Who else uses a twig stove on their Boundary Waters trips? I took my Uberleben Flatpack stove to the BWCA for the first time on a day trip to cook a brook trout and do a water boil test and was super impressed. It will definitely be coming along with me on my next Boundary Waters Trip.




Bushcraft Stove Review

I always bring my Emberlit twig stove as a backup, or when I'm in the mood, my go-to. It's almost identical to the one in the link on your post. It's simple, and so easy to use, as long as there isn't a fire ban. It packs away into the size of a CD.

Very light, takes up almost no space. I recommend it, or one like it!

Dave

If I can (meaning no fire ban or threat of one than I will). Used a Solostove for the longest time but brought a Firebox titanium Nano on my last trip to save weight. Just bought a Bushbuddy so really looking forward to trying that. It's supposed to be a bit lighter than the Solostove and I like that design better than the fold up type. Of course it won't be here until August, just in time for a fall trip.

Pardon me, but I think any fire built in the BWCA has to be in the fire grate.
Anyway the video show it used on a bed of dry leaves a forest duff without any attempt at clearing.
I like cooking over a fire and do so often but always use the required grate. In other areas on a cleared spot on the ground.

butthead

butthead: "Pardon me, but I think any fire built in the BWCA has to be in the fire grate.
Anyway the video show it used on a bed of dry leaves a forest duff without any attempt at clearing.
I like cooking over a fire and do so often but always use the required grate. In other areas on a cleared spot on the ground.


butthead"

I also noticed the same thing Butthead. I use a Solostove twig cooker and if there is a fire grate, I usually set the stove on top of that or if there is enough room under the grate, I set it there are use the grate as my pan support. At the very least, it is wise to clear out all duff and twigs around the twig stove.

Got interested in stick stoves a few years ago. I found a lot of "hobo stoves" being made from all kinds of things from juice cans to empty paint cans and metal dish drainers. I made one from a 3 pound coffee can that I still use today. The main reason I like it is the high wood capacity and that it has a bottom the holds ashed and coals - plus the price!

Weighs less than 3 oz and heats a good sized pot of water very well:



After doing all that I "discovered" that a whole niche exists in manufactured stoves - duh! - and have since bought 2. One is the Silver Fire Economy Scout Stove which a gasifier design. It does do the best at combustion of the wood but requires more attention when cooking as it doesn't hold a lot of wood. The other is a folding Fire Box stove - rather heavy but very well made and works well for cooking and has a few optional accessories. I would say both are well suited to use in the backcountry.

I use a generic Bushbuddy gasifier clone I bought on Amazon years ago. I have used it on my last few BWCA trips with an alcohol stove that tucks neatly inside as a back up. I did not take it in May but used a canister stove instead, just too dry and I was concerned about a fire ban.
Here is a good tip : take along a pair of hand clippers, it makes processing and gathering fuel super easy. Using the fire grate to hold your pot, *as others mentioned, makes feeding your stove much easier and safer as well.

*lotsa smart folks on this forum, although I did see a small wrinkle on a tarp set-up in one of Butthead's pictures that really shook my faith in him. The pedestal is still standing but ?

"The pedestal is still standing but ?"

How did you know I just fell off last Saturday??? Was shining the top of my F150 cab after a washing and stepped off center toppling the pedestal, creasing my hard head, and putting a beaut of a purplish bruise on my well padded posterior!
Dam need to watch my feet even closer, now I've become old and decrepit! Not to mention wrinkles in my tarp setup!

Far as brush cookers, I've made them and fooled around with them but like alcohol stoves, they stay home when I really want to get away. Never had much problem cooking over a small campfire.

butthead

Wow, Butthead, sorry you banged your noggin but hope your truck is clean.

I also have some wrinkles in my tarp set up, but that’s because I use a stuffsack. Usually a little time hanging up and the wrinkles are gone - no ironing needed.

ericinely: "Who else uses a twig stove on their Boundary Waters trips? I took my Uberleben Flatpack stove to the BWCA for the first time on a day trip to cook a brook trout and do a water boil test and was super impressed. It will definitely be coming along with me on my next Boundary Waters Trip.





Bushcraft Stove Review "

I don't care about your stove. How was the brook trout fishing???!!!

Jaywalker: "Wow, Butthead, sorry you banged your noggin but hope your truck is clean.


I also have some wrinkles in my tarp set up, but that’s because I use a stuffsack. Usually a little time hanging up and the wrinkles are gone - no ironing needed. "

For an old mans truck it is.

Stuff sacks are the way! (I've been watching "The Mandalorian" too much)

butthead

butthead: "Pardon me, but I think any fire built in the BWCA has to be in the fire grate.
Anyway the video show it used on a bed of dry leaves a forest duff without any attempt at clearing.
I like cooking over a fire and do so often but always use the required grate. In other areas on a cleared spot on the ground.


butthead"

I did mention cleaning the area before setting up a stove, something I didn't do well in this video but have since I have used it more frequently. I do know that fires outside of grates in the bwca aren't allowed, but I do not know if this counts as a "fire." Yes, I know that bushcraft stoves aren't allowed when there are fire bans, but I do not know about whether or not you can just lite them up anywhere. The point of that rule is to leave no trace and mitigate fire damage.

I will say that I was stopped two days ago and our campsite checked by two forest service officers and they did not mention the stove (I was cooking on a cleared spot about 15' from the fire with kindling near by and clearly the stove had been used). They thanked us for having a clean campsite, made sure we knew about the recent bear activity in the area and left.

Every time I have used the stove I have cranked up the heat pretty much as hot as the stove will allow, and not once has it left any marking on the ground underneath. I also have been using the stove more directly on the fire grate, but that gets a little tippy, since the grates are so far apart and this stove is fairly small...

outsidethebox: "

ericinely: "Who else uses a twig stove on their Boundary Waters trips? I took my Uberleben Flatpack stove to the BWCA for the first time on a day trip to cook a brook trout and do a water boil test and was super impressed. It will definitely be coming along with me on my next Boundary Waters Trip.






Bushcraft Stove Review "

I don't care about your stove. How was the brook trout fishing???!!!"

Plenty of smaller 12-14" trout willing to bite....still having a hard time finding those monsters

We like to cook and boil over a fire whenever possible. Just got back from a 5 night trip and still had gas in the 1st 11oz bottle. I like the idea of a twig stove but it seems like they require more attention than a fire on the grate. Of course the grate fire requires more fuel overall but I like to walk away while waiting for a boil.

I've played with a few and made a couple as well. I was gifted this last year (by request) and it has not disappointed. Easy, light and works very well.

Littlebug Junior stove

As far as time and watching the fire, I think you can walk away. The fuel is easier than an open fire, a big plus. Once you get it going, it may be one or so re-feeds of sticks.

The fact that I usually don't have to go more than 5 feet from the fire grate for fuel is a plus.

I do use the grate area (on, in or in front of depending on wind)


John