“Alcohol: the cause of, and answer to, all of life’s problems” (Matt Groening)
Alcohol stoves are a real blessing in the jungle – they are extremely light and compact. and you can carry just enough fuel to ensure that you can cook your 
dinner in the event that a heavy downpour washes your fire away.
They are also easy to make and don’t have any moving parts that can break or get clogged up.
For me they are an ideal back-up to take into the jungle, particularly when going solo – not something I hope to have to rely on for every day cooking (an open fire will do that) but a fail safe in case of rain or lack of time to collect firewood (or even lack of patience when I need a first coffee in the morning to kick start the system).
In a larger group, or if you intend to cook more elaborate meals than simple boiling allows, then a small gas cooker may be a better bet.
There are other types of stoves to choose from – e.g. solid fuel and petrol – but ethanol is something you can normally find even in remote areas without too much problem whereas other fuels may be more difficult to find and handle.
The ultralightweight trekkers have made alcohol stoves their signature piece of kit and have done much to develop DIY models to the point that these homemade stoves pretty much match commercial models in performance. There are various designs you can choose from, but my own favourite is the famous “pepsi-can” design which works very well indeed and is easy to prime.
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At the end of the video I cover the basic steps to building your own “soda-can” alcohol stove (there are more detailed descriptions available if you do a quick search on the net) and review some of the types of alcohol stoves you can make for yourself.
Alcohol stoves do not pack-out heat in the way, say, a gas stove will, and some sort of heat shield/draft excluder is going to help them get the temperature high enough for a rolling boil – along with a little bit of patience from your end!
Hi Paul,
yet again my friend a good video. I liked the wood burner one as well but like you I carry an alcohol stove in my belt kit just for the reason as it is bomb proof (but I did hear of an Army cadet blowing one up, how he did I don’t know) and you can get a quickish brew on the go. as the old army saying goes why run when you can walk, why walk when you can stand, why stand when you can sit, why sit and not make a brew, if in doubt brew up. I use the Trangia stove as that is what I have used for the past 26 years with no problem even used unleaded petrol in it (NOT ADVISABLE) also in the bergan I carry the Swedish Army trangia cookset this is a bit heavy but has everything you need it can be used with the burner or the windshield can be used as a wood burner the pots have a bail arm on it so can be hung over an open fire and it is in stainless steel so no rust adn no bent pots and pans. all fuel and burner and spork and brewkit fit in side I recomend it to anyone.
Any way mate be good and keep up the good work.
Lee
Hi Lee,
Many thanks for the comment and good advice as always (although I wouldn’t dare try using petrol myself!) – I like the simplicity of alcohol stoves too and, other than splitting them open by rough handling, it is hard to see what could possibly go wrong with them. Perhaps not very fuel efficient for every day use but fine as a back-up to an open fire.
Cheers!
Paul
Hi Paul,
Would it not be easier to carry some hexamine blocks? There is possibility of the alcohol container leaking! Hexi blocks get the got done faster and with a lot less fuss!
I enjoy reading your articles and reviews, keep up the good work!
Hi Harrison,
thanks for the comment and a good point – I don’t have a problem with hexi stoves at all and you are right that they take away the issue of leaking fuel containers (although I find they’re not that much hotter burning than alcohol stoves). My only problem with them is more jungle specific: that in the small villages here it’s unlikely you’ll find hexi blocks whereas ethanol is more easily available.
The small, village shops here do sell carbide however, so you could use a carbide stove as a solid fuel burner (although I avoid the stuff as it can be dangerous).
Anyway, good point and thanks for making it: my own view is that the choice of stove is often personal preference – I don’t think there is a ‘best’ choice as it depends on the situation and person.
Cheers!
Paul
Hi Paul,
Wishing u happy New Year
I ve read about ur articles here, its interesting and fully information, especially added by video clips. By the way i like to know more about Duku Chandong, the parang which u used by, its works properly izzit? Its looks nice, but strong, easy to hold n gripping, the blade looks sharps, where can i get one, similar as ur, or more longer… Just now i read Duku Panjai for sale, izzit available? I m Malaysian, from Pahang.
Regards, more sucess..
Hi Kelompen,
Thanks for the comment and glad you like the articles – the Duku Chandong is a great parang for chopping but the full length one can be a bit heavy for general trail clearing if you’re using it all day. I have a plastic handled 10 inch blade variant as well which works great for general use.
If you are looking to buy one then Nadir at outdoordynamics.com.my sells a good range and offers free delivery in Malaysia.
Hope that helps.
Cheers!
Paul
My only gripe with alcohol stove is the carrying into the jungle the alcohol and its container which can be somewhat heavy (for a two days’ trip) not to mention the tendency of it leaking, spilling, etc.
If the alcohol stove is to be used as a backup to other means of fire-making, I would prefer the hexamine tablets for the reasons Harrison has mentioned for the jungle environment.
Personally, I would use the alcohol stove only as a back-up stove on backpacking trips to areas where there are villages or towns where such spirits/alcohols are easily available. I personally dont think the alcohol stove is really conducive for the jungle environment as there are other better alternatives.
Just me, I guess :-). BTW you have done well to explain the different versions of alcohol stoves available. Cheers!
Hi Freelander,
Another vote for Hexi stoves then! (nothing wrong with that).
I was trying to pin down in my mind why I prefer alcohol stoves and I guess it comes to ease of use, availability of fuel and speed (especially for that first coffee of the day!). There can be a problem with leaking bottles but, to be fair, that’s really a problem with the container rather than the stove.
But I fully appreciate that stoves are a matter of personal preference/situation and hexi tablets are well proven in the field and both compact, light and easy to carry.
Cheers!
Paul
Hey,
I’ve been using these alcohol stoves for a very long time back in the states. Fuel was available nearly everywhere (all the gas stations, hardware stores, paint shops, etc.). But since I’ve been traveling in SE asia for the past eight months, I’ve been having a little difficulty finding fuel because 1.) not all of the hardware stores have them 2.) I don’t speak the Bahasa Malay/Indonesia (only the most basic). For the most part, the only types of fuel I’ve found is methanol and “unknown” alcohol (which i’ve been avoiding because I don’t know what chemicals it contains and if it’ll burn cleanly or leave soot) in a green bottle for 4-8 ringgits. My favorite fuel back at home is ethanol (sold as denatured alcohol aka methyl alcohol), as it burns slightly better and isn’t deadly toxic as methanol. However, I’ve never found a single place in Malaysia that sells it because no one seems to know what I’m talking about when I say “Ada ethanol, methyl or denatured alkohol?” Do you have any advice on how to find less toxic fuel? Are there different names for these alcohol fuels in Bahasa Malay?
By the way, I love the information you’ve been providing since I started following your site last year.
It gives me a little more confidence in how to prepare and react to certain situations in this foreign jungle during my trip.
Hi Jan,
Thanks for the comment and glad you find some of the info useful. The stuff to buy here is mormally just called ‘spirit’ and you can find it in the rural hardware stores. I’ve also found it in the Giant hypermarkets in KL. I’m away from home at the moment but can take some photos of the bottle labels when I get back and send them to you. I’m not sure what exactly is in this stuff….but it works!
I think methanol and methyl alcohol are the same thing….there’s a good article on fuel types at this link which may be of help.
Just in case I forget to send the photos can you remind me next week?
Cheers!
Paul