How Much Alcohol Do I Need for Backpacking Stove?

By Michael Ferguson

Backpacking stoves are an essential element of any successful camping trip. Whether you’re out in the wild or just camping in your backyard, a backpacking stove is a great way to cook meals or boil water for coffee. But how much alcohol do you need for your backpacking stove?

The amount of fuel needed for a backpacking stove depends on the type of stove and its size. Generally, the larger the stove, the more fuel it will require.

The most common type of fuel used for backpacking stoves is denatured alcohol, which comes in liquid form and can be found at most hardware stores. Typically, one quart of denatured alcohol will last about two to three hours on a medium-sized stove.

When using denatured alcohol as fuel, it’s important to remember that it can be very flammable so it should always be stored out of reach of children and pets. Additionally, it’s important to remember that denatured alcohol burns quickly and doesn’t create much heat compared to other fuels like propane or white gas, so it should only be used as an emergency backup or when other fuels are not available.

When using denatured alcohol as fuel, it’s also important to know how much you’ll need for your specific backpacking stove before leaving on your camping trip. This can easily be determined by measuring the size of your stove and determining how much fuel you’ll need based on that measurement. For example, if your stove measures 2 inches wide by 4 inches long then you’ll need about 2 quarts of denatured alcohol for every hour you plan to use it.

It’s also important to consider how long you plan on using your backpacking stove while camping before purchasing the necessary amount of fuel – this way you won’t end up with too much or too little fuel when you arrive at your campsite. Additionally, keep in mind that some stoves require specific types of fuels such as propane or white gas so make sure to double-check what type of fuel is compatible with your stove before hitting the trails.

Conclusion:

To answer the question ‘How Much Alcohol Do I Need for Backpacking Stove?’ will depend largely on the size and type of backpacker’s stove that is being used.

Generally speaking, one quart of denatured alcohol will last about two to three hours on a medium-sized backpacking stove but this can vary depending on size and type of use. It’s important to measure and consider how long one plans on using their backpacking stove while camping before purchasing the necessary amount of fuel – this way they won’t end up with too much or too little when they arrive at their campsite.