A lot of people often want to know what would make the best camping stove for beginners. The answer is pretty simple as far as I’m concerned and boils down to one of two choices.

The first is a really good budget option that includes a full cook set and is so easy to use that you can’t get it wrong. That is the Trangia stove and cookware. I’ll tell you more why I think it is great for beginners.

The second good choice is to get a simple camping gas stove such as a MSR Pocket Rocket or a MSR Superfly, both of which are great stoves and are well made.

Which is better, the Trangia or a gas stove?

The Trangia is more than just a stove. It is a complete cooking system all in one. It consists of a simple burner that holds alcohol (methylated spirit) and that produces its own pressure from the heat of the alcohol burning. On top of this goes a cooking set and windshield. The whole package consists of a burner and pots and pans and weighs very little. It is also really simple and rugged as there is not much that can go wrong with it considering there are no moving parts. It has been around for almost 100 years since its introduction in Sweden and it has been used by the Swedish and Finish armies for years for good reason. It is made by Trangia in Sweden, a company with a long history. you can find a really nice Trangia review on the MountainGear blog.

The downside of this is that the fuel is heavy, the temperature can’t be adjusted and you may find yourself limited by what the Trangia can offer if you start doing much longer hikes or going mountaineering or on expeditions into remote areas.

What about a gas stove?

The advantages of gas stoves are that they are also really simple for beginners and that you can find fuel canisters in most outdoor stores. That said, you’ll have to spend a bit more to get a burner and a set of pots. Most standard canisters are also less stable because they have a higher centre of gravity.

What’s the verdict?

Beginners who are starting out would do well with a Trangia, even though these stoves have been going out of fashion over the last few years. Someone who plans to take their hiking further and to do mountaineering should probably invest a bit more upfront in a good gas stove that will likely offer more potential for growth.

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Trangia 27-3 Ul Stove Kit