By now I’m fairly confident that most of you reading this will be aware of the BioLite CampStove.  It burst onto the outdoor scene quite a few years ago, and was an immediate hit, because not only is it a cracking little stove, but by using what I can only describe as witchcraft, it can also charge your mobile phone - cue the spooky music…

I’ve had my BioLite for around 6 years now. I was sent it to review when I wrote for the, now defunct, Land Rover World magazine, and I’ve used it regularly ever since.

So, what is it and how does it work?

The CampStove is basically a wood burning stove, but the USP is that attached to the side is, what they call, a USB-Rechargeable Airflow System.  What this does, by using the aforementioned witchcraft, it uses the heat from the fire to create electricity that both charges your device, and powers a fan that blows air into the chimney. This blown air feeds more oxygen into the fire creating a more fierce flame, which makes cooking more efficient, and boiling water far quicker.  

It’s as simple as that really, and it’s incredibly easy to set up.  Once you’ve removed it from the bag, attach the USB-Rechargeable Airflow System (the orange bit), and unfold the 3 legs.  Once it’s stable, throw in a lit fire-starter then your chosen fuel, and you’re good to go.  I usually switch the fan on after the fuel has caught fire.

One thing to remember about the BioLite is that you do need quite a bit of wood, because the fan is pushing oxygen into the chamber, it absolutely incinerates everything - quickly!

These days BioLite offer a huge amount of accessories, from the KettlePot and portable grill that you see in my photos, to a full lighting set-up for your chosen camp spot.

As I mentioned earlier, I received my CampStove just months after they arrived in the UK, and since then the clever folks at BioLite haven’t rested on their laurels. No, they’ve been busy creating an updated model, the CampStove 2. 

The new model isn’t just a pretty face, it provides 50% more power and has an onboard battery so you can charge things up whenever you want.  Not only that, but there’s an updated front LED panel that lets you know what’s going on inside, plus a 4-speed fan instead of the old 2-speed unit.

Overall it’s been an essential piece of kit here at Muddy Towers, and although we don’t use it that often to charge our phones, the addition of the fan makes boiling water and cooking lunch a very quick and efficient process.

Website: uk.bioliteenergy.com

RRP: £129.95 (CampStove 2)