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The Case for a Gas-Free Brew

There are few pleasures in British fell walking quite like a hot mug of tea on a summit. But gas burners can be a nuisance: heavy canisters, unreliable in cold, and a faff to judge. Sometimes you want a simpler, lighter, or more robust way to boil water. This article looks at three dependable alternatives: solid fuel, wood fires, and the insulated flask. Each rewards a little handmade gear and repair know-how.

Solid Fuel: The Quiet Achiever

Hexamine tablets are the classic solid fuel. Light, stable, and effective in freezing conditions. One tablet, about 7 grams, burns for five to seven minutes and boils around 500ml of water in a sheltered spot. The folding stove that comes with them is flimsy. Make your own from a large tin can: punch a ring of holes around the base and cut a door on one side.

• Use a windshield: a folded rectangle of aluminium foil makes all the difference.
• Lighting: hold a flame to the tablet until it catches, then wait for the clear, hot flame.
• Residue: hexamine leaves sticky soot. Wipe your pot with grass before it sets.
• Repair tip: if the stove hinge snaps, replace it with stiff wire from an old coat hanger.

Not fast, and it smells. But it is reliable and cheap. Keep a few tablets as an emergency backup.

Wood Fires and Twig Stoves

A small wood fire is the most satisfying way to boil water. You need dry twigs, dead branches no thicker than your finger, and a sheltered spot. A twig stove, or hobo stove, concentrates the heat. Make one from a large catering tin: cut a hole near the base for air, and another near the top for flames. A wire grill holds the fuel.

• Gather only dead wood: snap twigs from standing dead trees or pick them off the ground. Never break live branches.
• Protect the ground: use a fire pan, a flat tin lid, or a circle of stones. Peat and dry grass can smoulder.
• Keep it small: a fire the size of your hand boils a litre in five to eight minutes.
• Leave no trace: burn to ash, scatter cold ash widely, pack out any foil or rubbish.

Fire lighting is a hillcraft skill. A ferrocerium rod and birch bark work in damp conditions. Repairing a twig stove is easy: a new tin costs nothing, and a bent wire grill straightens by hand.

The Trusty Insulated Flask

The simplest gas-free brew is the one you made at home. A good vacuum flask keeps water above 80°C for six to twelve hours. Pre-heat it with boiling water for two minutes, empty, then fill to the brim and seal. Wrap it in a wool cosy made from an old jumper sleeve. Carry milk in a small screw-top bottle.

• Choose a wide-mouth flask: easier to fill, clean, and add a teabag to.
• Repair the seal: cut a new gasket from a silicone baking mat or replace the cork with a rubber bung.
• Handmade upgrade: a felt sleeve adds insulation and stops rattling.
• Safety: never drink directly from a flask that has held boiling water for hours. Pour into a mug.

Perfect for winter walks or when you cannot be bothered lighting anything. It doubles as a hot water bottle if you are benighted.

Chimney Kettles and Handmade Twig Burners

A chimney kettle, or storm kettle, is a brilliant piece of kit. Water sits in the base, and you light a small fire in the chimney. The flames draw up, heating the water in minutes. It runs on twigs, pine cones, and dry grass. A well-made chimney kettle boils a litre in three to five minutes.

You can make a simple version from two tin cans, but the seals are tricky. Better to buy one and maintain it. Replace the cork seal with a new one cut from a wine cork, and clean the base with a wire brush. Handmade accessories include a leather strap and a soot bag. Always let the kettle cool before packing.

Hillcraft, Safety and Repair

Whichever method you choose, a few rules keep you safe. Never light a fire in dry weather, on peat, or where signs forbid it. Carry a backup flask or solid fuel tablets in case wood is wet. Learn to repair your kit: a split flask seal, a broken stove hinge, a torn stuff sack. A few metres of wire, a square of silicone, and a needle and thread will fix most problems.

Remember the fell walker's code: take only photos, leave only footprints, and share your brew with a friend. The best cup of tea is the one you made yourself, on a quiet fell, with hands that know how to improvise. Brew well, and walk far.