Stuff We Want: BioLite CampStove 2+, the Camp Stove That Charges Your Phone With Sticks
You cook dinner over a twig fire and your phone gets a charge from the heat. Camping just got a little better.
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It's day two of the camping trip. Your phone is at 4%, and the only power outlet for miles is a chipmunk. You were going to "unplug this weekend," but then you remembered your boarding pass, your maps and every photo of the trip are on that phone.
The BioLite CampStove 2+ fixes that with sticks. You feed it twigs, sticks, pinecones and other wood scraps from around camp. It has a thermoelectric generator that turns the fire's heat into electricity. You plug your phone into the USB port and it charges while you cook dinner.
That's right. You're charging an iPhone with a pinecone. Your great-grandparents would have questions.
The listing says the generator puts out 3 watts for real-time charging, and it stores power in a built-in 3,200 mAh battery, so you can still charge after the fire goes out. It also has 4 fan speeds to control the flame, and the listing says its combustion design makes smokeless flames. So your hoodie might not smell like a campfire for three days afterward.
This listing is the full cook set. It includes the CampStove 2+, a Portable Grill, a KettlePot, a Coffee Press, a FlexLight, two stuff sacks and a micro USB cable. The listing says it boils 1 liter of water in 4.5 minutes, and the grill fits up to four burgers. The whole set weighs 5.1 pounds.
So: hot coffee, burgers, a light to eat by and a charged phone, all from a pile of sticks you found. Bear Grylls would be proud. Your friend who brought three gas canisters will be quiet.
Who it's for
- Campers whose phone always dies on day two.
- Gadget people who want a camp stove they can show off.
- Coffee drinkers who refuse to go without a proper cup, even outdoors.
Who should skip it
- You glamp in an RV with outlets. You already have electricity. Enjoy.
- You don't want to collect sticks. This stove runs on wood scraps, so somebody has to go find them. Probably you.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Turns campfire heat into USB power, with a built-in 3,200 mAh battery.
- Burns twigs, sticks and pinecones, so you don't need to pack fuel.
- Full set with grill, KettlePot, coffee press and FlexLight.
Cons
- The listing gives 3 watts of charging, so it's a slow, steady top-up, not a fast charger.
- You'll become the person who won't stop talking about their stove.
Pros and cons are our read of the features on the listing, not a hands-on test.
How it compares
Camping in the cold? The Sportneer wearable sleeping bag keeps you warm while you walk to the stove. The BioLite handles the coffee and the phone charging.
FAQ
What does it burn?
The listing says renewable biomass, like twigs, sticks and pinecones.
How does it charge a phone?
A thermoelectric generator turns heat into electricity. You charge through the USB port, and power is stored in a 3,200 mAh battery for later.
What's included?
CampStove 2+, Portable Grill, KettlePot, Coffee Press, FlexLight, two stuff sacks, a micro USB cable and instructions.
How heavy is it?
The listing says the complete set weighs 5.1 pounds.
The verdict
The verdict: hand-picked because a stove that cooks your dinner and charges your phone off a pile of sticks is the kind of thing you text a friend about. Send it to the friend whose phone always dies right when it's time to find the trailhead.
#ad. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Hand-picked by The Deez List.
