Kate recently asked me how I heat water in my van, so this quick little post is to answer that.Spoken like a true fellow-tea-fanatic, she said "If I can have my black tea in the morning I can live anywhere."
Glad to know I'm not the only one...
In my van, I use a lightweight GSI 1-quart teapot and a Max Burton butane stove
for heating water for tea or oatmeal, cooking soup, and similar simple stuff.
The Stove: There are all sorts of portable butane stoves out there, and this is the one I just happened to pick. I just LOVE this one, although I'm sure they all work about the same. It is surprisingly lightweight and portable, and it came with a nice hard plastic case measuring 13" wide, 11.5" tall, and 4.25" thick. For fuel, the stove requires the use of generic disposable butane canisters (7.8 oz each), which can be ordered online
or bought at local hardware and camping stores. You just make sure the ignition knob is turned to "Off," pop in your butane canister (notched-out section up), push down a lever to lock it in place, and then turn the dial (piezo-electric ignition). It lights just like a normal stove and it is extremely easy to use. Lets see... it comes apart easy (simple to clean), is very sturdy (made of metal & porcelain-enamel coated steel), and a butane canister really lasts for quite a while. Even if you aren't a traveler or vehicle dweller, I recommend having one of these in your home in case of emergencies.
or bought at local hardware and camping stores. You just make sure the ignition knob is turned to "Off," pop in your butane canister (notched-out section up), push down a lever to lock it in place, and then turn the dial (piezo-electric ignition). It lights just like a normal stove and it is extremely easy to use. Lets see... it comes apart easy (simple to clean), is very sturdy (made of metal & porcelain-enamel coated steel), and a butane canister really lasts for quite a while. Even if you aren't a traveler or vehicle dweller, I recommend having one of these in your home in case of emergencies.
I have read online in several places that portable butane stoves are safe to use in a vehicle, BUT I don't totally believe that and want to emphasize caution. I don't use the stove in a totally enclosed space without having windows open and some air flow, because "when oxygen is limited, burning butane can form carbon monoxide." (I stole that line from Wikipedia). Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas which is extremely poisonous.
The Tea-Kettle: I chose this teapot because I originally really wanted a lightweight one for backpacking, and I saw it on Two-Knives-Katie's site. She said she loved hers, and I can now agree - It is a totally cool little kettle. It's extremely lightweight (1/3 pound), since it is made of Halulite, and holds just the right amount of water (32 oz). The lid doesn't stay on the tightest (doesn't really matter I guess), and I do wish the handles weren't coated since I think they could eventually melt... but otherwise I think this is an excellent little teapot. If I didn't already have this one, though, I might try the Brunton aluminum kettle
. It has excellent ratings which say that the lid fits tight, and it looks to me like the handles aren't coated with a meltable material. My kettle works GREAT though, and water boils extremely fast inside it! That is all that really matters.
. It has excellent ratings which say that the lid fits tight, and it looks to me like the handles aren't coated with a meltable material. My kettle works GREAT though, and water boils extremely fast inside it! That is all that really matters.
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Totally apart from that set-up, I do have a backup stove that is mainly for backpacking. Using some online instructions, I've got a home-made little Heineken-can Penny Stove that burns denatured alcohol (easy to get anywhere). I'm not kidding when I say TINY and perfect for backpacking. I could use this in my van, too, if I were out of butane and unable to find any. For now I just keep my little penny-stove inside my bugout bag.
Since I'm on a list-kick lately, my mini BOB (bugout bag)/backpacking cookset consists of:
Snow Peak 700 titanium pot with metal lid (holds everything!!)
JetBoil plastic lid (happens to fit tightly on the Snow Peak 700 & has a slit for draining liquid or drinking out of)
dish scrub pad
Snow Peak 450 single-walled mug
(can also put this right over a flame)
dish scrub pad
Snow Peak 450 single-walled mug
(can also put this right over a flame)
bandana (used as a potholder)
penny stove (in the mesh bag that came with the Snow Peak 450)
penny stove (in the mesh bag that came with the Snow Peak 450)
a penny for my penny stove (or for your thoughts)
homemade coat-hanger pot stand
homemade coat-hanger pot stand
mesh bag that goes over the Snow Peak 700 (so I guess this technically holds everything)
See my penny stove in use in this video:
