How to Make Your Own Hanging Wall Stove

While slurping cold ravioli from a can on a big wall is certainly a rite of passage, at some point you may decide you want some hot food and drink. To do so, you’re going to need a hanging stove.

There are some excellent commercially available options out there, such as the JetBoil system, which I wouldn’t mind having myself (hint, hint honey, my birthday is coming up!). But, if you’re pinching pennies, you can make your own.

A search of instructional books and online forums will generate many suggestions for do-it-yourself hanging stoves. Here’s one way to build a hanging wall stove setup that I’ve found to be simple and effective.

I built mine several years ago and it has endured through dozens of nights. Hence, I feel pretty good about how it turned out.

1. Get a stove. I have the MSR Pocket Rocket, which is very compact.

2. Take a trip down to the local thrift store and get a pie pan for about 75 cents.

3. Drill a 3/8” hole in the middle to fit your stove.

4. Some DIY stove designs also call for drilling additional holes for ventilation. I didn’t on mine because the stove seemed to get ample ventilation due to the short height of the pie pan relative to the stove.

5. Four small holes along the outer edge are used for picture hanging wire, all coming together at an aluminum rap ring. The knot in the wire below the rap ring can be adjusted to provide a snug fit around the pot when it’s in use. You don’t want hot water or food spilling. The knot pictured is set up for a 1.5 liter MSR pot, but can be adjusted to allow for something larger.

6. I tried using some duct tape to wrap up the ends of the wire. At the rap ring, it worked great. Next to the pie pan, it didn’t work well and the heat of the stove melted the tape. Next time, I might try using some heat shrink tubing or use swages to connect the wires.

7. Climb a big wall. Take stove out of haul bag. Heat food. Enjoy!

This is just one way, and I’m sure people have made much nicer stoves than this. So, please share if you’ve got something fancier, but please don’t shoot the messenger! Also, if you insist on eating cold canned chilli on the wall, then that’s fine, no one is hating on you. But, if you want hot chilli, then make a hanging stove!

Mike Schneiter is the owner of Glenwood Climbing Guides and has endured through many nights of cold ravioli, MREs, and canned fish . While he may not be wiser, he is definitely older and his softness appreciates warm food.