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Unpopular opinion: Those ultra-light backpacking stoves are overrated for most trips

I used to swear by my titanium canister stove for every hike, but after a 3-day trip in the Smokies last fall where the canister ran out mid-boil, I switched back to my old liquid fuel stove that I bought for $40 in 2019. The canister stoves are fine for short weekend trips, but for anything over 2 nights or in cold weather, the liquid fuel is way more reliable because you can refill it and it works below freezing. My friends think I'm crazy carrying the extra 6 ounces, but I'd rather have hot coffee every morning than save that tiny bit of weight. Has anyone else gone back to an older, heavier setup after a gear failure messed up your trip?

3 comments

3 Comments

scott.mia1d ago

6 ounces isn't even that much extra weight unless you're trying to set some kind of speed record on the AT. How often do you actually run into temps below freezing on your trips?

uma_reed261d ago

yeah I used to totally think that way honestly... I'd be like "what's six ounces gonna do, you can't even feel it in your pack" but then I had one trip where I got caught in a freak cold snap up in the whites and my bag just wasn't cutting it. I was shivering all night and couldn't sleep, it was miserable. that changed my mind real quick because being warm and dry is worth a little extra weight if it means you're not stuck in a bad situation. plus now I just see it as insurance, you don't need it most trips but when you do you're really glad you have it.

julia2861d ago

Think about it this way though - that six ounces isn't just weight in your pack, it's volume too. A lot of the ultralight bags that save weight do it by using less fill, which means they compress down smaller but also lose loft faster over time. I've seen guys cram their bags into stuff sacks so tight they never fully puff back up and by season two they're sleeping cold. That extra six ounces usually means a bit more material that lasts longer and fluffs back up right every time you unpack it. So it's not just about the weight you carry on trail, it's about how long that bag is gonna work for you before it's garbage.