Are you one of the outdoor enthusiasts that don’t see the need for buying a portable wood stove? It’s most likely because you’ve never had the opportunity to use one before, but they can truly change the way you experience the outdoors. Instead of spending hours trying to build a traditional fire pit in the middle of the woods, these unique tools not only make it safer to have an open flame but also help to save time when building a fire.
The Vargo Hexagon Wood Stove is just one of many wood stoves on the market, which begs the question, what makes this model different from the rest? In this guide, we’ll explore the advantages, disadvantages, and features of this wood stove that makes it unique and well worth the purchase.
Features
- Extremely lightweight
- Constructed out of titanium
- Folds flat for easy packing
- Hinged panels for quick setup
- Conical body design for fast cooking
- Burns using biomass fuel
- Integrated door allows for air control
Pros
- Very minimal fire building skills needed for use: If you’re on the hunt for an outdoor stove that is simple for beginners and veterans alike, this is certainly a model to take into consideration. All you need to do is add a little bit of deadfall into the main compartment, light the materials, and you’ll be well on your way to having a reliable fire. The hexagonal shape of the unit also makes it simpler to build a fire with ease.
- Lightweight and easy to carry while backpacking: You’ll surely love the fact that this particular portable campfire weighs just under five pounds, making it simple to bring with you relatively anywhere. You won’t even notice that there’s an additional cooking apparatus in your bag, as it can fold entirely flat.
- Easy to balance small pots and pans on the top of the stove: Due to the conical shape at the top of the stove, it helps to make it simple for balancing small or large pots and pans. Although its size isn’t recommended for using traditional large cookware, it’s incredibly versatile for everyday meals while you’re outdoors.
- Does not require an ample amount of force to set it up: One concern you may have with the Vargo Hexagon Wood Stove is it uses hinges and clasps during setup, but luckily it is specifically designed for easy setup. You won’t have to worry about using any type of excessive force to snap all of the pieces together, and you don’t need to bring any additional tools with you to set it up.
Cons
- Does not come with a cooking grate: It can be difficult to manage cooking certain foods on the Vargo Hexagon Wood Stove as it does not come equipped with a cooking grate. This puts you in a position to where you need to bring all of your cookware with you while you’re traveling, which only adds extra weight. You could surely build a grate on your own, but this will require extra effort and materials.
- You may need to drill extra holes for better cooking power: Depending on the size of flame you hope to achieve, you may be in a position where you’ll need to drill additional holes at the bottom of the unit to improve its cooking power. It is great for boiling and cooking small meals, but for more flame, it requires a little more aeration.
- May leave creosote resin on cookware: It’s important that you don’t use your favorite household cookware with this wood stove as it may leave creosote resin on the bottom of pots and pans. Unfortunately, this can make it difficult to get cookware clean with regular use, but if you have dedicated camping cooking gear, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Summary
- Extremely lightweight: To help make packing for your outdoor excursion simpler, the Vargo Hexagon Wood Stove weighs in at less than five pounds, making it the perfect cookware for portaging or stationary camping.
- Constructed out of titanium: As one of the most resilient metals in the world, titanium is the perfect material for constructing a reliable and sturdy outdoor stove. This helps to limit the worry of bending and deterioration if you bring it with you on every camping trip.
- Conical body design for fast cooking: The specially designed conical body helps to funnel the hot air and flames to the top of the unit, making it easy to cook a wide variety of different things. As the flame is targeted, it also helps to speed up boiling and cooking.
- Burns using biomass fuel: Instead of relying on butane and propane, all you’ll need to do is collect a sufficient amount of biomass fuel (twigs, leaves, pinecones, etc.) to generate a reliable flame.
Comparison
When you take the time to compare the Vargo Hexagon Wood Stove to other models on the market, such as the Lixada Camping Stove, there are plenty of advantages that this unit has over the competition.
First, the Vargo Hexagon Wood Stove is incredibly lightweight which makes it the ideal tool for people who have little to no room in their bags, whereas with other models, such as the Lixada, you’ll be forced to carry a 13 oz. stove with you. Another advantage to the overall design of the Vargo Hexagon Wood Stove is that it can be folded down to lie entirely flat and it comes with a convenient carrying case for easy storage, whereas other stoves do not.
Another advantage of the Vargo stove is that it makes it easy to feed the fire throughout the day and night as all you have to do is swing open the small door on the front of the unit and add more biomass fuel.
With other stoves, you’ll have to find a small opening where you can only fit one to two twigs in at a time, not to mention you’ll also have to put your hands close to the flame in an effort to keep feeding the fire.
It’s also important to note that the Vargo Hexagon Wood Stove is incredibly safe to use, as there aren’t any advanced technical components that you need to look out for. Other wood burning stoves have too many features that take away from the ease and efficiency of building your own fire, which can make it far more dangerous to use without experience. On the other hand, the Vargo series allows you to easily assemble the unit, add fuel, and start the fire within minutes.
Verdict
There are plenty of things to think about when it comes to buying the right wood stove for your camping trip from size to flame control. The Vargo Hexagon Wood Stove takes all of the hassles out of creating fire, the easiest way to explain it is it’s a comprehensive tool that allows you to build a traditional campfire but in a safer setting.
By taking a few minutes of your time to set the stove up, you’ll already be more than halfway through cooking your meal. Although it might not produce as large of a fire as a portable stove that uses propane or butane, it allows you to cook your food using pure biomass fuel.
With its convenience, ease of use, and compact design it’s truly one of the best outdoor wood burning stoves you can buy.