camping stove - recommendations?

[Scatt]

Hello campers,

We're embarking on our first family camping trip (2 biggies plus a 2yr old) to france/belgium this summer. What stove does anyone recommend? I know trangias are meant to be good but DH likes one with a grill underneath which seems nice- but i think simpler might be better. We're going take a wee notebook BBQ too.

Many thanks

Scatt

What kind of cooking do you want to do and how much space have you got in the car?

When I was growing up we used to go camping as a family - mum and dad had a massive frame tent, and we took everything, including the kitchen sink! They had a dual ring cooker with grill, which was great. BUT they also had a massive gas cylinder to power it and a trailer to put it all in. Last time I drove down France I noticed signs on the entrances to tunnels under Paris saying "no pressurised gas" - I haven't managed to work out whether this applies to Camping Gaz type products.

Then I started doing DoE trips and managed for a few nights to basic cooking on an oil fired trangia (although I think they do gas ones now).

For what its worth, DH and I are planning on going proper camping (rather than a la EuroCamp) for the first time with DD (3) this year. So far we've got a single ring gas burner that runs on these. The environmentalist in me would prefer it if they were refillable, but at the moment they seem the best option as they're stable - the single burners that run on refillable cylinders don't look stable enough to us at the moment. Our next cooking purchase will probably be one of these, as it seems to give a huge amount of flexibility for not very much space. The only thing it won't give us is a grill, but then we don't tend to use a grill much anyway. Toast is the only thing I can see us struggling with.

There are pros and cons to each type of cooker - its a case of working out what's going to fit your needs best (otherwise known as a useless answer )

for bbq's, paella, eggs bacon etc:

www.beauclaire.co.uk/beauclaire-bbq-sets.htm

we borrowed this and loved it, so clean and easy.

We had one fo these:

www.charliesdirect.co.uk/products/coleman-unleaded-2-burner-camping-stove

hubby loved it but I thought it a bit dangerous and stank of pertrol, huge flames pouring out etc.

Then we got one of these from Lidl of all places and it's great for the kettle pans etc, easy to refill and store, easy to clean.

www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-portable-gas-camping-stove-p142491

Thanks ladies,

We have a biggish car (verso) but prob not that much space once the tent etc is in it. Those little portable stoves do look pretty easy and stable, and cheap! Oh decisions, decisions!

Scatt