Hiking is not complete without a proper cooking stove. You can have top tier gear, but without a stove your hike is incomplete. If you insist on going for a hike without a stove, then you are in for a treat. You can eat your food cold, or you can start a campfire hoping you won’t burn down the whole forest. So, do you know which is best wood burning backpacking stove between bushbuddy vs solo stove?

For the backpacking addicts, having a stove is not an option. You are always on the lookout for tools, cookware, and gears that are worth buying. To most backpackers, being able to make a hot meal or drink is an irreplaceable feeling.

Both the Bushbuddy and the solo stoves are good quality products and recommended by most people who have used them. Others are torn in between the bushbuddy vs solo stove and need more information on them to make an absolute choice.

Each of these stoves takes time to cool down after cooking. This means it might take some time to pack it away. They also use wood as fuel making them perfect for hiking where wood is in plenty. However, the ground cover might offer fuel that doesn’t burn which requires you to carry dry wood.

Bushbuddy vs solo stove

Similarities

Price

The Solo stove goes for $69.99 online which is a quite reasonable price for a compact stove that saves space on your backpack. The Bushbuddy, on the other hand, goes for $100.00 more, and this might be confusing to some people who choose a product based on the price. The Bushbuddy has the same design with the Solo yet they are priced differently. Maybe there are other factors that can justify the higher cost of the Bushbuddy below.

Materials

If you don’t know the brands, a quick look at the two stoves might confuse you that they are the same. They have the same design but one is slightly bigger. The two have a double wall surrounding the first burning chamber. This feature is responsible for creating secondary combustion and ultra-clean gasification.

The stoves produce clean fire and generates less smoke as compared to other stoves. The double wall serves as damper minimizing the oxygen going in the fire. This makes the stoves efficient in burning and produces a hot flame too.

These features increase the effectiveness of the stove and saves fuel at the same time. This means you will need less fuel as compared to other stoves. Both the stoves take the same amount of time to boil water. For example, a quart of water takes 8-10 minutes to boil.

Another awesome feature on the stoves is the heat shield feature. To avoid burning the ground where the stove is placed, the scorching heat from the fire is shielded by the heat shield feature.

Quality and Durability

The materials making the stoves and the features go a long way into making them durable.

Differences

Here are two differences in the stoves that set them apart.

Weight

Backpackers are always conscious about weight and try as much as possible to carry little weight. The Solo is heavier than the Bushbuddy by 3.1 oz. this weight might sound insignificant but when added onto the gear inside the backpack, the difference is felt by the backpacker.

Both the manufacturers used premium high quality stainless steel but the Solo has a thicker gauge as compared to the Bushbuddy. Most backpackers would pick the Bushbuddy as it is lighter especially those who go for long trips.

This might seem like a disadvantage on Solo’s side but it’s an advantage. The thicker gauge translates to a tough product that is wear resistant and suitable for travel. A strong and sturdy stove is suitable because its less susceptible to breaking while hiking. The constant motion by backpackers trigger a high risk for the stove to get hit thus breaking.

Burn ring setting

The Bushbuddy has four prongs as compared to the Solo which has three. One might ask, what is the significance of these? The four prongs provide a firmer and more secure surface for the pan to hold on when cooking as compared to the three on the Solo stove.

Portable stoves require small pots and pans because of the little build and these require a firm and secure surface.

Which is best; bushbuddy vs solo stove?

This is not an easy question. Both these stoves have their advantages and disadvantages as well. They offer the same design and use and the quality of one might be a little bit higher. There are so many things to consider and some require personal consideration. The decision to choose one boils down to personal preferences.

For those whose value a lightweight product for hiking, comfortable and safe when cooking, the Bushbuddy is a perfect choice.

For those who take a look at the design and cost of a stove and the savings you can make, the Solo lite is an ideal one. It is cheaper and durable build to last for a longer time.

What to consider when using these two stoves:

• The fire from the stoves blacken the bottom of the pan. You can wrap the bottom with a foil which is thrown away after cooking. this makes cleaning the pot or pan easier.
• These types of stoves are best used outdoor. They are never meant for indoor use. The open fire produces carbon monoxide which is dangerous as we know and produces smoke too. using the stove in a closed area is dangerous and can lead to poisoning or suffocation.

These two stoves ( bushbuddy vs solo stove) are perfect for backpackers because they are light and efficient in fuel saving. It’s a handy stove that saves the user from spending on fuel. With some dry bushes, wood or leaves, the stoves light and you are good to go. On the other hand, using wood outdoors is nature friendly making the stove perfect for use when camping. Whichever you prefer, both are trusted brands and will serve you efficiently as a backpacker.