Biolite Camp Stove

The BioLite CampStove offers the unique ability to not only cook and make a brew in the field, but also charge anything with a USB. The approach is hi-tech with a vertical body that holds the fuel and three fold-out feet for stability; a pan support is also included. Attaching to this is the fan/charging module that converts heat to electricity. The stove comes with a USB connector and a pack of 10 fire lighters.

What you do is start a fire (single fire lighter and kindling) and switch the fan on to LOW to feed it air/oxygen.  After 10 minutes it kicks into HI speed to get things properly hot, being blown you can feed it just about anything combustible – twigs, paper twists, etc. A copper conductor rod at the top takes the heat into the module where it’s converted to electricity and stored. At its base is a USB socket that you can plug your device into.

The unit is self-sustaining given you keep it fed with fuel as it creates electricity, which runs the fan to keep it going and also to charge external devices. The BioLite supports smart phones, MP3, GPS, anything that uses a USB connector. Prior to use the module will need charging. Despite its charging abilities, the design means it’s easy to get a fire started in almost all conditions, which can make a real difference at times.