Camping Stoves vs. Campfires

"Why should I get a camping stove when I can just build a campfire?"

It’s a question we hear a lot, and one that many campers and backpackers have asked on forums all over the internet.

The main reason is that a lot of parks prohibit fires during the summer and during dry spells. Campfires can lead to dangerous situations that can lead to forest fires. Camping stoves (yes, even wood-burning stoves) are generally much safer than campfires. Unless the stove gets knocked over, you really don’t have much to worry about. Stoves will keep the fire contained, and keep sparks from shooting out in random directions.

A stove also gives you some security in terms of having a fire. When it’s been raining a lot, finding enough dry firewood for a campfire can be daunting. Wood-burning camp stoves use a fraction of the firewood that campfires do to cook a meal. They’re able to channel lots of direct heat with very little fuel. As long as you can find a handful of dry twigs, you’ll be all set.

Camping stoves also save you from having to rig up a contraption to keep your cookware securely over an open flame. You can set your pots and pans directly onto your camping stove

Lastly, camping stoves have a much smaller environmental impact. Our Hot Ash Stoves burn wood much more efficiently than a campfire, leaving less smoke and creosotes getting up into the atmosphere. They’re the perfect tool a backpacker or camper that wants to leave no trace.

Do you have any thoughts on the Camping Stoves vs. Campfires debate? Let us know in the comments below!