Ecozoom Rocket Stove Review – Portable Cooking with Multiple Fuels
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We’ve talked about “Emergency Cooking – 10 Ways to Have a Hot Meal When the Power Goes Out“, and I firmly believe that everyone should have multiple ways to prepare a hot meal in case of emergency. If you’re camping (at least around here), it’s getting tougher to have an old-fashioned campfire. Due to concerns about the emerald ash borer, you can’t transport wood around the state.
Enter the Ecozoom rocket stove. The Ecozoom is a compact camp stove designed to burn wood, biomass or charcoal that can cook a full meal with a very small amount of fuel. I was contacted by Tom from EcoZoom and he asked me if I’d be willing to host a review and giveaway. The giveaway has wrapped up, the review follows.
Table of contents
- What is an Ecozoom Rocket Stove?
- Are there specific aspects of the Ecozoom Rocket Stove that set it apart from competitors?
- Where are EcoZoom rocket stoves manufactured?
- How long has EcoZoom been in business?
- Does Ecozoom offer a guarantee?
- What size and how heavy is the stove?
- Is the EcoZoom rocket stove for outside use only?
- Is there a warranty on Ecozoom rocket stoves?
- Is the stove certified or recommended in any way by a third party organization (such as EU, Federal Government, military, consumer’s union, etc.)?
- Get the Ecozoom Versa Rocket Stove
- Related Articles
What is an Ecozoom Rocket Stove?
The EcoZoom Versa rocket stove features an abrasion resistant and durable ceramic combustion chamber with a 10 cm in diameter vertical section that forces the gases to mix with the flame, decreasing harmful emissions. The Versa adds a refractory metal liner to the inside of the combustion chamber. This liner protects the ceramic insulation, increases the life of your stove, and improves combustion efficiency.
This stove features new hinged combustion chamber doors enabling for an effortless conversion from wood to charcoal fuels. Both the main combustion chamber door and the damper door (bottom door) have reinforced metal frames. They also have hinges that securely close the doors and regulate airflow. The Zoom Versa also has a durable, reformulated 3-pronged cast iron stove top that improves heat transfer for all pots including round bottom pots and woks. The stove could be used for water bath canning, provided it is well fueled.
I shot Tom some questions about EcoZoom, and here’s what he had to say.
Are there specific aspects of the Ecozoom Rocket Stove that set it apart from competitors?
We offer a few models that use a lighter weight insulation to save on weight as well as a double burner model. (Editor’s note – the double burner model is a beast!) The biggest difference is the work we do in international countries. We have a team that is located full-time in Nairobi, Kenya working to sell our improved cookstoves to those in need as well as partner with aid organizations.
To date we have delivered stove to a variety of countries and cultures where people are affected by breathing in toxic smoke while cooking over an open fire or inefficient cookstove. The reduction in fuel usage means people spend less money of fuel, have to spend less time gathering fuel, and don’t have to breathe in the large amount of smoke with basic cookstoves or fires. You can read more about their international work on their website at “Public/Private Partnerships in Kisii, Kenya” and EcoZoom Partnering with MercyCorps to Help Survivors of Super Typhoon Haiyan.
Where are EcoZoom rocket stoves manufactured?
Our stoves are made in China. The long term goal is to assemble and manufacture in Africa.
How long has EcoZoom been in business?
Our company has been in business almost three years, growing organically each year without outside investors.
Does Ecozoom offer a guarantee?
We offer all of our customers a satisfaction guarantee when they receive our stove. We’ll work with customers to ensure they are happy with their purchase.
What size and how heavy is the stove?
- Height: 11.5″
- Diameter: 9.5″
- Weight: 14.25 lbs
Is the EcoZoom rocket stove for outside use only?
Correct, with the exception of the Plancha model. This could be used in a well ventilated indoor dwelling such as a cabin or yurt.
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Is there a warranty on Ecozoom rocket stoves?
We don’t have a warranty claim at the moment but as mentioned earlier we will work with customers to make sure they are happy. With proper care, our stoves will last more than 10,000 hours of cooking and have stoves used daily for hours on end in developing countries. They may not look pretty after all that time being cooked on but they will still work!
Is the stove certified or recommended in any way by a third party organization (such as EU, Federal Government, military, consumer’s union, etc.)?
To date we don’t have any third party certification but they have been tested for emissions standards at the Aprovecho Research Center and have been piloted with aid organizations for efficacy and adoption in East Africa. We are currently working on finalizing an agreement for a large distribution project with DelAgua.
The EcoZoom Versa rocket stove is a sturdy multi-fuel stove that’s small enough to keep on hand for emergencies or tote along camping, but durable enough to serve as a primary cook stove in rough conditions.
Get the Ecozoom Versa Rocket Stove
Compare the Ecozoom and other popular rocket stoves.
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This article is by Laurie Neverman. She has a BS in Math/Physics and MS in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in renewable energy. Laurie and her family live in a “concrete bunker” (ICF home) with a permaculture food forest, greenhouses, and three types of solar. They “walk the talk” of preparedness by living a more self-reliant lifestyle.
I would love to try one of those stoves out. It is nice and compact.
Right now we just have the stove. We could use a tin can and candle for alternative cooking though
crock pot,grill, camp stove 🙂
Always wished for one of these I think they are awesome.
I have cooked on open campfire.
Besides a crock pot, I cook on a propane grill and/or charcoal grill. Would love to have one of these!
firepit and iron skillet, not v
Love to have one of these.
We don’t use a traditional stove much – mostly grill and dutch oven cooking.
Used a propane stove, this one looks better!
I have only cooked with an electric stove and our propane campstove… I know I need to expand my cooking options!
i eat raw a lot.
I’ve used the one with the 5 cinder blocks,, pretty good
I love grilling, but also use dutch ovens, hobo packets, skewers, and occasionally my little gas oven.
I’ve never seen one like this!
I cook with an estate wood stove! I love this though!
we use the grill!
Would love this alternative to using my Sun Oven when the weather doesn’t cooperate!
We have a BBQ and a Dutch oven for cooking when the oven is out of order.
We use the traditional stove, an outdoor wood grill/smoker, and a fire pit that we cook our maple syrup in. This would be a great addition, for canning, camping and other outdoor cooking needs.
Going off grid soon I’m in need of a good small stove and heater .. This would be just right for me …
Campfire and grill.
Great looking stove. I’ve been wanting one for camping and would love to win. Thanks.
Campfires, when able are mighty handy.
New way to cook
Cooking stoves are one area where I’m woefully lacking in my preparedness plans. This would be a perfect addition!
Right now our only other option is cooking over an open fire. I’ve looked at sun stoves and other rocket stove plans, just haven’t gotten around to trying to build one yet. This Ecozoom appears to be another affordable option.
We have a little tripod butane camp stove that cooked all our meals for a week when we lost power due to a tornado. This stove would have been so much better.
This certainly would be a great addition to anyone’s prepping stash!!!
Love the idea of using this stove in 3rd world countries!!
I have cooked over open fire, wood stove, gas grill, charcoal girl, and conventional gas and electric appliances. I also have a two burner Coleman stove for camping/emergency and have been researching Rocket stoves for cooking and home heating. Hoping to build and live off-grid in next year and the EcoZoom Versa would make a great addition. Also exploring solar cooking, makes me want to go grab my car’s sun screen now and give it a try!
I’ve very recently been collecting/preping this would be an awesome addition to my stash!
Looks useful.
Alternative cooking – wax and card board small can, with #10 above; wood fire in outdoor cast iron grill ; solar cooker
A small outdoor kettle grill is our only other options at the moment. Eventually, I’d like to put in a built in outdoor kitchen into the back yard, as well as acquire some mobile camping equipment.
This would be a welcome addition to an outside kitchen and very handy for all those weather outages. Thanks for giving us a chance to win one.
I love the idea of having it for field days, picnics, and even camping. The fact that it is durable and easy to handle, uses less fuel and also biomass make it a must for emergency cases, or just for fun. I have been building a survival emergency supplies storage, this stove would be a great addition to it.
We cook over a camp fire, with an outdoor pizza oven,grills and a smoker.
My goal is to go off the grid, and this is certainly a great stove for that!
What a great stove! I’ve used a lot of methods in the past – crockpot, microwave, hotpot, charcoal BBQ, gas BBQ, campfire… but right now I mostly use my oven and stove top.
I use my crock pots a lot, but I would like to learn more outdoor cooking. I have tried over a campfire and a bbq a long time ago, but don’t remember anyone liking the idea. This stove looks like a good transition from indoor cooking to outdoor cooking. I’m thinking about making a brick rocket stove, but haven’t done more than look at the plans.
I often use out gas stove/range or grill at home. Campfire or our propane campstove while camping. I would enjoy having an ECO / GREEN substitute available, THANKS for this GIVEAWAY OFFER. 🙂
We use our outdoor charcoal grill and crock pot as an alternative cooking method.
my future plans include travelling around NZ towing a little sleeping pod as I promote Good Grief Care using the Harp as an instrument of healing. I have been wondering how do I include a means of being able to cook and boil water in such a small space…. roll on the ‘EcoZoom Rocket Stove’ !!!!! I used to own a beautiful large wooden house truck and caboose trailer which was set up fully self contained …. I could be on the road, out and about for 1 month without need of filling up or emptying out, so I know the drill of living on the road …. I just want to do it in mini version now 🙂
If I win, this could be delivered to my friend in USA and I will arrange to get it to NZ.
Just started using a homemade solar oven for drying veg and fruit from the garden. Will see how it goes. This rocket stove looks cool and would be a great addition to the emergency kit as well as for camping at the lake for cooking fish.
Was directed to this website by another blog and find this VERY interesting. Would love to try it out. Thanks for the giveaway.
Thanx for the review and giveaway!
Sun Oven or outside grate over a wood fire
At this point the only back up we have is an outdoor gas grill. I’m hoping to make a solar cooker some time this summer if time permits, otherwise all we have is a regular electric stove.
We occasionally make a soup over the fire put my father built for us!
I camp out and fish quite often. This looks like something I could use instead of an open fire pit. Here we often have no fire days in the wilderness areas.
EcoZoom Versa Rocket is exactly what I need. I like that it is versatile with heat sources. I think it is reasonably priced. Hopefully I will win it!
I cook on my wood stove.
I use a Broil charcoal starter unit w/ broken sticks and twigs quickly heats up canned items I keep one in the car.
We have a wood stove in the house that we use in the wintertime, and then in the summer, we can cook on our gas grill, the camp stove or, if there is no propane, we can build a campfire. We have an outdoor campfire pit and a metal grill. A handy stove would be nice, though.
We use the grill and the fire pit when we have no power! Would love one of these rocket stoves!!
I’ve read about and been interested in the concept of Rocket Stoves for several years. This product sounds exceptional and we would love to try it. It does seem more “reliable” than our solar oven attempts 🙂
I have cooked on a grill occasionally but would prefer a stove like this that would allow me to cook in a pot, and use found fuels.
This is a great item…..Did a lot of research on ’em over the years…….Lots better than my Hobo Stove I used in Wyoming and elsewhere, where the lack of abundant fuel sources would make this an ideal emergency item….It’s a thing that can be used in any situation….Think about the energy saved if you had a set, or more, to use on a daily basis…..Would love this in my possession….Respectfully, Mike Burke
This looks like one great little stove.
I have two zip stoves. My mushing friend and I once did an overnight where I had one zip stove. We heated water and food for 9 dogs plus ourselves. I was inspired to purchase another one. I would love an Ecozoom Rocket Stove for my outdoor living.
I made a small stove out of a cat food can that uses fuel and works great!
most recently, I’ve cooked in our fireplace.
I use several different ways to cook but my favorite is my 1927 gas stove. It’s little and cute and works very well. For alternative cooking methods I have a Coleman camp stove, a woodstove and wood fired grill. I am looking to build an outdoor earth oven later this year.
I use my microwave a lot, and my regular stove, or I eat out when I can. This rocket stove would be great to use when the power is out or just to cook outside in the fresh air and sunshine. Would love to win it!
This is a wonderful giveaway!!! So safe,and it looks really nice too!!!! I love that you don’t have to use gas can. I am afraid of gas grill we have one. Thank you for the offer.
I’ve used camping stoves of various sorts and have used wood-burning options a very limited amount.
We have used campfires, gas grill, bigger two-burner gas stove, charcoal, sun oven, and for small, simple stuff, backpacking stoves. This looks awesome!
I do need it! Excellent product – I’d be happy to win this one!
I love to camp and have been in survival mode lately.
This stove looks amazing! We have been exploring ways to cook our food when the power goes out, which happens often in the summer, even when there isn’t a hurricane.
Looks like a very nice stove. I do not have an emergency stove and would love to win this one!
Thanks for the info.
We have sed a campfire, propane stove and a homemade rocket stove to cook outdoors.
Would love to win, thanks for all the great info you post! You really have the best giveaways!!
This would be awesome to win as we only have a charchole bar-ba-que and it is small. Not really big enough to cook for 5. We lose our power a lot in the winter so it is mostly cold food.
This stove would be fabulous for us!
Thank you for the opportunity to win one and I will definitely be putting this stove on my wish list if we don’t win!
Sounds like this would be a good stove to have whether you did any camping or not. I would love to own one. Have not seen them in stores.
We have been exploring different outdoor cooking options – everything from open pits to cob ovens. I like it that this is bigger than our backpacking stoves, but still portable, and that is can burn different kinds of fuels that don’t require a gas can. I would love to win one – both for home use and car camping, where outdoor fires are often prohibited. Thanks for the info! Looks like a great company to support!
we hve a gas grill and i use my crockpots all the time it is so easy we also have a fire pit to cook on
Would love to have one
I cooked on a potbelly stove years ago and more recently over a campfire. This stove seems marvelous and I would love to win one!
I love rocket stoves! Great to have for camping or for emergencies.
This is the nicest looking rocket stove I’ve ever seen! And I love that you started the company organically without outside help, like companies used to do! 🙂 I can see this being a very handy item to own!! I”m going to share about this on my blog.
Have usually taken a propane stove camping; but then ended up cooking on an open fire. Love this stove. Looks like it would use very little fuel…
Besides the stove, we cook on the grill or on a campfire. I have never tried a rocket stove, but have been wanting too!
I have read of your products and outreach programs before and I commend you for creating something a little old fashioned but perfectly suitable for so many situations. You cannot win if you don’t enter, so I will. Thanks.
I currently do not have any other options for cooking at the moment, but I plan on buying a charcoal grill next week.
I love new ways to cook.
We use a grill, and sometimes an open fire when we are camping.
We’d use it for camping, and emergency situations such as power outage, etc.
I’ve been dying to get one of these and try it out. I live in snow country and this would be such a blessing when power goes out.
Great stove. I need one for the multipurpose value that it has.
Wow. This would be so handy to have. I would use it to heat up water for scaling chickens before plucking and to reduce maple sap in woods before final boil down. A must have equipment for 101 reasons.
this would be such a help,with our summer of camping..
Fantastic idea
Besides a standard stove I use a bbq grill, MSR backpacking stove, campfire, Coleman camping stove, microwave and toaster oven.
Usually cook on BBQ Grill when outside. It has been years since I cooked over an open campfire.
Such a great giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity!
We are rehabbing the barn for a teaching and workshop space. Would love to have a quick and transportable stove to teach with.
Right now we use a vintage gas range and a wood and coal potbelly
Heard about this on another blog..recommended!
I would totally use this! How awesome!
We grill on charcoal and propane. Also Dutch oven cooking is great!!
We have a gas stove and can use it when the power is out, but the Eco-zoom would be perfect to use when the gas runs out and when we go camping.
We like to grill, and cook on a fire outdoors.
This would be an incredible addition to our backyard respite! 🙂
I have only use a gas grill and camp fire. This would be so neat to have!
I use a gas grill, BioLite stove, and camp fire. I would really like one of these!
We also use a gas grill and a sun oven.
I use a camp fire a micro wave, oven/broiler, wood stoves, camp stoves, rotisseries, etc..
We used a kerosene heater when our power went out in an ice storm this past Winter!
I use a gas grill at home for bbq. When hiking I use he either an alcohol stove or currently a stove that I cook with esbit tabs.
We take our ecozoom morel hunting with us… pine cones are everywhere… we collect about 20 and fry up morel poppers in the woods… my ecozoom and cast iron skillet stays in my vehicle as I have other options at home (where my vehicle also is), I dont however have other options where my car might go. We own an earlier model ecozoom with no doors, we love it to death but I dream over the versa and plan to get one asap. If I win the Versa I will pay it forward and gift my current model to my poor shlub of a fishing partner. Good luck all!
OH! Please count me in! I would really use such a handy stove, if I should win it. We have a near endless supply of small twigs to fuel it too! Currently, I use a natural gas grill when I cook outdoors. But I would have no problem finding a place for this stove in my backyard too. It gets over 100 degrees here in the summer; so I love to cook outdoors then. Hoping…..
grill, charcoal, wood, camp stove with grill box or pizza oven
I like the alternate fuel options. I live in a wooded area so I am looking for ways to use biomass instead of charcoal.
The perfect addition to my off-grid supplies!
Thank you for donating this and also for the review!
Thanks for the chance to win an awesome looking little stove!
I tend to cook on a grill or a fire pit with a dutch oven.
I am pretty boring…other than the crock pot and standard oven/stove. We do use the bbq grill and dutch ovens on accasion.
Wife and I are beginning to build up some supplies – boy would this be a nice addition.
Have wanted one of these for years! We use the BBQ almost exclusively during our 100degree+ summers as well as our propane camp stove. This year we plan on building a pizza oven for even more options. Thanks for having this giveaway!
Grill, campfire, Vitamix. But always wanted a rocket stove! Thanks for the giveaway!
I have a small grill (our big one died), and I use a crockpot occasionally. I like the idea of this cooker
Love this product. I am also a big fan of Dutch oven cooking. 🙂
Fabulous product! 🙂
During the summer months we use the grill a lot. It saves the kitchen from all the heat produced by the stove and oven. My grill even has a burner on one side so I can cook on that if I need to. I love it!
I frequently use a grill, smoker, and crockpot. Occasionally I’ll use a homemade solar cooker.
I cook over campfires and on gas and charcoal grills. I also have a smoker. mmm… smoke.
grill, open fire
I’ve been learning how to cook on coals and open fire, but a rocketstove seems great! I’ve gotten rather proficient with propane camping stoves, too. 🙂
At this point, just a grill. But would like to try a brick oven.
I love to GRILL!! This looks like a wonderful cooking option! Love IT!
Our alterative sources are a gas grill or open fire and I need practice on the open fire not to burn everything!
This looks really interesting. I am looking to buy some sort of a camping/emergency stove right now.
I use a single burner propane unit.
my husband loves to grill!
I use the gas side burner on the grill to cook/can food in summer. I like this review. It gives me something to think about.
Thanks for this chance to win a great prize!
Marilyn in MS
We cook on BBQ grill when elec. goes off, this stove would be perfect to have
I had no idea these were also being used internationally, that is very cool. Love the concept and design of the stove.
I use my fireplace and woodstove
I like cooking over a fire or charcoal, or over some apple wood to smoke the meat with flavor!
Would love this!
I love the looks of this stove. With this or any rocket “style” stove (especially if made in China) I’d suggest giving it a dry run or two without cooking any foods. Fire it up normally and let it burn-off any impurities that are in or on the ceramic, cast iron, etc.
Wow! This looks awesome. I have a propane stove and a charcoal stove. Would love to have this to compliment my backup cooking sources.
I use my bbque grill most year round. However I think that this little gem would be something I would use alot.
I enjoy grilling and using a crock pot is quite common in our home.
How cool is that?! Love it!
Entering for my daughter, I am not physically able to go camping out anymore. They cook over an open fire.
Awesome giveaway, thank you! I am prepared to use my fire pit and/or in-house fireplace with a pot crane to cook if necessary. The Rocket stove would be a handy addition to my cooking arsenal! 🙂
This stove has many great features. The first one being the weight. It is portable for a single person to move around. The second is that it can be converted from wood to charcoal. The third is obviously the price and the free shipping! This is definitely going to my list of things to purchase. With all the storms and electrical outages all across the states, this would be an awesome back up system for me since I live in the country where sometimes it takes longer to get service back. I would seriously like to win this!
we like the grill but also use a propane stove
This is great looking! My husband stacked up some bricks and likes to bake sweet potatoes in the back yard with it, but it’s not really efficient enough to be considered a “rocket” stove. This might be great for him to play with, and for emergencies…
Thanks for offering it, Laurie!
~Cindy
Wow, this was really interesting! I am just starting to learn about prepping for disaster, so it is good to know about all the things out there!
This is a nice stove. It could be used for many things in the cold winters, as well as outside during the summer to cook and keep cold natured people warm. I love this design
This is sooo what I need when the power goes out or just want to get away from the kitchen.
besides the grill and the typical other household “stoves”, we have a small Japanese one burner stove with the butane cans
This is amazing. Preparedness is ony mind a lot these days. This stove is a must-have!
Oh my goodness! I would LOVE to have one of these! Thanks for the chance to win one!
This would be great to win way better than cooking on a Coleman stove.
I sometimes use a slowcooker rathe rthan turn on the oven/stove, but otherwise I don’t really have an alternative way to cook. When I was younger, we cooked over camp fires a good bit.
Awesome
Would love it.
We probably use our gas grill just as much if not more than our stove. Would love a EcoZoom! Thanks for the chance to win one!
My fireplace wood burning insert doesn’t have the “space” to cook on. This would be a great alternative. Thanks for the chance to win this awesome Ecozoom Rocket Stove !! 🙂
I love the versatility of this stove!
This would make a perfect gift for Eddie. Thanks for the opportunity to maybe win one!
We have a standard gas stove that can be lit with a match, a gas grill, a charcoal grill, and a small wood stove that can be set up on our back patio in case of a long drawn out emergency. We have thought about some type of rocket stove, though. This one looks like a good option.
We have a charcoal grill, Volcano stove and a Wonder Oven. I was wondering…Tom mentioned that the stove will last more than 10,000 hours of cooking time, with proper care. What parts, if any, would need to be replaced for it to last that long? And are there plans to have the stoves manufactured in the U.S. anytime in the future? Thanks in advance, and thanks for the giveaway!
I am courious to see if canning an be done on this stove. If so it would be a great addition to our home.
You *might* be able to water bath can with a smaller pot, but I don’t think you could maintain high enough heat long enough for pressure canning. I’ll ask Tom.
What a cool little cook stove.
Great stove for camping or when the power goes out.
This would be perfect for cooking since we live in a semi-truck. Thanks for the information about it.
My crockpot and toaster get the extra jobs that my range doesn’t take. I’d love this stove for camping!
Funny this should pop up just now. I’m moving to a piece of raw land and have been practicing making a rocket stove out of concrete blocks and fire bricks. I would soooo love to have something like this instead!
Right now we are cash flowing building our house. Mostly with recycled materials, so we are using our out door smoker and grill, oh and for boiled things like pasta the COFFEE POT.
Wow this looks great for backpacking and for emergencies.
Grilling outside in the summer!
Love bbqing, using our smoker, crockpot…
Interesting. My husband would be fascinated with this cook stove.
This would be wonderful to have for emergencies. Looks like a great product.
I use my Lodge dutch oven in our charcoal grill. Love cooking outside =)
This looks like it would be very, very useful!!! I use our gas range for doing most of the cooking and all of our baking gets done in a toaster oven.
This would be a great addition to my outdoors adventures!
I would love to win this, we could use this instead of buying a barbeque 🙂
I use a toaster over, grill, and crockpot.
We have a propane stove my husband built for me to can on outside so I don’t heat the house up when the AC is on. I only have one burner and this would be handy for heating water and other uses in the canning process.
We just built an outdoor pizza oven, we’ve used it for many different foods so far.
At home I use a countertop convection/toaster oven for a lot of my cooking, as I’ve found it to be very efficient and a good size for our needs. While camping I like to use a fire, although we also have a propane stove we’ll use, especially if it’s raining and we can get under partial cover.
This sounds really interesting. I had recently come across directions on how to make a rocket stove out of a number ten can and have been wanting to try it, but I don’t think that would last very long.
We cook in and on our Schrader woodstove from time to time.
This article is interesting and informative to me. Really the only other way I’ve cooked food is over a campfire (other than a regular stove); but I’m interested in learning and using different cooking methods.
We have a sun stove and it works great, however, there are times when the sun doesn’t cooperate! It would be great to have a little stove like this for those times!