The $60 camp stove that quit on day 2 of a 9 day trip

I read a review last month about a cheap butane stove from someone who took it to Big Bend. They said it worked fine on the first day. Then the regulator froze up during a cold morning. I bought the same model for a trip to the Smokies last week. Same thing happened. Flame sputtered, then died. Had to borrow a buddy's backup. Is there a reliable stove under $100 that won't do this? Or am I just stuck paying more for a name brand?

1 comments

1 Comment

the_sage29d ago

That sucks, I feel for you. Nothing worse than gear failing when you actually need it, especially on day two with a week left to go. The regulator freezing is a known issue with cheap butane, they just don't handle cold well. You might get away with a liquid fuel stove in that price range if you catch a sale, but honestly, the reliable ones usually start around $120. For now, maybe just pack a lighter and a plan to boil water on a stick fire if you're stuck with what you got.