by James Mackness

Created on: January 30, 2009

Generally, camping stoves are categorized by fuel type. Kerosene, methyl alcohol, and white gas (also known as camp fuel or naphtha) are the most common liquid fuels, while butane, isobutane, and propane are the primary compressed gas fuels. For the beginner or occasional camper, propane is probably the best choice.

The biggest advantage of propane is its ease of use. Simply screw the fuel bottle to the stove, open the valve and light. For camping, propane comes packaged in small (usually 1lb), pressurized bottles. As the bottles cannot be refilled, there is no need for funnels and no risk of spillage. Propane stoves do not have to be pumped and require no complicated priming. The temperature is regulated by the easy turn of a valve. Some models even come equipped with a piezoelectric igniter (like those found on barbeques) so there is no risk of burned fingers when lighting. Propane stoves are relatively simply and so need little maintenance.

Propane stoves also offer economical advantages. Due to their simpler design, propane stoves are cheaper than comparable liquid fuel stoves. Propane is slightly more expensive than liquid fuels, so a propane stove that is not used much will be cheaper than a liquid fuel model, but the lower price for liquid fuels will eventually cancel out the money saved on the cheaper stove.

Most of these advantages also apply to butane stoves, but propane has one key edge over butane. In order for any of these fuels to burn, they must be in a gaseous state. In other words, they have to be kept above their boiling points to be useful. Pure butane boils at -0.5C (31.1F). At any lower temperature, butane cartridges have to be warmed before they can be used. The most common method is to put the bottle inside your coat and warm it with body heat. Propane, on the other hand, boils at -42C (-44F), meaning that it will continue to function normally in the cold.

There are also several drawbacks to propane that need to be considered when selecting a stove. First, propane bottles have to have thick walls to contain the fuel under pressure. This makes them heavy too heavy for lightweight campers and backpackers on long trips who would have to carry several cartridges to last the trip. The empty cartridges also have to be carried until they can be disposed of properly. The cartridges are non-refillable, making them less environmentally friendly even if recycled. Far too many well-used wilderness areas are littered with discarded fuel cartridges. International travelers may also find it difficult to find cartridges that fit their stoves overseas.

For the beginner or occasional camper, propane stoves offer many advantages. They are easy to refuel, easy to light, and easy to maintain. For limited use, they are a very economical choice. Due to the slightly higher cost of fuel over time, and the weight of the cartridges they may be less suitable for serious adventurers.

Learn more about this author, James Mackness.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.