Advice needed on portable cookers please

[nuphoria]

I want to throw a small, cheap cooker in to my car emergency kit and wanted to see what you lot thought of that idea. All it will be for is to boil a couple of cups of water for tea and heat up some beans or similar. 

So far, I have considered a hexamine folding one and the Swiss gel ones with a lid. Are either of these worth getting and do you have other ideas along the same lines?

Also, I'm assuming a steel or enamel mug would be suitable for doing the boiling in?

Cheers in advance for your thoughts 

[Benner]

What kinda money you looking at?

[Mr. Whippy]

Make your own alcohol burner.  Works great.

Mine has traveled all over the country, and has functioned well in ALL situations I've used it in.

I use 200 proof Ethanol (since it can be transported on airplanes--it is consumable afterall...).

Easy to make, but you might have to alter which coin you use...

[DaveK]

I have a Trangia set that is absolutely brilliant, but cheap, it ain't!

The hexamines are great, and probably ideal for what you describe.

They work, have little to go wrong and are cheap. I think the local surplus place sells the fuel blocks for 2 quid!

For boiling water, you might be best to pick up a cheap saucepan or billy can. Anything you put on the hex or Trangia is likely to get sooted up, and of course very hot, so being able to pour the water into a mug for drinking might be better. You can get a little trangia-style kettle for under a tenner which is ideal. And of course more civilised

[nuphoria]

Maybe a fiver or so Ben, which is why I thought those two were good options. I'm leaning towards a hexi one ATM.

I thought about making one of those Mr.W, but didn't want to carry flammable liquid in the car (any more than's in the tank already of course!).

A small billy can also sounds like a good plan... hmm.... more shopping now

[DaveK]

Here you go. It's got a whistle too

http://www.surfdome.com/gelert_kettle_-_gelert_aluminium_whistling_kettle_-_green-14151

[Mr. Whippy]

Maybe a fiver or so Ben, which is why I thought those two were good options. I'm leaning towards a hexi one ATM.

I thought about making one of those Mr.W, but didn't want to carry flammable liquid in the car (any more than's in the tank already of course!).

A small billy can also sounds like a good plan... hmm.... more shopping now

Wot are you gonna use for fuel then?    Gas fuels can be much more dangerous in a hot car...

There is one other choice...

If you could pick up a ZZstove on ebay, they work very well (I used one of these before switching to the beercan stove)

Other than that, I really like the classic Svea stoves

[sardauker]

Make your own alcohol burner.  Works great.

Mine has traveled all over the country, and has functioned well in ALL situations I've used it in.

I use 200 proof Ethanol (since it can be transported on airplanes--it is consumable afterall...).

Easy to make, but you might have to alter which coin you use...

+1 with the alcool stove

[DaveK]

Wot are you gonna use for fuel then?    

http://www.springfields.co.uk/camping/cooking-and-eating/cookers-stoves-accessories/?id=328

Solid fuel

[Woz]

The Swiss Army Cooker 71 is great for the money. Basically it is nothing but a can of gel with a ring that is used to put the pot on. Cheap, simple, reliable. But: Slow!

Cheap to, but still good working: German army ESBiT cookers. Esbit (Erich Schumms Brennstoff in Tablettenform, Erich Schumms combustible tablets) is very easy to store and use, it is safe and reliable. But even slower then the Swiss gel cooker. There is a large and a small foldable ESBiT cooker, cheaper than dirt! The German and French army (sometimes the Austrian too) use it to heat the MRE.

Sweden has a very cheap version of the great Trangia system. Again, it is an Army version. Maybe the best army cooker out there. See here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpzHLic1A0Y

ESBiT (see above) offers a Trangia-Style cooker but improved it by adding a better ventilation system and reducing the price. See here: (german, sorry)
http://www.odoo.tv/Esbit-Spirituskochset.442.0.html

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I'd go down the alcohol/meths route too

A bit over your budget, but I've used one for years and it's superb

http://www.surplusandadventure.com/shop/camping-outdoor/cooking-eating/cooking/trangia-stove-mess-kit-330662.html

The Stove has NEVER leaked! not one drop, so no worries keeping it in the car

[Magnus]

I would go with a hexi one too, simple, easy, and compact too.

I have a Trangia set that is absolutely brilliant, but cheap, it ain't!

The hexamines are great, and probably ideal for what you describe.

They work, have little to go wrong and are cheap. I think the local surplus place sells the fuel blocks for 2 quid!

For boiling water, you might be best to pick up a cheap saucepan or billy can. Anything you put on the hex or Trangia is likely to get sooted up, and of course very hot, so being able to pour the water into a mug for drinking might be better. You can get a little trangia-style kettle for under a tenner which is ideal. And of course more civilised

What! No tactical teapot too! bloody philistines! 

[DaveK]

I don't drink tea. 

[Benner]

I don't drink tea. 

Coffee though right?! 

[DaveK]

Oh yes. A lot!

My Trangia setup is essentially the civvy version of what is in Mike's link, and has the non stick pans. It's excellent, especially when assisted by a multitool for turning your bacon

The kettle is simply convenient!