Stove For the AT Thru-Hike

I am looking for a lightweight stove to take with me on an at thru hike in a couple years, I have been looking at all the stoves and the only concern i have is they all appear to be different shaped canisters, will I be able to resupply fuel if need be or will the towns along the way not have the specific fuel canisters?

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Make an alchohol stove! They are light, easy to use, and alchohol is by far the easiest to get along the trail. I used one for my 04 thru hike and the same one is still going strong! You will find a milion or so designs on the web if you search for "soda can stove" "pepsi Stove" "Pepsi G stove" "Alchohol stove" Some realy great ones for sale out there too.

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What did you use for the material inside your Pepsi stove? Some people use fiberglass insulation, some vermiculite(sp?). I've seen some stove that use no inner material.

At about 1.5 oz. I can see why it would be a good choice for the AT!

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I have been looking at alchol stoves and two things concern me, how durable are they...they are soda cans and i can crush a soda can with one hand. Also, what is the insulation material for?

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The major brands of cannister stoves use interchangeable cartridges.

As a separate matter, Mini Trangia alcohol stove is extremely durable. Never tried anything else similar, but doubt that durabilty would be the problem.

I was deeply in love with the Trangia, but alas, after some years, decided catridge convenience outweighed her many advantages for me. I would reconsider this for foreign travel or thru-hikes, if she'd have me back.

Her cool temperament and high volume consumption might be problematic for more than just us two on the trail. Maybe if we got her a better wind screen. She had almost nothing to wear.

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Soda can stoves are very compact and quite strong. Usually only the bottoms of the can are used.
As for the insulation - some of the older alcohol stove designs used some sort of material in the bottom to aid in the vaporization of the alcohol for a better burn (Works like the felt in a Zippo lighter.) Newer designs need no material inside and actually create pressure allowing for a hotter burn.

Here's a link: (as always)
http://users.sisqtel.net/losthiker/pikastove/

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Yes, I thought alchohol stoves would be easy to crush myself, but it turs out they are very very durable. Also since they are so small they will fit in your cook pot and that will keep them from being crushed. Like I said earlier I still have the original one I made for my hike years ago, and I have used it many many times even after my thru hike.

Insulation-- some people use a wicking material such as vermiculite or insulation inside the stove to help wick the alchohol. My stove does not use any material inside it, its just a can.

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Did you design your own, or find it online?

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I found the design online. It is called a pepsi-g stove Here is a picture of mine.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/12410809@N06/2275843554/

It is called a pepsi g because it uses a pepsi can and a guiness can. The outside diameter of the guiness can is the same as the inside diameter of a pepsi can so it makes a tight tight fit. I guess its very outdated now, but since mine is not broken I'm not going to replace it :}

Here is how to make your own

http://www.pcthiker.com/pages/gear/pepsiGstoveinstruct.shtml

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I really have been meaning to build one of these. Any problems with sputtering? I know some do.

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Only when I spill my food in it! LOL

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I was thinking of making the one in the video (click link), are there any reasons why i shouldn't make one with the fiberglass inside? secondly, where can i get this type of fiberglass and how much will it cost. Will the fiberglass go bad causing me to have to keep making new stoves?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY_LKCFlG6k

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This is the kind I was first introduced to. I wouldn't use the firerglass that you put in walls - there is a toxic chemical in it. Try the kind that it used to wrap water pipes.

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What is the longevity of an alcohol stove made with fiberglass?

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Those stoves work great! I've seen many of them along the trail. I've never made a stove with the insulation, but my gut feeling is that it would last a thru-hike. I also have a feeling that the stove in the video may work fine without the insulation. The downside of the stove in the video is that it needs to be primed I.E. heated up before being lit, but thats no big deal. Whatever you choose, I wouldnt worry to much about it breaking. The stoves are so easy to make, you could make one at any trailtown. Also, you wont have a problem borowing someone elses if you step on yours, because everyone will have one. Lastly you will come across free stoves in the hiker boxes and at outfiters along the way. People love to make them and give them away. I think it becomes adictive.

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Look at this one.... spill free

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yQvKFl4M3I

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I made this one today. Took about 20 mins.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY_LKCFlG6k
I didn't have HEET on hand, so I tried 91% Iso. rubbing alcohol. It took a LONG time to prime and light - prob due to the 9% water content of the fuel. Once it lit though, it burned for about 15 mins on 2 tbs. of fuel!

A penny placed over the fill holes before lighting helps to increase the internal pressure, making the jets more efficient. If there is excess pressure inside, the penny just lifts a bit to relieve it then settles back down.

Gotta get some HEET and see if it makes a difference.

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There are literally dozens of designs for alcohol stoves. There are a few sites with many of the designs on them. I am on the road and don't my links, but do a Google search for alcohol stoves and they should pop up. Zenstoves is one site I know has many different designs with instructions. Jason Klass has some on his site and "Tinny" sells stoves on his site,which I think is minibull.com or something like that.

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Much as I like it, Trangia, and I'm assuming the home-made jobs too, use lots of fuel.

And the amount varies like crazy, depending on wind conditions, which can make planning a crap-shoot.
Forest camping is less troublesome in this regard than beaches and alpine.

For miserly solo cooking, a pint of fuel has most often lasted me three nights, but sometimes only two nights, and it could last four. Doubtless, there are more reliable estimates than these available on the Web.

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F-lock Ive seen one vaqriation of this stove where you put screw in the fill hole to increse presure, this also makes the top into a priming cup.

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F-lock you can also use denatured alchohol from the hardware store as fuel.

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I may have discovered the possible problem with my poor burning first try. I was using isopropyl rubbing alcohol - 91%.

I was in the store today and picked up a bottle of HEET as the stove video indicated. HEET is methyl alcohol. Stove lit right up, with very little priming I'm proud! I'll try the denatured alcohol next.

While my jet boil is still my first love, It's nice to know there are options that can be manufactured under almost any circumstances.

(Hmmm denatured - sounds like something from the "Last child in the woods" board, don't you think?:)

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Rubbing alcohol is NOT wanted for these stoves.

There are many good reasons to FALL IN LOVE with alcohol stoves, perhaps especially if you make them yourself... Highly practical and wonderfully simple contrivances.

But love is so fickle, and they really do have some downsides. They are cool in more ways than one.

Probably because of this, alcohol stoves aren't overwhelmingly popular among backpackers in general. AT hikers might favor them for supply logistics and miserly weight.

The Trangia, and at least a few other, manufactured alcohol stoves, seem functionally superior to the home made stoves people are raving about on Youtube.

Understand, I've never made a stove, but am well-used to Trangia.

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You should try it C. Even if just for the satisfaction of creating something useful. It'll make you smile! :-)

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I was head-over-heels in love with my Trangia for nearly ten years, but obtained a separation in 1995. You never get over your lovers.

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This is the stove I'd like to build... they are simply beautifull.

http://www.boundarywaterscatalog.com/browse.cfm/4,6689.html

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I have tried building a couple alcohol stoves...didn't turn out so well. I am thinking of using a wood stove like nimblewill nomad's.

Can anyone tell me where i can get the sheet metal it uses, how much it will cost me and its adaptability in the us...can it be used almost everywhere, im thinking yes except desert and in that case, i could just bring some esbit tabs

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Like my experience in general, I can't clearly recall, but think I may have tried esbit tabs once, and decided they weren't viable.

I do recall very limited sterno stove experience many years ago, and which I concluded wasn't even remotely viable. I've always assumed this is in same category as esbit tabs.

My general view of this, I base on extensive use of Trangia alcohol stove, which I view as only somewhat viable, but unlike esbit, a legitimate technology. I assume my Trangia is in same performance category as all similar alcohol stoves for backpacking.

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