Gas stoves
Whether you’re backpacking a long-distance trail, wild camping in the hills or just brewing up while stopping for lunch on a day hike, a compact gas stove is the most popular choice for the majority of walkers. These six picks are among the best of the bunch
When you’re tired and hungry after a long day’s hiking, few things are more satisfying than screwing a gas canister onto your backpacking stove, twisting open the valve with a deft flick of the wrist, sparking the ignition and watching the burner roar into life. With that initial hiss of gas and first jet of blue flame comes the promise of a welcome brew and some hot food. In fact, it doesn’t even matter what’s on the menu. Many is the time when we’ve dug into a questionable freeze-dried ration pouch or even a humble packet of Batchelor’s Pasta n’ Sauce with all the gusto of a diner in a Michelin-starred restaurant. We’d venture to suggest that we enjoyed it just as much too. After all, nothing sharpens the appetite like doing twenty miles with a heavy pack. And as anyone who has hiked a long-distance trail will know, food becomes an all-important element of any big walk. It is vital fuel for the body, of course, but it’s also far more than that. Thinking about what you might have for dinner, or tea, or supper, soon develops into a recurring topic of trail conversation, largely because it provides a welcome distraction from your aching legs and sore shoulders. Regular hiking buddies of ours have even been known to carry tins of Spam for days on end, just to keep them going (though whether the thought of Spam for dinner is something to relish or dread, we’re not sure). What this all means we don’t quite know, except to show that a reliable gas stove is a truly essential bit of kit for any backpacker or wild camper.