Camping Stove Help

[jasminermills]

Hi, Im a product designer in my final year at university, and as being a social camper myself am quite interested in the area. I am going to design a new stove that is easier and quicker to use for my final project but i need some information from avid campers as to other problems they encounter with stoves.
If possible could anyone fill out my very short survey as it would be a great help.
Thanks

Camping Stoves

....or also you could just post suggestions onto this tread

[Boris]

Hi, Im a product designer in my final year at university, and as being a social camper myself am quite interested in the area. I am going to design a new stove that is easier and quicker to use for my final project but i need some information from avid campers as to other problems they encounter with stoves.
If possible could anyone fill out my very short survey as it would be a great help.
Thanks

Camping Stoves

....or also you could just post suggestions onto this tread

Well as you ask.

I want a stove to be fast, stable, easily and cheaply fuelled with easily available fuel, wind proof, small, doesn't make my kit or food smell, cheap to buy and be able to get spares anywhere in the world.

Not much to ask I know.

In reality all the stoves fit some or (but none all) of the above and the closest one I have is a Coleman petrol stove.

For me speed, size, fuel and windproofness are the key attributes I need but anything else from the list would be a help.

[YEN_POWELL]

I want stability (I always end up making something I can use to peg it down).

I want to be able to turn the heat down to almost nothing if required.

I want it to pack up smallish.

I want built in ignition.

My current cooker (only had 3 in the last 26 years) is almost perfect.

Downsides are, grass has to be short because of the lower height (which helps with stability though) and the pipe to the gas cylinder is a bit too stiff and facing the wrong way for me in comparison to the ignition button the way I set it up in my tent. Still the best I've had so far though and with thin tent pegs I can peg it down through the feet.

[davsato]

happy to do your questionnaire mate.

for me, a homemade cokecan stove ticks most boxes, its as cheap as you can get (its 2 used drink cans), it burns hot, boils a pint/500ml in 4 mins and burns for 12 mins on one fill, i also made a windbreak/potstand in rolled dural and the whole lot with a 3 meal portion of meths, a spork and some condiments and spices fits in my smallest pan, lid on, strap round, done.
the only thing about it is, once lit theres no control or simmer or even turning it off till it burns dry, and meths gets bulkier the longer youre away, so i only use it for weekend trips max.

i also use a gas stove which is good but then your carrying gas cans around and the bloody things always run out of pressure before they run out of liquid gas, you can hear the stuff sloshing about even when they run out of puff. either that or they are filled with water and a rip off, grr!

i had a coleman 552 but sold it and wish i hadnt.

anyhoo, keep us informed about what you come up with......

[aaronwilliams123456]

All of the stuff you guys mention are great features to have on a stove. In addition to that I would want a stove that heated it's surroundings a little bit as well. Kind of like the old school stoves back in the day that used to cook and heat up the apartment at the same time. This way you only need to bring one source of heat instead of 2 things with you to lighting on your loads.

[davsato]

i love those old cast iron ranges, or an AGA that heats the whole house.

trouble is, for a camping stove, thats wasted energy, or wasted fuel, or to be more precise more weight to carry to do the same cooking. thats why fancy techno stoves like a jetboil have a very carefully designed burner/pot/windshield. even the trusty trangia sends heat up the sides of the pot before it chimneys off into the ether

[DaveS]

What a great idea.
Do keep in touch with the results of this.
I think everything I want has been said, but for the sake of clarity.

Must have
Stable
Powerful (and therefore quick to heat up)
Easily obtainable fuel (e.g. petrol)
Portable
Windproof

Nice to have
Ignition system