Pepsi Can Stove
This little stove is amazing; it's made from pepsi and guinness cans, using things that can be found around most households. It takes about an afternoon to make (plus some time waiting for the epoxy to set), weighs only a few grams, and is sufficient for most backpacking trips. I made my first one a few years ago, and I've been handing them out as gifts ever since. The stove is powerful enough to boil a quart of water in a reasonable amount of time, it's MUCH quieter than other camping stoves, if you lose it you're not out $80.00, and you can get the fuel for it (denatured alcohol) at most hardware or paint stores. Mine fits nicely inside of the mug I use for cooking and eating, with room to spare. I usually stuff a spare pair of socks in with it to keep it from rattling around.
The site provides detailed instructions and photographs, as well as a message board with feedback and suggestions from other stove builders.
-- Galen Pewtherer
Scott Henderson's Pepsi-G Stove
NOTE: The URL with Scott Henderson's directions is no longer active and a sleuth online hasn't turned up a new one; if you know of an updated link or complete reposting, please let us know. Until then, here's similar Pepsi Can Stove directions from another source.
Favorite (15)
Peter Valleau
While this stove works well, it is a little bit fussy and complicated to make.
Much simpler is the Super Cat alcohol stove which is a low pressure stove that a friend had while we were on a joint backpacking trip. It worked extremely well.
Detailed directions and discussion on various fuels can be found here: http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/SuperCat/index.html
I prefer the alcohol stoves to the ones that burn trail wood since I practice Leave No Trace backpacking and also tend to camp where there is little or nothing available to burn.