I have a question for those of you that use a wood burning stove. How much of a problem is the "mess" created with this type of a stove. I have cooked over a fire many times in the past and am familiar with the soot. My concern is putting the pot and stove back inside my pack.

Obviously I can place this in a bag but do you have a problem with it making everything inside your pack smell like smoke? The smoke created during cooking I can live with. I will just place my gear downwind but I don't want to get all that smell on my gear.

Also what stove do most of you prefer?

Rex

I find that after about a week, the smell of wood smoke it the most positive smell in my pack! I bought a few yards of blank suplex nylon to carry soot cover parts, still dirty but who can tell. I think Alchol burning smell far worse.

I looked into the Zip stove but it just seemed too fragile and heavy. Try a google search for Zen Stoves. It is a whole web site devote to stoves of all types and fuels. Templates for the stove used by Nimbelwill Nomad can be found there too.

There is a discussion of the "Wood Gas" stove. I am building on out of titanium pots, cups and some stainless mesh. I am aiming for 8 oz, no moving parts, with an alcohol burner included. That will give me a choice of Charcol, Wood, Alcohol, Sterno, Fuel Tabs and "tea candles".

look up zen stoves and make the small coffee can version If you like with the 5 holes on the bottom and a chimney at the oppisite side,and I use my alcohol stove as well,win win situation:banana ky.

I have a question for those of you that use a wood burning stove. How much of a problem is the "mess" created with this type of a stove. I have cooked over a fire many times in the past and am familiar with the soot. My concern is putting the pot and stove back inside my pack.
Obviously I can place this in a bag but do you have a problem with it making everything inside your pack smell like smoke? The smoke created during cooking I can live with. I will just place my gear downwind but I don't want to get all that smell on my gear. Also what stove do most of you prefer?
Rex
In 20 years of using a Zip Stove, I've never had a problem with either soot or smell. I use a thin plastic bag given out with every grocery purchase. The soot tends to harden after awhile if I avoid messing with it. It adds slightly to the heating efficiency of my pot, a plus, but otherwise is just there.

The Zip has been around a long time and has had marginal improvements over the years. I haven't used the smaller light weight titanium model, but it looks like the fire box is smaller, a negative, that saves a few ounces, a plus.

None of the designs of the homemade versions have impressed me, though I've made one of my own design that I have yet to seriously test. It's essentially a 28 ounce tin can that used to hold crushed tomatoes with a lot of holes cut into the sides. (28 is the weight of the former ingredients, not the weight of the can (3 ounces).

All and all I find the Zip an ideal backpacking stove for those willing to put up with a bit of soot and are willing to practice fire starting and cooking over a wood fire. It's an art, but an easily-learned, intuitive art, that some seem to resist.

Weary

I use the sierra stove and it don"t stink up all my gear

I have used an army surplus stove on many long hikes. The smell of the stove has never been a problem. If you know its going to rain place the small amount of fuel under your tent or shelter. Even if you carry a few days it's no more than alcohol or gas.

I use the sierra stove and it don"t stink up all my gear

Come to think of it, after the first night and campfire I stink up all my gear so I wouldn't notice the stink of a wood stove.

I like the smell of a wood stove...

I used a sierra stove but it is to heavy so i went to a poclet rocket stove but the little pot that comes with the stove is great.

I use the titanium Sierra Zip Stove. Weight is 10 oz. A plastic bag takes care of the soot. Don't have to carry fuel and I love having a small fire. It's not too heavy heavy for me!

a z zip is so important for children. its a pleasure on short hikes and it would be fine indeed for thruin but for the fire ban areas if you need hot food.and i do.i also own the giant zzip thinggy for outdoor contained campfires.its called the eagle and im lucky to have it. zz manufacturing discontinued it.to teach fire safty to 9 and 10 year olds a zzip is better than a open fire ring.the idea of storing and carrying fuel in the way of dry twigs and pine cones is silly.the small woods it uses burn wet with only a small amount of urging.and the scrap twiggs under wherever you put your stove are plenty. fuel is a zero issue with these stoves.they are unstable but not to the point of unuseability.by the way,my trangia burner in my clikstand burnes wood,alcohol and esbit just fine thanx

i use my zipp stove on rare ocassions:cool: neo

I retired my msr gas unit years ago and now use only the Sierra Zip unit. It fits in my pot and into the pot stuff sack. I used it on my 96 thru hike and never had any trouble. I use cotton balls soaked in Vaseline as starter. I even have a homemade shower(made from a mylar wine bag), I have unlimited boil time with all the wood and cones out there. PS: Blackened pots heat up faster.

The mess/smoke smell is manageable. Besides they're a lot of fun!

http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=9939&catid=favorites

I love ours, I did have to stabilize the base a little better though.

In my experience the wood smoke does not stink up the rest of my gear at all. After all, I'm carrying the "stove" in a plastic bag.

Yet another plug for my Kelly Kettle.

Cheers,

PKH

I cook over wood fires (not a stove), and yes, there is a little buildup of black gook on the bottom of the pot. I simply put the pot in a plastic grocery bag so it doesn't get soot on my other gear. Not a problem. Yes, there is some smell of wood smoke, but I don't find it objectionable.

Last night I made a Nomad style stove to take this weekend with the Scouts. My son thought it was pretty neat so hopefully we will get a chance to give it a shot. I may also try and throw together one of the coffee can styles as well. At least that way several boys can try them out and see which one they like the best. Thanks for the input and suggestions.

Rex

Last night I made a Nomad style stove to take this weekend with the Scouts. My son thought it was pretty neat so hopefully we will get a chance to give it a shot. I may also try and throw together one of the coffee can styles as well. At least that way several boys can try them out and see which one they like the best. Thanks for the input and suggestions.

Rex

I'm assuming you've at least tested it at home?

I built a nomad stove last summer. Loved it. I store it in a tyvek envelope I duct taped together. Never had a prob with smell from the stove or the pot in my dry bags. And I kinda like the "black pot" look.

Chris

I'm assuming you've at least tested it at home?

Actually I haven't tested it. This weekend is a car camping trip and we will be taking all the Troop gear including propane stoves and Dutch ovens. I figure I will play with it this weekend to see how it goes. No matter what I know that I won't be going hungry:D .

Rex

Actually I haven't tested it. This weekend is a car camping trip and we will be taking all the Troop gear including propane stoves and Dutch ovens. I figure I will play with it this weekend to see how it goes. No matter what I know that I won't be going hungry:D .

Rex

Cool. Just didn't want you or the boys to starve by default!;)