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Ran into a guy named Dave at REI who completely changed how I pack my camping stove
I was at the REI in Denver about 6 months ago just browsing stoves when this older guy Dave comes up and asks what I cook. I told him mostly backpacker meals and he laughed and said I was missing out. He showed me his setup with a little alcohol stove he built from a cat food can and said it weighs nothing and boils water in 7 minutes flat. I thought he was crazy but I tried it and honestly haven't touched my big propane stove for solo trips since. Anyone else switched to a diy alcohol stove for lightweight camping?
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victorhill29d ago
You ever get that feeling where some random stranger just unlocks a whole new way of doing things? I totally get it with the alcohol stove thing, it's crazy how much weight and bulk you save once you switch. Happy to hear it worked out for you too, Dave sounds like a real one for sharing that setup.
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the_stella29d ago
That "missing out" comment from Dave is exactly what sold me too. I switched to a DIY alcohol stove for my solo trips last summer and it’s been a game changer for cutting weight.
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chen.adam29d ago
Dave's the kind of guy who just gets it, doesn't overcomplicate things. That alcohol stove setup is stupid light and boils water fast enough for any camp meal. Once you go that route, you start looking at every piece of gear differently, wondering what else is just dead weight.
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