Choosing the Right Camping Stove

By Larry West

Photo by Wylie Maercklein

There are several types of camping. Backpacking, car camping, and RV camping. Depending on the type of camping you are doing, determines the type of camping stove you will need. Outdoor camping stoves vary in size, weight, burners, and types of fuel used. Usually camping stoves that take up little room, are easy to set up, and tear down are the best. Also, the type of fuel plays an important part of selecting the right camping stove. A good camping stove should be able to support itself and the cookware placed on them with little to no chance of tipping over. The camping stove you select should be durable, reliable, easy to light, and perform well in all conditions you may encounter while camping.


Liquid-fuel stoves are generally a compact single burner stove that burns white gas, which is a form of pure gasoline that contains no additives. However, some liquid fuel stoves burn kerosene, #1 diesel, unleaded gas, and jet fuel. All these fuels burn hot which makes this stove ideal for the backpacker who camps in harsh weather conditions and high altitudes. Because none of these fuels burn clean, it is imperative that you keep the burner clean for the stove to perform as intended. Liquid fuel stoves come equipped with a separate tank for the fuel, a primer pump to create pressure in the tank, a valve to control the flow of fuel going to the stove where the gas is mixed with air so it can burn. To improve their efficiency most liquid-fuel stoves come equipped with a wind screen and to improve their stability they are equipped with wide supporting legs.


Canister stoves are some of the lightest and easiest stoves to use. There’s no pumping or priming, just turn the knob, light it and you have maximum heat. The heat will adjust from low to high with ease. Canister stoves burn clean on butane, propane, or a mixture of both resulting in very little maintenance. Butane burns hot, yet it does not perform well in temperatures below freezing, whereas propane works good down to zero degrees. Canister stoves by far are the best stoves for the backpacker that does not camp in extreme cold temperatures or high altitudes.

Propane stoves are available with single burner, duel burner, or one burner with grill. Propane stoves are best suited for the car camper and RV camper where size and weight does not matter. Most propane stoves come equipped with a wind screen, which will be helpful on windy days’. Also, some of these stoves can connect to a propane canister or propane tank. Best of all, propane fuel is easy to find and use.

Article by Larry West

Looking for that dependable family camping stove then choose from one of these. http://www.outdoorcampingstoves.com/camping-stoves If you are a backpacker and needing a light weight stove then one of these stoves will fit your needs. http://www.outdoorcampingstoves.com/canister-stoves

Camping - Safe and Convenient

By Stan Parker 

 Photo by i am le petit oiseau

As time passes by, there are lots of changes that happen, especially within our environment - more buildings are built, factories and other sources of air, water and even noise pollution. We used to have fun spending time outdoors with friends and family. We can escape all the problems that plague us daily. We can have time to relax and be at peace with nature. That's why it's always refreshing to go to places where nature is at its best.

We can go hiking, trekking, mountaineering, or simply exploring the wild. The world is simply wonderful. Quite often, we are so immersed in our busy lives making money and establishing our careers that we forget to appreciate the beauty that surrounds us. A beautiful world is waiting for us and we need to explore it. What better way to do that than camping, right?

Before you go camping, you need to make sure that you have prepared everything you need. You will be needing food, of course, and camping stove to cook your food.This makes everything convenient because bringing one means that we don't have to make a fire ourselves by gathering wood and arranging stones. Camp fires not only is harmful to our lungs but it is also very harmful to the environment. The risk is also greater as the fire we make can even cause the whole woods to light up. These accidental fires are very common especially when it's summer time. If you want to avoid these accidents, avoid making camp fires. Due to this, taking a camping stove with you is safer and more convenient.

Food will always be important for us and we can't do a lot of walking and adventure-seeking on an empty stomach. If we want to make the most out of our outdoor experience, bringing all the things that we need is important. While you do your preparations, you need to read all the safety precautions so that everything is in its proper place.

How can you enjoy your trip when you put everyone at risk, right? Do your homework and do your research online for useful tips in camping. It's also nice to have the whole family go on camping. By doing this, you will have time to bond with each other, strengthen your relationship and enjoy at the same time.

If you are planning to go camping, do not forget to bring only the best camp chef propane stove so you can be assured of your safety. A portable camping stove is safe, affordable, lightweight and handy wherever you camp.

Sportz SUV Tent with Screen Room

The Sportz SUV 83000 Tent wraps around the cargo area of your vehicle allowing you total access for additional sleeping spaces or for storing gear. No more having to unzip and zip tent doors and open and close vehicle doors to get something you need from your vehicle. The Sportz SUV 83000 Tent easily adapts to any situation. This 10 x 10 ft. tent provides a sleeping area for 5 to 6 people along with the additional space provided by your vehicle. It features a 7 x 6 ft. screen room for bug free dining or for storing gear. When space is limited simply unzip the screen room to use the tent only. When you need to drive away for your campsite, easily detached the removable vehicle sleeve and leave the tent standing. Or when camping where vehicles are not permitted, simply leave the vehicle sleeve behind to use the vehicle tent as a stand-alone ground tent. More detail...

Wenzel South Bend Sport Dome Tent

I bought this tent for a four day hike in Southwest Florida with my two grown sons. We have had extensive backpacking experience in the Rockies, Tetons, Pacific Coast Range and the Yukon. At first I was skeptical considering the low price but the features sounded good and the weight was low so for an easy Florida hike we gave it a try. The 7'X9' size was just right for three men plus we kept our packs inside (food bag is always hung from a tree!). The tent was simple to put up and take down and although we only used it for four days, it's obvious the materials and workmanship are good quality. The zippers work well and are well placed. The tent is highly vented which is perfect for Florida. The fly can be adjusted but I would not consider using this tent for temperatures much below 40 degrees. We had a light rain one night with no leaks. The floor pan looks good but I would always be sure to place it on a spot that drains well. The dark grey lower portion stays clean looking and the yellow top reflects the sun away while blending in with the surroundings. I would not hesitate to take this tent on a long backpacking trip. This a very good tent and an excellent value.--James Ray  More detail...

Eureka Copper Canyon 1610 Tent

This tent is a great product with well-written & easy to follow instructions for set-up. We set it up in or driveway a few days before our trip in about 10 minutes just so we'd know there wouldn't be any trouble once we got to our destination. The sleeping quarters are spacious - we had one queen size and one twin size air mattress with room to walk in between and room for our suitcases. Large window openings let in the breezes. Nice to have the option to use the door out of the sleeping quarters as well as thru the screen room. The screen room is great, too. No floor, obviously, but our next trip we will invest in a piece of outdoor carpet to place on the ground in it. This tent is large, but we are tall people and so it was nice to be able to stand straight up and walk around and not have to hunch over as with our previous dome tents. We spent a week at the beach in this tent and had no problems. There was even a severe thunderstorm that lasted about an hour one day - HEAVY rain and wind - but it held up just fine. The floor of the tent was dry as a bone, and no leaks at all. The only thing was that the fly over both ends of the tent collected rain and my husband had to run out and dump it out a couple of times. Otherwise, I say this is a great product and well worth the cost. This will be the tent we use on every trip now.--Elizabeth R. Snyder  More detail..

Eureka Backcountry 1 Tent - 1 Person

This tent is very lightweight, and easy to set up and take down. The rain fly pole seems tight at first, but is easy to get into the pockets if you brace one end against your hip and pull on the other end to bend the pole slightly. 

The tent is very stable without stakes; I didn't use them in five days of backpacking. The stakes seem to be good quality aluminum extrusions - a big step up from the flimsy bent circular aluminum rods supplied with most inexpensive tents. It seems like the manufacturer upgraded the stakes at some point, because the plastic loops on the rain fly tie-downs would fit over a circular stake but won't fit over the supplied stakes. Easy to fix with a short loop of cord if you want to use the tie-downs. 

The door and window openings are thoughtfully laid out, and the zippers don't bind when opening or closing with one hand as long as the floor of the tent is held down by the tent's contents. 

I am 6'5" tall and 250lb, and the tent seemed just barely big enough for me - maybe a couple of inches to spare at each end. There is enough room to sit up to get dressed in the middle of the floor area. There's not enough room to keep a pack in the tent too unless you want to sleep on top of it. 

The color of the tent is very pleasant and blends in nicely with a wooded landscape. I'm very happy with this tent. --Nathan Toews  More Detail...

Columbia MT Logan Backpacking Tent

Designed to sleep two comfortably in the spring, summer, or fall, the Columbia Mt. Logan backpacking tent will keep you snug throughout the night. The Mt. Logan offers two large D-style doors, letting both campers easily enter or exit the tent without stepping over the other. Plus, the tent offers plenty of space for your gear, with two large vestibules to hold your packs, internal pockets and a gear loft for things like watches, phones, keys, and shoes, and cupholders for your drinks. Perhaps most importantly, the tent keeps you dry and comfortable, with a polyester taffeta body, rainfly, and floor, along with tub-style flooring that helps prevent water from seeping in. Other features include a Camp port that makes it easy to pass cables to the exterior and lightweight, easy-to-set-up fiberglass poles. The Mt Logan measures 84 by 66 by 46 inches (W x H x D) and boasts a 7.9 -pound carrying weight. More detail..

Columbia Badger Creek Sport Dome Tent

Offering a lightweight and compact design that comfortably sleeps up to five campers, Columbia's Badger Creek tent is ideal for weekend camping adventures with family and friends. Setup is simple and fast while a full fly will keep you dry from unexpected wet weather. More detail..

Columbia Cougar Flats II Family Cabin Dome Tent

Bring the family to the campsite and still have plenty of room to spare with the two-room Columbia Cougar Flats II cabin dome tent. The Cougar Flats II--which sleeps from six to 10 people--is equipped with both a Cyclone venting system and a GoBe Dry rain protection system. The Cyclone system greatly increases the air circulation within the tent, helping you stay cool on warmer days or dry out after a nasty rainstorm. The GoBe Dry system, meanwhile, ensures that the pounding rain won't find a way inside. The tent even includes a patented bay window design that lets you keep the windows open during the storm.
The real highlight of the tent, however, is the spacious interior, which divides its ample sleeping space between two different rooms. As a result, you can give the kids one room and the adults the other, or you can use one room as a bedroom and the other as a living space. You can even zip up the divider and turn the tent into one large room. In addition, the interior of the tent offers plenty of organizational features, such as internal pockets, hanging cupholders for coffee or soft drinks, storage lockers for your clothes, and a gear loft that holds your valuables out of the way. And once it's time to leave the campsite, the tent collapses quickly into a wheeled EZ Pak storage bag, which features an expandable zippered gusset for easy stuffing.
Other features include a sturdy hybrid steel/fiberglass frame with steel and fiberglass poles, two separate doors, a Camp Port for easy cable passage, and a fully seam-taped polyester fly with an 800mm waterproof coating. The Cougar Flats II measures 15 by 7.16 by 10 feet (W x H x D) and weighs 54 pounds. Shop here

Wenzel Sprout 6 X 5-Feet Two-Person Children's Dome Tent

The Wenzel Sprout is a kid's tent with true functionality. At 6 feet by 5 feet it will sleep two and has all the great features of a larger tent. The removable seam-sealed fly with mesh roof vents keeps the air circulating while the closeable mesh door and back window create cross breeze. The fabric is Weather Armor weather-resistant polyester with a polyurethane coating for toughness and reliability. The floor is welded polyethylene. Shockcorded fiberglass poles with pole pockets make set up quick and easy. Storage duffle and stakes are included. Specifications: • Base: 6 ft. x 5 ft. • Center Height: 38 in. • Area: 30 sq. ft. • Door: Dutch "D" style • Floor: welded polyethylene • Frame: fiberglass • Stakes: steel • Carry Weight: 4.3 lbs • Sleeps: 2. Shop here