By Nichole Liandi
To the backpacker there's hardly a more essential piece of gear than a stove. It provides warmth and cheer and lets you enjoy hot food and drink when you're on the trail. You can purchase expensive backpacking stoves, but many backpackers like to use simple alcohol stoves instead. They're light, rugged, and virtually maintenance-free.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You'll Need:
- Round metal Altoids tin (or similar) with screw-off lid
Fiberglass insulation (small scraps are appropriate)
Aluminum window screen
Wire cutters or snips
Denatured alcohol
Three metal tent stakes
- Round metal Altoids tin (or similar) with screw-off lid
- Fiberglass insulation (small scraps are appropriate)
- Aluminum window screen
- Wire cutters or snips
- Denatured alcohol
- Three metal tent stakes
Step 1
Eat the candies in your tin. Then clean the tin by rinsing it out with water and letting it air-dry.
Step 2
Pack the tin with fiberglass. You don't need anything fancy--a few scraps from the attic will do the job nicely.
Step 3
Cut a round piece of aluminum screen that's slightly bigger than the tin. Push it into the tin on top of the fiberglass until it is wedged firmly into the tin and holds the fiberglass in place.
Step 4
Pour about 1 to 2 oz. of denatured alcohol (available in the paint thinner section of a hardware store) into the tin. Light it and let the stove burn. Allow the stove to burn all the fuel, rather than trying to put it out when you're done.
Step 5
When cooking, place the stove on the ground and drive the stakes around the tin in a triangle formation to hold a pot or pan. Light the stove, then place the pan on top of the stakes.
Step 6
When the stove has burned all its fuel, let it cool, screw the lid on, and put it into your backpack.
Resources
About the Author:
Based in Virginia, Nichole Liandi has been writing articles on topics of interest for her since 2006. Her articles have appeared in ehow.com, trails.com, and local publications. Nichole holds a degree in History from West Virginia University.
