Gear Review: BioLite CampStove

Hi, just my two cents - and it's worth it! Now listen here, this is a new fangled product, if you want tried-true-and-tested there is plenty out there. It's a work in progress - but think of the progress! Better yet, restrict thinking about it to just this one thing: When all your electronics die, and your batteries are dead, and your solar film is broken, and you have no Whitegas, No Gasoline, No Butane, and your last MSR Iso Can has been dead for 2 weeks - you can STILL Break up a few sticks, keep warm, cook anything, AND RECHARGE your BASIC gadgets - ANYWHERE! .. No it is Not a Generator! If you want one of those buy one! But what it IS - it's 2 lbs or awesome when all else fails, that will run on nature, and allow you to gain access to basic technology! So, from that perspective comes my two cents, and I hope it's worth every penny. I bought one for my backpack - now i can go Anywhere, and I bought 3 more, 1 for the house for emergencies (yes they happen), 1 for the Regular "Family Camping" Kit, and 1 for a Backup. Okie Dokie Smokie, I'm Gonzo!

How juvenile arguments about what stove is "best" can be, like which super-hero would win a fight. Each is best for something, none for everything. Even at what the BioLite is worst at (ultralight) I can still have a base pack <15 lbs, never need to carry fuel or extra batteries for my led lite/camera/steripen etc…all with a product that is carbon-neutral. Other stoves can beat this one in their own nitch, but this thing is simply amazing and also has its own very appealing set of nitches.

How juvenile arguments about what stove is "best" can be, like which super-hero would win a fight. Each is best for something, none for everything. Even at what the BioLite is worst at (ultralight) I can still have a base pack <15 lbs, never need to carry fuel or extra batteries for my led lite/camera/steripen etc…all with a product that is carbon-neutral. Other stoves can beat this one in their own nitch, but this thing is simply amazing and also has its own very appealing set of nitches.

This will always hold a solid spot in my "MUST CARRY" backpacking kit. You will NEVER run out of fuel to cook with AND, while the USB port doesnt offer a "quick" charge, it does offer a charge where nothing else will. I agree that the technology can only get better but you have to consider a stove to be a tool. In this instance there are stoves out there that heat better and faster but all will run out of fuel at some point. This one never will.

I was also on the pre-order list.

First, the USB port is a novelty item. It works, but you're not going to get high output from it. It's just there to allow you to use some of the excess energy. The power is actually generated to drive the fan that increases the intensity of the flame.

This stove is fantastic for two of my purposes; trail baking and cooking for groups. When you start to consider the weight of all your fuel in a weekend trip for four it actually becomes pretty reasonable. Once at full burn, it'll boil water in about the 4 minute range.

Do you really carry an IPod backpacking? Sheesh. If you want to cook over a wood fire--build a wood fire and save the money. Mama mia.

One consideration about this unit is that it is right on the edge of technology. I would consider this like an early version of a PC. Expect good things to come.

MI6's Q would be proud. Now if someone would harness a backpacker's stride to charge stuff, that would be cool.

I was on the preorder list for this one and got mine back in June. I wanted it more for the "gadget" aspect of trying out new technology, so I wasn't too disappointed with the lack of performance. I will still bring it along on car camping trips for the novelty and to show off the technology....but it will never hold a solid spot in my "MUST CARRY" backpacking kit.

I purchased this several months ago prior to my Maroon Bells trip. I was excited to get on the trail with an easy way to recharge my iPhone (used as GPS). Even though the BioLite Stove is way heavier than anything I'd like to carry, I sacrificed for the sake of power. Did I ever learn my lesson. Not only did I pack 2.05 lbs of a fancy boiling device, the amount of power received from charging was not worth the weight nor the cost. Camping in the high elevations of the Rockies, the soft woods to choose from were not beneficial for a lengthy charge. The stove had to be emptied after approximately 30 minutes of burning and a complete restart of a fire was in order. This was a pain, but after 30 minutes of charging and only a 7% increase in battery power, I had no choice. Lucky for me, I packed two small solar chargers that were pinned to the top of my backpack as an emergency backup. I'm glad I did.

Overall, it was neat using the BioLite knowing that I'm using a sustainable fuel while on the trail. However, perhaps I had too high of expectations expecting the BioLite to charge my iPhone. Before you buy, consider if the weight is worth the 7%-10% charge you get with a really long burn.

At two pounds 2 ounces and $129.00 I don't see any advantage to buying this, especially with lighter weight solar chargers out there. My entire kitchen with fuel canister weighs 9 ounces less than this one unit. But someone will buy it.