Shouldn't these be ideal when it comes to 1) minimizing weight carried
I find generally no. I've made a tiny little downdraft woodburner, but most places I can
use it, I could have a small fire anyway - which also works just fine (three rocks to set
a pot on, and a small twig fire will boil water very effectively - and then I don't have to carry
*ANYTHING* - so the weight minimizing option is *nothing* - make a fire. I do frequently
carry an alky stove, and still build small fires where permitted. so I often hike as kind of
a hybrid approach. It's kinda baffling to me why so many people want something to carry
to burn wood in - unless required to do so by regulations (just silly) or the sensitivity of
the area (in which case please, just bring your fuel in and use a stove of some kind)
and 2) maximizing independence from the outside world (e.g., not needing to buy fuel when travelling on long-distance trails)?
True, but unless you're doing the alexander stupidtramp thing and trying to live off the land, you're buying food anyway. long distance hikers tend to plan their resupply points.
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