Switched from a Coleman to a wood stove for car camping last fall

I used to always just bring my old Coleman propane stove on trips to the Smokies. It worked fine but I got tired of carrying extra fuel canisters that always seemed to run out at the worst time. A buddy of mine in a Facebook group showed me his little folding wood stove and I was hooked. Been burning twigs and pine cones ever since, but I still miss how fast propane boils water when I'm hangry. Has anyone else dealt with the learning curve of getting a wood fire hot enough for coffee in the morning?

3 comments

3 Comments

terrywilson19d ago

Oh man, that night-before trick is genius. I started doing the same thing but I also tuck a few pieces of fatwood in there too, that stuff lights up even in a drizzle and saves me from grinding my teeth waiting for the kettle to sing.

williams9019d ago

Wait wait wait. You're burning pine cones? For real? Dude, pine cones are like firecrackers waiting to happen. I tried that once in a fire pit and the thing basically exploded in a shower of sparks almost burned a hole in my jacket. I can't even imagine trying to control that in a little wood stove while you're half asleep needing coffee. For the morning coffee struggle though, I cheat. I gather dry sticks and bark the night before and stash them under my truck seat. That way they're bone dry even if it rained. It still takes way longer than my old Coleman though, I feel your pain on that.

graceprice19d ago

Jumped right into that same trap myself, @williams90. First time I grabbed a pine cone for kindling I thought it was genius. Thing popped off like a little bomb and sent embers flying everywhere. I spent the next ten minutes patting down my shirt and checking for burn holes. Never again. Now I just stick with dry bark and small twigs like you said. Stashing them under the truck seat is smart too, I need to try that.