Hobo Stoves

Hobo stoves are an invention of the American migrant workers (hobos), who warmed their meals in freight trains without immediately setting the entire wagon on fire.
The principle is the same for all hobo stoves.

An ash grate and/or metal sheet creates some distance from the cold and possibly wet ground to enable a more efficient small fire.
In the lower part of a hobo stove there are enough openings for good air supply, while the upper part is rather closed to enable a chimney effect.
This creates an air flow from the ground to the upper opening of the hobo stove. The air heats up from the small fire, rises and draws more cold air into the chimney.
This gives the fire more oxygen, which is needed for combustion.

Pro:

  • Fuel does not need to be carried in our regions.
  • A real fire is also something for the eye

Con:

  • Depending on the hobo stove, sometimes more, sometimes less smoke development
  • Soot development creates a patina on the cookware/the hobo stove.
  • Sometimes poor energy yield from the fuel material

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