I got my BioLite CampStove as a wedding gift many moons ago. Since then, I mainly used it as a backup cooking and charging device during power outages or for boiling water for MRE's. As a dad of four boys, I'm also a Scoutmaster for a small Scouting Troop near our home town.
On our first spring campout outing of the year, I decided to bring along my CampStove just as tool for our newer scouts to practice their fire building skills. Anyone who goes early Spring camping in the Northeast knows to expect some gnarly weather. The second night out, we got hit hard with slushy rain and gusts of wind. The day (which had been a nice 78 degrees) quickly deteriorated and dropped to 44 degrees Fahrenheit. When the rain came rolling in later that evening, it felt like it was just two degrees above freezing. All night long our tents and gear were peppered with rain and ice.
The next morning, I knew our boys needed a hot meal and a warm fire to start their day. Unfortunately, all our firewood was cold and soaked through and through (with exception to some pine cones and lint I brought from home in a ziplock bag). I tried unsuccessfully to use lint, wood shavings and kindling to start a fire in our fire pit but any fire I'd create was quickly snuffed out. Running low on tinder, I took out my Biolite CampStove as a last ditch effort to create and sustain a solid flame. It did not disappoint! Not only did it start and sustain a fire, I used my CampStove to dry out and light up some moderate sized pieces of wood that I then used to start up our camp fire pit. Needless to say, my CampStove really did save the day! It would not have been possible otherwise.
Since then, if the weather calls for rain on a campout, my CampStove is sure to join in on the adventure.
Read More
