4mud]

Went to the refillable 5lb propane tank a few years ago, best option then and still seems to be now. I run my bbq, stove and fire ring from it ... not all at the same time of course.

 

[screwball48]

My main grill at home finally died this year. I have been using a lodge cast iron sportsman grill for the past few weeks and love it so far.

 

[carbon60]

Silverfire Works

Well, I have now used my Silverfire Survivor for about a dozen meals and I am quite satisfied. It takes a little practice, but it works. I'll try and put together a full review on it.

A.

 

[Scoutman]

My main grill at home finally died this year. I have been using a lodge cast iron sportsman grill for the past few weeks and love it so far.

That looks like a pretty cool little grill. I wonder if you can get a flat top for it or if you'd have to find an oval skillet to cook on. Do you have a cover or bag to store it in after you use it?

 

[screwball48]

They have stopped production of what they called the sportsmans cooker (404 IIRC). It had a deep bottom that converted to a lid and a shallow top that served as a skillet. Lodge does make a cover for it (have yet to get one).

 

[kojackJKU]

the 1lb bottles can be refilled with an adapter to mount on your 20lb tank. I have seen them before. I am picking one up for my gear. Nothing like fresh baked pizza on the trail! ha ha.

 

[Honu]

Saw biolite is making a base camp model almost ready ?
Video showed variable cooking area simple but seems cool like the looks of it also
Video and info is on kick starter but should be on there site soon
For family cooking if you can have fires and pick up wood scraps would be cool

http://www.biolitestove.com/products/basecamp/