If you have ever been backing you know that one of the most important pieces of planning your backpacking trip will be to plan how you will be eating and preparing your food. Food and water can be one of the most cumbersome and weight intensive items you must bring on any backpacking trip. Food and supplies is also one of the only pieces of gear that increases the longer you will be gone. You only need one tent. You only need one sleeping bag, pair of boots, rain jacket, pair of sunglasses, or backback. But, your food supply will increase for every day that you plan to be on the trail. As you plan your trip there are a few decisions you can make regarding how you will cook your food. Once you decide how your food will be cooked it will be a lot easier to determine how much food and what types of food you will need to actually bring.

You have the option to cook your food over an outdoor camping fire. This is the old fashioned method however, many people still prefer to use this method as it feels the most natural and there is a certain sense of familiarity that comes with cooking using the old camping fire. You could also try to use a dakota fire hole which is where you dig a hole in the ground, dig out an air hole, and actually build your camp fire inside your hole in the ground. This is a great option because you can control it very well from the elements and also you can cover your tracks and be non invasive

The other option for cooking your food while backpacking is using outdoor camping stoves. There are hundreds of different options but the most popular are to use flex fuel and to use propane stoves. The best outdoor camping stoves are the lightest and most efficient stoves. A light stove is no good if you have to carry so much fuel with you that it completely negates the light weight stove itself. The propane stove normally has the heaviest stoves and also the heaviest fuel. The flex fuel stoves are intended for backpacking. They are lightweight and come with extremely light weight fuel options. If you are looking for true efficiency in outdoor camping stoves then you should consider the flex fuel options. They may be a little more expensive but the savings in weight and the increased efficiency make them the absolute best option.

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MSR Whisperlite International Backpacking Stove

The upgraded Whisperlite International multi-fuel stove takes advantage of nearly 20 years of proven field use and feedback to make one of MSR’s most versatile stoves even better. The most notable improvement is a one-piece, stamped stainless steel leg assembly that boosts stability and simplifies maintenance while also reducing weight. Combined with a collection of subtle engineering refinements to boost overall efficiency, the WhisperLite International stove will remain the top choice for globetrotting backpackers seeking lightweight and compact multi-fuel versatility. Features: -Improved Multi-Fuel Performance: Burns white gas, kerosene and unleaded auto fuel -Lighter & More Stable: Stamped stainless steel legs greatly improve stability and reduce weight -Compact: Folds small and fits inside most MSR pots -Field Maintainable: Self-cleaning Shaker Jet technology and new, one-piece leg assembly allow fast cleaning and maintenance in the field Specs: -Burn time (white gas) per 600ml/20 oz. of fuel: Approx. 110 minutes -Boil time (white gas), 1 liter: 3.5 minutes -Boil time (kerosene), 1L: 4.4 minutes -Water boiled (white gas) per 100 ml of fuel: 4.4L -Water boiled (white gas) per 1 oz. of fuel:1.3 L -Water boiled (kerosene) per 100 ml of fuel:5.3 L -Water boiled (kerosene) per 1 oz. of fuel:1.6 L -Made in Seattle, USA

 

Jetboil Flash Camping and Backpacking Stove Cooking System

About this item

• Optimized for efficiency, the Jetboil Flash camping and backpacking stove, in Camo Brown, boils water in a lightning-quick 100 seconds, making it the fastest Jetboil ever.
• Jetboil’s 1-liter FluxRing cooking cup with insulating cozy makes boiling water—and keeping it warm—a breeze, making the Jetboil Flash personal cooking system the ultimate camping stove for preparing coffee, soup, or dehydrated meals on the trail.
• Start heating instantly with the convenient, reliable pushbutton igniter, and verify that the water’s ready with the thermochromatic color-change heat indicator.
• Compatible Jetboil accessories, such as a coffee press, hanging kit, pot support, skillet, FluxRing cooking pot, and utensils make this a necessity for your next backpacking adventure.
• Includes fuel canister stabilizer; bottom cup doubles as a measuring cup and a bowl; easy to pack and carry at only 13.1 ounces. One-year limited.
• Measures 4.1 inches W, 7.1 inches H (104 mm x 180 mm); weighs .87 pounds.
• Ideal for: backpacking, camping, hiking, camp cooking, overland camping, survival camping, fishing, hunting, and emergency use.
• For any adventure—from alpine expedition to a weekend trek—Jetboil offers a stove that will keep you fueled. When exploring the backcountry, a compact and efficient stove is fundamental, no matter the level of cuisine you want to create.

 

MSR PocketRocket Ultralight Backpacking, Camping, and Travel Stove