How to Choose an Alcohol Stove for Backpacking

Before we get into the questions you should ask yourself to help you decide which alcohol stove to get, here is a quick rundown of some of the different designs out there that you will find yourself choosing from.

Now let's look at some of the considerations you need to take into account before settling on a design that will work for you.

Here are 3 recommended fuels that are easy to find. And, in case you were wondering, no, you can't burn gasoline in your alcohol stove (trust me).

S-L-X - This is a brand of "denatured alcohol" (ethanol with methanol added) which is commonly used as a shellac thinner. You can find it in the paint section in hardware stores like the Home Depot.

HEET - This is actually a methanol antifreeze that can be found at most auto-supply stores (and sometimes gas stations). NOTE: Only use the one in the yellow bottle, not the red.

Everclear - This grain alcohol is an excellent fuel for alcohol stoves and some argue that it's a good choice because it has dual use as both fuel and a nightcap. Just don't drink too much (especially at altitude)--it's 190 proof!

There isn't too much of a difference between S-L-X and HEET as demonstrated in the video below. However, some have noticed that the quality between batches is more consistent in HEET.

One of the nice things about alcohol fuel (besides the fact that it won't eat through your skin if you spill it on yourself) is that you can store it in just about any container (probably even things you have laying around the house right now). Here are some ideas for different types of containers you could use.

This is my design which is adjustable so you can use it with different diameters of pots. If you want to make one, here are step-by-step instructions.