2014 Gear Of The Year: Solo Stove
On a crisp Fall morning, we rolled out of our tent in desperate need of a warm cup of coffee. You know that feeling. After 20 minutes of gathering tinder, lighting the wood and waiting for an optimal campfire flame, we finally got to start our cup of joe. Needless to say we weren’t in a very good mood. In that moment we came to the conclusion that there has to be a better way.
We love cooking over the campfire or on our big camp stove, but for quick meals and beverages we just needed something lightweight, efficient and easy to use. We’ve tried quite a few of the backpacking sized stoves with mixed reviews. One thing they all had in common was the need to bring a separate fuel canister—that is until we met the Solo Stove. It was a little bit life changing.
The Solo Stove uses wood (twigs, leaves, brush) to create heat. It doesn’t just burn the wood, it actually cooks the smoke out of the wood because its unique design burns the smoke twice. The stove only weighs a few ounces, is about as round as a softball and nests easily in to itself for easy storage. To say we were impressed is an understatement. The Solo Stove is designed with bottom vents that draw air in to feed the primary combustion, while hot air rises up the double walls and out the top vents resulting in a secondary combustion and a super hot fire. So hot of a fire that when we were done cooking all that was left was a little white ash. The Solo Stove can be combined with their 900 pot, which nests together for hauling. This stove is a must have for all serious backpackers, campers and survivalists—we promise you won’t regret the purchase.
Other Gear of the Year Winners – Fire Category
