You’ve just spent all day hiking. You’re exhausted. All you want to is that giant burger to stuff in your face. But you don’t have a giant burger in your pack, backpacking food is all you’ve got. Chances are you need to heat water or food before you can eat it. And you probably want to heat things up anyways. A hot meal after a long day hiking, especially in cold, miserable weather, could be the best part about backpacking. The wait while you’re cooking can be excruciating but that warm satisfied feeling laying around camp after a good meal can’t be beat.

With so many stoves on the market right now, how do you choose one? We’ll walk you some of the basics of stoves and which one to go with for your situation.

First a few questions. 

Questions to Ask Yourself

The first thing we need to do is look at how you’re going to use your stove. There are some questions you should answer before even looking at any stoves. The answers to these will direct you to the type of stove you’ll be happy with. Stoves are just like tents, there are many options but many not be only 1 best choice. Most of the time you can narrow it down to a small number of choices that will suit you best and then you can decide from there. So grab a piece of paper (or computer or tablet or phone) and write out your answers to these questions. These are also nice to remind yourself what exactly you are buying your stove for when you go looking at new shiny gear.

What are you going to cook?

How many people are you cooking for?

Where are you going to use it?

Where will you get fuel from?

How much weight do you want to carry?

How much space do you have?

Now that we’ve got those questions out of the way, we can move on to the features of the stoves and how they relate to your questions. Keep your answers from the questions above handy as you go through the features and examples at the end. 

Major Features of Stoves

Now we’re into the major features of all the stoves. These specifications or features are different on every stove so watch for these when you are buying.

Type of fuel and canister

There are a few different types of fuel on the market for stoves these days. Most stoves only have the required parts for one type of fuel. It may be important to be able to use different kinds of fuel because you travel or like different types for different applications.

Iso-butane Canisters

These are the small metal canisters you can get from outdoor gear stores. They are very convenient to use and light weight. These stoves are fast and easy to light. You cannot refill the containers though and it can be tough to see know how much you have left. Many backpackers have a pile of half-used canisters because they don’t know how much are in them. Some canister manufacturers are starting to put measurements on the canisters so you can float them in water and see where the fuel level is.

Liquid White Gas

White gas has been used in camping stoves for a long time. The benefit to white gas stoves is that you can see how much you have left and refill the fuel bottles. These are heavier to carry though. Bigger, more powerful stoves are often white gas. White Gas stoves are great for big groups or melting snow.

Alcohol

If you’re looking to go ultra lightweight, a small alcohol stove may be your best option. You can make one out of a pop can. These can be finicky to light but are nice and light.

Others

Some stoves are able to use fuels like diesel or other liquids that burn so it’s easier to find something you can cook with. Others, like the BioLite stove, are turning to wood you’d find on the trail to keep your fire going.

Weight of stove

Always in the mind of every backpacker, the weight of the stove can be important. Do you want to carry a big stove around with you or a tiny little pocket-sized cooker. There are perks to each size. It just depends on what you want to do with it. If you’re going to be cooking gourmet meals for large groups then you’ll be getting a bigger stove with more space on top. If you need to be fast and light and are just boiling water with the occasional soup, then something tiny and fast might be the way to go.

Boiling speed

Every stove has a different speed at which it can boil water. It all depends on the size of the flame under the pot, the intensity of that flame and amount of wind protection you can give it. If all the heat is going out the side with the wind, you’ll be waiting a long time for your food! Boiling speeds range from 3 minutes up to 5 or 6 minutes. The boil times will range with a given stove depending on the temperature, wind speed and fuel canister pressure. IsoButane canister pressure drops as you use the so your boil time will increase as you use the canister. White Gas fuel bottles can be pressurized whenever you use them so the boil times will stay more constant.

Operation at Altitude and in Weather

These factors will affect how much pressure is in your canister and how much heat is getting to your pot. Some stoves like the MSR Reactor have a bunch of special parts and a special pot to conserve all that heat and direct as much of it as possible straight into the pot. Wind and bad conditions will slow that process down.

Size of Pot

If you’re pot is going to be for 1 or 2 people then you can get a smaller stove but if you are going to be cooking giant meals for a group of 10 you’ll want something bigger. A small stove with a lot of people will work in a pinch but it’s much more convenient to get something bigger. Some stoves require special pots so keep that in mind. The MSR Reactor pot doesn’t fit on any other stove and you can’t use any other pot on the Reactor so keep that in mind if you get a specialized setup like this. Aside from a few specialized options, most pots and stoves work very well together.

Type of controls

Some stoves have multiple adjustments on them to make it easier to simmer. If that’s important to you add it to your list.

Location of Canister

The location of iso-butane canisters can be different on the stoves. Some are attached directly to the stove with the stove sitting on top of the canisters. Some canisters are attached remotely and connect through a gas tube.

Specialized attachments

Some stoves have special features on them and other attachments that only fit with that stove. That can be good or bad depending on how you look at it. Some have special pots, battery chargers, or wind screens. The MSR Reactor, for example, has special pots that fit onto it’s burner. It’s very fast at boiling but you can’t use other pots with it.It would be a good idea to order these in priority for yourself when you are picking one. Is the type of fuel more important to you than the size of the stove? Is the weight of the stove more important than the size of the pots it can hold. Think about your questions above and then prioritize the features to fit what you want to do.

Stove Examples

IsoButane Stoves

MSR Pocket Rocket

MSR Windpro II

MSR Reactor

Snowpeak Gigapower

Primus PrimeTech

Primus Express Spider

Liquid White Gas

MSR Dragonfly

MSR Whisperlite Universal

Alcohol

Alcohol Stove

Wood

Biolite

Updated August 29, 2022. Originally published November 23, 2013.

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Stand up paddle boarding is one of the fastest growing water sports in the world. It is not only a recreational pass time but also a competitive sport. It is a zero impact sport which allows for participation for any person of any age. Paddle boarding offers greater versatility than other paddle sports in addition to providing a more intimate relationship with the water due to the simplistic nature of the sport.While the origins of paddle boarding are contested it is believed to have originated in tropical locations such as Polynesia and Hawaii, we do know that is served as the initial mode of transportation for people in water. Due to this early heritage the connection that an individual has with their external environment while paddle boarding is unlike any other water sport activity. It is an eco-friendly sport that will only burn calories. A majority of the workout focuses primarily on the core muscle groups while utilizing stabilizer muscles to maintain your balance and your upper body to propel you further.

Being based out of the coastal community of Nanaimo, I find it incredible that people rarely spend time on the water. We are presented with fantastic opportunities to enjoy the biodiversity of the ocean while being able to just as easily paddle down a river. The protected environments of the local lakes also provide a different experience as they offer a perfect opportunity for people to practice their skills before heading out onto the ocean.

The paddle boards we offer weigh roughly 23 pounds and vary between 11’0 and 12’0 which makes them easy to transport. The stability of the boards is incredibly high but still leaves the need for a skill to be acquired. I always find it interesting whenever we come across people on tours who assume that it is incredibly challenging. Typically people are up and running after only 15 minutes. The fear for most people is that they will fall off, but we have noticed that the involuntary fall rate we have encountered is close to 1 out of every 20 people.

Ultimately, this is an activity that re-establishes an individual’s connection with nature. It brings a peaceful awareness of the environment in a non-intrusive manner. There’s something to be said about a person who is floating on the ocean with little more than a board and a paddle because it’s a feeling that needs to be experienced.

** Jennifer Vroom is an outdoor adventure enthusiast. She started stand up paddleboarding in Nanaimo a few years ago and loved it so much I decided to share my passion with others. She now runs Van Isle Paddle Board Co.

The post Chat with Van Isle Paddle Boarding: What is SUPing? first appeared on Pack & Trail.

The Juan de Fuca features beautiful (and often muddy) single track trail through the coastal forest and along the rock and sand beaches. Portions of the trail can be done along the forest trail or the beach. Multiple areas of the trail are cut off at high-tide which can make timing important.

Campsites are in designated spots along the trail or on a few of the beaches. Distances hiking between the campsites range from 9km to 14km. Most people take between 4 and  6 days on the trail. 5 days is a perfect pace to hike the trail at but you may have to squish it into 4 to fit into the pesky schedule of those day jobs.

The south end of the trail undulates up and down adding up to hundreds of metres of elevation gain and loss over the trail. One particular hill up out of a creek and over a ridge near the middle of the trail felt so long, I dubbed it “the neverending hill”. The north end flattens out considerably and is a relaxing hike through the coastal forest over boardwalk and soft spongy ground.

You’ll see a huge variety of plant, tree and animal life along the trail. The plants range from tiny shrubs all the way to massive old growth cedars. Most of the forest is spacious and open but parts grow so tightly hardly any light hits the trail.

Birds and and other  animals are often on the trail and may get into your food. Most of the campsites have bear caches where you can store your food overnight to prevent any issues. It’s always a good idea to bring some rope to hang it from a tree just in case. You probably don’t want to fight a bear over your food in the middle of the night.

Cougars and bears are fairly common on this part of the island so it’s recommended you make noise or carry bear bells to warn them of your arrival. Animals sightings are advertised at each information board along the trail.

If you’re really up for a speedy hike, a group from Victoria runs the 47km long single track trail in less than one day. Some of the times have gotten down around 5 or 6 hours for the entire trail. Now that’s a fast hike!

There’s more trail information on the BC Parks Juan de Fuca Trail page.

If you’re looking for a guidebook for all the details on spending a night (or 3!) out on the Juan de Fuca trail we have a full guidebook just for you with trail descriptions, gps tracks and 3, 4 and 5 day itineraries.

Comments!

Have you hiked the Juan de Fuca? What was your favourite part? 

The post The Juan de Fuca Marine Trail: A Must-Do Coastal Hike on Vancouver Island first appeared on Pack & Trail.

A lot of people I know do many. Or at least more than one.It sounds like a good idea. I personally think it is a good one but there are downsides to it.

For anyone who does multiple sports obviously the pros outweigh the cons for them. Here are some of the pros that come to mind.

• Variety
• Cross-training
• Fun
• All year round 

As always there are a few cons to doing multiple sports at once as well.

• Gear expenses
• Decisions
• Lack of time for skill progression 

I want to dig into each of these and explain them a bit. I’d love to hear your own reasons for doing one or many in the comments below.

Pro – Variety

You can’t get bored when you do 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 different sports. There’s always something different to do. Bored of mountain biking? Go climb? Sore arms from climbing, go for a run. Need some water time? Get out the paddle board or kayak.

Pro – Cross-training

Fitness can be both generic and specific to a sport. Basic strength and cardio fitness apply to every sport you can think of. If you’re pushing hard on your mountain bike that’s going to help your running. Sometimes they don’t translate perfectly but in many cases working hard in one sport is going to make the others easier. I’ve found the mental training useful as well. Skills like breaking down tough situations into easier ones, pushing yourself harder than you think you can and staying focused for long periods are all important mental skills that apply to every sport.

Pro – Fun

I’m not sure if it’s the variety or something else but I just find keeping my hand on multiple activities more exciting.

Pro – All Year Round

Some sports go all year round but most have a season. If you have multiple sports you’ll have an activity you can focus on for every season. Skiing, snowshoeing and indoor climbing are great winter activities. Hiking, mountain biking and kayaking are great for the summer.

Con – Gear Expenses

We can’t have it all. Every sport comes with the expense of the gear required. You can rent for a while but as soon as you get serious you’ll be buying gear. Sometimes sports have crossover gear. You probably won’t be buying a jacket for every single sport you do. You can if you want. The outdoor companies want you to. Your wallet really doesn’t.

Con – Decisions

A sunny weekend with nothing planned is coming up fast. What do you do? Hike? Climb? Kayak? Run? Bike? Sail? Ski? If you only do one sport then it’s easy to decide. You do that one. If you do many how do you decide what to do? The number of people required can affect this. Sports like climbing and sailing don’t usually happen with 1 person. You’ll need more. Even if you try to eliminate some options there’s still a decision to make.

Con – Lack of Time

Every sport takes time. The more time it takes the better you get but the less you get to do other sports. How much time do you spend on each? Do you spend a lot and get your skills up or do you spend little and work on other things? Do you balance it all out and stay mediocre in all the sports you do? It’s all up to you but it’s one more decision you’ll need to make.

Without a doubt, I fall into the “do many” category. Right now I’m getting my mountain bike ready for summer, organizing details for hiking the West Coast Trail and buying gear for a 3 day sailing race out of Astoria, Oregon.

Often it’s frustrating trying to decide where my money and time will go but when it comes down to it, there never is a dull moment when there’s so much to choose from.

Comments

How many different sports do you do? Do you find it difficult to only stick to one?

Adventure on,

Ross

The post Should you do one sport or many? first appeared on Pack & Trail.

We’re starting the very first edition of Products with a new product that’s been one of the most interesting I’ve ever reviewed, the Para boots from Hi-Tec. I had the opportunity to test out the Hi-Tec’s newest invention and I was impressed. Let’s get into what these wild new boots are all about.

The Para boots are not like any other boots you’ve seen before, I can guarantee you that. Hi-Tec has taken a brand new approach to making a rubber boot.

Basically, if a rubber boot sacked up with a hiking boot, you’d end up with the Para boot. All the advantages of hiking boots and rubber boots are mushed into one comfortable, easy to put on, very waterproof hiking boot.

As with any boot, there are pros and cons. For what this boot is trying to do, namely be a replacement for a rubber boot, there are a lot of pros.

Pros

Very waterproof

With all the rubber and neoprene on the boot, I can’t imagine there being a way for water to get in. I’ve stood in many puddles with these boots. I’ve stood in surf and mud and snow and nothing has got through yet. I’m still testing but I’m sure they will hold up for a long time to come.

Warm

I found the boots quite warm. I spent a few weekends at Mount Cain and these were my primary boots when I didn’t have my ski boots on. I can’t recall even a second where I felt like my feet were cold. A lot of that time was spent standing in the snow.

High Traction

The lugs on the soles of these boots are huge. They have bigger, more aggressive tread than most hiking boots I’ve seen. That means awesome traction in mud and dirty trails. They may not fair so well on slick rock but I think they would hold their own because of the density of the rubber. It’s not super hard like some hiking boots are. That usually means stickier rubber.

Easy to put on and take off

There isn’t anything easier to slide on and off your foot. There is a small loop on the back of the boot to pull on quickly and the foot opening is big enough that you probably won’t even have to use the strap. There are small rubber kick-offs on the back of the boots to catch when you are pulling the boot off with your other foot, great for when they are covered in mud and soaking wet and you don’t really want to touch them to get them off.

Bright color

A couple of the colours like army green and navy blue are more subdued but I got the bright yellow ones. Not going to miss those ones in the woods! They’re certainly an eye catcher in a group of people too. I can’t count the number of people that I’ve had ask me what I’m wearing on my feet.

Way more comfortable than rubber bootsI’ve spent a considerable amount of time in rubber boots and they’re not very comfortable. Every weekend that we sail that’s not bright sunshine, I’m in my rubber boots. Because of how wet and slippery sailing gets, that’s about all I can wear. Anywhere on land that, I will be in my Para boots instead because they’re much more comfortable.

Great dancing shoes

One of the highlights at the second Backcountry Festival at Mount Cain this year, and maybe THE highlight of the festival, was an epic dance party in the woods with power generators, big speakers, flashy lights and 4 DJs. I’m pretty sure I danced on the snowy dance floor for close to 6 hours. Not only were the Para boots comfortable, those big, rubber lugs kept me upright while others were sliding around and flailing (and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t just dancing).

Cons

Not very adjustable

One of the few things I wish I could change is the strap adjustments. Like a rubber boot there isn’t much to adjust. There is a small pull at the top of the boot with 2 eyelets that you can tighten a bit. It doesn’t offer much to adjust. Having a bit more would offer more flexibility when you have bigger or smaller socks on during different times of the year. The current configuration does help the water tightness though. There are no seams below the adjustment which means absolutely no way for water to get in.

Summary

What started out as a fun test for these crazy new boots actually turned into a great adventure with effective new gear. I wouldn’t take these boots on a 7 day hike with me but as replacements for rubber boots, they’re a huge upgrade. You won’t get the height from these that traditional rubber boots attain but if dancing through 4 DJs on a sloped icy dance floor says anything, they’re very stable and comfortable!

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