No worries! Zen Stoves is a truly eye-opening cornucopia of stove history, innovation, and tinkering ideas - I suspect that it would take years to plumb it's depths.
I started my journey with a stainless steel solar computer-fanned retort/'gassifier' unit, which worked quite well, but ultimately it was heavy, relied on battery back-up, and its heat control was no better than simpler systems. Like the cone kettles they are good for car, motorbike, or horse/donkey/camel camping. The cone kettles I know are really focused on just boiling water, and most require separate cookware, increasing overall weight - so not really hiking-suitable.
The cone shields are very light and simple (and cheap if you DIY), can be multi-fuel, allow you to cook in your pot/mug, and can be rolled up and stored easily. Retort/'gassifier' systems can be incorporated to increase efficiency, at the cost of added complexity.
Have fun! Mind you - it's hard not to when you get to play with matches!
I started my journey with a stainless steel solar computer-fanned retort/'gassifier' unit, which worked quite well, but ultimately it was heavy, relied on battery back-up, and its heat control was no better than simpler systems. Like the cone kettles they are good for car, motorbike, or horse/donkey/camel camping. The cone kettles I know are really focused on just boiling water, and most require separate cookware, increasing overall weight - so not really hiking-suitable.
The cone shields are very light and simple (and cheap if you DIY), can be multi-fuel, allow you to cook in your pot/mug, and can be rolled up and stored easily. Retort/'gassifier' systems can be incorporated to increase efficiency, at the cost of added complexity.
Have fun! Mind you - it's hard not to when you get to play with matches!
Comment