Review: Hexagon Wood Stove from Vargo

While on a backpacking trip—whether for a few days or several months—do you ever feel slightly ridiculous carrying heavy, bulky fuel canisters for the stove when surrounded by a forest full of natural tinder? The good news is that you can ditch the heavier cooking supplies and finally make use of those long ago acquired Boy Scout/Girl Scout fire starter skills.

Vargo’s new Hexagon Wood Stove ($59.95) allows you to do just that. The 4.1-ounce titanium stove folds flat as a crepe when stored and assists you in flaunting your crafty fire starter and backwoods chef skills for camping buddies. Its unique hexagon design capitalizes on fire’s need for fuel, oxygen and heat to ignite and maintain flames.

True, this probably is not the ideal stove for those backpacking through a desert or other barren landscape. But for those with easy access to dry tinder—like dead leaves, pine needles and tree bark—have your credit card on standby.

Setting up and igniting the flames is simple: Find a suitable location to set up the Hexagon Wood Stove and clear an appropriate space of any flammable materials. Don’t piss off Smokey the Bear by starting a forest fire! (But seriously, do take proper precautions and use common sense when determining where/if to build a fire.) Gather needed dry tinder and arrange within the Hexagon Stove; watch this video for a step-by-step guide to ignite your cooking stove.

Vargo recommends not using a pot larger than 1.5 liters, and the stove is best used for a single-serving entree. Clean up is simple—use water to wipe off the stove and ensure fire embers are completely out (i.e. cold to the touch) before moving on. Make Chuck Norris proud and opt for an environmentally friendly stove utilizing “mountain man” skills.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received the Hexagon Wood Stove for free as coordinated by Deep Creek Public Relations in consideration for review publication.