Backpacking stoves come in a variety of
sizes -- from lightweight micro-stoves
that fit in your pocket to two-burner
platforms that barely fit in your trunk.
In general, stick with the lightest, most
compact model you can find. To save space
and weight in your pack, look for stoves
that: (1) can be disconnected from their
fuel supply. Many stoves can be unhooked
from external fuel bottles for easier
storage in your backpack and less chance
of breakage; (2) fold up/collapse. The
legs, base supports and pot holder arms of
many backpacking stoves can be collapsed
or folded for easier packing; (3) fit
inside of cookware. Some stoves are
designed to fit inside of popular cook
sets. This can be a great space-saver (be
sure to bring a plastic bag to put your
stove in so no fuel spills onto your pots
and pans). Consider butane or butane blend
stoves. They: (1) are convenient,
clean-burning and easy to light; (2) burn
hot immediately, does not require priming;
(3) can be adjusted easily for simmering;
and (4) can't spill.
Compass:
To navigate successfully in the
wilderness, you need both a map and a
compass. The specific type of compass you
need will depend upon the kind of
navigation you want to do. In general,
most backpackers carry orienteering-style
compasses with them. Orienteering-style
compasses are designed to make basic map
and compass navigation easy. Look for the
following features when shopping for your
first backpacking compass, then learn how
to use it by taking a basic navigation
class: (1) Liquid-filled compass housing;
(2) base plate; (3) straight edge; (4)
rotating bezel; (5) mirror (optional);
and, (6) magnifying lens (optional). These
features are explained fully in Tips and
Techniques.
These pages were created on a PowerBook G4.