Solo Stove Lite

The Solo Stove is great when looking for the comfort and coziness of a campfire. It's efficient, wood-burning design is a great for cooking in areas where fires are permitted. I enjoyed using the Solo Stove Lite on overnight backpacking trips leading up to the Colorado Trail. It burns through sticks and twigs quickly, and I like starting and tending to a fire.

The winter of 2018-2019 had a record impact on the Colorado Trail. The above-average snowpack and historic avalanches led to the latest melt-off by two to three weeks. Leading up to my start date, August 4th, I checked the U.S. Forest Service website frequently for updates on fire restrictions. Fortunately, this year, in 2019, conditions delayed fire bans until later in the season.

Once on the Colorado Trail though, the weight and checking for fire bans wasn't practical. While on the Colorado Trail, I used the Solo Stove Lite infrequently and only in areas I knew were not under fire restrictions. I looked forward to starting a fire and cooking dinner each evening when I arrived at camp. It also helped keep the bugs away.

I'd like to lighten my pack for future thru-hikes, and I think the first thing to be replaced will be the Solo Stove Lite. Maybe I'll try a canister stove? Or stoveless?

While I don't recommend it for thru-hiking, the Solo Stove Lite is a great option for overnight backpacking trips, cooking over a fire, roasting marshmellows, and spending a night under the stars telling ghost stories.

Update June 1, 2025: In recent years, the U.S. Forest Service has implemented fire bans that cover most or all of the Colorado Trail by mid-summer. These restrictions prohibit stoves without an on-off valve, like the Solo Stove Lite.