Sterno Single Burner Folding Stove - 50002

Although this stove is obviously designed to work with Sterno or similar fuels, it will actually work with pretty much anything that burns. You can even build a wood fire in it, as shown in several online videos. This makes it much more versatile than camp stoves that only run on one type of fuel.For the backpacker who wants to travel light, this stove is a good option. The stove itself is very light and folds into a compact package. Sterno fuel doesn't weigh much either. If you really want to go light, skip the Sterno fuel and just gather wood at the campsite. Butane/propane camp stoves will cook much faster and the fuel is cheaper, but they are much heavier and take up more space. For more casual camping close to a car or camping trailer, however, space and weight are not really an issue and the gas powered stoves are actually a better option..For use in a power outage or emergency, the gas powered stoves will also work better in the short term...until you run out of fuel. In case of a longer outage, it might be a good idea to have one of these folding stoves around, even if it's just as a backup.Unlike folding stoves from other companies that are coated in dark paint that absorbs heat, the Sterno stove uses reflective aluminum. The top surface is about 6 3/8" x 6 3/8", big enough for a good sized pan. It also has a flat, grill-like top instead of the raised opening on the competitors. You could probably put a piece of meat right on it if you wanted to. If you do actually use Sterno fuel, there is a wire support for the can. The can does sit a little low, however. If you can find a way to raise it a little higher, it should cook faster.Although this stove might not be the best choice for all circumstances, it does work well and I'm quite pleased with my purchase.

Nice, small and compact. Fits in backpack and works very good for the size.

Durability:It’s an ok stove. It didn’t do well when it was left overnight outside in light rain. It had little rust spots all over the black metal frame pieces.Performance:The Sterno takes a long time to heat water up (I’d guess about 15 minutes). It’s awkward to put the fuel into the holding area, and saving the Sterno for later is difficult. My fuel dried out and was unusable a few months after resealing, so that was a shame.Reliability:I think this stove is more reliable than a wood-burning stove for cooking because you don’t need to rely on finding dry kindling and wood that will stay hot enough to burn and cook with.Overall:Overall, I guess this would make an ok emergency stove, since the fuel and stove are pretty light. They take up I’d say an average amount of space for a stove. I have a bunch of different stoves.

You couldn't get anything easier than this little burner. It everything they say it is, light, super easy to assemble with a great price to match! I'm hooked on it and I'm thinking of buying another one to give away!! Kathy

As advertised

I bought this so that I would have a way to make coffee or heat soup etc. during a power outage. Living in the Northeast, blizzards and winter storms have been known to cause widespread power outages. I love the simple sturdy design. I tested it using some chafing dish fuel that I had in the house. (I'm not sure of the brand but it uses a wick instead of lighting the gel) and the Granite Ware 6006-1 3-Quart Coffee Boiler. Assembly is simple and it makes a sturdy stand to rest a pot on. I filled the pot about half full with cold water (1 1/2 quarts) and set it on the burner. It took a little better than 25 minutes to heat the water to a low boil. This setup is not going to work as well as your kitchen stove. If you expect that you will be disappointed. It will boil water or heat soup etc. in an emergency. It is a safe and effective design. When you are in an emergency situation you want to conserve your fuel so only heat as much water as you need at one time. (This is why I tested it with the pot half full) I also use the wick type chafing fuel because it has a much longer burn time than the type where you light the gel. You get more usable heat in a smaller storage space that way. You can pick up a case of fuel at a big box store for under $30 and you will have enough to see you through most emergencies. Bottom line, I think this little sterno stove can be a lifesaver and I'll be buying a few more to keep in the trunk of the car and to give as gifts to family members.

Great product. Folds up nice and small. Excellent customer service. Highly recommended.

It was simple to fold and hassle freeWish it came with the fuel, but still works well and can be used indoor.