Can we talk about those tiny camp stoves that take forever to boil water?

I picked up one of those little alcohol stoves last summer for a weekend trip up in the Gila National Forest. The thing was light and cheap, maybe $25, but it took over 15 minutes to boil just one cup of water. Meanwhile my buddy with a standard propane stove had his coffee ready in 5 minutes. I learned that ultralight gear often trades speed for weight savings. For a quick morning brew before a long hike, that wait felt like forever. Has anyone else run into this trade off with minimalist cooking gear?

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1 Comment

jason_kelly821h ago

Huh, I gotta disagree a bit on this one. In my experience, that extra wait time is totally worth it when you're packing light for a multi-day trip and every ounce counts. Your mileage may vary of course, but I'd rather sip coffee and watch the sunrise for 15 minutes than lug around a heavy propane canister.