A map and compass, iodine, and alcohol stoves. This OG ultralight gear was once a staple of my hiking kit. But, now FarOut Guides shows me the way through mountains, and the Sawyer Squeeze will provide me with clean water as long as I live (and backflush).
However, recently, I rediscovered alcohol stoves, and the nostalgia that hit me when I did was enough to earn them a place back in my pack. I’m now using a…
Titanium Siphon Alcohol Stove by Toaks
- Fuel consumption: 1 oz alcohol burns for 11 minutes and 30 seconds
- Boil time: 2 cups of water boils in 5 minutes and 30 seconds (at sea level, no wind)
- Weight: 0.7 oz
- Materials: Titanium (grade 1 or 2, no coating)
Here are 7 reasons why I think alcohol stoves are awesome, and why they might earn a place in your ultralight kit too.
Performs in Very Cold Conditions
I’d be lying if I said I reach for the alcohol stove every time I hit the trail, but it may surprise you there are circumstances when it will serve you more reliably than your canister. Specifically, alcohol stoves will continue to work in extremely cold temperatures, including sub-zero.
Virtually Silent
Have you ever arrived at a campground to hear the steady rumble of a generator, distracting from the sounds of birds, rustling leaves, or rushing water around you? That’s kind of how cooking on a canister stove can feel. Thankfully, an alcohol stove is the solar system of camp cooking, at least when it comes to keeping quiet.
Easy to Find Fuel
If you’ve ever gone on an international trek or had to coordinate a resupply here in the US, you know finding canister fuel can sometimes be tricky. I remember several of my tramily members from the Appalachian Trail calling outfitters ahead of hitching into town to put a hold on current stock; and leap-frogging boxes between post offices, which was not only a logistical nightmare, but an expensive one. If this is an anxiety of yours, there is a fuel option for alcohol stoves at pretty much every gas station.
Fuel Options for Alcohol Stoves
- Denatured alcohol
- Pure methanol
- Pure ethanol
- Fuel line antifreeze
- Rubbing alcohol
A Gear-Lovers DIY
If you’re looking to dip your toe into the wild world of crafting your own gear, an alcohol stove is a fantastic first project. There are videos and articles across the internet on how to assemble your own at varying levels of effort and expense.
Comparatively Cheaper
Whether you pick up a pre-assembled alcohol stove, or go the DIY route, the cost of the stove itself is often cheaper than other backpacking stove options. Add to that the reduced cost of fuel, and you’ll find yourself saving a few dollars with an alcohol stove.
Simple Design
The Toaks Siphon Alcohol Stove is a simple, two-walled design, while most collapsible canister stoves are made up of hinges and screws. The durability of alcohol stoves can be very high for materials such as titanium, and less so for softer, more malleable metals such as aluminum. The thickness of the material and unique features of each design also contribute to overall durability.
Safety Notes
I was taught backcountry cooking on an alcohol stove (and a rather heavy one at that), so that means I’m going to subject you to the rules I learned for keeping safe while managing this particularly finicky flame.
- Check local burn bans before using.
- In daylight it can be difficult to tell if an alcohol stove is lit or not.
- Clear your kitchen. Settle in with your stove in a flat space, on the ground, clear of brush. Remove any leaf litter and keep Leave No Trace in mind while selecting the most appropriate spot.
- Have an igniter other than a handheld lighter. Matches or a long-handled lighter are both good options.
- It takes 1 oz of fuel to boil 2 cups of water, so plan accordingly when packing for your trip.
- Ninja position! As a kid first learning backcountry kitchen etiquette, I was told to crouch down, knees bent at the ready while watching a lit stove just in case the unexpected happened. We enthusiastically dubbed this precaution ninja position but you go with whatever tickles your fancy (but most importantly holds your attention).
- Don’t leave a lit flame unattended. This means physically, and with your present attention as well. If the flame is lit, you better not be drifting away to the newest episode of your podcast or catching up on a riveting conversation at the shelter. Your stove requires your full attention, and though this is true of all fires in the backcountry, it’s especially true for alcohol stoves.
Bottom Line
Most folks using alcohol stoves these days are choosing to for a good reason. That reason may span from widespread availability of fuel to bringing back childhood memories, or even the simplicity of a DIY project. At the end of the night, you’ll be happiest if you hike your own hike and make the decisions that best suit your hiking style and the adventure ahead.
Drop how long you’ve been using alcohol stoves for backcountry cooking in the comments below!
9 comments
Chris
I love my Trangia equipment! It’s my preferred cooking kitchen for ease of use, durability, available fuel, and so inexpensive.
However, you stated the following: “I’d be lying if I said I reach for the alcohol stove every time I hit the trail, but it may surprise you there are circumstances when it will serve you more reliably than your canister. Specifically, alcohol stoves will continue to work in extremely cold temperatures, including sub-zero.”
That type of advice will get inexperienced hikers in trouble! Oh, I can actually manage to get my Trangia lit when it’s sub-zero and the built-in windscreen on the 27 is a help! I even have the cold weather attachment. But it is not the stove to bring in high-elevation freezing weather and especially with any amount of wind. Non pressurized alcohol is not cold-weather friendly fuel. It certainly will not melt the amount of snow you will need for drinking and cooking. Bring your MSR Whisperlite or at least use the gas canister attachment for the Trangia.
Cosmo
I have the same Toaks set up and definitely prefer it when I am allowed to bring a stove (no open flame bans in effect). However it is nearly impossible to buy denatured alcohol or any of the alternatives here in California. Though I have been able to find “stove fuel” at marine/boat stores. It is denatured alcohol and burns clean unlike the Heet fuel additive and rubbing alcohol that are so often recommended.
Bob
After using a whisperlite 600 for nearly 25 years I tried a Trangia and have never looked back.
To me the biggest advantage is the lack of soot and if you get fuel on your pack or clothes it evaporates in a few minutes and does not leave an odor that lasts the rest of the trip.
Combine that with some of the other pluses mentioned above like nearly silent, and controllable heat and it is a winner.
Not mentioned above are some of the trade offs when using fuels other than denatured alcohol, some of them give off some seriously nasty fumes and soot.
Kim K
I cold-soak my food, so my stove is more of a back-up than a necessity. For me, an alcohol stove made the most sense. I have a White Box stove, and I imagine I’ll be using it until I quit hiking. Watching the flame “bloom” is a pretty sight.
One consideration that led me to the alcohol stove: no empty canisters to deal with. Technically, they’re recyclable, but no local entity will accept them because they held fuel. (Even with the canisters punched to show they’re not under pressure.) The nearest place that will accept a punched canister is a 4-hour drive away. An empty can of denatured alcohol is easier to deal with.
Jeff Gerhard
Nice, simple concept but have found them to underperform at higher elevations. I mainly use my stove at or above 11,500’ where I have tested them in the past. They all struggled to produce necessary BTU’s resulting in considerably longer boil times and inefficient fuel consumption. I found myself enjoying my meal and sipping my tea while my alcohol burning friend was waiting for his water to boil. I was once impressed with a Trangia model years ago, however it still did not perform up to my expectations and requirements that my compressed gas canister and liquid fuel stove provided. If I lived at lower elevations or spent a lot of time preparing meals on a boat, I would consider using alcohol as a viable fuel source.
*The above post is backed with over 40 years of backpacking and mountaineering experience where using a stove is almost as vital good footware, sleeping bag and shelter.
Jeff
Nice, simple concept but have found them to underperform at higher elevations. I mainly use my stove at or above 11,500’ where I have tested them in the past. They all struggled to produce necessary BTU’s resulting in considerably longer boil times and inefficient fuel consumption. I found myself enjoying my meal and sipping my tea while my alcohol burning fellow climber was waiting for his water to boil. I was once impressed with a Trangia model years ago, however it still did not perform up to my expectations and requirements that my compressed gas canister and liquid fuel stove provided. If I lived at lower elevations or spent a lot of time preparing meals on a boat, I would consider using alcohol as a viable fuel source.
*The above post is backed with over 40 years of backpacking and mountaineering experience where using a stove is almost as vital good footware, sleeping bag and shelter.
Mel Church (Backfire)
I made a bunch of different alcohol stoves before my 2002 AT through hike. Quiet and easy to cook on and like you said easy to find fuel. I’ve used an alcohol stove on my subsequent AT hikes and still use the popcan stove I made with scissors and a screw at a hostel one time. Simple and light works for me.
Bruce Warren
Great article by Katie! And good pictures! I have 7 alcohol stoves… got my first one about 25 years ago, an AntiGravity Gear sodacan stove. January of this year I started selling my PillBottle Stove which I designed to remove the few little issues that alcohol stoves have… like spills and calculations on how much fuel to put in and warm-up time and cool-down time. We have sold over 2500 PillBottle Stones Stoves this year. You can Google Pillbottle stove and see details on Etsy and neotrekk.com. I would love to send one to Katie for her to check out. Simple and fun because absorbant little pucks soak up alcohol in the pillbottle and you set the pot on top of the pucks and light it. No stand needed.
Thanks!
SkirtedWalker
Good summary. The burn ban issue is a major reason why my Trangia alcohol stove has sat on the shelf for several years.