Small/cheap equipment

[jennyjj01]

Hello all. I'm relatively new to this prepping and have been working on getting equipment such as candles, torches, stove etc. As money is starting to get tight can anyone recommend cheap equipment that might be useful? What sort of things could I have overlooked? I'm trying to be ready for power outages and cost of living this winter.

Thanks.

....
Get at least one alternative cooking device, especially if you cook electric. OR, use flasks to timeshift your cooking. Again, prices are running away.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yinleader-Camp ... ef=sr_1_10

Re that bistro stove. I know the canisters are a bit cheaper than backpacking ones. But, I wonder how much gas they burn per minute, how they compare. Obviously they are much bigger stoves, so, you know what I mean. They probably are efficient, as they sell in much bigger quantities than backpacking ones. Of course it depends how many you are cooking for, how much space you have, do you want portability.

I confess I don't know the running cost of that stove. It was bought cheap with a dozen carts. Preferred over various small camping stoves. For home use. It has the feel of a real hob, which somehow reassures.iirc I got the gas at £1 per can and each is good for at least 4 quick meals.

Would be interested in a costing comparison between camp stove types

[Frnc]

....
Get at least one alternative cooking device, especially if you cook electric. OR, use flasks to timeshift your cooking. Again, prices are running away.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yinleader-Camp ... ef=sr_1_10

Re that bistro stove. I know the canisters are a bit cheaper than backpacking ones. But, I wonder how much gas they burn per minute, how they compare. Obviously they are much bigger stoves, so, you know what I mean. They probably are efficient, as they sell in much bigger quantities than backpacking ones. Of course it depends how many you are cooking for, how much space you have, do you want portability.

I confess I don't know the running cost of that stove. It was bought cheap with a dozen carts. Preferred over various small camping stoves. For home use. It has the feel of a real hob, which somehow reassures.iirc I got the gas at £1 per can and each is good for at least 4 quick meals.

Would be interested in a costing comparison between camp stove types

Backpacking ones are dearer. They cost more to make and have a smaller market. The valve is higher quality, so I read, and I think the metal is thicker to hold higher pressure.

[ForgeCorvus]

Also you can use your normal pans on a bistro stove with no issues
On a camping stove they're a bit precarious..... I've dumped quite a few meals over the years due to a moments inattention

[GillyBee]

The one thing to remember with a bistro stove is that you should not use any pan that is so big it overhangs the canister area. Otherwise the heat can be deflected onto the canister and an overheated canister could go BOOM.
Most normal size pans will be fine. Just avoid huge stockpots or big frying pans.

[Vega-J]

Fantastic answers as always. Thank you.

I mentioned to a friend of mine that I was looking for a stove and my issues with no flames in my tenancy agreement. She gave me a flameless stove she had in her loft and never used. It has chemical packs you put in the bottom and add water. Haven't quite got the hang of using it yet as always seem to overcook things.

I bought a 50 pack of tea lights and have hidden them. Don't tell my landlord

I have two good head torches as I use them while cycling. Got a wind up lantern which is pretty good and a wind up radio which sounds terrible.

For food preps I have started adding tins, jars, spices, tvp etc and a 5l bottle of water every week. I also have all my winter crops on the allotment.

My biggest problem is heat I think. My partner is always cold so I bought an electric blanket. She says it doesn't get warm enough and will put the heating on and use the blanket at the same time! Any suggestions for heating that's affordable would be helpful. I'm going to be fine as I'm happy putting on layers and getting under a duvet with a good book

Thanks everyone.

[jennyjj01]

I mentioned to a friend of mine that I was looking for a stove and my issues with no flames in my tenancy agreement. She gave me a flameless stove she had in her loft and never used. It has chemical packs you put in the bottom and add water. Haven't quite got the hang of using it yet as always seem to overcook things.

Flameless stove???? That's novel. Do you have a link to anything like it?

I bought a 50 pack of tea lights and have hidden them. Don't tell my landlord
Got a wind up lantern which is pretty good and a wind up radio which sounds terrible.

I have a wind up wireless, too, but no longer see the point of it. With rechargeable batteries and small solar charger, I can't envisage ever winding it. Same with the lamp.

For food preps I have started adding tins, jars, spices, tvp etc and a 5l bottle of water every week. I also have all my winter crops on the allotment.

Treat your stash as your grocery shop and your grocery order as your wholesaler. That deals with rotation and highlights any gaps.

My biggest problem is heat I think. My partner is always cold so I bought an electric blanket. She says it doesn't get warm enough and will put the heating on and use the blanket at the same time! Any suggestions for heating that's affordable would be helpful.

Ah! that;s a problem now, you will have a big crisis in power outages. I think the no-flame order might have to be ignored. Small 1kW or 2kW fan heaters can be cosy, but cost a lot to run and, of course, need electricity on. Snuggi???

[Yorkshire Andy]

These sort of things Jenny

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154739938414 ... i6EALw_wcB

There's also these

https://evaq8.co.uk/flameless-ration-he ... 24EALw_wcB





Do you have a balcony / garden area Vega?

As for a cold Mrs.... Good luck no man has ever found a answer to that .... Unless... If your brave

[GillyBee]

We have been trying to keep the heating off. There have only been a couple of cold days so far but they have been good to help test out ideas.
Possible solutions for those who feel the cold are to wrap up well but also add a heat source. This coud be a basic hot water bottle or wheat bag under a throw or tucked inside a hoodie or you could look at a USB heated vest if you are feeling richer. These will work in a power outage for a while if you add a USB powerbank.
Once you have warmed up the extra layers seem to keep you warm a lot longer. The trick is to not get cold in the first place.

[Yorkshire Andy]

We have been trying to keep the heating off. There have only been a couple of cold days so far but they have been good to help test out ideas.
Possible solutions for those who feel the cold are to wrap up well but also add a heat source. This coud be a basic hot water bottle or wheat bag under a throw or tucked inside a hoodie or you could look at a USB heated vest if you are feeling richer. These will work in a power outage for a while if you add a USB powerbank.
Once you have warmed up the extra layers seem to keep you warm a lot longer. The trick is to not get cold in the first place.

Must admit I looked at the usb vests but the reviews for the cheaper ones error were not positive... A engineer visited last winter and he let me try his one..
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185128861468 ... 2LEALw_wcB

But it's a lot of money to shell out then a battery and charger (drill battery)

[Yorkshire Andy]

Oh a big thermos you know that the cuts are starting at X time you can store boiling water for a brew / warm up meals / have a pot noodle any remaining swmbo can have a hot water bottle

Saw some big glass tubed thermos in Asda last night for a tenner... I'm looking for a big stainless one as I'll probably drop it carrying it to the car ....


No flame so happy landlord


You can see the landlords point but this winter if it comes to the crunch what does he expect his tennents to do

If you could stretch to find one the catalytic flameless calor heater might skirt round the rules . He might not like it but it's advertised as flameless

https://www.gas-on.co.uk/campingaz-cr-5 ... gas-heater