CANCOOKER’S VERSATILE COOKTOP BRINGS THE HEAT!

BY SUZY JEFFRIES

Even with a light wind and without a wind guard, frying the day’s catch on the Cooktop was flawless.

A quality portable cooktop is a must-have for anyone who routinely goes on hunting, camping or fishing trips. I also believe everyone should have a reliable, and safe, portable cooktop for emergency preparedness. Emergency preparedness is a continuous what-if and may be called to action at any time and for a wide variety of reasons. What if your electricity or gas service goes out? You may have a gas grill but that’s not especially portable if the emergency requires bugging out. For less than a $100 investment, a portable cooktop could mean the difference between drinking safe water and eating well or not eating at all.

When considering the purchase of a cookstove (or any equipment), it is important not only to evaluate if it meets statements or advertising claims made by the company, but to also research the company’s reputation, the warranty and the return policy.

If you are new to cooktops/camp stoves, you should understand that those which use gas fuel are not intended for indoor use as they are considered a carbon monoxide hazard, and most are not intended to be used in windy conditions, as the wind can extinguish the flames and fuel will continue to flow. Some cooktops/camp stoves include a wind guard, or they can be purchased separately. This information will not typically be stated or advertised but is generally addressed in the product’s instruction manual.

The plastic storage/ carry case is flimsy and offers little protection for the Cooktop.

The warning label is hard to miss, being placed in a position that may catch fire and must be removed prior to using the Cooktop.

Weighing in at 5 pounds, the Cooktop is light enough to carry with one finger. AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE ‹ Above: The

CONSIDERATIONS

Equipment purchases are generally made with a particular purpose in mind. Therefore, being mindful of that purpose is important when making the decision of which model or brand of equipment to buy. When evaluating portable cooktops/camp stoves, a few questions to ask yourself include: Is it for hunting, camping or fishing trips; tailgating, parties or emergency preparedness? Will it be used as the primary or backup stove?