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Camping stove

One of the most important investments you will be making for your trekking gear is the camping stove. Sure, it's nice to have a camping buddy who already has one, but later on you will learn that cooking on only one stove can be time consuming especially for us Filipinos because we need to have rice cooked as well.

There are lots of cheap stoves around but since this is one of your accessories that will take a beating at every trek you make, it is best to invest in a good one, preferably those that have made names in their industry. Well, let's face it... if you buy an inexpensive thing, chances are it's not sturdily-built. Although of course I'm not saying you go for the most expensive ones either. Just get something that's decent enough for the many trips you will be making.

Safety is one major concern when fire and fuel is negotiated. So before turning on the stove, make sure that the fuel container is securely locked in place into the nozzle, and make a pre-departure check of the hose and make sure that it does not have any leaks. I have heard of a story of a camper who's face was badly burned because the fuel canister was not securely fastened and was leaking gas. So when the fire was lit up, it ignited the gas-laden air and such was the fate of the unlucky camper.

Here are some tips in choosing a good stove based on experience:

• choose a stove that's not too small. Sure, it can be compressed so small that it takes up little space in the bag. But when it's time to cook, it might not be able to support the pots and pans because the supports cannot spread far enough to reach even the edge of the pot
  
• buy one that has a wide burner. The fire will be spread more widely and efficiently.
  
• Check the locking mechanism where the fuel canister gets locked on. It might not be compatible with the type of canisters you will be using.