How to cook outdoors? You can't install an electric stove there, and it's inconvenient on the hearth - it's difficult to regulate the power of the fire, the water boils for a long time, and the fire itself burns your hands. In general, there are many questions, but there is only one solution - a gas burner. It can be used to boil water, cook, heat, stew and cook.

Previously, such options were used only in campsites. The first models were large and it was inconvenient to carry them with you. In addition, the gas mixture that was used at that time was very "fickle" - it did not burn well in the cold, and the cylinders with it were heavy. That is why for a long time gas burners were used exclusively by supporters of road trips, camping and other types of recreation such as stationary ones.

But at the end of the eighties, a new gas mixture appeared on the market, which by its characteristics surpassed all previous versions. She was not afraid of the cold, she worked perfectly at altitude in the mountains. This was the first serious impetus to the development of compact gas burners for tourism and mountaineering.

Where are gas burners used?

Today, there is not a single outdoor area left where gas burners are not used:

  • During trekking and after difficult transitions, tourists boil water and prepare full meals on mountain ranges, at high altitudes, where it is difficult to find firewood.
  • Boaters can cook on the go using integrated cooking systems.
  • Rock climbers and mountaineers use burners and systems to boil water and cook food instead of eating dry rations for days at a time on wall climbs.
  • Stoves are used at campsites for ease of cooking instead of fires that burn your hands.
  • Even the military and special forces prefer small burners.

Advantages of gas burners and integrated systems for cooking

Anyone who has been on a hike at least once knows what it's like to collect firewood after a tiring day and cook food on the fire or start a fire on wood chips wet from the rain. This is one of the reasons why most switch to travel burners in their camping kitchen.

In addition, their advantages are:

  • Compactness. Small dimensions when folded make it possible to carry them in a backpack pocket. The Pinguin Hiker comes packed in its original carrying case, so it can even be carried in your jacket pocket.
  • Light weight is the main selection criteria. Some manufacturers simplify models to reduce weight, while Pinguin uses strong, lightweight materials. The Pinguin Surpass Titan gas burner is made of titanium and aluminum, thanks to which it weighs only 48 grams.
  • Efficiency. A correctly selected burner or an integrated system allows you to boil water in a matter of minutes. Jetboil brand systems have a high efficiency index. For example, in Jetboil Flash, 0.5 liters of water boils in 100 seconds (under laboratory conditions).
  • Ease of use. In order to prepare food, you don't need to collect firewood, start a fire, or wait for water to boil. If you have a portable system or a burner, just connect the gas cylinder, turn on the gas, ignite and that's it. A few minutes and you have hot water.
  • Versatility. The torch is used everywhere - in the mountains, on the slopes, on the water, and even on the rocks. It is enough to choose the right travel burner for your tasks and you will be able to enjoy hot food almost anywhere. If in doubt, which burner to buy, choose universal ones, for example, Jetboil Mightymo. It is suitable for solo hikes and for small groups, it is compatible with various dishes, it is possible to adjust the power when preparing complex dishes.
  • Environmental friendliness. When burning firewood, the earth burns out at the site of the fire, and a large amount of harmful substances are released. When using a gas burner, only a small percentage of carbon dioxide and water vapor is released.
  • The absence of smoke is an important criterion for the military during long-term special operations. The smoke from the campfire gives away the group's location and the use of a burner provides excellent camouflage while still being able to enjoy hot tea and food.

What are the burners?

Regardless of the type of model, its price and performance, all options work approximately the same. The liquefied fuel mixture in the cylinder turns into a gaseous state under the influence of high pressure. When the valve is opened, the gas enters the nozzles and mixes with the oxygen in the air. Then this mixture is ignited, obtaining a stable fire with high efficiency.

The difference between the burners is in the format of fixing the cylinder to the burner. Based on this, a distinction is made between cylinder burners and models with a removable cylinder.

Cylinder burners

They are also called "upright canister stove" and "top mounted", that is, those that are mounted on top. This type of burners is wound on the thread at the top of the cylinder. Due to this, there are no complex connection points in their design, and in fact there is nothing to break, they are strong and reliable. Cylinder variants are distinguished by the lightest weight and compact dimensions. For example, the Pinguin Atom Titan burner weighs 45 g, while the Pinguin Surpass Titan weighs 48 g, while its power reaches 3500 W.

Features of cylinder burners:

  • Compactness. Fold up to the size of a slightly larger lighter.
  • Light weight. This is the "lightest" category, all top-mounted models weigh less than 100 g, and the lightest ones weigh less than 50 g. This is the perfect solution for light riders, those who count every gram of gear.
  • Simplicity and practicality. The construction is quite strong, wear-resistant.
  • Affordable price. The average cost ranges from $20 to $50.

The "balloon burner" design has a small area, it does not need a lot of space for its installation. But it is not very stable on different surfaces. To increase the stability of the structure, it is recommended to buy a stand for a gas cylinder. Such models are difficult to use with dishes with a volume of 2-3 liters, since the general center of gravity is high above the ground. In addition, the heating area is small, it is not relevant for wide pots and pans, the food will burn.

Jetboil offers the Mightymo model with a four-stage adjustment. It is also convenient to use dishes with a wide bottom.

Who are cylinder burners suitable for?

Compact size and light weight make the balloon models ideal companions for hiking. They are used for trekking, weekend hikes, easy rock climbing, rogaines, light riding, multi-races. It is worth considering that such burners are better used for small groups of 2-3 people or for single outings. If a larger number of participants is expected, it is better to choose a second model or pay attention to options with greater efficiency.

Burners with a removable cylinder

"Remote canister stove" - that is, those whose cylinder is on the side. The design "burner-cylinder" assumes that the burner stands on the surface on its own, and the cylinder is nearby. They are connected to each other by a flexible hose. This form factor increases its stability on various surfaces.

Features of models with a removable cylinder:

  • Flexible hose. In the cold, the fuel does not turn into a gaseous state. You often have to warm up the balloon in your hands. This design allows you to hide the balloon in a sleeping bag in a tent, heat it in a container with warm water. Also, when the fuel runs out, it does not come out of the cylinder well. In such cases, the design allows the cylinder to be turned over. Liquid fuel under its own weight flows down the hose, warms up there, turns into a gaseous state and enters the burner under pressure.
  • Can be used with wind protection. Thanks to the hose, the cylinder can be brought to the limit of protection, thus the fire will be protected from the wind, and the cylinder will not overheat.
  • Stability is ensured by the low height of the burner. Wide legs and stops provide additional stability. This makes it easier to cook in a large pan with a wide bottom.
  • The increased size of the nozzle, which is equipped with most models with a removable cylinder, is designed for the use of large dishes and uniform heating of the bottom.
  • Use with large dishes will be convenient for those who walk in groups of several people. The large nozzle makes it possible to evenly heat a larger area than a cylinder burner, and the attached design can withstand containers with a volume of up to 8 liters.

When folded, such models are larger than balloon models. But at the same time, they are in demand among those who are happy to cook food, and not to sublimate with boiling water.

The hose requires careful use. Despite the metal braiding, there is still a chance to damage it during the hike, which will later cause a gas leak.

The cost of a burner with a removable cylinder will be higher than that of a cylinder. This is due to a more complex design, the presence of a hose.

Who are burners with a removable cylinder suitable for?

Thanks to the ability to use a wide range of utensils and durability, these burners are great for almost all types of outdoor activity, from weekend hikes to technically challenging climbs and climbs. For the cold period of the year and high-altitude climbs, it is important to choose burners with fuel heating and a "winter" fuel mixture.

Features of tourist burners

In order to facilitate the life of a tourist in nature, the development engineers offer to buy a torch for a hike with additional "tops". The most popular among them are:

  • The cylinder stand is used for cylinder burners. There are also modifications to use an inverted cylinder in models with a hose.
  • Built-in wind protection protects against blowing fire, reduces fuel mixture consumption. If you have a regular burner, you can buy a wind shield separately in stores, it has a complex design and minimal weight.
  • Fuel heating is an option that is useful in the cold period of the year, when the fuel supply is poor. The gas is heated at the outlet of the cylinder and enters the nozzles already heated. Such burners are excellent for use in extreme conditions.
  • The reducer is responsible for stable fuel supply. Thanks to this, gas burners work at altitude, during winter ascents.
  • Piezo ignition allows you to create a fire without using matches and a lighter.

Integrated cooking systems

The main issues with travel burners are the need for a flat surface to set up and wind protection. To solve these two problems, engineers have developed integrated cooking systems - PCS (Personal Cooking System).

An integrated cooking system is a burner with a built-in draft shield to which a cooking vessel is screwed, often with a built-in radiator. The system can stand on a flat surface or be suspended. Such versatility ensures popularity among tourists of various destinations. It can be installed in the vestibule of the tent, on a stone, hung on a tree, on trekking poles or even cooked on the go.

One of the first PCS was developed at the Jetboil company. Today, the term jetboil has become its own name, and many tourists call the systems of other manufacturers jetboils.

If the first models of integrated systems provided only quick boiling of water, today they are developed with fire control, which makes it possible to prepare full meals and complex dishes in camping conditions.

Features of integrated systems for cooking:

  • Structural stability – the container is tightly connected to the burner.
  • High efficiency, water boils in minutes. For example, using the Jetboil Flash system, 0.5 liters of water boils in 100 seconds.
  • Economy. The wind protection and the structure itself are designed in such a way as to reduce gas consumption as much as possible. It has been proven that PCS uses and consumes less fuel compared to burners.
  • Built-in wind protection. There is no longer any need to choose a windless location or carry a portable windbreak.
  • Adjusting the power of the fire allows you to boil water, prepare porridge, stew vegetables, and keep food warm. It also allows you to significantly reduce gas consumption during cooking.
  • Compactness. Systems from the best manufacturers Jetboil, Pinguin are designed in such a way that all structural elements are compactly folded into the main bowl, and the gas cylinder is also placed there.
  • The radiator makes it possible to save fuel and maintain a stable temperature. The Jetboil brand has developed its own type of FluxRing radiator, thanks to which the systems have a high efficiency.

Who are integrated cooking systems suitable for?

The systems are designed to make life easier for the tourist, regardless of whether he is traveling by land or water. They are used in hiking, rafting, this is a great solution for rock climbers and climbers.

Today you can buy an integrated system of various volumes:

  • Pinguin Aura, Jetboil Micromo, Jetboil Zip are suitable for one to three persons;
  • For a company of several people - Jetboil Sumo, Jetboil Joule-EU.

They are also distinguished by the main material for making the body and bowl:

  • Anodized aluminum is an inexpensive but durable material. It is used for systems of different price categories, for example, the inexpensive integrated cooking system Pinguin Aura and one of the most expensive Jetboil Sumo are made of anodized aluminum.
  • Titanium is used for lightweight models. Titanium integrated systems are chosen by those who value every gram of equipment.

Criteria for choosing a burner and integrated systems

The choice of a burner model or a cooking system is influenced by several main criteria:

  1. Weather and season of use. For year-round use, it is better to choose models with built-in wind protection and fuel heating. So you will be sure that he will not let you down. Integrated systems are suitable for use in bad weather, they have wind protection, but fuel heating is not implemented everywhere, pay attention to this.
  2. Ability to regulate fire. Suitable for those cases when you plan to prepare a full meal, complex dishes. It also saves fuel. For example, the Jetboil MicroMo system is equipped with smooth adjustment, if desired, it can be transformed into a burner using the Jetboil Pot Support adapter. This is the most versatile solution for those who prepare complex dishes outdoors.
  3. Number of people in the group. The more people, the larger the volume of food to be prepared, the larger the pots will be needed. Burners with a removable cylinder, integrated systems will come in handy here. If you have a large company, pay attention to the Jetboil Joule-EU and Jetboil Sumo.
  4. Weight and dimensions. The trend toward weight reduction is seen in every field of gear today. Burners are no exception. When choosing a burner, pay attention to the quality of execution, materials. For light vehicles, we recommend taking the Jetboil ZIP and Jetboil Sumo integrated systems, or the Pinguin Surpass Titan and Pinguin Atom Titan burners.

A modern fan of outdoor activities does not need to carry heavy canned goods or collect firewood. Portable camping burners or integrated cooking systems can solve the question "what to cook on when camping?".

The SMG group company is the official distributor of Base Camp, Jetboil and Pinguin products. Compact burners, wind-protected integrated cooking systems, tourist stoves make it easy and simple to cook in the field, forest, mountains and even on rocks. You just need to choose the best burner for your tasks.

You can buy a burner for tourism or PCS in stores.