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Backpacking stove, any experience?
- Thread starter jmjkd
- Start date
I picked up a Solo Stove while they were "Buy One Get One Free" on Black Friday. Haven't had a chance to use it yet but the construction looks great. Hopefully it works as advertised. The appeal for me was being able to skip carrying a separate fuel source. Obviously that could be a problem in some scenarios but the sale was too good to pass up.
I like the Esbit for the small size, light weight, low cost, cheap (and no-spill) fuel (tablets), and general portability. You give up the convenience of an adjustable flame, and they take slightly longer to boil a cup of water then a canister or liquid fuel stove, but they are simple and no-nonsense. Use some aluminim foil as a windscreen; it improves the performance noticeably.
Buck.
Buck.
I have an MSR PocketRocket and that thing is the shit!
Pro: Small, lightweight, with simple operation. Fuel is relatively inexpensive. Strong flame even in high winds.
Con: Because the burner sits high above the canister, large heavier pots and cups have a potential to topple over.
http://www.rei.com/product/660163/msr-pocket-rocket-backpacking-stove
Pro: Small, lightweight, with simple operation. Fuel is relatively inexpensive. Strong flame even in high winds.
Con: Because the burner sits high above the canister, large heavier pots and cups have a potential to topple over.
http://www.rei.com/product/660163/msr-pocket-rocket-backpacking-stove
You gotta decide if you want canned fuel or liquid fuel.
Canned, JetBoil is hard to beat. Most people just boil water and they're about the fastest. The company is in Manchester, smart guys and very well designed products.
Canned, JetBoil is hard to beat. Most people just boil water and they're about the fastest. The company is in Manchester, smart guys and very well designed products.
I have an MSR PocketRocket and that thing is the shit!
Pro: Small, lightweight, with simple operation. Fuel is relatively inexpensive. Strong flame even in high winds.
Con: Because the burner sits high above the canister, large heavier pots and cups have a potential to topple over.
http://www.rei.com/product/660163/msr-pocket-rocket-backpacking-stove
I use this same setup as my day hiking kit.
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Jetboil and I've owned pretty much every stove you can name.
Personally I don't like the pocketrocket. It's nowhere near as efficient as the jetboil whether you're using the cup or a pan. The jetboil is also far more reliable in windy and rainy weather.
There's a reason MSR makes a line of stoves attempting to copy the JetBoil, which aren't as reliable in my experience and cost twice as much.
Personally I don't like the pocketrocket. It's nowhere near as efficient as the jetboil whether you're using the cup or a pan. The jetboil is also far more reliable in windy and rainy weather.
There's a reason MSR makes a line of stoves attempting to copy the JetBoil, which aren't as reliable in my experience and cost twice as much.
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The question can only be answered with more questions: how long are you going to be using it per trip, without re supply? What are the ever age temperatures, and altitude? What kind of food are you cooking-one pot cooking or boiling water to rehydrate? Jetboil stoves excel in any condition other than cold and high altitude, where they are the worst choice. On long backpacking trips they are much heavier and less efficient than alcohol stoves.
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Jetboil is great, but fuel cans can be a pain.
MSR Whisperlite is a great little stove, liquid fuel can be messy.
As others have said - how long are you going for? how heavy is your pack? how many are you cooking for?
I've been looking at this one. http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/78067?productId=1290200&attrValue_0=Orange&mr:trackingCode=3B6CD896-B0F0-E211-A497-90E2BA285E75&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=c&mr:adType=pla&mkwid=DS0KcQnQ_dc&pcrid=62960398400&qs=3091384_google&product=0MRH860000&cvosrc=cse.google.0MRH860000&cvo_crid=62960398400
MSR Whisperlite is a great little stove, liquid fuel can be messy.
As others have said - how long are you going for? how heavy is your pack? how many are you cooking for?
I've been looking at this one. http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/78067?productId=1290200&attrValue_0=Orange&mr:trackingCode=3B6CD896-B0F0-E211-A497-90E2BA285E75&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=c&mr:adType=pla&mkwid=DS0KcQnQ_dc&pcrid=62960398400&qs=3091384_google&product=0MRH860000&cvosrc=cse.google.0MRH860000&cvo_crid=62960398400
Carrying a bottle of alcohol is a basic requirement, but that has nothing to do with stoves.
![[smile]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/001.gif "Smile [smile]")
I use the Esbit titanium stove because it weighs nothing. Take some aluminum foil for windbreak. Downside, the fuel cubes will impart a chemical smell to things stored with them. You can feed small twigs into the fire, using the cube as a starter, and the "stove" to support your mug or pot. I like to keep a very small fire burning under my coffee cup.
The solo stove is more a campfire approach. It's heavier, and more powerful than the esbit.
I don't carry gas or liquid fuel. My alcohol is purely for medicinal purposes.
This
You can also make a small fire in them with twigs if you ran out of fuel tabs. But they are so cheap and lightweight that keeping and carrying plenty is easy. On really cold days it can take 2 tabs to boil a full pot of water (28oz for my Peak Solo pot).
yep. used to carry that backpacking. problem is the fuel. it's liquid. you have to be careful not to spill it obviously but you can also end up with too much fuel in the pan and cause fires on the cooking surface (avoid wood tables). They take a bit to get started when its cold out which is when you usually have the most issues with flare ups and thus lots of soot.
My experience has been that the Esbit brand fuel tabs have no odor at all, but the Blueit (sp??) brand have an awful smell. I avoid the latter like the plague.
Buck.
I'm a canned fuel guy myself. I ran out of fuel for my euro-stove last year with no easy replenishment of the cans so I snagged a Snow Peak Gigapower and have been running as the camping/travel/Espresso-on-the-go stove. Awesome. easy to use and you can removed the burner for packing (unlike my old one that stayed intact). It packs small and comes with a spork and a pan to cook in. Worth the $.
Andy
Andy
ToddDubya
NES Member
I used a JetBoil for several years while on bicycle tours out west. The thing boils two cups of water in no time, it easy to set up and the canisters fit inside. I use a little piece of foam to keep everything from rattling, but that's it. The down side is that it's tough to tell how much fuel you really have left. They make cold weather canisters that are meant for winter use. I use those and don't notice much if any difference in temperatures around freezing and altitudes around 10,000 ft. Maybe if you got well below freezing the regular ones would start to have problems, I don't know.
I also have an MSR WhisperLite Internationale. It takes more to set up but can be used with whatever pot you want (including percolators). Yeah, fuel is a pain and can be messy and/or spilled so you have to be careful. The nice thing is you can run it on white gas, regular gas and maybe kerosene (I forget). You can get different size canisters so if you're just going out for a weekend you don't need to haul a big ass thing of fuel with you. If I was cooking or just heating water for a group, this is what I would use.
Last but not least is the Esbit stove. I bought one of those as an emergency stove to keep in the vehicle. Mine packs into its own pot and I put a few fuel tabs, coffee packs and a lighter or two in with it. I've only used it a few times and I found that I can get water hot, but not boiling. It's fine for a cup of coffee while you're waiting for a tow in the middle of winter, but I wouldn't trust it to treat. If you get one of these, make sure to get the full size, individually wrapped tabs. Someone makes little tiny ones that come all together in a pouch. Once you smell a tab, you'll appreciate the individual wrapping.
If you only want to make yourself hot water for coffee or to rehydrate a meal, I'd say get yourself a JetBoil.
I also have an MSR WhisperLite Internationale. It takes more to set up but can be used with whatever pot you want (including percolators
). Yeah, fuel is a pain and can be messy and/or spilled so you have to be careful. The nice thing is you can run it on white gas, regular gas and maybe kerosene (I forget). You can get different size canisters so if you're just going out for a weekend you don't need to haul a big ass thing of fuel with you. If I was cooking or just heating water for a group, this is what I would use.Last but not least is the Esbit stove. I bought one of those as an emergency stove to keep in the vehicle. Mine packs into its own pot and I put a few fuel tabs, coffee packs and a lighter or two in with it. I've only used it a few times and I found that I can get water hot, but not boiling. It's fine for a cup of coffee while you're waiting for a tow in the middle of winter, but I wouldn't trust it to treat. If you get one of these, make sure to get the full size, individually wrapped tabs. Someone makes little tiny ones that come all together in a pouch. Once you smell a tab, you'll appreciate the individual wrapping.
If you only want to make yourself hot water for coffee or to rehydrate a meal, I'd say get yourself a JetBoil.
What type of backpacking do you plan to do? Ambient temps, altitude, number of people? For high altitude and/or frigid temps and/or larger groups, I recommend a white gas stove such as the MSR Whisperlite. I have had one for over 20 years and it has been trouble free. It really cranks when you need a lot of heat- fuel canisters, Esbit, etc. don't come close as far as BTU output. Handling and carrying the fuel is a bit of a pain. MSR does make a Whisperlite Universal now- it has attachments for both.
I have done a couple 120+ mile treks in recent years in the southern Rockies (awesome!). I have also been through the AT 100 mile Wilderness in Maine (ugh, never again!!!!). In order to cut down on weight and bulk I went with a Snow Peak Gigapower stove for the long treks. Not quite as hot as the white gas Whisperlite but pretty good for its size. Folded and in its case, you could literally carry one in your pants pocket. Possibly the smallest and lightest one out there yet has good performance. Of course you have the canisters to carry as well.
JetBoil's are definitely best for boiling water. A little more bulk and weight, but they are fast and efficient for boiling water. My son has one and likes it.
In extreme cold temperatures I have found the canister stoves to have diminished performance.
No technical issues with any of the above. Most backpacking stoves work pretty good, however. Water purification systems are another story. Most of the ones you would buy at an REI, etc. are OK for a weekend or short trek. If you are going on a major trek they will not hold up- get a 'First Need' unit.
I have done a couple 120+ mile treks in recent years in the southern Rockies (awesome!). I have also been through the AT 100 mile Wilderness in Maine (ugh, never again!!!!). In order to cut down on weight and bulk I went with a Snow Peak Gigapower stove for the long treks. Not quite as hot as the white gas Whisperlite but pretty good for its size. Folded and in its case, you could literally carry one in your pants pocket. Possibly the smallest and lightest one out there yet has good performance. Of course you have the canisters to carry as well.
JetBoil's are definitely best for boiling water. A little more bulk and weight, but they are fast and efficient for boiling water. My son has one and likes it.
In extreme cold temperatures I have found the canister stoves to have diminished performance.
No technical issues with any of the above. Most backpacking stoves work pretty good, however. Water purification systems are another story. Most of the ones you would buy at an REI, etc. are OK for a weekend or short trek. If you are going on a major trek they will not hold up- get a 'First Need' unit.
Canisters have the advantage of being very compact and easy to light up. The disadvantage is that during extreme cold temperatures (or high elevations) they will not work as well. During SHTF situations it might be difficult to find fuel. The cost of canister fuel is also more expensive than liquid fuel.
I picked this one since it came with an igniter :
http://www.rei.com/product/643058/snow-peak-gigapower-stove-with-piezo
I also have a liquid fuel stove that I think is pretty nice. It is pretty small compared to other stoves with similar features and it has valve to adjust the flame on the stove. Many of the smaller (and cheaper) liquid fuel stoves only allow you to adjust the flow of fuel on the bottle which is not nearly as precise. Liquid fuel is cheap to buy and I can also use unleaded gas if I had to. I wish the MSR bottles would fit since they are sold everywhere it seems like.
http://www.coleman.com/product/445A725#.VJBTlbctAy4
MSR also has a lot of nice products..
I picked this one since it came with an igniter :
http://www.rei.com/product/643058/snow-peak-gigapower-stove-with-piezo
I also have a liquid fuel stove that I think is pretty nice. It is pretty small compared to other stoves with similar features and it has valve to adjust the flame on the stove. Many of the smaller (and cheaper) liquid fuel stoves only allow you to adjust the flow of fuel on the bottle which is not nearly as precise. Liquid fuel is cheap to buy and I can also use unleaded gas if I had to. I wish the MSR bottles would fit since they are sold everywhere it seems like.
http://www.coleman.com/product/445A725#.VJBTlbctAy4
MSR also has a lot of nice products..
I like these if you're using wood.
