This page contains a spreadsheet like calculator which you can use to compare the relative weights of various lightweight backpacking stoves (see below)....But it doesn't just compare the intitial weight on day 1. By adding together the weight of each day, while adjusting for the fuel burned per day, it computes the overall trip weight and average day weight. This adjustment is especially important when comparing stoves which have a significantly different fuel heat output per ounce.
By default, four commonly used types of backpacking stoves are compared, but you can enter your own numbers for other stoves.
Necessary disclaimer:
- YOUR STOVE AND YOUR FUEL NEEDS ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.
- DOUBLE CHECK THE MATH BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT ON THE TRAIL.
- DO NOT RELY ON THESE CALCULATIONS THEY COULD BE IN ERROR.
Instructions:
- Defaults: This page is initialized with default weights for A) stove, B) fuel, C) fuel bottle, and D) an estimate for overage , but you can easily enter your own exact stove and fuel weights.
- Inputs/Outputs: At any time you can adjust any of the values in the light colored input cells. (If you adjust values in the darker result cells, your values will be overwitten when the page recalculates.) Important note: The inputs include not only the "Main Inputs" (below), but also the default inputs in the Constants, calculations and other inputs table further down.
- Automatic recalculation: When you hit tab, return or move the cursor to another cell, the web page automatically recalculates (just like a spreadsheet.)
- Where to start: Start under "Main inputs" (below). Enter the number of days and persons for your trip. (Note that often the number of days is the numbers of hiking days less one, because your first breakfast and last dinner are not spent on the trail. In other words just count the total number of cooking days.)
- Notes, sources of data, and citations: See the Notes page for comparisons and extensive information about stoves, fuel, usage, and vendors.
5-13-20047-2-2003*Corrected fuel calculation for white gas stoves. Reduced previous value which makes the white gas stoves a little lighter to carry than previously calculated, but they are still by far the heaviest. - Thanks to Kris Ganjam.
*Added total fuel cost calculation and Corrected spelling - Thanks to Janik Zikovsky. 8-9-2002
* Fixed calculation error for party greater than 1. Previously no matter how many people in the party, it had been subtracting only one person's fuel weight per day from the accumulative total at the bottom. So it appeared that the overall trip weight of the stove was much more than it actually was.5-14-2002
* Added line for "fuel/day / person".
* Upgraded the introduction and title.
* Improved instructions5-12-2002
* Removed beta test note at top.
* Added altitude calcualator5-11-2002
* Adjusted labels and formatting to try and make functionality more obvious.5-05-2002
* Added lots of notes.5-04-2002
* Added note 6: Vapor pressures.5-01-2002
* Added lots of notes with various information
* Added some color to better show how calculations are done
* Corrected weight of Esbit tablets from 1 oz. to .5 oz/tablet. (Each tablet boils about 16 oz. and burns for a total time of 15 minutes. Have heard that tablets can be blown out and the remains saved for future burns.)4-29-2002
* Beta release.
* Corrected alcohol stove fuel/pint from 2 to .6 oz.
* Added notes at bottom.
Feedback: To email me use the following address, but first remove "xyz" from it: hj@xyzHowardJohnson.name