It’s challenging to choose the right kitchenware to carry, especially when packing light for camping or long road trips. While some items like propane stoves and stackable cookware are obvious selections, one might struggle to know which devices to carry that can help heat water. So, what are the best ways you can heat water while traveling?
Here are 5 simple ways to heat water while traveling:
- Use a camping stove.
- Heat water with an electric kettle.
- Use an immersion water heater.
- Pack a portable backpacking stove.
- Use a car electric water heater.
If you love to hit the road and are curious about some of the ways you can heat water while traveling, then you couldn’t be in a better place. Read on as I highlight some simple but effective ways to heat water and enjoy your cup of coffee, tea, or food!
1. Use a Camping Stove
A camping stove is one of those must-have appliances for camping enthusiasts.
These devices come in different sizes, making them ideal for outdoor adventures. The best part? Camping stoves use a variety of energy sources, which makes them highly convenient if you plan to ditch your car for a couple of hours or even days.
Therefore, if you’re looking for a convenient way to heat water while traveling, then a camping stove can come in handy.
These devices also come with additional features depending on the brand (and budget), improving your experience when traveling long distances. You can find multi-burner, rapid-boil, and pocket-sized models, making them as versatile as your trips are! Plus, they’re portable and easy to set up.
They have many features that allow you to ditch electricity and prepare a nice cup of coffee or boil drinking water obtained from natural sources.
Best Camping Stoves for Traveling
Here are the best stoves for traveling available on Amazon.com:
Youtian Camping Stove
The Youtian Portable Single Burner Cylinder Stove is a great way to heat water when traveling. Not only is this bad boy extremely portable, but it also comes with instant ignition and is easy to use. The camping stove can last for 2 hours on a single 8.8 oz (249.48 g) cylinder.
Another central selling point of this portable camping stove by Youtian is its wind protection feature that allows your water to boil regardless of whether it’s windy or not. It’s also safe for use as it features a safety lock, an automatic safety shut-off, and a canister ejection device– no more worrying about leakages!
Coleman Gas Camping Stove
If you’re looking for more cooking power, then the Coleman 2 burner gas camping stove might float your boat. This advanced gas camping stove can manage an impressive 22,000 BTUs and boasts five adjustable burners that give you more flexibility in temperature control.
Wind-blocking panels and a pressure regulator make it easy to heat your water even in poor weather or extreme conditions. The device is easy to clean as it features a chrome-plated grate designed to serve you for many years, courtesy of its aluminum cooktop (rust-resistant).
2. Heat Water With an Electric Kettle
It’s impossible to discuss simple ways to heat water while traveling without mentioning an electric kettle. These devices are ideal for making coffee and boiling water– or even heating water to prepare other meals fast.
Put simply, it’s a must-have device for RVers or campers– basically, anyone who fancies spending time on the road.
When choosing electric kettles for travel, it’s highly advisable to go for compact and light options. Such devices allow you to save on space, which can be at a premium when packing light is the order of the day. You should also be on the lookout for whether the product is made of food-grade material, though, just to be on the safe side!
Best Electric Kettles for Traveling
Here are the best electric kettles for traveling available on Amazon.com:
Ultrathin Foldable Kettle
If the goal is to pack light for your travels, then you might want to consider the ultrathin travel foldable electric kettle. This electric Kettle is small in size and collapsible, making it suitable for traveling.
The device comes with a knob to choose your preferred temperature for boiling water, heating coffee, preparing noodles, or keeping tea warm.
There is no need to worry about safety issues. The device is made of food-grade material and comes packed with extra safety features like dry boil protection, overheat safeguards, and auto shutoffs. The portable electric kettle can boil 0.6 L (0.16 gal) of water at a time and is dual voltage, a feature that increases compatibility regardless of where your travels take you.
Roadfare Collapsible Kettle
The Roadfare collapsible kettle for RV camping is a premium electric device that, besides heating your water, also keeps it warm to suit your preferences. You’ll also be glad to learn the travel kettle folds up compactly to the size of a burger and comes with a lightweight storage bag for added convenience.
The collapsible electric kettle by Roadfare is designed to prevent leakages, breaking, and overheating, meaning it’s likely to serve you for several years. It’s also made of food-grade (odorless) silicon material, making it perfectly safe for regular use.
3. Use an Immersion Water Heater
An immersion water heater is an excellent alternative to electric kettles. Not only are they small in size, but they’re also lighter compared to electric kettles, which makes them ideal for backpacking. Although the risk of burns is high with immersion water heaters, they tend to boil water in minutes, which can come in handy when on the road.
When using an immersion water heater, remember to observe safety rules. First, go through the user manual to know the dos and don’ts. You should also use these devices with glass, earthenware, porcelain, or ceramic containers for the best results.
Best Immersion Heaters for Traveling
Here are the best immersion heaters for traveling available on Amazon.com:
Diximus Immersion Water Heater
The Diximus dual voltage travel immersion water heater is a handy electric device that’ll have your water boiling in just minutes. To use the device, you’ll only need to fill your container with water before dropping the heater in.
Impressively, the device features a dual voltage system and includes a European adaptor for your international travel needs. The device also comes with a travel pouch that allows for comfortable carrying. The Diximus immersion water heater’s coil is made from stainless steel, too, making it resistant to damage.
Lewis N. Clark Portable Immersion Water Heater
The Lewis N Clark portable immersion water heater comes in two colors and is designed to warm water in seconds and boil in minutes.
For increased convenience, the immersion water heater is powered with a dual voltage system (120V for the US and 240V for Europe) and comes with a European adapter (and a travel pouch).
I also like that the immersion water heater features a durable burn guard that protects your bowls, cups, and coffee mug. The burn guard ensures the heating coils don’t come into contact with the sides of your containers or mugs. In addition, the compact, portable and lightweight nature of this device makes it an excellent option for traveling.
4. Pack a Portable Backpacking Stove
Backpacking stoves are camping stoves, but they’re a lot more portable.
These devices come with incredible power and can boil water in slightly under two minutes (depending on the brand), making them one of the best ways to heat water during travel.
Of course, you have to be extra careful when choosing a backpacking stove as they come in many designs and use different energy sources.
For instance, canister stoves are arguably the most common and easiest-to-use stoves. Liquid fuel stoves are ideal when traveling to high-altitude areas or locations with freezing temperatures. Wood stoves can also get the job done but aren’t suitable if you’ll be traveling to places without much tree cover.
Best Portable Backpacking Stoves
Here are the best portable backpacking stoves for traveling available on Amazon.com:
Jetboil Backpacking Stove
The Jetboil flash camping and backpacking stove, as the name suggests, is designed to heat items at jet-like speeds. Impressively, this bad boy can boil water in 100 seconds, making it your ultimate companion for outdoor adventures and long-distance travels. It also comes with an insulated cooking cup that keeps your heated water warm.
You can also take advantage of accessories (although sold separately) like the coffee press, pot support, cooking port, hanging kit, and skillet to make your cooking experience smoother and more enjoyable. With this device, you won’t need to second guess if the water is ready, courtesy of its color-changing heat indicator.
Sabre Camping Stove System
The Sabre ultralight camping stove system was designed with convenience in mind as it features a tripod (for stability) and a durable carriage bag for ease of transportation. This camping stove is easy to use as you’ll only need to attach a canister, open the valve, and light it up by pressing the igniter button.
The stove system also comes with a non-stick aluminum pot with folding handles, making it even more portable and easy to bring along on your outdoor adventures. You’ll love this backpacking stove if you’re tight on space or just want something easy to carry and set up.
Although it won’t boil water in 100 seconds like more powerful stoves, it provides a simple, hassle-free way to prepare your coffee or warm water when out on the road.
5. Use a Car Electric Water Heater
When embarking on long road trips, it’s always best to have convenient devices that can make your trip a lot more enjoyable and, at times, bearable. Car electric water heaters can help you do just that!
By drawing power from your car, these devices can heat your water, allowing you to enjoy that cup of coffee or hot tea that you so badly crave in the wilderness when car-camping, living in a van or RV, or simply taking a long drive.
The good news is you can plug in water heaters and immersion heaters in your car and enjoy a hot mug of coffee.
Be warned, though. These devices can cause injury if not used with care, especially when driving on tricky terrain. However, they do come with several advantages, top of the list being you won’t have to set them up outside the car to put them to use– you just plug them in, and you’re good to go!
Best Car Electric Water Heaters
Here are the best car electric water heaters for traveling available on Amazon.com:
Fdit Portable Car Electric Kettle
Some situations (like when traveling with a baby) can’t wait for you to stop and set up a canister backpacking stove. The Fdit Portable Car Electric Kettle allows you to heat water when on the road, effectively eliminating the need for alternative water heaters.
With a 1000 ml (33.81 oz) capacity, you can count on the Fdit portable car electric kettle to settle all your water heating needs when on the road. The device supports 12V and 24V and is designed to power off once the temperature reaches 248°F (120°C).
Bizofft Water Heater
The Bizofft Car Immersion Water Heater is made of engineered plastic materials and stainless steel. The device is corrosion-resistant, and you can directly plug it into a 12V or 24V lighter socket. As a highly portable and lightweight electrical device, you won’t need to create space to store it in your car.
Impressively, this water heater by Bizoft comes with a 12-month warranty and a 60-day refund for factory faults.
Please note that although the device is designed with safety in mind, you should be extra careful to avoid spillage as it can cause severe burns. This car immersion water heater is an excellent option if you want an easy-to-carry device that won’t take up much of your storage space.
What Is the Best Way To Heat Water While Traveling?
There’s no best way to heat water while traveling, as it all comes down to personal preferences. However, some methods are more versatile than others.
The best way to heat water while traveling is to use a portable backpacking stove or camping stove since they are small and don’t rely on electricity to work. However, an electric car water heater might be better if you spend a lot of time driving in your car.
You can also settle for devices like electric kettles, which work best for RVers. An immersion water heater can get the job done, too, but you’ll need to be extra careful to avoid spillage. High-quality water heating products not only tend to last long, but they’re also a lot safer than their cheaper counterparts.
Sources
- Rei: Backpacking Stove
- Cleverhiker: Best Backpacking Stoves
- Which: Immersion Heaters
- Which: Five Mistakes Not To Make When Cooking With A Camping Stove
- Sectionhiker: Liquid Fuel Stove Buyers Guide
- Decide Outside: Do I Need A Camping Stove Types Benefits And Drawbacks
- Outforia: How To Boil Water While Camping
- Detouron: Best Ways To Boil Water On Road Trips
- Explainthatstuff: How Electric Kettles Work
