Alcohol Stoves.

As a child, camping with my Father involved his old Coleman Peak One. A white gas, single burner stove that filled the early mornings with a roar. Then in my late teens as I started canoeing and camping with my soon to be wife, the Coleman single burner was my first choice for back country cooking. After a couple adventures and a wife who did not like the foot high start up flame of the Coleman, I had to find something else. Something that nestled, easy to light and lightweight.



With all these requirements I came across Trangia stoves. A Swedish Alcohol stove that was simple in design, no moving parts, zero pressurizing, windproof, and worked fairly well in the cold. Trangia has been making alcohol stoves since 1925, and is still in 2011 a top name in camp stove industry. When I started using alcohol stoves, the first thing I noticed is the silence. After all those years of roaring Coleman's and the almost locomotive sound of my Svea 123, the complete silence of the Trangia was how outdoor cooking should be. We go out to the bush for quiet retreat and the alcohol stove can deliver. These super reliable stoves do have a couple small downfalls, cooking time can be a bit longer ( but what's the rush?) and there for require more fuel, preheating is a must in freezing weather as the evaporation rate of alcohol drops in the cold. These few tiny inconveniences are nothing compared to the pros of these simplistic beauties. For the past 5 years have used a alcohol for every adventure I have been on, from week long canoe trips in Algonquin, to a hot lunch at the local Conservation area. Though my Dad's old Coleman served up plenty of memories, it's taking a much needed rest on my shelf and letting my Alcohol stove make new ones.


My first Stove a "Trangia Mini". This tiny little thing is my morning hike/stop for coffee stove.


My number one go to stove. A Swedish Army stove in harder to find stainless. Scoop them if you see them! At one time Ebay was basically giving these away. I think this was like $20. Note that all pots are equipped to be used on open flame as well.


This is a 1940's Vulcano 232E stove. Still burns great! This is my car camping stove.


This is a Tatonka "Multiset", full stainless steel. Basically a Trangia 27. I got this beacause Trangia does not offer Stainless versions of there cookware (which they should!).


All three compact stoves put in there nestled positions.