Revisiting the BioLite Campstove

My August plans included camping with friends. That didn't happen. Thanks to the influx of tourists, campsites were nonexistent. One of the friends was called up for jury duty that week, making wilderness camping a non-option. Plans got cancelled at the last minute after many weeks of preparation and schedule coordination. It suuuuuuuucked. But we made the best of it and grilled food at their home anyway.

I set up my BioLite grill and made kebabs with cubes of my counterfeit char siu pork, mushrooms, zucchini, red bell pepper, and onion.

Two years ago, I wrote about my BioLite Campstove. I used it more in 2020, and while I didn't use it at all in 2021, I have had a few more chances to use it now, so I have some updated opinions about the kit. I would also like to frame this in the context of other mess kit and camp stove options. Between the kebabs and grilling more hot dogs, I have a more nuanced view of this setup now.

Pros: fuel is everywhere, it cooks fast, and everything except the grill packs neatly together.

Cons: fuel needs to be dry, or you get a lot of sooty smoke in my experience. Weight is comparatively high, and you need to wait for it to cool down so you can dispose of the ashes. Oh, and ashes still manage to coat everything.

As for the extras, the kettlepot is still a good addition. It holds the stove, and heats water fast. The LED light is handy. The grill is useful, but not exactly packable though. It doesn't weigh much, but it takes up a lot of space. Cleanup is a pain. It does have a handy plastic cover to keep everything contained and protect the sharp-ish metal edges at least, and it makes a decent dinner tray.

Those are hoagie rolls, by the way, not normal cheap hot dog buns. It's a decent space to work with.

I don't own the French press gizmo for my kettlepot, so no comment there.

Does this have a place in your backpack? If you're cooking for a few folks, the stove and kettlepot are probably worth the weight and bulk. If you're planning a long-term stay, the electricity and lighting are probably worth considering. I probably won't be taking the grill anywhere more than car camping though, even if the mess can be contained inside its teal green plastic cover. And of course if you want ultra-light backpacking kit, look at something completely different! But I still like having this on hand for power outages or small-scale outdoor cooking when wildfire danger is too high for a bonfire.