The Emberlit Stainless Steel Backpacking Stove is meant to help you with cooking hot food while you are backpacking. The stove is one that does this job fairly well. However, we know the Emberlit Stainless Steel Backpacking Stove is one that a lot of people have questions about. That is why we have decided at Today’s Camping Gear it was time to carry out our own review on Emberlit Stainless Steel Backpacking Stove and fill you in on what makes this standout from others on the market.
Features Of Emberlit Stainless Steel Backpacking Stove
- The weight is coming in at only 11.3 ounces.
- Made from durable stainless steel.
- Can be used with almost any pot or pan without it wobbling.
- Uses wood to burn inside of it.
- Has a lifetime guarantee on the product.
What Are The Dimensions Of Emberlit Stainless Steel Backpacking Stove
The dimensions makes it easier for you to know exactly how much space you need. Since that is the case here are the dimensions of Emberlit Stainless Steel Backpacking Stove.
The size is coming in at LxWxH and sits at 4 x 5.5 x 6 inches.
The Emberlit Backpacking stove is perfect for hikers as the weight is under a pound at .71 pounds for the entire stove.
Amount Of Set Up Required Is Low
When you are backpacking one of the last things you want to do is try to figure out how to put your stove together. Well, that is the best part about this stove and that is the fact that you just have to take a couple of different pieces and fold together to have the stove set up.
This type of setup time makes it easier for you to get the stove completely set up in no time flat, but also to have the stove set up properly. What else is helpful about the easy set up is it allows almost anyone to set up the stove.
One aspect that I will touch briefly on here is the fact that the stove can warp over time. Face it, it is metal and metal when heated and cooled can warp. That can happen to the stove and makes it harder for the stove to go together right.
Weight Makes It Easy To Move
As with any piece of camping equipment, unless you own an RV or tow behind camper, weight is a major issue. You typically do not want to be moving something that is heavy all the time and often if it is too heavy it gets left behind.
Well the Emberlit Stove you do not have to worry too much about the weight. The actual weight is only .71 pounds, which brings the stove in at just under 12 ounces.
This lighter weight makes it perfect for anyone who is going to be backpacking and needing to bring a camp stove. However, as I have seen lately on Facebook motorcycle camping has become a big deal and with a stove this light in weight it is not a major problem in getting it moved around or store on your bike.
Extremely Durable Material And Design
What good is a camp stove if you cannot put it together or collapses when you are trying to use it? Well, that means that it is not doing any good for you at all. However, Emberlit has taken that into consideration and now has made this stove with the design and durability of the product in mind.
The design factor comes from the fact that the camp stove is able to fold completely flat. This allows for easy storage and keeping the stove put up. At the same time, though, the design factor comes into play with how easy it is to set up the stove and have it ready for cooking food.
When it comes to the durability that is factored out by the stainless steel material used in construction. This makes it easier for you to know that the stove will last you for a long period of time and not have to be overly concerned about the metal being a major cause of headache.
Can Be Used With A Variety Of Cookware
Normally when you buy a camp stove it can only be used with a single type of cookware. Well, that is not the case here as you can use a variety of cookware on the stove.
Some people have reported using stainless steel cookware, but others have mentioned using cast iron. Still, what I would do and as I have mentioned before it to find a dedicated cookware set for the stove and then you do not have to be worried about the stove not working for your needs.
One of the most common things that I have seen people use on the backpacking stove from Emberlit is a tea kettle. The kettles, depending on the size, can go from being cold or luke warm water to boiling in about 10 minutes. The time really depends on how full the kettle is when the kettle is placed on the fire.
Variety Of Fuel Sources Can Be Used
Typically when you look at a camp stove you realize that you are stuck using only a couple of fuel sources. However, with the Emberlit here you are somewhat stuck in the fuel sources you can use, but not really.
You could be asking what am I talking about when I said not really? Well, that is actually very easy because it means that most of the bio-fuels you can find can be used. This includes dried grass, twigs, leaves, and if you are able to find a small enough piece of wood even that can fit in the stove.
Some people have asked about charcoal and other fuel sources. While it will burn, the provide a very hot ember bed that can cause the metal to get damaged over time and a lot faster than a normal fire would. So while it is possible, I would not recommend it due to this potential situation.
Can Take Longer To Cook Food
This is one complaint that we have seen from several reviews online. That is the fact that it can take a little bit longer to cook the food. While that does hold true, you need to look at the size of the stove that you are using.
With this stove being smaller and using only smaller wood pieces to have the fire I would expect it to cook slower. Now, the downside is if you are hungry and in a hurry for your food to cook this can be very disappointing.
Still, as a positive note to it taking so long to cook the food you do have to consider the factor of the stove actually burning up almost all the wood which reduces the amount of waste that you would have from the stove.
Stainless Steel Can Warp Overtime
I hate to bring this aspect of the stove up, but it does happen. The metal can start to warp over time and their is no real solution for the warping of the metal because it is something that just happens.
The typical warping is properly used does not happen immediately and you should get several years use out of the stove before the metal does finally warp to the point you cannot use it or get it folded back properly.
A common complaint about the warping metal is that it makes it harder to line everything up. When it is harder to line everything up it tends to make it more of a challenge to cook on. Now, this does not mean that you cannot get the metal to line up, but it does mean it gets to be a little bit harder than expected.
Pros and Cons
- Uses a variety of fuel sources.
- Easy to set up.
- Collapses flat for easy storage.
- Can hold a variety of cookware sets.
- Is lightweight for hiking.
- The stove is not that large and takes time to cook meals.
- Depending on the amount of cooking needed can take a lot of wood for a single meal.
Who Would Like This
Backpackers are going to love this stove. Typically you have to heat up water in a kettle to get your food cooked when backpacking and it has been reported with a good fire the water will boil in as little as ten minutes. So that is definitely a major plus for backpackers.
The other group that would like this are people who do not like cooking with logs on the fire because of the time it takes to reach temperature and cool down. Since the stove uses only twigs it has a tendency to get up to temperature relatively quickly and stays at the temperature for a long period of time as long as it is stoked properly.
Who Would Not Like This
People that are looking at this and thinking it is a taller stove would not care for this. The reason is it is a compact and almost a miniature type of stove. This means it does take time to cook on and it is not that tall so you have to lean down to cook your food on a consistent basis.
The other people that would not really care for the stove are people who are used to having their food cooked immediately. Because this is a smaller stove it it does not cook food quickly and will require constant stoking of the fire to make sure your food is cooked properly.
Whats In The Box
Buying the Emberlit Stainless Steel Backpacking Stove often means you are going to get a great item to take care of your cooking needs immediately. Still, it is important to know what is inside of the box to guarantee you get everything you need. Since that is the case here is what is in the box for the Emberlit Backpacking Stove.
The main thing that comes in the box is the stove itself. This is a great item and once you have it set up it will make it easier for you to see just how great the stove really is and how easy it is to work with.
Also included is a carrying pouch for the stove. The pouch is not really that impressive, but it is available for the stove and once the stove is folded down it fits perfectly into the bag and keeps your items in your backpack from getting covered in soot or ash. It is important to make sure the backpacking stove is fully cooled off before putting it in the bag.
Additional Accessories To Consider
When you are buying a backpacking stove you may want to consider the following items to help make the product work even better. Some of these accessories will help out right away, but others are going to be items that you find out down the line.
After you get the stove I would recommend finding a cookware set that you can dedicate to using with the stove. Yes, I know that I do cover that it will fit with almost any type of cookware, but unless you want soot on your cookware that you use elsewhere a dedicated set that fits perfect would be the best option.
Something else that you may want to consider would be extra carrying sleeves. Yes, the set does comes with one for you to use, but I recommend bringing along an extra one incase the metal snags on the bag and causes a tear in the bag.
What Others Are Saying
While I do provide quite a bit of information about the item here, I want to give you information from others. Here is some of the feedback that has been left by other reviews online.
A review by N. Galloway on Amazon has this to say about the stove. ”It eats wood just a bit faster than I thought but burns clean”. So as I have mentioned it will continue to burn wood and will go through it quickly, but it does provide a clean burn that reduces the amount of ash.
Drivewayautobody would say this in the Amazon review that they left from a verified purchase. ”Very tough and durable”. So this lends more credence to what I mentioned already about the stove being tough and would be lasting for a long period of time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Are The Emberlit Stoves Made?
The stove is designed and manufactured in the USA.
Does The Emberlit Stove Have A Bottom?
Yes, the stove has a metal bottom for the ash to rest on.
How Big Is The Wood Hole?
The wood hole is roughly 2 inches x 3 inches.
What Size Cookset Can I Use?
People have reported using a variety of cookware, but the largest we have seen reported is a 24 ounce stainless steel cookset.
What Can I Burn Inside Of The Stove?
The stove was designed with burning bio-fuels, wood, grass, paper, and the like inside of it. While you could burn other items inside of the stove, it is not recommended and could cause damage to the stove while voiding any warranty.
My Final Thoughts On Emberlit Stainless Steel Backpacking Stove
I have to say that this product has some positives and negatives. Overall, the Emberlit Stainless Steel Backpacking Stove is going to provide you with some great ways to cook while you are backpacking. Overall, as long as you use the stove properly you will not have much of an issue with it and should be able to continue to use for years to come. Those factors alone as why I am recommending the Emberlit Stainless Steel Backpacking Stove if you are in need of a new backpacking stove.
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