Stove or no stove?

[wpeterg]

I'm planning on getting into the bikepacking scene this spring and summer.  I've been doing some research on my sleeping arrangements, and I've got that pretty well planned out (I think).  One question that I've been going back and for on though:  How do you decide whether or not to carry the stove along?  I know it's personal preference and it would depend a ton on where you were planning to ride (store and other refueling options).  So if you don't bring it along, what do you carry to eat?  I wouldn't necessarily need the stove for coffee, although it would be a nice luxury.  I was thinking it might come in handy for a hot dinner, maybe instant oatmeal in the morning, or even water purification.  So does taking the stove along create more of a hassle than it ends up being worth?  Thanks for your help.

[Done]

Racing = no stove. Just extra bulk and weight. I eat stuff like Lara bars, cookies, sausage, nuts, jerky, dried fruit, etc.

I don't bikepack casually (i.e. not racing), but I might bring a stove if I did. Heating water for freeze-dried food would be nice!

[AZTtripper]

Also might depend on the course for the AZT 300 with lots of HAB I tend to go lighter then I do on the Coco 250. Not really competitive in either one so it's more about the course.

I make a snack mix of stuff I can buy at Cstore: Chex Mix, pretzels, corn nuts, ect and then salami or jerky also some kind of candy is good. I'll bring this with or with out the stove.

When I take the stove I'll do a backpacker meal coco and coffee mixed and oatmeal.

[sherpaxc]

I've always brought a stove of some sort.  Whether that is a canister or alcohol and even just a pot in the fire.  It works for me, is light enough to where I don't notice it, and gives me piece of mind. 

I'm not much of a racer though.  I just enjoy getting out on the bike.  Cooking is part of the experience of the outdoors (for me).  Now, if I was able to roll through a town once a day that would be different. 

[sean salach]

I don't like dealing with stoves. I am much happier just eating stuff I don't need to cook, like trail/nut mixes, dried fruit, cookies, pb&honey, pb&j sandwiches etc... Some people find warm food very comforting, so if you do, it's probably worth bringing one for an occasional hot meal, though a good vacuum thermos filled with boiling hot water should hold you over for 24hrs on your warm/hot water needs, and is more versatile than a stove/fuel. The only reason I willingly bring a stove with me while bikepacking is if there's a chance I'll need it to melt snow for water. If you don't take a stove or a thermos, coffee for a pick me up can be had via instant in cold water, or water heated up in a cup next to a camp fire. Anything that will rehydrate with hot water, will probably rehydrate with cold water if you let it sit for a bit longer. Ramen take 15-20 minutes to soften up in cold water. Instant oatmeal takes 5-10 minutes in cold water.

[joeydurango]

Agreed with Sean and Toby.  I never take stoves on any kind of overnighter - just not worth the trouble/extra weight/bulk.  BUT, if you really need hot food to feel like you're "eating", then go for it!  As for what I eat, my list is pretty similar to what Toby and Sean have already mentioned.

[sherpaxc]

I didn't see where the OP stated it would be for an overnighter.  I wouldn't bring a stove on an overnighter either, but I'd still use the campfire to cook.  If it's just a bikepacking ride, why not? 

Sometimes we get in to much of a hurry. 

Once again, YMMV.

[Sean Allan]

As a diabetic, I have to watch what I eat while I'm out. Freeze dried dinners and stuff works well for me in that regard which means carrying a stove. My stove, fuel, spoon and and cup weigh less than 225 grams and packs to a 2-1/2"x3-1/2' size inside the cup. I also use that cup to store some biodegradable soap and a small sponge. Combine that with the amount of calories to weight of freeze dried stuff and you really can't beat it. I can get many thousands of calories in under a pound of food, not much else does that. There is a system to the food, I don't keep it in it's original packaging. I regularly am out for multiple days with no resupply, so this works well for me.

 Racing or fast touring just requires a bit of thought, the first thing I do is set up the stove and water, get the bivy out and before I am ready to sleep, I have food, spend 5 minutes eating, and I just put 800-1000 calories down.

[bartspedden]

At 7 grams, the titanium gramcracker solid fuel stove works for me. I like the dehydrated dinners for racing and cooking seems to make me happy. One fuel block per day at 15 grams per block is fine for my racing weight weenyisms. I like this little setup over a fire for racing because it is so easy, no fussing about when I'm tired. Role into camp, get the water going, role out the bivy, dump the hot water in the pouch, change into my thermals, crawl into the bivy, and eat a hot, yummy meal. I'm always amazed at how good food tastes when I'm outdoors.  I'm always searching for food options too! Food can really brighten my day, and the lack of the right nutrition can just as easily wreck a day too. Some folks can process foods that would make me ill during a race. They make me jealous eating a pudding pie in the middle of a race for a quick 500 calories.

Whenever I'm trying to decided if I can do without something I bring it on a training mission but purposefully don't use it. If I really need it, I have it. If I didn't use it I know I can leave it at home next time.

[Aslan]

Wpeterg,  I too have agonized over the weight and food decision of 'to stove or not to stove' and for me it comes down to this:  I bikepack for fun.  To ride for 6 - 10 hours on single track with a few friends and see a new part of the world. For me, hot food, coffee and camping is definitely part of that so I bring a stove.  Many of the good people on this thread are in it to win it and I am impressed by their tenacity and drive.  If that sounds like you, then don't bring a stove.  On a side note, I found that getting a postal scale and actually weighting all of your gear has a way of focusing the mind and paring down the gear as reducing weight is really important for both racing and fun on the bike.

[bbaker22]

At 7 grams, the titanium gramcracker solid fuel stove works for me. I like the dehydrated dinners for racing and cooking seems to make me happy.

I've used similar solid fuel setups for backpacking and bikepacking.  I'm curious, what do you use for a potstand and windshield?

Thanks,
baker

[sherpaxc]

Caldera Cone works great with the gramcracker stove, as well as it's own stove.

[bartspedden]

I've used similar solid fuel setups for backpacking and bikepacking.  I'm curious, what do you use for a potstand and windshield?

Thanks,
baker

Sorry for the very late response, I got caught up in all the CTR energy.  To answer your question, a just find 3 rocks that are about 3 inches high and circle the gram cracker.  Flat rocks are better, but not required.

[SlowDave]

I'm no racer and I love my morning coffee too much to go without a stove.  These days there are many ultra light stove options.  It isn't like the old days of fussing with a finicky Primus.  Check out the options.  My stove is a tiny little butane model I use for both bikepacking and XC skiing.

[chrisx]

sometimes I carry a cat can stove and a little denatured alcohol
http://www.thru-hiker.com/projects/cat_stove.php
the cat can is for use if I am unable to cook on a fire, not a primary source for hot food.  3 rocks make a pot holder.
sometimes I carry my vargo stove. It works well with Snow peak canisters, and poorly with red canisters.
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/vargo_jet_ti_stove.html
It is a little unstable, but simmer capabilities are excellent. There are many brands to chose from.  Great back up for a no fire night.
In the winter, I prefer my Dragonfly
http://www.rei.com/product/709002/msr-dragonfly-backpacking-stove
a person using an MSR stove should be able to rebuild it before leaving home. In particular, know how to lubricate the pump cup, and change an o ring.  Most any liquid fuel can be used in the Dragonfly.  Accept for fire wood, it is the easiest to refuel.  Liquid fuel works in colder places and at higher altitudes.  The XGK works quite well, but does not simmer.

I have a half dozen stoves, but prefer to cook on the fire, when possible.

Dehydrating my own vegetables makes it easy¿ (possible) to carry a  10 day supply of food into the mountains.  I don't pack any candy or sugar or high fructose mono sodium.  I just eat simple natural meals. Until I get back to town where there is a pizza place on the corner.

I'm not in a hurry to get some where, I'm just trying to have a nice day on my bicycle.

[bmike-vt]

I'll have to snap a pic of my stoves. Thought I had one from my recent trip. 3 homemade and a trangia. Took one similar to the 'whitebox' last weekend. Stove is the stand, for that one. Also made a stand for another on my stoves out of bent spokes. Homemade windscreen too.

 
IMG_1838 by mbeganyi, on Flickr

I have a whisperlite international.  Haven't used it in years. Will have to rebuild it this fall for a winter Pugsley trip.

[Adam Alphabet]

As most have stated it's a matter of preference.  I think trip duration, overnighter vs. 5 nighter; the goals of your trip/race/adventure, mellow roll through the hills for a couple days or attempting a record on an established BP race route; 20 miles a day or a 120; proximity to 'the real world' ie places where you can get real food and resupply vs. out 'in the middle of nowhere'  are all important factors to consider. 

If you're mixing roads, fsr's and sections of trail, passing through or near towns where you can eat and resupply then a stove may not be necessary. If you're heading out on a single track or wilderness adventure miles away from roads or anything else you may want a stove. Sometimes I bring one, sometimes I don't, the above factors help me decide. Don't let an few ounces (or more even) deter you from eating a nice warm meal at the end of the day when you're cold and hungry and the thought of eating one more peanut butter power bar makes your stomach turn.

Plus using your pocketrocket as a flame thrower to start a fire is always fun, try that with a penny or cat can.

[tubeSSnapper]

I've gone both ways and of course it's not about the food, it's about the riding. That said; I can pack more calories for less weight by bringing freeze dried food and a penny stove(entirely a Heiniken product). The heaviest thing in my cook kit is the bent spoke I use as a stand (I suppose I should find a Al spoke!). It does take up space though, close to the size of a 24 oz beer can. I brought one along on the CTR this year and had no regrets. When my fuel ran out I tossed (in a garbage can!) the plastic booze flask it was carried in.
In regard to racing though...most freeze dried meals are too many calories for a quick eat& ride, so I only cooked food before sleep or a long break.
And of course the best option is to bring no dinner at all and ride through a town with carne-asada and XX, then spin off to the woods for a good sleep.
As far as the traditional whisper-light/metal pot cook set....definitely not, too bulky and heavy.
Light , tight and RIGHT...my B.P. mantra.

[bartspedden]

+1 for what tubeSSnapper said about "Light , tight and RIGHT"!  That's a damn good mantra, for racing, and for a weekend jaunt.  The lighter everything is the more fun you will have on the bike.  I thought my CTR setup was as light as I could possibly make it.  And for my experience, it was.  But now I can see ways to drop another 5lbs without spending a lot of money, and another 5lbs with spending a lot of money.  If my kit was 5-10lbs lighter I would of been able to ride more of the sections that I had to push. And that fact doesn't change if I were going a weekend trip either.

I think that's why I really like these little ultra light stoves (i.e. gramcracker/penny-stove) - I like the mountain house 1 person serving dinners, and they use 1 3/4 cup of water.  It takes the solid fuel tablet 8-10 minutes to get that amount of water to a full boil depending on altitude using ti mug with a carbon lid.  Also, the fuel tablet is only about 60% burned for that amount of water. I just let the rest burn off. I think that there's probably a way to safely reduce that weight here for racing, but wouldn't take the time for a weekend trip.  There's no space issue with the gram cracker either, most of it folds flat, and the on piece that doesn't is a good place for a fuel tablet. 

If you really wanted to, you could easily make your own gramcracker out of windscreen aluminum or a beer can.  It wouldn't be as light as the ti, but if you just wanted to try it out I'm sure it would be fine.

[HOser]

I'm also of the "just having fun" mindset, so I enjoy bringing my Caldera Cone stove to heat water for dehydrated dinners, oatmeal, and Starbucks Via in the morning.  It's a great option:



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