Concluding our six-part miniseries roundup of adventure overland travel gear for 2018 we bring you an unusual suspect. No ride out, either near or far, is usually complete without a warm beverage or camp style meal after many miles exploring. For those long days in the saddle that just begs a rest stop with a spectacular view, we bring you a lightweight and easily fueled solution.
Solo Stove
Preparing meals on the road can be a whole book of debate for overland travelers with aspects to consider ranging from reliability, fuel and packing size. With options spanning from ultra-portable pre-filled gas canister stoves to modern multi-fuel options usually associated with intrepid travel. Each with its pros and cons. Sometimes finding the right gas canister can be a pain. Multi-fuel stoves can be prone to blockages depending on the fuel used and necessitate carrying a separate fuel supply or siphoning gasoline every time you plan on having a hot beverage. Enter Solo Stove, offering a light, compact and durable solution for cooking while on the road. And the best part is that your fuel is always close at hand. The design of the Solo Stove allows the use of twigs and tinder to produce an “efficient and complete burn” to heat your meals. Air is pulled in by the lower vents, heated up and fed through the top vents producing a secondary combustion. This all makes for less smoke and a hotter flame.
Using a natural fuel source is in itself a big draw, but giving the compact and self-sustaining nature of the Solostove it could be a fast favorite for even the die-hard multi-fuel stove users. With a diameter of 4.25” / 10.8 cm and a packed height of 3.8” / 9.7 cm it easily fits in your panniers. It’s manufactured from 304 stainless steel and weighs in at 9 oz / 225 g. For a great overland combo pair the Solo Stove Lite with the Pot 900. The 30 fl. oz / 900 ml camping pot is the ideal size for trailside meals to serve up to two people, and perfect for boiling water in minutes. Featuring an easy pour spout, double fold handles and stamped volume markings it makes for a reliable trailside companion. A key feature of the Pot 900 though is that you can pack away your Solo Stove Lite inside of it saving much-needed space. With its sturdy base, quality finish and reliable fuel source the Solo Stove Lite and Pot 900 is an ADVroad.com must. Reliable for everything from backyard getaways to wild camping in the furthest reaches of the globe.
Pros: Light, durable with a good footprint and always has fuel. (If you are not one for collecting twigs an optional alcohol burner is also available.)
Cons: Using wood results in soot build up but this is easily cleaned. Takes a couple of uses to get your technique down.
Tip: When packing the Solo Stove away pack the inside with tinder and twigs so you have fuel ready at your next stop.
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