TiStove

Most backpacking stoves ask you to carry a burner, a pot and a pan, then fiddle with assembly once you reach camp. TiStove, according to its maker, takes a different approach: the stove comes out of its storage case ready to cook, with no parts to put together.

Fuel flexibility

The maker says TiStove works with a broad range of fuels: gas cartridges, solid fuel and alcohol burners, as well as twigs and dry leaves gathered on site. The idea is that a forgotten or empty canister need not end the meal.

Three panels, many roles

Each stove ships with three panels, which can be combined to suit the cooking at hand. The maker describes them as follows:

• Base Panel: lightweight, for efficient boiling and basic grilling
• Grill Panel: for barbecue-style cooking, and stable enough to hold a small pot
• Sear Panel: for cooking food directly without a pan; it can also serve as a cutting board, a makeshift table or a plate

According to the maker, the stove can cook on top and underneath at the same time, for example searing meat above while roasting vegetables below, and the body can also be used upside down. It is said to sit steadily on uneven ground and rock, and spare panels can be stood up as a windbreak.

Titanium that colours with use

The stove is made from titanium, which the maker describes as high quality and body-safe. Heat naturally tints the metal without any chemical treatment, so each unit develops its own pattern over time. Both the pocket-sized Mini and the backpack-friendly Plus use 1.5mm-thick panels and share the same core design and features.