I bought a Vargo titanium alcohol stove.

[Altarboy]

It's pretty sweet, but after I bought it, I discovered they also make one that works with fuel cubes. Fudge. It almost looks like I could turn it upside down and use a cube on the flat bottom. Has anybody tried this?

[NickDezern]

Not seen it but heard it was possible.

[NickDezern]

And I also have one, works great!

[Buffalo Skipper]

Not sure on the fuel tabs, but I would like to hear more about using it for alcohol, as I really want to buy one...

[Wise Old Owl]

Titanium has a high melting point of 3135°F (1725°C). This melting point is approximately 400°F above steel and approximately 2000°F so it will work but will blacken the stove.

[booney_1]

Cut out a circle of tin foil and just put on top to keep from messing the stove up and I think you could use it with a fuel tab right side up. I would bend a small lip around the edge of the foil to keep liquidfied fuel tab from running onto the stove, but this should work and keep stove clean.

[Altarboy]

That's a good idea Boonies thanks. /

[rather go up]

++1 It works.

Cut out a circle of tin foil and just put on top to keep from messing the stove up and I think you could use it with a fuel tab right side up. I would bend a small lip around the edge of the foil to keep liquidfied fuel tab from running onto the stove, but this should work and keep stove clean.

[Cozy]

Yep. I agree. Use the tin foil. Should work.

[Tinker]

When it gets cold out, the performance differences between aluminum and titanium become more apparant. Ti is very light and strong but does not hold heat as well as aluminum, which makes it harder to vaporize the alcohol in cold temps vs. aluminum. Alcohol stoves with legs also cool down more quickly than those with more contact with the ground, since cool air can completely surround the chamber which holds the fuel.

[Altarboy]

Yeah Tinker I found some pretty negative reviews on the stove after I bought it. I usually research better. Time will tell if it cuts the mustard.

[Tinker]

I thought it looked pretty cool when it came out, too. I resisted the temptation to buy one and had a "boil off" with a fellow hiker who had one vs. my homemade Supercat. This was a few years ago on July 4th weekend. Results were: 2 cup boil w/ Supercat in 4+ min. 8 min. with Vargo stove.

They make (or made, I hear) a nice ti cannister stove. I have one that I use with 2+ people on a short hike.

[Altarboy]

Well, I got a chance to spend some time with it today. I would not recommend it to anyone. It works and it's certainly well built and cool looking, but my can stove is MUCH easier to light and use. It's worth ten bucks i'd say, but not nearly thirty.

[Del Q]

I used to use one (when I cooked on the AT), good lightweight piece of gear. Have used with alcohol and fuel tabs. Also purchased, but have not used, the Vargo titanium wood stove............wanted to have one in case they were discontinued. Was going to make the Nimblewill Nomad wood stove but bought this instead.

Now I am in no-cook mode and am much happier. As a section hiker 10-12 days out with resupplies/towns in between, I can go without cooking, the extra weight, etc for this length of time. Not sure if I ever do a thru hike.

[Altarboy]

No cook huh? I do that on day hikes, but I wonder about several days of no-cook food being heavier because it's not dehydrated. Don't you sometimes miss coffee?

[Altarboy]

And I want one of the Vargo wood stoves. They're sweet.

[Saprogenic]

I use the Vargo Hexagon wood burner, and also as a backup I have Vargo's Decagon stove that fits in the woodburner perfectly, using it as a windscreen. Since both are titanium, the weigh nothing so I always bring them both.

[Saprogenic]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7yBedWcetc

[Del Q]

Do not miss coffee.

No cook mode might be lighter in total, no stove, no fuel..........camp anywhere as long as I have water to drink is a huge plus to me, (not having the be near water to clean up after cooking), I carry less than 2 lbs per day, have learned what foods seem to work best for me balancing weight and calories/nutrition.

I will also say that I love this kind of food be it on the trail or at home. Dates, sunflower seeds, dried edamame, cheese, pita bread, hummus (I bring it dry, mix with small amount of water), hard pretzels, spam (this is the ONE item I choose not to eat at home), mustard packets, carnation instant (chocolate) for breakfast (2/day), GORP, beef jerky, dried mango, corn nuts, fritos, protein bars, of course a few snickers bars.

Know that it took me a while but the more I am at this the more it is more about the hiking and less about everything else.

There are towns pretty often, lot of opportunities to "pig out" on pizza, burgers, etc.

Several serial thru-hikers I have met and had the pleasure to spend time with have helped me get from over to a 30 lb pack with a full load of water, cook mode to no cook mode. Eric D turned me onto Spam single serving............will thank him next time I see him, most likely on the PCT

[Altarboy]

Wonder if Vargo would take it as a trade for one of their wood stoves?