Did I Just WASTE $200? - BioLite CampStove 2+ and Grill

[@mrhalfstep]

Great review. If you've been looking at this stove for that long, you may already be aware of this, but in case you aren't, here goes. This stove and a larger version of it was developed for 3rd World citizens to cook on safely. Apparently CO poisoning is a big problem in societies that cook over open fires indoors. Also getting wood to burn is difficult in the same societies. Also, in these same areas, cell phone coverage is pretty good, but the electricity to charge them sometimes requires 10-15 miles of walking to reach. Someone actually carries the cell phones of all the villagers into a more developed area to charge all of them, then they carry them back, and it is done daily. The company that developed this product, and the larger cook system, managed to kill three birds with one stone. They made a stove that required much smaller amounts of wood to burn, so less scrounging for fuel. The fan gives such an efficient burn that much less CO is formed and the heat driven battery pack creates enough energy to power the fan and charge cell phones. The larger version can charge many villagers phones at on time. For all those reasons I think this is one of the coolest (not literally LOL) cook stoves I've ever encountered. At one time I think the company may even have donated a percentage of the larger units to 3rd World countries, based on the sales of them to those of us that are more fortunate. If you knew this already, I hope some of your subs found it interesting, at least. Stay safe.

[@oldbatwit5102]

That's just another example of bright but unthinking and patronising Westerners pushing unwanted technology at third world people who need answers, not gimmicks. Similar to the solar stills that 'draw water from the air' or the ground, or the plastic boxes for growing trees.

[@vespasian266]

@@oldbatwit5102 you been watching thunderfoot?.. did a good debunking vid on those solar stills. not come across plastic tree pots mind.

[@oldbatwit5102]

@@vespasian266 I have seen a bunch of videos destroying that scammy crap, including Thunderfoot's own. I am a fan of nonsense and lies being revealed and reviled. Solar roads anyone?

[@vespasian266]

@@oldbatwit5102 or the hyperloop?.. what really gets my goat about all this vaporware is elected officials endorse it and invest in it.

[@gebys4559]

@@oldbatwit5102 pretty sure thunderfoot didn't shit on this product, its claims are pretty unoutlandish tbh.

[@qanniqtuq]

Used it in a trip in Mongolia, burnt Yak poo like a charm since there was almost no woods available. The Mongolian guide was very skeptical at first then adopted it. I gifted it to him when I left. I brought a new one.

[@dashielbrinckman7082]

Had hopes for a good poop burner for Nepal. Glad to hear it works well.

[@Sophisticlesenergy]

That's awesome, glad you gifted it. That's the best part of traveling if you ask me. Dude probably still has it.

[@KomenCents]

Buy me1

[@derfderfson]

I shat in mine and it's not burning.

[@randhirnikam]

​@@derfderfson😂😂😂

[@peterjessop1878]

I really like mine. Works great with wood pellets especially as you can get such a long and very clean burn.The grill attachment is fantastic when you understand there are hot and warm sections. I’ve used it to charge various gear and it does work well, but don’t expect it to charge a smart phone from dead unless the battery is full. If you use both your phone and the biolite battery sensibly and keep both at a minimum of 25-50% charged it works great. Its main limitation as a stove is that its not as fuel versatile as my Fireboxes and doesn’t generate as much radiant heat (as a campfire replacement) as a firebox either as all the warmth is directed upwards towards your pot. I use mine predominately for car camping and keeping my electricity and gas usage down a bit at home.(I’m in the UK)

[@weylanwang5788]

Another good use is to get a fire going, then add some damp wood and it can get it going and make faster coals when the conditions are not ideal. Get the wood going then dump the coals on some wood to get the fire going faster. We also like doing the grill and a small pot over the feed port and that lets you do water and the grill!

[@VictorCopeland]

I van see how this could be a good "off grid" device at a beach or fishing hut.

[@zachariahlee3393]

Thanks for your perspectives..well recieved..

[@WeShootBack1776]

Pine cones work great for a quick heat too in my biolite

[@-joo3033]

I got a CampStove 2 Like 5 years ago, now i have two, both are upgraded with 3500mah 18650 cells (Panasonic) , i also have the Kettlepot and the Grill accessory, its my default choice for Cold weather ,the 1st time i used the grill after purchasing it was at the middle of a frozen Lake at - 29°c.

[@WeShootBack1776]

Same here , just got the percolator attachment today , that thing is awesome 👌

[@charlesechols6354]

Once started the bio-lite can charge a battery brick. I've charged 2 bricks and my phone using a usb hub, takes a long time and a lot of twigs but if the power goes out it's nice to have. We store ours inside the biolite kettle.

[@Logistikkh]

I know it might not apply in your climate, but I love this thing on the trail in winter. With the kettle , I have an infinite amount of water and fuel around me and this thing roars at -20C, not the case with a canister stove. Thanks for your reviews

[@daltonx6177]

Infinite water ? You mean using snow ? I thought using snow can lead to stomach cramps.

[@Vanpotheosis]

@@daltonx6177 why would drinking melted snow cause cramps? At some point all the water you drink was frozen.

[@WeShootBack1776]

Eating snow is bad for you , melting small amounts of snow doesn't hurt you at all

[@Logistikkh]

@@daltonx6177I never had cramps but I’ve done that on short trips (max 10 days). I usually use that water to rehydrate meals as well as drinking with electrolytes additives. Not sure on the long term…

[@johnstevenperez4186]

Awesome review. Had mine for a couple of years now. I have both the grill attachment & kettle both of which are great accessories. I bring along wood pellets in ziplock sandwich bags for easy use. The kids normally scavenge the area for small firewood to extend the burn time and help charge the unit and other electronics. No complaints here.

[@MichaelBoi]

Whats the usb and powerbank charging efficiency? How long you have to keep fire up to fully charge build in powerbank or a phone?

[@timefficient]

@@MichaelBoitook mine apart it’s about 3000mah so you’ll probably get 1-2 phone charges out of it, I think it takes a while to charge I think it in regards to phone probably an hour at least and depending on the fire intensity the power bank will charge up faster but I think it charges pretty quickly regardless. mine is always on full charge as I only use it for the fan when I got a fire going

[@WeShootBack1776]

I use the biolite campstove 2 plus section Hiking and throughhiking on the trail all the time , weight doesn't bother me at all ,i wouldn't pack my grill attachment though its kinda awkward to pack . But yeah I've packed this last year when we hiked Maine to Georgia and it was perfect. We're actually leaving tomorrow to section hike the Pennsylvania section of the Appalachian trail and I've already got my biolite campstove 2.0 packed up inside its kettlepot ready to go! Cool video bro

[@janicehenderson2358]

This is the comment I was hoping to see!!! Thank you! Going to buy mine now.

[@leandrofernandez7220]

I really love my biolite and I just found out that my titanium alcohol stove fits inside perfectly. When the fan kicked on the stove created a fire vortex that worked incredibly!

[@carlosalvarez5824]

Video?! This sounds great!

[@kennyc8857]

Yes video please i know this is over a year old

[@muhammadfahmimasda5853]

What alcohol stove did you use please?

[@UrDoinItWrong]

GREAT showcase of this amazing stove. SO MANY people use this thing WRONG in their videos and don't give it a fair shot...usually they never pre-load the burn chamber and try to light it with two little twigs and the fan already turned on. This stove it great, just read the damn instructions FFS. Probably the best stove I've found for any prolonged camping trip. The charging feature works great too!!

[@asmith7876]

What you said times a 1000! Use it correctly and it's awesome.

[@KoguryoKid]

Like it that the stove is very "well worn," which shows you actually have given it a lot of use.

[@Freedom4Life40]

I didn't expect this stove to work, but when you flipped the first kebab that caught me by surprise how well it worked. Thanks for another great video.

[@vaclavmatousek3007]

I have bought a complete bundle, was very fond of how well it is packed, organized and made. Did cooking of a 2 l water, it worked amazingly well with full fan speed. For more constant power, one should use wood pellets or stuff it with more solid wood, otherwise frequent refilling and fluctuation in performance is observed. For people who need to cook a lot in the nature, this can be more convenienz than carrying fuel. Imho an absolute must for preppers.

[@msmelody5641]

I have the original and I really like it. I use the charging port more for the light that came with it. The original isn’t great at every day charging, but it would work in an emergency situation. It does do a great job cooking though.

[@shawnr6117]

A bit heavy for 3 season backpacking but might be worth a look for winter camping, especially if you use a sled

[@Allorn2015]

Thank you for your review. I looked into this for my trip that I'm taking down the Mississippi River. The manufacturer, thought their product would not hold up due to the moisture. The manufacturer expressed thier concern that the electronics would fail due to the high moisture, salty air as I got closer to the Gulf. Just something to consider.

[@peppermeat8059]

thats why i think they encase the circuitry in some glue or epoxy, literally anything to protect it

[@TNBushcrafter]

When our power was out for several days last week, it actually caught me off guard. My battery pack, 2 rechargeable buglight/lanterns, and 1 of 2 luci lanterns were not charged. I got the fold up solar panel out and got with it. Between that and the altec lansing stormchaser weather radio/dynamo hand crack power bank/light we got through it with no problems. Oh and first night I fired up the 4 burner propane stove and made fried chicken, mashed taters, and all the other sides. Also glad we had wood stockpiled for the neighbors that only have a fireplace for heat when there is no power. I have looked at the bio lite since kickstarter. I just don't think it's my cup of tea. In our woods around here there is deadwood everywhere. No shortage of fuel and my battery pack can charge my Note 2.5 times from dead. TC and ATB, Cris.

[@daltonx6177]

So you can charge your phone for about two days. And then, what do you do ?

[@TNBushcrafter]

@@daltonx6177 we have a back up generator, I also have the altec lansing storm chaser radio. Between them and my solar panels I can go a lot further then 2.5 days. Not to mention I use my phone maybe once every 2 weeks. We have ham radios, shortwave and all that out here in the woods.

[@starlingblack814]

I have this stove and grill and love it. I use wood pellets and it makes one heck of a good steak. On the other hand I also have the BioLite Basecamp with the pizza stone and hood. As good as the Camp Stove is the Basecamp Pizza Cooker is NOT; it really sucks. Puts soot all over the pizza and burns the bottom. I'm taking the Basecamp to the thrift store to get rid of it, but I am using the small er Camp Stove as much as possible. Thank you Dr. Ernie for an accurate review on this great product. You are right it is expensive, but certainly not a waste of money.

[@longrider42]

Works great with Hard Wood, Wood Pellets, or Charcoal. Where I live there is no hard wood. Only pine, cottonwood and elm. So the fire just does not get hot enough. I was given one, and I gave it away. Just not worth the trouble. For charging my USB devise's in the woods I have a big power bank and a solar panel. Any ways, keep up the good work.

[@bimteck]

i have used this stove a lot in the past while family camping...... and this is also the stove that is lost in a tote in my storage unit for the last 4 years and i don't try to look for it. neat concept and the company does do a lot of good for 3rd world countries.

[@mountaingator001]

I BOUGHT ONE A YEAR AGO AS A BACKUP TO A BACKUP…OR BETTER SAID AS A “ FAILSAFE” STOVE AND ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATING SOURCE ! I LOVE IT DOC! THANKS FOR THE REVIEW!

[@pbayer773]

single woman here, now age 70. I camped all my life in tents, pop up campters and on the ground in all kinds of weather, all over the country. Yellowstone was my favorite. My ex and our 3 kids traveled over summers all the time camping, I wanted my kids to get that experience since many kids in the city get hung up on Iphone tick tocks and are not interested in the woods, fishing, swimming or mountain biking and hiking like my ex and I did. That was the only thing we both loved to do was camp. We took our 2 dogs so had to buy a Jayco pop up for them, with a AC in it, we used porta potty or camped at state parks to shower etc. Best memories of my life. My grandfather and some others built a big lake outside of the town we lived in growing up. It was a private lake since about the 30's. We went out there every weekend to camp on the ground, pop ups or my sisters horse trailer with all the fancy stuff, since she had it custom built. We had a huge family and cooked over the stove, went across the lake to the sand beach and dock, or swam over at my lot, dad left to me later in life. Those memories are priceless. I bought this BioLite stove about 2-3 years ago when I saw it. Did you know a bunch of college guys actually invented it on either their own or for a college class. They have had a lot of success with it and I don't know anything more than that. I LOVE my BioLite and have used it in my back yard cooking. I have used twigs from my yard I've picked up that are dry and also used pellets, since I put a pellet stove in my home. I like both ways, but the pellets are the best really. I didn't waste my money on the accessaries, for I used what I already had. The light looks cheap and worthless to me. I charge my cell phone, works great. It burns hot, I've cooked steaks, eggs and about everything on my BioLite. I've been really impressed with it and have been so glad I bought it. I would highly recommend it myself. I don't make tin cans into stoves because I don't have the tools or garage to make stuff, my ex would have helped me but not anymore. There are tons of different stoves online and in the market. Best wishes and enjoy your BioLite.

[@Maurice419]

Dude...love the socks!!! I have some of those too!

[@BackpackDad]

I like the concept. In a survival situation where you need power and have no other viable charging option, having something like this would trump having nothing.

[@vespasian266]

I think the imput jack on the charger gives the game away. you could use it till the battery ran down. don't expect it to be able to ever fully charge by burning fuel in it.

[@p_serdiuk]

@@vespasian266 No. You can use the power bank when the stove is not burning, potentially discharging it completely. But it needs initial power to run the blower, so it needs an input. When it is burning, it produces net positive power.

[@martinerhard8447]

​@@p_serdiukvery very little excess power

[@Wastelander13]

I think it produces enough phone energy to make an sms call or to check the location. I find it an interesting item.

[@rschpeels7325]

I like your review, it's really well presented and a lot of thought went into it. I don't agree with one point you made though, I've used this stove exclusively for backcountry canoe camping for about three years and it's worked great. I can use all the easy to pick up ground fall wood as much as I need and I have a double ziplock bag of pellets as backup in case it's wet. Overall, I"ve been really happy with the stove and I'd recommend it to anyone.

[@smokinggar714]

I bought the first one that came out and got such a great deal it came with the stove, the grill, a pot for boiling water and a french press insert, and 10 bags ( each bag is 2 pounds ) of there wood pellets all for 150.00. I love it and have used it many many times and I did get that light I didn't like it so I use it on my computer

[@hardtruth2039]

I really like my BioLite 2. I have the same kit with the grill and the French press. I got a good deal on a holiday sale. I primarily burn pellets in my. Very efficient and the pellets last a long time. No need to fully load it with pellets to make coffee and cook something.

[@jesib7526]

I'm 70, I've used this for six years and I love it!

[@aaronkrey6828]

I would like to see how it works with wood pellets, like how much time it burn with a certain amount of pellets. I've never been a fan of Biolite stove, but I maybe need to borrow it to a friend and try it again... Thanks for the video Doc !

[@UrDoinItWrong]

it works amazing with wood pellets!!! You fill the entire chamber, light it, and it will continuously burn for 40 min on one load of hickory pellets. Biolite sells their own pellets too.

[@davidsolomon9087]

that was my experience as well using general use wood pellets, not the 'food grade' type....the 40lbs for $4 kind of hardwood pellets. the burn chamber does leave you with about a half inch worth of smoldering and unburned material. i'm just experimenting with different types of fire starters and have found that the ones using kerosene tend to leave a smell and taste if your food even after letting it burn down for a while after start. my next trial over camping season will be using gel hand sanitizer. waxed cotton rounds tend to soot up the heat probe with the waxy residue but they do work.

[@michaeltichonuk2176]

In a Survival situation this would be insanely valuable. At home preparedness too. I'd definitely would like to see you pit this until through some serious testing and all.

[@FER_R]

Good review. I have a first generation and love it, more so every time I use it! Mine came with a kettle pot that fits perfectly and a wire that helps with other pots. I wish they made other pots with that base... Also, a side note, when you start playing music the audio is muted (probably due to copyright).

[@therickman1990]

Just tested out mine for the first time last weekend. With the fan on low it will only burn dry wood. If all you can find is damp or rotted twigs though, you need the fan on full to keep the fire going, but the damp wood results in a lower fire temp (so less charging of the battery) and the higher fan rpm requires more power, causing the build-in battery to drain instead of charge. When I put some dried wood in there the fire temperature was significantly higher even with the fan on slow and the battery was charging The great thing is even with bad wood/twigs you can still have a fire for cooking. The downside is the fan needs more power and you can only charge your phone untill the powerbank reaches a level where the Campstove will stop charging your phone to leave power for the fan to keep the fire going. A portable gasstove with one of those small gasbottles on the bottom, and a seperate powerbank is more practical. Still a great product and idea though.

[@billrussell7672]

Ok, I cheaped out, I needed a car camp stove and bought a used one for a "bill". Forget car this is my daily smoker, kabob, sous vide sear, this has replaced my Traeger pellet. I fill it with pellets and hardwood. Start less than min, no sparks with pellets unless you grill nearly zero smoke, hearty in 25 - 40 mph wind even with coffee/water cup. This is a perfect beginner device You can take on 7-15 mile hikes Where weight is helpful to carry in preparing for longer hikes, it works well in cars no gas containers. Works well at home. Small glass water puts the fire out instantly. The safest camp stove I have seen I have gasifier stoves for long trips But this is the apex. Im a stove monkey junky, this is a must have

[@IndependentNewsMedia]

Yes is the answer, this has been around a number of years, and its charging capability is negligible, if you have nothing at all, this is better then nothing, but just about.

[@peacefulplaces3634]

The audio cuts out now (2024) where you introduce music in the middle of the video. Thanks for the great video. I'm also a physician who loves camping, coffee, and camping stoves.

[@tomhopkins6758]

I just ordered one. Should be here tomorrow. Pretty pumped! Wanted to try this out for at least a year or so

[@kapusta-v-lui-vi]

how is your experience?

[@kapusta-v-lui-vi]

is that hard to charge modern smartphone to the full battery? what fire do you need to collect enough energy?

[@markmartello]

Doc, this is something I've looked at as well, thanks for the video! And, yes, I would like to see how you use this with wood pellets.

[@happyfreeliferc]

Great video !! I just picked up this stove with the grill attachment at a pawn shop for 75.00 hardley used.i think it's great for hiking ,small and light.i haven't tried the grill yet but I'm going to get me some kabobs for the first meal. Cheers

[@GEAUXFRUGAL]

Peltier diodes are found in Coleman 12V food refrigerator/warmer. So next time you find one on the side of the road or tossed out at a truck stop take the diode out it probably works the fans are the weak link on those Devices. The peltier will get hot polarity one way remove heat the other way and if you introduced the peltier to temperature difference it will generate electricity.

[@pablobonilla973]

Glad u like it. I’ve seen this stove around n I hesitate to purchase. I’ve always wondered if it’s a good option for car camping. I would like to see it work with wood pellets, but I would also like to see if cooking with a pot or pan on top is feasible.

[@Exotria]

Geeze, that loud audio for the outro throws me into a panic after such a calm and relaxing stove video. Think you could turn the volume down a bit? Really liked the video though! Your reviews are always informative and helpful.

[@jedinightstalker]

Eh....What's up doc? I have this stove, the grill, and the pot. The pot really takes advantage of the system. It's great for car and canoe camping. Or if the hike isn't to far to camp. Definitely worth it if you get a deal on it. Had it for 6+ years and still work like the day I bought it, so I would say it's a high quality product.

[@kwatyk]

Thanks for the reviews. When I go on a longer bike trip, I will consider buying this equipment.

[@adamb7426]

See that fan did a number on your sock too... 😂 Seriously great review and love the channel 👍

[@asmith7876]

I love the Biolite stove. The grill not so much. There's a kettle that goes with it, it's so key to optimum operation they shouldn't even sell the damn thing without it. The stove stores down inside the pot which is a little under 2 liters I think. As for just the stove, my camping partner and I have rigged a shelter many times over our hammocks, stupid rain like we always get, cold and damp or snowy, but we cut chunks of wood to feed the stove and it's our "campfire" under the tarp, cozy warm and hey, charge your headlamp or whatever while you're at it. I actually bought it more for home preparedness but we take it backpacking all the time. Yeah, no ultralight here! LOL.

[@phillipallan2863]

Way2go doctor Ernie! My brother got me this for Christmas and I am very pleased with it also. I use wood pellets, it was nice to see it work WELL with just sticks and twigs. Mine came with a pot ( that nests around) I was debating on getting the grill but this video made me decide to get the grill. Thank you for sharing

[@Lolage_the_pie]

A mini stove,Heat source,Light source and a charger that is awsome even love it definitely want one ❤

[@mikevandebunt811]

I was lucky enough a few months ago to find the complete 2.0 set lightly used on Ebay at a significant discount. In addition to the grill, I also have the kettle which fits perfectly on top of the stove. (It even included the French press coffee accessory, which neither the original owner nor I have used. Perhaps someday if I need to brew a liter and a half of coffee...)

[@brianmabin5947]

I'm most curious as to the heat output and retention for heat purposes when using the grill top. It seems to me with a built in damper it could be a nice heat source in an emergency situation. A more practical heat source that some other "bushcraft" methods possibly. Would love to see you put temps and times of ambient heat output at some point.

[@timefficient]

I’m a bit late here lol but I’ve been using mine recently for heat purposes just occasionally blowing on the hot charcoals to keep it hot. lasts for hours! I’ve been enjoying it although the stove overall needs frequent tlc to keep the flames going imo

[@jamescostello6529]

I have version one of this and the improvements are fluff between the two versions. I plug it in and charge it before a camping trip and it serves me well. I also have their fire pit and that is a great product. expensive but virtually smoke free due to the circulation pattern of the fan and air tubes. also a great cooking surface. downside is it is not self charging like their other products.

[@mikevandebunt811]

The one improvement that is not fluff is that the battery is significantly higher capacity on the 2.0 version. But it's definitely not reason enough to upgrade.

[@staalefo]

I see the major obstacle with this item is that it provides 3W output from USB, some smartphones wouldn't even show the charging symbol over 0.6A/5VDC. Specs from vendor site. With 3A it would have been great.

[@twilightgardenspresentatio6384]

There’s the change we want to see

[@Vanpotheosis]

I get that this thing "exceeded" your expectations for cookware, but that's not what most of us expect it to be used for at all. That's kind of an optional extra. Not a core design function. It's supposed to be a battery charger. Does it do that well? Does the battery overhear and explode over time? How long does the internal battery last before needing replaced? Can it even be replaced?. How fast does this thing charge a phone? How does it generate electricity?

[@peppermeat8059]

the charger is an extra, not the main function of it

[@ingridajuskaite3072]

Great review. Especially your sock. lol, it made my day. Very original. I wish to see next episode how you sew it. :D and running it with a pallets of course.

[@johnmoore5293]

Thank you.. I love your content! KZbin family of 7 Gridlessness uses this stove when they go for days at a time camping/ hunting in the mountains. It would work on waterways with a canoe when you can pack a little heavier.

[@williammaurer9450]

How good is it as a power producer? For example during a power outage: How long does it have to burn to recharge your cell phone? And why not with wood pellets stored for just such emergencies. IMO you do good work, I trust your test reporting, TY. I've been looking at this product for years too. It's a little pricey for just a little wood stove, but with a legitimate dull value might be worth having in a pinch.

[@UrDoinItWrong]

With the fire going strong, I half-charge a modern large phone in like 20 min, that's how I usually use it. It has very good wattage output during operation.

[@williammaurer9450]

@@UrDoinItWrong That's excellent in my book. TY.

[@dork1963]

You need new socks LOL Thank you for your awesome stove videos

[@PaleoHikerMD]

:)

[@RayMosier]

In the many reviews I've seen, Noone even provides the charging specs. Volts & amps produced. How long it takes to charge an average cell phone. That's the information I'm interested in.

[@RayMosier]

Ever not even. Sorry.

[@leeenfield4900]

Sound completely disappears at 4:49 mark in video - very frustrating!

[@GlobalDesignHD]

Probably because there is no audio. The sound continues after the grilling.

[@VictorCopeland]

I can see how this could be a good "off grid" device at a beach or fishing hut.

[@Saltfly]

Wait till ya fire that thing up nice and early in the morning. Sounds like a little airport. I don’t use mine at all anymore. But it does work. Heavy and noisy. In an emergency situation it is a good option

[@lisasdayoff503]

I love mine. I have the whole set. Did you get the pot I have been wondering if you were going to review this stove

[@kamdenrhodes3671]

200$ I got mine online for 25$ brand new never been used can't wait to use it

[@lynella6073]

Yes, wood pellets next time! Thanks Ernie!

[@thomaspotter7765]

I did the same thing,saw it years ago and just now bought one.getting it dialed in but might get the grill setup someday.

[@sooneradmirer4382]

Any tips about it?

[@FD_Boss]

Ok, how do you know the fan blades get hot? I had to, lol. Would love to see a video showing the use of wood pellets. Curious to know how quickly or not the fan affects burn time. Thanks

[@mamabear1260]

How does the battery pack be charged by the fire? You did a better review than the company. Thank you.

[@appreciatizer5911]

I saw it a few years ago. Im curious of how it holds up in the long term. My biggest concern is the battery not lasting or it possibly being ruined due to a sudden rain

[@weylanwang5788]

I have had 3 over 10 years. Even though it is stainless steel it is thin stainless and when you make that much heat the burn chamber breaks down. I would say I use the camp stove more then most making boiling water, 7l a week from fall to spring when it gets too hot. With this said it is fairly water resistant. And lasts quite a while. I would have liked it to be thicker stainless steel but that would make it heavier , so it is a trade off. If you don’t use it but one time in 6 months that is all you would need to keep the battery healthy, and it should last 20yrs. Is that long enough? It isn’t a firebox stove or titanium stove but it 7-10yrs for a battery stove is pretty good, for a non replaceable battery. I have asked biolite to make the battery replaceable and the TEG replaceable, but I don’t think that is the market. I own both the biolite and firebox stoves and love both. But the biolite stove is just wonderful for getting a fire going really quick and making boiled water. Maybe not as fast as 4min for 2cups, but with wood, 7-9minutes boiled water is respectable. And you also get respectable efficiency to and less smoke. I have started a fire in the biolite, put the end of a much bigger log over the top to get it warmed up, for 2 or 3 pieces, and then dump the coals on the warm ends and the fire comes to life much quicker because you have coals on warm wood and that then comes to life if you can’t split larger pieces. So I carry car camping a bucket of small pieces, I live in CA, and 75% of the year we have a burn ban. And have to buy campfire wood on site. So use the small pieces to get the large campfire wood started. I often HELP out some of the first time campers get their fire going because all they have is the BOX of wood that doesn’t come with tinder and kindling to get their fire going. And they struggle to get a camp fire going for 45 min.

[@troyjenkins3886]

@@weylanwang5788 i had mine stored in its bag and thing was completley rusted out.Its pretty much useless now.I have the big basecamp and the newest smaller one but noticed rust with both of them.They work great but the materials are pretty weak.

[@weylanwang5788]

@troy Jenkins, We camp all the time by the ocean, and the salt water fog makes everything rust. Stainless steel isn’t supposed to rust. But when you get it hot, it still rusts really badly. So yes the biolite camp stove does rust out pretty badly if used. I suggest if you only use it occasionally you oil it down after use, that helps SLOW the rust, but nothing will stop it if you use it because of the high heat. I learned that from firebox. I wonder if they had a replacement inner chamber of TITANIUM it would help. I got the titanium firebox and that is holding up really well no rust. I have had the one biolite camp stove rust out, and even my stainless steel firebox has some rust. But the stainless steel firebox is much thicker. Even the first biolite camp stove still worked being rusty. And I had maybe 500 fires in it. It just isn’t as efficient. I have had 3x over the years. I waited till they were on sale or used since I know they will wear out.

[@troyjenkins3886]

@@weylanwang5788 titanium inner would be a fantastic idea

[@troybranaman316]

I'd love to see with wood pellets. I think it's really cool item for people who have a bug out place to keep it. I don't but it's still a cool peice of kit ! Great video as usual Ernie!! Take care and stay safe my friend !!

[@PaleoHikerMD]

I've had several requests...so it will happen!

[@jackvoss5841]

Friends who both bought the whole kit and caboodle of BioLite stuff. Nice kit, but features a LOT of gadgetry. I haven’t seen the gear out on the trail in 2-3 years. Jet boil and MSR are still there, though. Others results will vary, I guess. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying

[@thediscombobulationzonecov6972]

I carry a plastic jar of dry roasted peanuts for mine. It’s both food and fuel lol. I received mine when they first came out and after many years of use it still functions like it should

[@maxmotors9497]

I took a biolite 1 and an alcohol can stove on a 1000 plus mile bike packing trip. Dry day-biolite, wet day- alcohol stove.

[@davidsolomon9087]

i added a small, round grate to use smaller pots with mine. what i used was a pot stand/steam rack and cut the legs off for packing. i did ask Biolite if they made one for the gen2 stove and they didnt at the time. they did for gen1 stoves and they sent me a small pot rack but it doesnt snap in on the gen2 like it does with the gen1. i have not looked to see if they offer one specific to the gen2 stoves currently.3 this is the rack i used from Amazon. Z ZICOME Stainless Steel Steam Rack.

[@mhpupacios]

BioLite is not just about leisure hikers and campers they do a huge amount for poor countries gifting these stoves and helping the families who rely on burning dung and wood for all of their daily cooking requirements . I have two different models - the stove without grill top ( has a pot with French coffee press), and the rocket stove which works really well under our Hungarian goulash pot (on a tripod).

[@johnmclean5957]

I have had one of these for years. Wood pellets (kitty litter) is the way to go. When grilling you need the low fan setting and watch out for a hot spot on one side.

[@johnnyliminal8032]

Kitty litter? I don’t know what that is made of, it looks more like something you’d try to put out a fire with. But I know nothing. Yeah I don’t know wood pellets. It’s that a term for small KL-sized pellets? I should be searching for myself, but I respectfully invite your thoughts. Cheers from Edmonton, where we are coming out of an epic deep freeze. With snow lol; roads gonna be greasy the next few days.

[@johnmclean5957]

@Johnnyliminal I'm in UK and here you can buy wood pellets that are marketed as cat litter. They are cheap and supposedly an eco friendly fuel. I can get a 40 min burn on one fill.

[@johnnyliminal8032]

@@johnmclean5957 Thank you.

[@tshirley05015]

I would like to see how it works with wood pellets. Thanks

[@dinualexandru2155]

It is perfect for a few days out. Thanks.

[@walfredfamily]

Like ours to uesed it 15 times now. I used just twigs only problem is when you go ower the tree limit then you need to carry the fuel in your backpack. But so far its good just a small issu.

[@ericwright6568]

yes wood pellet would be good to see i've been think of one this helps

[@ArianeArsenault]

Your videos are very helpful! 😁

[@8Jory]

Yes to more videos with this thing please

[@peterhamilton7723]

Having used the original camp stove with the only problem being rewiring the USB, it works great.

[@troyjenkins3886]

I will give you a little advice,don't store it all together for a long period of time.I got mine out awhile back and the burn chamber was rusted into.The insides just starting falling apart.I also have the newer one and keep it out of the bag unless im going to use it.

[@DreStyle]

I immediately recognized that watch haha, awesome first time I've ever seen someone else wear it

[@tinymetaltrees]

What a nice surprise! And I thought it looked too good to be true. 1 = tissue paper and 11 = indestructible, how does this rate for durability?

[@PaleoHikerMD]

So far a solid 8-9

[@Saltfly]

Also the grill attachment mates up perfectly with a solo stove titan.

[@anthonykennedy6758]

Ernie…. Is that really your toe sticking out of your sock????? Hahaha!!!

[@markphillips8824]

Ernies stove budget: apparently unlimited, Ernies sock replacement budget: apparently nonexistent???

[@PaleoHikerMD]

:)

[@shoonsserendipity]

Does it charge your phone? I have the 1st model and it is not powerful enough to charge my phone. It generate 0.5watts or so. I guess you need to purchase the USB multi meter to measure it but at least you know if it is powerful enough or not.

[@armchairbushcraft2164]

Have you tried the siege stove Ernie? I wonder if the cross bars would work across the rope of the biolite?

[@margiedenavarre7919]

I hate camping. Not outdoorsy. Think living outdoors is overrated. Yet, with Brandon in office and the way things are going, I’m terrified that the S is about to HTF. Long term survival may be in order, like it or not. I’m hoping I can buy a few more things, including this biolite, before my hubby cuts me off. Even though I plan to stay in my house and not camp outdoors until the roving gangs kick me out (so the heat and cooking portions are secondary but essential for bugging out), the charging function is a life saver if phones still have any function. After all, you could charge enough to watch downloaded survival information videos (foraging, building, fires, etc), read downloaded books, maybe find an emergency channel with Red Cross info, or whatever. Your battery powered packs won’t last forever and I’m assuming that solar ones won’t be as powerful. So anyway, this sounds super useful and I hope it lasts. Grateful for its inventors.

[@jimmyroberson7843]

Hey Ernie, do you think this stove would burn shelled corn? I've seen a couple of bigger stoves that were powered on shelled corn. It worked great and the aroma was amazing. Take good care. Jim

[@weylanwang5788]

@jimmy, it will burn everything corn, corn cob. The trick is you may have to add in good burning stuff as a mix. Once you get it running it burns really well but you can put it out if you add in too many wood pellets for example to load it back up, if it gets low, and you can get a flame out with lots of smoke until it gets hot again. As an example, Corn cob doesn’t burn that well but does burn and if added with real sticks it will contribute but if you add just the corn cob, it might not stay burning as well.

[@AccidentalHiker1]

Can't help it....Socks🤣🤣

[@beartune]

Thanks man! I subscribed. And now I am gonna buy me one.

[@bobesselstyn461]

hi Ernie I have that set-up it like you say works great and it does work with pellets etc. would like to see your vid on that maybe flavored pellets?

[@MichaelR58]

Good review , thanks for sharing , God bless !

[@miconn69]

I'm guessing Ernie didn't his yearly allotment of socks and underwear that Christmas. I wasn't expecting holy socks that early into the year. LOL! Thanks for the review sir!

[@arildschonberg3607]

Yes! Make a video with pellets as well!

[@RoyceKitts]

I'm right there with you on waiting years to get a piece of gear. I figure by 2025 I might actually get a hot tent.

[@andreringersma9792]

How fast does it charge the 3200? Does that work great also....maybe I missed it,

[@danielcharbonneau222]

You should of bought new socks instead of that BioLit Camp Stove. Hahahaha. Love your channel.

[@redsorgum]

🤪🤪🤪

[@KoguryoKid]

DARN!!!