A lit Esbit Stove
Now it may seem strange that with all the high tech cooking options out there, I would review my 10$ Esbit pocket stove. I’m writing this because I firmly believe that backpacking does not have to be expensive. There are all kinds of fun gadgets out there, but if you are short on cash and just want to get outside, you’ve got some good options, and the Esbit is one of them.
I first saw an Esbit in the 100 mile wilderness, and I was immediately intrigued. It was being used by my friend Pidgeon. Basically, an Esbit is a metal fold out stove that works by burning a fuel tablet. The fuel tablets have a slight odor, but it’s not much. It takes me about seven minutes to boil 1 liter of water in my titanium cook pot, and the fuel tabs burn a total of 12 to 15 minutes.
Main reasons to choose an Esbit
1. You want a simple, cheap stove to learn with as you start backpacking.
At 10$, you can get many things cheaper, and because they are so basic, Esbits are easy to use.
2. You are looking for a lightweight, compact cooking solution.
Being only 3.25 ounces, an Esbit is a real weight saver. Their dimensions are 4 x 3 x 0.75 inches, so they fold up pretty small. Mine fits perfectly inside my pot.
3. You don’t cook very often, but like to have a hot meal occasionally.
I have an MSR pocket rocket stove that I also like, but I have found that on solo trips, I am not an every day cooker. Because of this, it doesn’t make sense for me to carry a canister of fuel, when I can bring a couple of tablets that will last me several days.
4. You are looking for a stove that works well in cold weather.
Some canister stoves can have trouble lighting when it’s cold out, but fuel tablets work just fine. In windy weather, they can be annoying because the flame sometimes blows out, but using a wind shield solves this problem.
5. You want a fuel source that is multi-purpose.
If you want to build a fire, the fuel tablets will double as starters. I recently went winter camping and needed something that would burn long enough for the slightly wet wood we gathered to dry out. I used one of the Esbit fuel tablets for this.
For me, one of the main reasons I like the Esbit is because it goes so slow. For some trips, I like having a relaxed pace in the woods. I can start my Esbit, journal for a bit, and wait for the water to boil. Once my meal is ready, I’m usually feeling settled at my campsite. Because the fuel tablets have a limited burning time, I have taken to soaking things that require a long time to cook. For example, I usually soak mac ‘n cheese, for 15-20 minutes and then all the esbit has to do is finish softening the noodles and warm them up.
To sum up, the Esbit is a cheap, easy way to cook your food in the backcountry. I especially recommend it for beginners. And it’s also a great option for people seeking to lighten their load. That said, an esbit is not for everyone, but if you are doing a slow, laid back trip, it might just be perfect.
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That thing is awesome! Are there any restrictions for flying with the fuel tablets, or would they be something that’s pretty easy to get at any destination? I’m new to backpacking and just went to Iceland – I took military MREs (blah!) because I didn’t know much about stoves, and didn’t like the idea of that much space and weight being taken up. This would’ve been PERFECT.
MREs! Sad face. I’m not the biggest fan of them either. Although I once ate dinner with three hungry hikers and we passed several different MRE packs around. Those were delicious, but I was starving.
On the plane issue, I checked around and survey says no, because they are a source of fuel.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm
You can, however, pack a saber, aerosol paint, nunchakus, and cattle prods, but not realistic replicas of explosives or hand grenades. Just so you know.
The tablets can usually be found in outdoor stores or sometimes in army surplus stores. I don’t know if you can find them in Iceland, but my uneducated guess says probably not. Two options for stoves when you are traveling abroad: The MSR Whisperlite international stove (80$) or a homemade pepsi can alcohol stove (75 cents). The Esbits are pretty cool, though. I love mine.
This looks a good stove
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahfqUKVgaCA
Nice. I’ve never used a word burning backpacking stove, but I’d be interested to try one out.