Will a pepsi can stove last thru and entire trip on the AT, or will I have to make a new one at some point on the trail. I have seen cans burned in fire’s before. Of course thats a different story and much more heat. I just want to be prepared as much as possible.
Thanks,
This will be my first trip hiking the entire AT South to North.
Steve
If you put the can inside your pot, it should be protected enough to last the entire trail. We used one stove for six months on the CDT this year. You might put an extra in your drift box, just in case.
Ginny
Our very first Pepsi can stove has made it through both the AT and the PCT, and it will be called back for duty for our next long hike, too.
I second Ginny’s pot-storage technique.
Chipper
Don’t worry about it. You can easily get or make another at the next town or hostel.
Ablejack
I used a Pepsi can stove on the trail this year and it lasted the hold trip. Like Ginny said keep it stored in your cook pot.
Cookie
I recently made a pepsi can stove but have not been able to try it, i currently use a pocket rocket stove from MSR,
while on the Long Trail this past summer , it seemed like all the AT hikers were useing them,
Are they really that good?
Why does everybody like them so much?
Whats the advantages/disadvantages of them compared to the regular canister stoves???
BackTrack
Backtrack - Pepsi Can Stoves are lighter, basicly free, and free to replace. No reason to spend 80 bucks on a MSR when a free handmade one works just as well.
Check out some old posts about this subject.
FYI - my Pepsi Can Stove has lasted both the AT and PCT too. :cheers
boorah
The pepsi can stove I use lasted my entire AT hike and am still using it. I cut a 1 liter plastic bottle off just higher than my wind screen and inserted it in the bottle bottom. The pepsi can stove fit right in the middle of that and the whole thing went in my pot. It got kind of a dirty burnt look when I had to use the Heet product for fuel but still worked.
socks
I used a pepsi can stove until Hanover. I also packed it and my wind screen inside my pot. It was light. I changed to a jet boil in Hanover. I was trying to decide between that or a pocket rocket. People using those stoves had their water boiled and dinner nearly gone before I got my water boiling. It does make a difference what size pot you use. Mine was more like a large mug and Socks’ pot was wider and lower and boiled faster than mine. The one time I ran out of fuel she boiled water for my supper. (Remember that long day in Maine Socks when we camped near that river?)
Bottom line is alcohol stoves are light but a little slower.
sleeveless
I made a pepsi can stove in southern Mass, and it lasted me the rest of the way. i plan on using it next time i go out hikin’. It saved me weight and worked just as good as my msr stove.
Slick B
The best reason to use a can. Alcohol stoves are quiet.
Also they’re cheaper, slower, easier to get fuel, fuel is cheaper (or free), more dangerous, need windscreens, fussier, use more fuel.
In the end I dont know how much lighter than an expensive, fuel stingy, easy to use, quick, safe, loud manufactured stove.
Ablejack