BioLite Wood Burning CampStove

[jbeaumont21]

Anyone seen this before?   Might be fun to try out if you have $130 bucks burning a hole in your pocket.  Sounds cool in theory but if you read some of the reviews it has its cons.  Very interesting. 

http://shop.biolitestove.com/BioLite-CampStove_p_15.html?gdftrk=gdfV25868_a_7c2328_a_7c10666_a_7cCSA&gclid=CM_Q2765ybYCFceDQgodWDYA0A

[swanny]

I own one but haven't used it much. Figured it might be good to have if the power goes out so I can charge a phone. The grill attachment they make for it is real cool

[jbeaumont21]

I own one but haven't used it much. Figured it might be good to have if the power goes out so I can charge a phone. The grill attachment they make for it is real cool

What do you think of the size and weight, is it bulky and heavy?  I'm thinking it would be nice to have hunting but not sure I want to pack one in or use it in place of a jet boil. Sure would be nice to have a small fire to huddle around though.

[swanny]

It's the size of a Nalgene 32oz bottle when it's packed up. It's definitely heavy, 2lbs if I remember right. I'd much rather take my JetBoil for 99% of the backpack trips I take. Boils water faster and is much lighter.

The BioLite I think would be great if you were packing in to a base camp for a week or two and needed to charge devices via USB or if you had food you actually wanted to cook. In all reality it's one heavy ass stove that around these parts might be hard to use because of wet tinder. I would like to pick up some pellets though and see how those burn in it. I'm thinking they would be a great option to pack with you for burnable material in more wet environments.

[Special T]

seen this before. likely a good toy along with some Goal Zero solar panels for trekking... IE Extended hiking/hunting in the boonies. Not great here, but could be a great tool for an adventurer with an extended trip.

[netcoyote]

I'm leery of products that hype garbage like this:
 

"Half the planet cooks on open fires, leading to 2 million premature deaths each year and contributing to global warming. We're using the same technology inside the CampStove to bring clean, safe energy access to families across the developing world."

C'mon, really? This is still an open fire burning carbon based material. You can get the same thing burning wood chips in a tin can with holes punched in it...and a helluva lot cheaper. Aren't they both contributing to the "global warming impending disaster"? Trying to conjure up images of  skinny, starving African children huddled around a cow-dung fire charging batteries for their iPod just strains credibility.

But hey, that's just me.

[Special T]

The tin can, and this stove are a "rocket" type stove that does a hotter cleaner job of burning because of the way it focuses air draw and fuel. it directs theheat to where you need it. Rocket type stoves can be built out of nearly any material, dirt, brick, tin cans, pipe, etc. all of those do a better job than a trational fire.

I'm also leary of people that hyp save the plannet type stuff. I think this product is outside the price range of most people who could really benifit from it, mostly the poor in africa, asia and S america... Cool idea and a great use of applying science for solving a problem... 

[washelkhunter]

The "kelly kettle" is the better choice. kellykettle.com

[Special T]

Do you have one of those Washelkhunter? That looks like the BEST wood fired camping stove i have seen. I can see how that would be VERY effecient, maybe a little tippy for the Base camp and treker models but the scout looks pretty low and more stable.. I would love to hear what you have ot say about it...

[washelkhunter]

My hunting partner bought a scout 2yrs ago. Eliminates the need to carry fuel and water purifier. Its amazingly efficient. Boils water in minutes for coffee, tea, freeze dried foods, cleanup and bathing. We cook on the top of it as well as an adjunct to the firepit, and when not in use as a cooker its a canteen. Its one of those stupid simple things that just work well.

[Special T]

What size did he get? did he get the kit or what? what size and what do you use it for? It is so stupid simple help sell me on it the kit online is like $100 plus shipping a little more than some simple rocket stoves i've seen, but i REALLY like how well this thing is designed.

[netcoyote]

The tin can, and this stove are a "rocket" type stove that does a hotter cleaner job of burning because of the way it focuses air draw and fuel. it directs theheat to where you need it. Rocket type stoves can be built out of nearly any material, dirt, brick, tin cans, pipe, etc. all of those do a better job than a trational fire.

Always amazed at what I learn on this forum. Never heard of a "rocket stove" before. Looks pretty interesting. Here's a little more on it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_stove

Thanks for the tip Special T 

[Special T]

Even the Kelly Kettle is a rocket stove when you look at the design. It just has a water jacket to absorb tons of the heat.

[swanny]

I will say that yes biolite uses some hype....but the profits raised from this stove are being used to create a larger home stove that they are providing to 3rd world countries. Check their site for info it's a neat idea

[jbeaumont21]

You think it would it be possible to use charcoal in one of these?  I think it would burn slower.