My camp stove died at dawn and a zip tie brought it back to life

Was camping up in the mountains last month, and man, it was freezing at sunrise. I went to make coffee and my stove just wouldn't light, no matter what I did. I was about to give up and eat cold oatmeal, lol. Then I remembered I had some zip ties in my repair kit. I took one apart and used the little metal piece inside to clean out the clogged jet. It took a few tries, but it finally sparked up. Now I always carry a few zip ties in my gear bag. It's a cheap fix that can save your morning when you're miles from anywhere.

4 comments

4 Comments

tara64224d ago

Totally get the safety worry, but sometimes you just have to work with what's in your pack. That little metal piece from a zip tie is soft and small, perfect for poking a tiny hole without messing up the threads. I've fixed a tent pole with a stick and some duct tape and it held for the whole trip. Being able to improvise like that is a skill that keeps you going when you're stuck.

abbynelson1mo ago

Oof, @brooke_wells20 makes a fair point about safety, but man I totally get trying anything when you're that cold and desperate for coffee.

margareto261mo ago

See this pattern everywhere. Honestly, we always try quick fixes with stuff we have lying around instead of waiting for the proper tool. Ngl, it works sometimes but can backfire big time.

brooke_wells201mo ago

That zip tie trick sounds clever in a pinch, but messing with a gas jet with a random metal bit makes me nervous. Last year my buddy tried a similar hack with a paperclip on his propane stove and it never sealed right again, had a tiny constant leak. For something that can literally blow up, I'd rather just carry the actual little jet cleaning tool. They weigh nothing and cost like three bucks.