Although Nothing Can Beat the satisfaction of building your own campfire, the convenience and reliability of purpose made camping stoves make them an essential piece of cooking equipment, especially in areas where open fires are banned.

The benefits of camping stoves
Modern camping stoves are very light and collapse down to an incredibly small, compact size. Gas-fueled stoves are by far the most common, but liquid-fueled stoves are also worth considering. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages (see below), but your choice will be dictated by space and weight constraints, the distance you're traveling, and environmental factors. A hexamine stove is a good item to have in a survival situation.

Choosing a Gas or Liquid fueled stove
Gas-fueled stoves are safer, cleaner, lighter, and easier to use than liquid-fueled stoves, but are less economical, and not suitable for low-temperature, high-altitude use. Liquid stoves offer greater stability, fuel versatility and economy, but you need to pump and prime (preheat) them before use, and they are less clean.

Gas fueled stove

Type of stove
	Butane or isobutene	Propane	Blended fuel
Information	Both fuels sold in disposable, pressurized canisters.	Fuel sold in disposable, pressurized canisters. Used in most portable stoves and barbecue grills.	Fuel sold in disposable. pressurized canisters. Is a mix of butane, propane, and/or isobutene.
Pros	Lightweight, sealed fuel container. Butane very efficient and burns at a high temperature. Isobutene more efficient than butane, and performs better in cold conditions.	Lightweight, sealed fuel container. Fuel burns at a very hot, steady heat, and produces an almost sootless flame. Performs very well in cold conditions.	Lightweight, sealed fuel container. Fuel safer than pure propane, and performs better than either pure butane or isobutene in cold conditions. Isobutene blends give a more efficient flame.
Cons	Higher cost and lower heat output than liquid fuels. Fuel efficiency reduced at higher altitudes. Butane less efficient than isobutene in temperatures below 50 F (10 C).	Higher cost and lower heat output than liquid fuels. Fuel efficiency reduced at higher altitudes. Highly combustible, so less safe than other fuels.	Higher cost and lower heat output than liquid fuels. Fuel efficiency reduced at higher altitudes.

Transporting fuel
There are many factors to consider when transporting fuel to make your expedition safer:

• When hiking, pack your fuel container upright in the middle of your backpack, and surround with clothing to protect it from knocks. Make sure you can access it easily when you reach camp.
  Use similar principles when traveling by other methods.
• Ensure that your fuel bottles look very different from your water bottles to prevent confusion.
• If you're going on a long expedition, check the availability of the fuel, and consider how you will dispose of cylinders safely.