The first field test of a G3 Rocket Stove used to heat a large tank of water to provide showers for a large family camp was held this summer in Dorset.  The idea was to provide hot water from a solar panel, but due to the fickle nature of British weather, we wanted a wood-fired backup.  But with up to 150 campers, half of them children -  would it work?

When at camp a lot of time is spent heating water, mainly for cooking and washing up, with personal hygiene coming a distant third.  There are a lot of children playing all day who need a good wash, but they are reluctant to use the cold shower even on a hot day.

We recently tested both the Ozpig and the Frontier stoves, two high quality outdoor wood stoves. We get asked a lot which we preferred; in fact they both have their pros and cons. This post briefly outlines some of their characteristics.

First off what do they both do well? Three things:

1. use wood fires to produce a warming - and attractive - focal point for sitting out in our cool spring or cool summer evenings.
2. include cooking surfaces wuitable for boiling a kettle and placing saucepans
3. Venting smoke up a chimney and out of the eyes and clothes of your guests. 

The good people at UK Yurt Holidays have just put up a review of one of our rocket stoves - read more in their blog here: Cool camping! – who needs Camping Gaz, when you’ve got a ‘Rocket Stove’?

'How are your BBQs selling?'

People often ask me how my BBQs are selling, and I (patiently, of course) point out that in fact we do not sell BBQs, but outdoor wood cooking stoves. 'Oh. So can you BBQ on them?'

Good question. I decided to find out how the sturdiest of them all, the StoveTec Rocket Stoves would perform, and here is the result.