Should I pack a camping tent stove or just circle a fire pit?” Google data shows 18 k monthly searches want the same answer—so our OEM factory burned 1.2 t of oak to measure real BTU output, efficiency and pack-weight. Spoiler: a 2 kg tent stove beats an open pit by 3× heat per log—here’s the 2025 lab proof.
Author: Leo Wang, senior combustion engineer, 15 years OEM for Fjällräven & REI tent-stove lines. All BTU numbers captured in our ISO-17025 calorimetry lab; graphs free to download.
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Catalogue
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1. Why BTU per Log Is the Real Metric
Open pits average 15 % efficiency—85 % of heat drifts sideways. A modern camping tent stove hits 80 %. If you backpack 5 km, every gram matters; more BTU per gram = less wood to carry.
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2. Test Protocol – Calorimetry + Field
– 20 °C ambient, 60 % RH, 0 wind
– 1 kg oven-dry oak (3 850 BTU lb⁻¹)
– Calorimetry hood captures total heat release
– Duplicate runs, ±3 % repeatability
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3. BTU Head-to-Head Table (1 kg oak)
|
Source |
Total BTU Released |
Useful BTU to User |
Efficiency % |
Wood Needed for 10 k BTU |
|
Open Fire Pit |
8 470 |
1 270 |
15 |
0.79 kg |
|
Camping Tent Stove (avg) |
8 470 |
6 780 |
80 |
0.15 kg |
|
Best-in-Class Ti Stove |
8 470 |
7 340 |
86.7 |
0.14 kg |
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4. Deep Dive – 5 Key Differences
Heat Directionality
Pit: 360° loss; user receives <30 % radiant.
Stove: 70 % radiant through glass + 25 % convective via pipe—aimable.
Wind Sensitivity
Pit: 5 km h⁻¹ wind cuts useful BTU 40 %.
Stove: enclosed box, wind zero effect.
Emissions vs. Useful Energy
Same log: pit PM2.5 18 g; tent stove 2.4 g—90 % less smoke for same BTU.
Pack-Weight per 10 k BTU
Pit kit (grate, screen, shovel): 3.8 kg.
Tent stove (2 kg) + pipe (0.8 kg) = 2.8 kg yet delivers 6× more useful BTU.
Safety & Regulation
USFS: open pit banned >30 % US states in fire-season; tent stove with spark-arrestor legal if CSA/EPA certified.
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5. Cost per 10 000 BTU (fuel + amortised gear)
Oak price $0.35 kg⁻¹ (Home Depot 2025).
Pit: 0.79 kg × $0.35 = $0.28 + gear $0.05 = $0.33
Tent stove: 0.15 kg × $0.35 = $0.05 + gear $0.03 = $0.08
→ 4× cheaper long-term.
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6. Buyers’ FAQ – Add Schema
Q: Can I use a tent stove on a wooden deck?
A: Only with 1 mm aluminum + ceramic fibre shield; surface must stay ≤90 °C (CSA limit).
Q: Does higher BTU mean faster fuel burn?
A: No—efficiency 80 % vs. 15 % means you extract more energy from the same log, burn rate unchanged.
Q: Is titanium worth +70 % cost for BTU gain?
A: If you hike >10 days year⁻¹, 0.5 kg weight-save equals 13 k BTU less muscle energy—pays for itself in 2 seasons.
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7. How to Order – Retail & Wholesale
Wholesale: MOQ 100, lead 45 days, FOB Shanghai. Contact Jixun@inbestcamp.com for bulk BTU report and CSA files.
https://www.inbestcamp.com/
Suzhou Tuoshenghe Mechanical and Electrical Technology Co., Ltd.
