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Wild10Basecamp

Tools & Cordage

Build a hobo stove from a tin can

A large tin can with holes cut for airflow makes a fuel-efficient stove that concentrates heat under a pot.

Tools & Cordage 15 min practice
All skills

Step-by-step

  1. Take a large clean can (46 oz coffee or #10 food can), open the top completely, and clean any residue.

  2. Punch a ring of thumb-sized ventilation holes around the top edge with a knife tip or punch.

  3. Cut a fuel door in the side near the bottom — about 2 inches wide by 2 inches tall — bending the flap up and inside.

  4. Punch a second ring of intake holes around the bottom edge to feed air to the fire from below.

  5. Set on stable ground, feed pencil-thick sticks through the fuel door, and set your pot directly on top.

Tip: A hobo stove needs 90% less wood than an open fire for the same cooking task. Great for boil-only meals when fuel is scarce.

Related outdoor skills

Educational reference only. Wilderness conditions change fast — practice in low-stakes settings, take a certified wilderness first-aid course, and confirm regional regulations before you rely on any of these skills in the field.