Tried a budget hiking stove and it cost me $40 plus a ruined dinner

Picked up a $15 ultralight stove off Amazon for a weekend on the Appalachian Trail near Harper's Ferry. First night, the fuel canister connector leaked and I couldn't boil water for my dehydrated meal. Had to eat cold mush and trudge back early. Anyone else ditched cheap stoves for a reliable brand like MSR or Jetboil?

3 comments

3 Comments

oscarc5319h ago

Man that totally stinks, cold mush after a long hike is the worst. I've been burned by cheap gear more than once and it always feels like a kick in the teeth when you're out in the woods. The connector leaking is a real safety hazard too, not just a ruined meal. I made the switch to a MSR PocketRocket a few years back and it's been solid every single trip, never had a leak or a flame issue. Sometimes you just gotta pay for the peace of mind when you're depending on it to eat and stay warm. Hope the next trip goes way better for you.

felix_hayes6419h ago

Ha, sounds like that stove earned a one way ticket to the landfill. Nothing says "great wilderness experience" like playing firefighter with your dinner. You learn pretty quick that cheap gear just adds a whole new level of "adventure" you didn't sign up for, right?

cora8638h ago

You're acting like spending $200 on a stove automatically makes you a better hiker. I've had that same $15 stove for three seasons now and it's boiled water every single time without a hitch. Maybe you just got a dud or didn't tighten the connector right, happens with any brand.