How We Test

Our Trip‑Tuned Stove Lab is designed to answer one question: how will this stove perform on your route, in your weather, with your menu? We combine standardized lab protocols with real‑weather field days to validate results and surface failure modes before they surface on your trip.

Test Environments

Temperature: Controlled tests at approx. 70°F (21°C), 32°F (0°C), and 0°F (‑18°C) cold‑soak scenarios.
Wind: Shielded (0–1 mph), moderate (5–10 mph), and severe (15–20 mph) crosswind using a calibrated fan array and baffle.
Elevation: Sea level, ~5,000 ft (1,500 m), and ~10,000 ft (3,000 m) when feasible; simulated elevation for consistency checks.

Fuels and Configurations

Canister (upright and inverted for cold performance) using known isobutane/propane blends.
Liquid fuel (white gas) for extreme cold/high output.
Propane for car‑basecamp systems.
Alcohol, solid fuel, and wood‑gasifying stoves for minimalist or regulation‑driven use cases.

Core Metrics

Boil Time: Time to rolling boil for 500 ml and 1 L with lid, standardized pot geometry.
Fuel Use: Grams/oz per liter boiled and per 10‑minute simmer, tracked with precision scales.
Simmer Control: Lowest stable flame and heat range mapped to real‑food tasks; qualitative plus temperature delta.
Stability: Tip‑angle threshold on a tilt rig, pot support geometry, large‑pot deflection.
Ignition Reliability: Cold and gloved starts across 20 cycles; piezo vs. match/lighter backup noted.
Cold‑Start Behavior: Vapor pressure management, pre‑heat needs, and ice‑up tendencies.
Noise: dBA at 1 m in a quiet space; subjective tone noted for campsite comfort.
Packability: Packed volume and component count; hose stiffness and snag risk.

Pot and System Pairing

We test with efficient heat‑exchanger pots, wide skillets, and standard aluminum/titanium pots to score cross‑compatibility. We document hotspots, scorch risk, and lid/handle ergonomics.

Scoring and Weighting

Scores reflect use‑case priorities: e.g., winter picks weight ignition reliability, inverted‑canister performance, and stability; ultralight picks weight fuel efficiency and pack volume. We publish the weightings in each guide so you can re‑weight for your needs.

Field Validation

Every lab result is spot‑checked in real weather: windy ridgelines, cold dawn starts, dusty desert camps, and uneven picnic tables. We log boil times, fuel consumption, wind management, and cook quality during actual meals—not just water tests.

Safety and Stewardship

We assess windscreen compatibility, ventilation guidance, CO awareness, and stability on uneven surfaces. We note regulation‑aware alternatives for no‑flame restrictions and shutoff‑valve requirements.

Replicability

We list fuel composition, pot specs, water volumes, ambient conditions, and any deviations so independent testers can reproduce our results. If a manufacturer updates a stove, we re‑test and flag version changes.

If you have questions about a scenario we didn’t cover, email us at [email protected] and we’ll consider adding it to our protocol.