Cooking fuels

[Toddie]

Not sure if this should be in the 'Food' section so feel free to move.

So i've decided i'm going to slowly keep a stock of cooking fuels, now i'm definitely going for the ethanol eco gel (for the fact that you can use this indoors with little ventilation) but i feel like i should put all my eggs in one basket. So i've been thinking hexi blocks (which i can't use indoors) due to them being cheap and available.

Do any of you know some good sites to get eco gel at a cheap(ish) price? I've done a quick search and seen a big tub of the stuff (4KG) for around 32quid posted but i'm slightly unsure if this is a good deal?

Also, i'm thinking trangia stoves due to me using these frequently on hikes etc. They're simple but work. But of course any other suggestions on stoves is very much welcome.

Thanks in advance!

[Moony]

Go outdoors do 1 litre tins for £5.99 atm http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/fuel-4-gel-fuel-p216525

[nickdutch]

Not sure if this should be in the 'Food' section so feel free to move.

So i've decided i'm going to slowly keep a stock of cooking fuels, now i'm definitely going for the ethanol eco gel (for the fact that you can use this indoors with little ventilation) but i feel like i should put all my eggs in one basket. So i've been thinking hexi blocks (which i can't use indoors) due to them being cheap and available.

Do any of you know some good sites to get eco gel at a cheap(ish) price? I've done a quick search and seen a big tub of the stuff (4KG) for around 32quid posted but i'm slightly unsure if this is a good deal?

Also, i'm thinking trangia stoves due to me using these frequently on hikes etc. They're simple but work. But of course any other suggestions on stoves is very much welcome.

Thanks in advance!

I think the question is do you really want to buy the gel? The liquid if you bulk buy it (bioethanol) can be cheaper and you can get it on ebay.

[jansman]

We stock a bit of a mix of fuels here at Chez Jansman. When we were first married we had one hell of an ice/ snow storm. It knocked out power and water for 3 days. We were all electric back then( although we did have the open fire).We had nothing! However, we shoved a kettle on the openfire, and a stew pan. It worked like a dream.
However, now we have a couple of camping stoves with the little gas canisters(Gaz), a Trangia and bottles of meths. This is the simplest and most reliable( and comes with kettle and pans!)we have one of those cheap'suitcase' type picnic stoves that use the aerosol shaped gas. These are good and stable and will hold a standard pan from your kitchen. I got hold of a Kelly Kettle awhile ago. Bought it just for boiling water, and it uses paper and twigs! And not too many either. I like the kelly as it is part of my water purification system( it holds 1/2 a gallon) and is low tech in the extreme.

If that all packs up/ runs out in a crisis-unlikely IMO- we have the woodburner. I chose this one as it has a cooking plate. I routinely sling a kettle on it as that saves a bit of 'leccy!
In summary, if I had to choose one I would run with the Trangia I think as it is so simple.

[Le Mouse]

In summary, if I had to choose one I would run with the Trangia I think as it is so simple.

+1 for the Trangia. Or in my case, the knock-off can't-buy-anymore Eurohike version which is still surprisingly sturdy, if a tad more bulky than the Trangia. Meths is cheap and easily available. I currently only use it if I camp, but if the power went here I could stick it in the well ventilated kitchen and cook quite happily on it.

So i've been thinking hexi blocks (which i can't use indoors) due to them being cheap and available.

A friend of mine used to cook on hexi blocks when he was a student and living in grim digs with an even grimmer kitchen. He told me a tale of how he came home from the pub slightly worse for wear and decided to cook some soup in his room. The hexi blocks basically exploded, sending small balls of flame all over his room! He sobered up *very* quickly, I can tell you!

I've heard good things about the eco-gel.

I think doing what Jansman does is a good idea - go for a mix. That way you'll always have something that'll work!