Can the BioLite stove really power my gadgets?

Q. That BioLite stove seems like a neat idea. But does it really work?
– Curious Tyler, Mundelein, Ill.

A. Hey Tyler. I’ve actually had the opportunity to test out the BioLite stove ($129, biolitestove.com) , and I think it’s a really great piece of gear. Basically it’s a mid-size camping stove that can also power your gadgets. You just toss some wood in there, light it up, and a tiny fan gets the fire really going. Then, while you cook dinner, the stove (through the miracle of science—I don’t quite understand how) converts the fire’s heat energy into electrical power so you can charge your GPS, satellite phone or camera or whatever via a USB plug right there from the stove. It’s a great stove, totally works; my only complaint would be that it’s a bit bulky and weighs about 2.25 pounds—which makes it a bit heavy for backpacking. That said, if your GPS was out of power and this thing got you un-lost then it’d be worth its weight and more!