Caldera Cone or Clikstand

[EWS]

I'm looking at both the Ti Caledra Cone and Clikstand stove systems, mainly for alcohol, but also for esbit and twig burning. Anybody tried both and like one better? How'd they work for esbit and wood?

[SGT Rock]

I don't know the Clickstand but the alcohol function of the Caldera Cone is amazing. The Ti version is something new - but if it functions like the other it is a good deal.

[EWS]

Clikstand
TI Caldera Cone

[SGT Rock]

I would go with the Ti Caldera Cone.

[Skidsteer]

Originally Posted by SGT Rock

I would go with the Ti Caldera Cone.

Do they make one with the right dimensions for an Ion(or stoves that are 3/4" tall in general)?

If so, have you tried it?

[SGT Rock]

No they do not - I imagine someone could try it - but those guys that created teh Caldera Cone have tweeked the stove and stand to work togther - I think if you tried an Ion it would almost be like starting from scratch.

[Marta]

What I was told by Rand, maker of the Caldera Cones, is that the Cone windscreen concentrates heat too much for use with other stoves. Their stoves burn cooler and slower, which is one of the reasons they use less fuel and still boil efficiently.

I used my first generation Caldera system with an Esbit tablet (I ran out of alcohol) and it was so hot it messed up the stove (which I used as a base for the Esbit tablet) and discolored the Cone.

I don't have the multi-fuel system yet, but my Ouijii (sp.?) Board (lightweight edition, of course) tells me one is in my future.

[generoll]

Wow! That's an impressive stove setup. If I buy one more stove I'll need an extra storage building like they're complaining about in the Suches thread. Maybe I'll just bite the bullet and get it anyway. I do like the way it nests and the triple option is also a great idea. Being able to use wood where allowed and save on alcohol is huge in my opinion.

[Footslogger]

Originally Posted by EWS

I'm looking at both the Ti Caledra Cone and Clikstand stove systems, mainly for alcohol, but also for esbit and twig burning. Anybody tried both and like one better? How'd they work for esbit and wood?

===================================

I have both but don't have enough experience yet with the Caldera Cone to give you a fair performance comparison. Like Rock said though ...the results with the Caldera are reported to be outstanding.

The Clickstand is really a fancy version of the Westwind stand that comes with the Trangia burner. In fact, it has a hole cut in the center that holds the Trangia perfectly in place and off the ground. Only real issues I have with the Clickstand is that it does not fit easily into my cookpot for transportation and it is made of steel instead of a lighter weight material.

What I did was take the Westwind stand, drill it full of holes and then carve notces on the outer edges that hole my windscreen off the ground. Accomplished the same thing as the Clickstand but lighter.

'Slogger

[SGT Rock]

Well you can always use wood instead of alcohol LOL - there are lots of campfire rings already in place along the trail. The trick is to learn how to do that well. I have made a simple version of an aluminum nock down stove like the Clickstand that can be a wood stove or alcohol stove stand - I never spent the time tweaking it to their efficiency level though. I also made a knock down stove of the same model for titanium but sort of got busy with a war and never got back to it - the thing is in my garage somewhere. But are super light and if I spent enough time going through stove designs I could probably come up with the right stove/windscreen stand design to make it work. The problem is that much titanium ain't always cheap and drilling through sheet ti is harder than cutting it.

Anyway - I wrote my Titanium supplier to see if I can get some of the same gague titanium they use on that Ti cone and play with it.

[EWS]

What size pot does the Clikstand "S2" fit in, or not, since you're having issues?

[SGT Rock]

Originally Posted by Footslogger

===================================

I have both but don't have enough experience yet with the Caldera Cone to give you a fair performance comparison. Like Rock said though ...the results with the Caldera are reported to be outstanding.

The Clickstand is really a fancy version of the Westwind stand that comes with the Trangia burner. In fact, it has a hole cut in the center that holds the Trangia perfectly in place and off the ground. Only real issues I have with the Clickstand is that it does not fit easily into my cookpot for transportation and it is made of steel instead of a lighter weight material.

What I did was take the Westwind stand, drill it full of holes and then carve notces on the outer edges that hole my windscreen off the ground. Accomplished the same thing as the Clickstand but lighter.

'Slogger

Going with that same thought- I make (occasionally, there isn't a lot of demand for it) a titanium version of the Westwind stand that is shorter and lighter than the original and comes with a windscreen. I never drilled holes in it as drilling Ti is a PITA. BUT one could use the stand as a pot support and build a simple stick fire under it if someone wanted to go wood instead of Trangia. Plans for it are on my site and you can make your own with a pair of tin snips.

Here is a picture: http://www.hikinghq.net/ionstove/images/ionization.jpg

[generoll]

The advantage to using a small stove as opposed to building a campfire to cook over is in the amount and type of wood that you use. I'm guessing that the Ti setup would cook using twigs very nicely. You could of course cook over a campfire ring, but the heat might not be utilized quite as efficiently and you might find fuel a bit more of a problem.

I had and used on of those Zip stoves for quite awhile and it was good for cooking with twigs and small stuff. It was also dirty and a bit heavier then what I assume the Ti setup to be. I gave up on the Zip stove when I got my Svea and have been pulled from the Svea/Sigg combo with great wailing and gnashing of teeth.

[Footslogger]

Originally Posted by EWS

What size pot does the Clikstand "S2" fit in, or not, since you're having issues?

======================================

I'm using the Evernew 0.9 Liter pot. Fits - but you really have to cram it in there if you have anything else inside (like I do). I also have the Evernew 1.3 Liter and the Clickstand fits fine inside.

'Slogger

[Skidsteer]

Originally Posted by SGT Rock

Going with that same thought- I make (occasionally, there isn't a lot of demand for it) a titanium version of the Westwind stand that is shorter and lighter than the original and comes with a windscreen. I never drilled holes in it as drilling Ti is a PITA. BUT one could use the stand as a pot support and build a simple stick fire under it if someone wanted to go wood instead of Trangia. Plans for it are on my site and you can make your own with a pair of tin snips.

Here is a picture: http://www.hikinghq.net/ionstove/images/ionization.jpg

FWIW, I've punched holes in titanium with a hand held punch. It kinda 'snaps' through the metal but leaves a clean hole with no cracking that I can see.

[Lanthar Mandragoran]

Originally Posted by SGT Rock

I would go with the Ti Caldera Cone.

Ditto, mine's sweet as he**...

The PACKAGING weighed nearly as much as the kit.

I'm pretty sure I can get wax to be a viable fuel source with it as well... just haven't had time to work out the kinks.

[zelph]

Originally Posted by Marta

What I was told by Rand, maker of the Caldera Cones, is that the Cone windscreen concentrates heat too much for use with other stoves. Their stoves burn cooler and slower, which is one of the reasons they use less fuel and still boil efficiently.

I used my first generation Caldera system with an Esbit tablet (I ran out of alcohol) and it was so hot it messed up the stove (which I used as a base for the Esbit tablet) and discolored the Cone.

I don't have the multi-fuel system yet, but my Ouijii (sp.?) Board (lightweight edition, of course) tells me one is in my future.

I saw your photos today on the front page of the gallery today. It looks like there are three pieces to the caldera burner. A primer pan and a 2 pieces for the burner. Is that correct?

If that is correct, add 1 more piece, the cone. Thats four pieces total.

I'm curious to know what draws you and others to this set-up.

The all mighty "Supercat" is a one piece stove and is a proven performer. 1/2 ounce of fuel to boil 2 cups water.

What is it that draws people to the 4 piece caldera or the 6 piece clickstand stove?

[Smile]

Is the caldera cone the one that the guys were demonstrating at Trail Days this year?

[Marta]

Originally Posted by zelph

What is it that draws people to the 4 piece caldera or the 6 piece clickstand stove?

The Cone works better under windy conditions than anything else I have ever tried. Many people have said their stoves work great and they just hold their sleeping pad around it as a windscreen, or whatever. All I can say is, they must be better at holding stuff near their stoves than I am.

[Skidsteer]

Originally Posted by Marta

Many people have said their stoves work great and they just hold their sleeping pad around it as a windscreen, or whatever. All I can say is, they must be better at holding stuff near their stoves than I am.

I stink at it and I've got the patches in my Thermarest to prove it.