Sterno?

S

SpecialK

Joined
Nov 4, 1999
Messages
91
Question for all BOB owners.

I'm going thorugh my BOB (I tell my wife it's called a BOB and she looks at me like I just raped a dog or something). Anyway, I've read about Trioxane and Esbit bars for cooking purposes, but what's up with good ole' fashioned Sterno. We used it in the Air Force years ago and it seemed pretty effective and stable. Anyone have any experience with the stuff other than brew a cup of crappy instant coffee in a 10 year old empty c-rat can (fondue afficianados need not apply :)).

Al
 
We always use Sterno for our fondue - it's just the right size.

I think it's a great idea. I've found that you have to rotate the Sterno, it does evaporate after a while, leaving "chunks" in the can.
 
a small sterno can does not last too long, but it can be supplemented with some denatured alcohol.

My main complaint is that the low BTU output of sterno and denatured alcohol. IMO, it is higher than that of solid fuel stoves, but nowhere close to that of white gas and gasoline stoves. My outdoor stoves get much more use in the winter and late fall seasons than it does in the summer so I need a good amount of output. Otherwise, you lose the weight and size efficiency of the solid and alcohol stoves by needing to burn twice the fuel to heat whatever it is you are heating.

For a bugout bag though, it's great. Just bring more of it if you're in cold weather, and bring extra denatured alcohol.
 
There is a better canned fuel. It is called "Ecofuel" http://www.jdpinc.com/ecofuel/ It comes in a can like sterno. Only disadvantage is that the can is twice the size of a sterno can, but otherwise, its all advantage. Burns longer, puts out more heat, has a heat control (two lids, one larger for wider burning area and about 2+x the BTU of sterno, one smaller for about the same heat as a sterno can), burns up to 8 hours (small lid, 4 hrs. large) and can be shut off and lit again and again. Best of all it does NOT evaporate and has an *indefinate* shelf life.

I bought a case of this stuff 4+ years ago. Took a can out today to give it a try, and its just as good as it was new. For instant (if a little slow) cooking heat, I haven't seen anything to beat this stuff. Much more compact than nesbit tabs or fuel bars (though it doesn't burn as hot as a fuel bar). Became my preferred day-trip cooking heat. Not so good on longer trips because of its weight/btu ratio. Easy to use without a stove though. Just put between a few flat rocks, or dig a hole that your pot will sit on, etc...
 
Wow...
"does not burn as hot as fuel tabs"

The thing is, I've tried a few times to heat a beverage in 20 to 30 degree weather, and even with a wind screen, it takes at least two tabs to get the water warm. I have yet to get a pint of water to a boil in such temperatures.

If you're going to be in locations that do not have such weather, then you have nothing to worry about. If your surroundings do drop below 30 during any part of the year, then one should consider a multi-fuel stove (gasoline, white gas) stove. The fuel burns clean and hot and the extra fuel can be used in your zippo.
 
Well self-contained canned heat just doesn't put out the BTUs/min of other fuels its true. The tradeoff is in time, convenience and space. Sure it can take two fuel bars to get a pint of water even hot (not boiling) if there's a wind and you don't have a protected stove. But two fuel bars only burn about 10 mins, while one can of this stuff burns for 4 hours. The same volume of gasoline would burn maybe 45 mins.

Otherwise I agree if bugging out isn't just a matter of getting down the road for a few miles and back to civilization, and you could be out there for a while, then investing in a good stove (and this includes an investment of SPACE in your BOB), and keeping fuel, is a good idea.
 
OMG, the memory this stirred up. Close to 30 years ago, Cold Mountain (some of you may have heard of it, somewhere) top of the Blue Ridge, late fall Scout Troop backpack trip. And the rains came down in buckets while the cold winds blew it sideways and the trees bent overhead. Adults and scouts together tried for two hours to get a quart of water to boil over sterno and heat tab stoves, never got it above steaming. Could not keep a wood fire lit either, except under a tarp. All the adults were vets, serious outdoorsmen and deer hunters, mind you. My old scoutmaster pulled out one of the early one-burner coleman stove with the square pot, everybody ate cup-o-soup and went to bed at 5PM.

I soon bought a gas backpacking stove and dining fly tarp, and never looked back. Sterno is for warming (not cooking) food indoors, warm weather use only. Buddy burners work much better for cooking.
 
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