Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#96276 - 05/15/08 10:21 AM which stove(s) for a big group
jorgoz Offline
member

Registered: 04/25/06
Posts: 151
Loc: Belgium
I'll be one of the guide for a group of about 25 people and need some advice on which stove(s) would be suited for this amount of people.

I've tried to boil 10 litres of water on my primus omnifuel using naphta and it took quite a while, i think around 20 mins. For me this is not a prob, but might be for the cook <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The ability to get the fuel easily is my main concern. On a previous trip we used a gasstove, but needed 3 different couplers (connectors) for the gas tanks, and the cost of gas is also a consideration. Are there big stoves out there which use naptha or auto fuel or something ?

Thanks for any info...

Top
#96277 - 05/15/08 03:12 PM Re: which stove(s) for a big group [Re: jorgoz]
Paddy_Crow Offline
member

Registered: 11/08/04
Posts: 2285
Loc: Michigan
You can calculate the BTU/hr output required to bring 10 liters of water to boil in a reasonable time. What you will probably learn is that you need a stove with a lot more output than any available backpacking stove.

A different approach might be to carry more stoves and divide the cooking up. Say, for example, five stoves boiling 2 liters apiece. This would probably require dividing the cooking chores (and the weight of carrying the cooking gear in one's pack) up as well.

Just a thought...

Top
#96278 - 05/16/08 09:36 AM Re: which stove(s) for a big group [Re: Paddy_Crow]
jorgoz Offline
member

Registered: 04/25/06
Posts: 151
Loc: Belgium
Not a possibility. We appointed one person responsible for the kitchen and we have 2 cars following for those lazy bums...The youth of these days <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

Top
#96279 - 05/16/08 11:16 AM Re: which stove(s) for a big group [Re: jorgoz]
finallyME Offline
member

Registered: 09/24/07
Posts: 2710
Loc: Utah
Quote:
We appointed one person responsible for the kitchen and we have 2 cars following for those lazy bums


Why not use a car camping stove? Maybe a big two burner. You can carry all the cooking stuff in the car. Otherwise, if you are carrying all the cooking stuff, it isn't fair for one person to carry one big stove, plus a huge pot for 25 people, plus their personal gear. You should distribute the weight anyways, and the best way is multiple stoves and pots.
_________________________
I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

Top
#96280 - 05/16/08 04:55 PM Re: which stove(s) for a big group [Re: jorgoz]
jpanderson80 Offline
member

Registered: 07/28/06
Posts: 292
Loc: Memphis, TN
If you are car camping, I'd suggest a big burner propane stove too. If you are backpacking, then I'd suggest a Whisperlite. I use two of them when I take groups out about that size. I like that the fuel is cheap compared to a dozen canisters and I like the fact that a large pot sits nicely on the burners.
Good grief... 25 person dinner is a serious cooking attempt for just one person to take care of! Good luck.

Top
#96281 - 05/17/08 06:04 AM Re: which stove(s) for a big group [Re: jpanderson80]
jorgoz Offline
member

Registered: 04/25/06
Posts: 151
Loc: Belgium
Well, there will of course be kitchen-help as well <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Top
#96282 - 05/17/08 06:08 AM Re: which stove(s) for a big group [Re: finallyME]
jorgoz Offline
member

Registered: 04/25/06
Posts: 151
Loc: Belgium
On a previous trip we used to make one big pot of soup on a 2 burner type cooker and it took up most of the space of the 2 burners. Are there big seperate burners out there ?

Top
#96283 - 05/17/08 07:47 AM Re: which stove(s) for a big group [Re: jorgoz]
azcanyon Offline
member

Registered: 07/12/04
Posts: 264
You are car-camping, right? (Or car-cooking?) And is this in the States?

If so, your best bet is a big propane tank and multiple stoves. Don't underestimate the challenge of cooking for 25, which is difficult even in a fully stocked kitchen.

Personally, I wouldn't attempt such a thing without (at a minimum) one powerful burner to use as a "boiler" (such as this Woodland Power Stove) AND something like a Coleman double-burner. Cabelas also sells some heavy but high-output propane burners, I think.

Top
#96284 - 05/19/08 07:15 AM Re: which stove(s) for a big group [Re: azcanyon]
jorgoz Offline
member

Registered: 04/25/06
Posts: 151
Loc: Belgium
We'll be walking in France. We only have one car, which will be driven by a dissabled person tacking an electric wheelchair, so we need to keep things as small as possible. Probably a few folks will want their pack in the car as well further limiting space.

I'm inclining towards buying a second white-gas stove, msr whisperlite.

Top
#96285 - 05/19/08 02:40 PM Re: which stove(s) for a big group [Re: jorgoz]
kbennett Offline
member

Registered: 10/27/03
Posts: 820
Loc: north carolina
I agree that multiple stoves and pots is the best solution for this problem. One person (the cook) can easily handle 4-6 stoves at the same time, some boiling water, some cooking noodles or heating sauce or whatever. (This is how one cooks at home, on a 4-6 burner stove, often with a microwave going at the same time.) This will me much faster than trying to heat 10 liters of water in a single pot.

Liquid fuel stoves would be the best choice, I think, both for the cost of fuel and the BTU content.
_________________________
--Ken B

Top
#110120 - 01/26/09 07:50 PM Re: which stove(s) for a big group [Re: kbennett]
NightForce Offline
member

Registered: 01/19/09
Posts: 41
Loc: MD, USA
Definitely not ultralight camping at all. LOL

I was reading through some old posts and thought I'd drop my 2¢ worth.

If you're going to use a sole cooking solution I'd go with the above link for the 65,000 BTU burner and use a 4.25 or 11 pound (both are 9.3"dia × 12"h) propane cylinder instead of the standard grill cylinder. They would operate the 65K BTU burner for 1.41 to 3.66 hours and take up a fairly small amount of space. Combined with the 12"×12'×2½" it might be a viable option.

Top
#110121 - 01/26/09 08:10 PM Re: which stove(s) for a big group [Re: NightForce]
Ulhiker Offline
member

Registered: 12/25/07
Posts: 65
Loc: Arkansas
An Optimus Nova will generate quite a bit of heat and is a great white-gas stove.
Oz
_________________________
www.backpackingarkansas.com

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
2 registered (), 174 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum