Two nights on the Long Trail taught me my stove was a lemon

Two nights on the Long Trail taught me my stove was a lemon. Last October I brought a new canister stove on a 3-day solo hike through Vermont. First morning it would barely simmer and then stopped lighting by dinner. I had to cold soak my ramen which was a bummer in 40 degree drizzle. Do you guys carry a backup stove or just trust your gear to work?

2 comments

2 Comments

patel.phoenix1mo ago

Oh man, that sucks so bad lol. Cold soaking ramen in the drizzle is like peak misery honestly. It's funny how this one little gear fail can totally wreck your whole trip vibe, and then you start questioning everything you brought. I feel like this happens way too often in life, not just with camping gear. You trust one thing from a brand you think is solid, and it just lets you down at the worst possible moment. Then you end up overthinking every decision you made leading up to it. I don't carry a backup stove because trying to save weight, but stories like this make me wonder if it's worth the extra couple ounces.

jesseb201mo ago

Man, the backup stove question is a rabbit hole I've gone down like three times this year and still haven't figured out. Probably just end up carrying a second one next trip and complaining about the extra weight the whole time... classic me.