View Full Version : Specific Advice Needed on Alcohol Stoves vs Canister Stoves and Fuel Weight
Hello all,
I am in the 2018 thru hike class and have decided to use an alcohol stove, I also have a titanium pot (my stove and pot weight totally around 6.5 ounces). I am having second thoughts however. I want to be able to bring two cups of water to a boil three times a day for 5 days. Weight wise, am I better off using a 100g fuel container instead and a lightweight burner? I looked at many forums and saw that it seems I would need about three ounces of alcohol a day (maybe even more if it is really cold) which would put me at 15 oz of alcohol. I am just trying to find the lightest stove and fuel option for the lowest combined weight for what I want to do. I cant imagine a 100g fuel container would be lighter than 15 oz of alcohol. Please help, I'm pretty confused here. :confused:
Eric
From my inventory:
Pocket Rocket 2 stove + 110 gram MSR canister = 10.04 ounces / 285 grams.
Will that combination boil 30 cups of water? Only you can answer that with strict testing.
My JetBoil SOL probably could do it and save you about a day per week of sitting around waiting on alcohol.
Good luck! Go testing!
Wayne
Go to this page. Scroll down and read the examples on fuel use and light gas canister stoves.
https://adventuresinstoving.blogspot.com
Begin your testing.
Wayne
garlic08
12-28-2017, 18:49
Someone told me if you cook more than one meal a day, you're probably better of with gas.
Don't fret the decision too much. It's easy enough to change along the way if your cooking habits change. And if you decide to go alky, you can make a stove with roadside trash and a pocketknife.
Bingo!
Even if you use a JetBoil stove, your boiling routine is very unorthodox based on what others say here at WhiteBlaze. Too many cups per day that is.
The Stove Guy's spreadsheet says 250 grams of canister gas is needed in your scenario.
On average, I boil
15
cups of water per day.
Note: One cup is about 250 ml.
My stove burns about
3.0
grams of fuel per cup boiled.
About 4 g for conventional stoves; 3 g for high efficency stoves like a Jetboil; or enter your own number based on your experience.
My next trip will be
5.0
days long.
If you know know you'll be boiling less on a given day, count that day as, 0.25, 0.5 or 0.75 depending on how much less; count all other days as 1.
I will need about
225
grams of fuel as a baseline estimate.
I want a
10
percent margin for error.
Wind, delays, etc. may cause you to need more.
I will need about
248
total grams of fuel (baseline + margin).
Therefore I need a
450
gram sized canister.
Note: Formula includes 100, 110, 220, 230, and 450 as possible canister sizes.
I will have about
202
"excess" grams fuel.
Giving me about
67
additional cups boiled total.
Or about
13
additional cups boiled per day.
Don't you just love spreadsheets!
Wayne
Someone told me if you cook more than one meal a day, you're probably better of with gas.
Don't fret the decision too much. It's easy enough to change along the way if your cooking habits change. And if you decide to go alky, you can make a stove with roadside trash and a pocketknife.
Or you could muddy the waters with the voice of reason from garlic.
Wayne
saltysack
12-29-2017, 00:46
I seriously doubt you will boil water three times per day....if so a canister would be way more efficient as others said. The more I’m out the less I feel like cooking or fooling with a stove...
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Heliotrope
12-29-2017, 01:27
I seriously doubt you will boil water three times per day....if so a canister would be way more efficient as others said. The more I’m out the less I feel like cooking or fooling with a stove...
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Agreed.
My canister stove plus the empty canister is roughly 5.5 oz. versus maybe 1 oz alchy stove plus fuel container. The weight savings is negligible when you factor in the greater fuel efficiency of the canister. The convenience of the canister outweighs any real or imagined weight savings for me.
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colorado_rob
12-29-2017, 07:57
I'm in that same "three boils a day" category, despite others saying they doubt folks do that. I have coffee in the morning (3 cups water = 2 12 oz cups of coffee), dinner (1.5 cups) and usually hot tea in the evening (2 cups), some days as many as 7 cups of hot water. For my hot water needs, I believe that a canister is more efficient weight wise than alcohol because of the fuel weight, and a 110 gram canister lasts me 6-7 days using a jetboil Sol Ti stove, alas, not made anymore, their most efficient stove weight wise. If you're using a less efficient lightweight burner and pot, you should still get 5 days.
Because I'm a heavy hot water user, I also appreciate the speed of a canister setup vs. alcohol. If I only heated water once a day for dinner, or maybe twice a day, I'd probably go with alcohol.
You’re probably not going to cook that much, man.
3 times a Day is a lot of fuel, but also time. I’d bet money you abandon cooking lunches at least.
That said either way I’d recommend a canister stove.
Alcohol stoves are lighter but once you start carrying fuel for 4 or 5+ days it starts to weigh more than a canister set up.
And it just takes so damn long.
Be prepared to be envious of your buddies who are already chowing down on hot macncheese while you’re barely just coming to a boil.
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Great answers and advice from everyone! Thanks so much for the information. I was looking at my setup at the moment: MSR Titan Titanium Kettle; Vargo Decagon and Vargo aluminum windscreen. Those three pieces weigh a total of 6.7 oz, a Jetboil SOL Titanium is under 9 oz from what I have seen. Anyone know where I can find a used SOL Titanium?
ggreaves
12-29-2017, 13:39
Get yourself a 4oz Firebox Nano twig stove. Packs flat. No bulk and negligible weight. All the fuel you ever need to boil up dinner is within 10 sq feet around your tent 99% of the time. If you truly believe you can't make a twig fire in the wet (which you easily can), then carry a < 1oz fancee feast stove to use in the nano (as a wind shield) and a couple oz of alcohol for emergencies.
http://www.fireboxstove.com/3-inch-titanium-folding-firebox-nano
41341
You can get 1oz canister stoves, so that's a wash with an alky stove, and just putting aside all the efficiency gadgets like pot heat exchangers, neoprene cozies, and caldera cones (available to either) - it seems to boil down to fuel & container weight, and from what I've seen, it's about breakeven at the 4-5 day mark. Alky lighter for shorter periods, canister lighter for longer periods.
- 7 grams/pint boil or 100gm/7.5qt or 5 days is tight but doable from a 100gm small Jetboil canister. 7oz at start and 3.5oz at end averages @ 5.25oz.
- In my experience 20ml per pint boil is equally tight for alcohol, so that's 11 fl. oz. or 9oz by fuel by weight. Incl 1oz fuel bladder, that's 10oz at start and 1oz at end averages 5.5oz.
So IMHO, it really boils down to preferences - the advantages of canisters has been mentioned, but how about alcohol?
- 'Rechargeable': I personally tend toward shorter trips so always had partially used canisters. Like primary batteries there's no point in throwing them away, so that usually means carrying an extra canister. Alcohol is more like rechargeable batteries - I fill up just what I need, with a little reserve. However, this is probably a wash on continuous thruhike.
- Availability: I also bicycle/ADVmoto tour, and alcohol seems more widely available.
- Multi-tasking: alcohol makes a good fire starter, and very efficient survival heat source (i.e., Palmer Furnace candle) which I personally like using as a luxury in cold weather, e.g. a deep heat soak before going to bed. Actually, I use Everclear when I can which additionally multi-tasks as dehydrated vodka, hand sanitizer/wet wipes, water conserving kitchen solvent/cleaner/sterilizer, mouthwash/deodorant, etc.
Just another perspective.
AllDownhillFromHere
12-29-2017, 15:14
I'm a fan of liquid stoves simply because I can carry the fuel I use, and there's less waste. No half-filled steel cans everywhere. Just buy a gallon of Coleman fuel (or in your case alcohol or use HEET bottles), and use only what you need.
I also like the fact that alcohol stoves are totally recycled pieces and you don't have to dispose of the steel canisters. If you're going on a trip longer than 10 days I'd take a BRS canister stove (or more likely for me my alcohol stove since I have it dialed in) ...but I usually hit town in less than 7...which means I only need to carry exactly the fuel I need and no more.
My cook kit weighs less than 5 oz with everything...4 oz of fuel and I'm at less than 9 oz for everything including my spoon. 4 oz of fuel will last my girlfriend and me 4 days. If I go solo I can use less than .75 oz a day. Again, my alcohol stove system is super dialed in and i have put a lot of effort into cutting grams from my system
colorado_rob
12-29-2017, 15:50
Anyone know where I can find a used SOL Titanium? I suggest Ebay or craigslist, if you haven't already. I found one on Amazon a couple years ago, snagged it instantly (for a gift, I already have one), just checked, none there now... Assuming you don't find one, grab the lightest, smallest (0.8 liters vs 0.9 for Sol Ti) new Jetboil, not sure what it's called these days, maybe the "zip"? Only 2-3 ounces heavier than the Ti, I believe, great little stove, someone mentioned below 7 grams for a 2-cup boil, more like 5 grams (4.5 under perfect conditions) with a modern jetboil. You should get 7 days easily with a 110 gram canister with a new jetboil.
Hello all,
I am in the 2018 thru hike class and have decided to use an alcohol stove, I also have a titanium pot (my stove and pot weight totally around 6.5 ounces). I am having second thoughts however. I want to be able to bring two cups of water to a boil three times a day for 5 days. Weight wise, am I better off using a 100g fuel container instead and a lightweight burner? I looked at many forums and saw that it seems I would need about three ounces of alcohol a day (maybe even more if it is really cold) which would put me at 15 oz of alcohol. I am just trying to find the lightest stove and fuel option for the lowest combined weight for what I want to do. I cant imagine a 100g fuel container would be lighter than 15 oz of alcohol. Please help, I'm pretty confused here. :confused:
Eric
I'm sure you will get a lot of opinions, so why not add mine. :) With a good windscreen, a non-tall (wider diameter than height) pot, and a decent burner at the right distance from your pot bottom, you should be able to boil 2 cups of water with 3/4 oz alcohol and possibly just 1/2 oz alcohol. So three boils could require as little as 2 oz per day or 10 oz for 5 days (plus the weight of the burner and pot support). That assumes careful alcohol measurement and pre-hike testing of your setup to figure out just what you need and to make sure that the 2 oz/day budget will work for you. A light canister setup could be pretty close competition. A wood burner with Esbit backup could save you a half pound, and help you get killer fire skills.
Also I'll add that the BRS stove weight is impressive, but haven't tested it's efficiency. I'm doing the JMT next year and since there are open fire bands his is the stove i may take.
Heliotrope
12-30-2017, 02:26
Get yourself a 4oz Firebox Nano twig stove. Packs flat. No bulk and negligible weight. All the fuel you ever need to boil up dinner is within 10 sq feet around your tent 99% of the time. If you truly believe you can't make a twig fire in the wet (which you easily can), then carry a < 1oz fancee feast stove to use in the nano (as a wind shield) and a couple oz of alcohol for emergencies.
http://www.fireboxstove.com/3-inch-titanium-folding-firebox-nano
41341
Looks awesome!
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Fancee Feest alcohol stove weighs very little, 1/2 ounce fuel will boil 2 cups with proper windscreen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKAFAsPfC4s
4eyedbuzzard
12-30-2017, 13:11
Great answers and advice from everyone! Thanks so much for the information. I was looking at my setup at the moment: MSR Titan Titanium Kettle; Vargo Decagon and Vargo aluminum windscreen. Those three pieces weigh a total of 6.7 oz, a Jetboil SOL Titanium is under 9 oz from what I have seen. Anyone know where I can find a used SOL Titanium?
Great answers and advice from everyone! Thanks so much for the information. I was looking at my setup at the moment: MSR Titan Titanium Kettle; Vargo Decagon and Vargo aluminum windscreen. Those three pieces weigh a total of 6.7 oz, a Jetboil SOL Titanium is under 9 oz from what I have seen. Anyone know where I can find a used SOL Titanium?The weight difference between the aluminum SOL (10.5 oz) and the SOL Ti (9.8 oz) is less than a ounce. The Al version is actually a bit more efficient heating due to the better thermal conductivity of Al vs Ti, but water will also cool down faster in the AL version due to the same reason. The AL version doesn't have the issue of the burner ring separating (the reason the Ti version was discontinued), and you can cook food directly in the Al version, which Jetboil specifically recommends not doing in the Ti version. For both cost and reliability reasons, the Al version is probably a better bet.
The weight difference between the aluminum SOL (10.5 oz) and the SOL Ti (9.8 oz) is less than a ounce. The Al version is actually a bit more efficient heating due to the better thermal conductivity of Al vs Ti, but water will also cool down faster in the AL version due to the same reason. The AL version doesn't have the issue of the burner ring separating (the reason the Ti version was discontinued), and you can cook food directly in the Al version, which Jetboil specifically recommends not doing in the Ti version. For both cost and reliability reasons, the Al version is probably a better bet.
I found a new old stock SOL Aluminum stove at Gander Mountain on their way out of business. It's a great stove. Something I've noticed about the pot+cozy: It stays mega hot far longer after I turn the stove off than my conventional aluminum pots. I actually get to eat HOT food. Very miserly on fuel. Call JetBoil and ask them which current model is closest to the original SOL.
Wayne
Alcohol stoves can be used at below zero temps. You'll see it at minute 6:20:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cDU8MpQ59I
Siestita
12-30-2017, 20:48
"I'm a fan of liquid stoves simply because I can carry the fuel I use, and there's less waste. No half-filled steel cans everywhere. Just buy a gallon of Coleman fuel (or in your case alcohol or use HEET bottles), and use only what you need." All Down Hill from Here
I agree! And I suspect that for some solo hikers the 'break even point' when butane cooking becomes lighter than using alcohol is probably when trips last at least 6 or 7 days rather than merely 4 or 5 days.
Here's how the math looks to me. I take others' word for it that when burned petroleum products such of butane generate twice as much energy, per weight, as does alcohol. But, one ounce of alcohol fuel (measured by volume) only weighs .8 oz. (Perhaps that discrepancy reflects the fact that alcohol is lighter than water.) So, our original poster's 5 day supply of alcohol, 15 fluid oz., actually only weighs 12 oz. And, to produce an equivalent amount of heat only 6 oz. of petroleum based fuel would need to be consumed. Posters on another thread here indicated that empty fuel canisters, both large and small, weigh 4 oz, in contrast to the 1 oz. plastic bottle that I use to carry fuel alcohol. So for a hypothetical five day trip, burning 3 fluid oz. of alcohol each day, the starting weight of the fuel and its container would be 13 oz. For that same trip the starting weight carrying butane would be 10 oz. (6 oz. of fuel to burn plus 4 oz. for the metal container).
So, the total "fuel plus container" weight carried during the first day of the five day trip would theoretically be 3 oz. less if butane is burned rather than alcohol. But, as the trip progresses fuel is burned reducing a butane users' pack weight somewhat and an alcohol user's weight even more. Walking out on the last day of the trip a hiker who has burned alcohol would be carrying a "fuel plus container" weight of just 1 oz. while a butane burning hiker would be toting the full 4 oz. of his empty canister.
The example above assumes that with experience hikers can learn to take with them only the exact amounts of fuel that they will be using, thus ending their trips with empty fuel containers. I can almost accomplish that these days burning alcohol. But when I used butane stoves in the past I always finished trips carrying considerable unused fuel. And, on the trail I sometimes meet butane users who either carry a heavy extra canister with them, as a 'spare', or who have run out of fuel prematurely.
Obviously, the efficiency of one's stove/windscreen/pot support/pot configuration affects fuel usage, using either butane or alcohol. And sometimes fuel consumption can be reduced simply by altering ones cooking style or menu choices. Those factors may affect pack weight more than precisely which stove one uses.
nsherry61
12-30-2017, 22:13
. . . Call JetBoil and ask them which current model is closest to the original SOL.
That seems a bit like calling up Ford and asking them which current car is closest to the Model-T because there were features of the Model-T you liked.
I would ask why anyone would choose the JetBoil SOL if they have the ability to use a Mini-Mo or Micro-Mo instead? For a tiny weight penalty, the Mo's heats much faster (read burn hotter), while at the same time simmering with a reliably flame and continuing to cook effectively even in colder weather and with nearly empty (relatively low pressure) canisters. The regulator on the Mo series stoves totally rocks.
"I'm a fan of liquid stoves simply because I can carry the fuel I use, and there's less waste. No half-filled steel cans everywhere. Just buy a gallon of Coleman fuel (or in your case alcohol or use HEET bottles), and use only what you need." All Down Hill from Here
I agree! And I suspect that for some solo hikers the 'break even point' when butane cooking becomes lighter than using alcohol is probably when trips last at least 6 or 7 days rather than merely 4 or 5 days.
Here's how the math looks to me. I take others' word for it that when burned petroleum products such of butane generate twice as much energy, per weight, as does alcohol. But, one ounce of alcohol fuel (measured by volume) only weighs .8 oz. (Perhaps that discrepancy reflects the fact that alcohol is lighter than water.) So, our original poster's 5 day supply of alcohol, 15 fluid oz., actually only weighs 12 oz. And, to produce an equivalent amount of heat only 6 oz. of petroleum based fuel would need to be consumed. Posters on another thread here indicated that empty fuel canisters, both large and small, weigh 4 oz, in contrast to the 1 oz. plastic bottle that I use to carry fuel alcohol. So for a hypothetical five day trip, burning 3 fluid oz. of alcohol each day, the starting weight of the fuel and its container would be 13 oz. For that same trip the starting weight carrying butane would be 10 oz. (6 oz. of fuel to burn plus 4 oz. for the metal container).
So, the total "fuel plus container" weight carried during the first day of the five day trip would theoretically be 3 oz. less if butane is burned rather than alcohol. But, as the trip progresses fuel is burned reducing a butane users' pack weight somewhat and an alcohol user's weight even more. Walking out on the last day of the trip a hiker who has burned alcohol would be carrying a "fuel plus container" weight of just 1 oz. while a butane burning hiker would be toting the full 4 oz. of his empty canister.
The example above assumes that with experience hikers can learn to take with them only the exact amounts of fuel that they will be using, thus ending their trips with empty fuel containers. I can almost accomplish that these days burning alcohol. But when I used butane stoves in the past I always finished trips carrying considerable unused fuel. And, on the trail I sometimes meet butane users who either carry a heavy extra canister with them, as a 'spare', or who have run out of fuel prematurely.
Obviously, the efficiency of one's stove/windscreen/pot support/pot configuration affects fuel usage, using either butane or alcohol. And sometimes fuel consumption can be reduced simply by altering ones cooking style or menu choices. Those factors may affect pack weight more than precisely which stove one uses.
Good post. Totally spot on [emoji16]
That seems a bit like calling up Ford and asking them which current car is closest to the Model-T because there were features of the Model-T you liked.
I would ask why anyone would choose the JetBoil SOL if they have the ability to use a Mini-Mo or Micro-Mo instead? For a tiny weight penalty, the Mo's heats much faster (read burn hotter), while at the same time simmering with a reliably flame and continuing to cook effectively even in colder weather and with nearly empty (relatively low pressure) canisters. The regulator on the Mo series stoves totally rocks.
Cheap. Half price.
As I understand it, the SOL stove has an early version of the simmering regulator found in the Mini or Micro Mos. But I could be totally wrong on that feature of the SOL stove.
It wouldn’t be the first time that the best parts of a product were carried over to a “NEW” product. In this case a slightly different pot and the previous burner becomes a new Mini or Micro.
It’s plausible.
I’m pleased with the stove I bought.
Happy New Year!
Wayne
Hipbone,
Petroleum products are also lighter than water. Or did I miss that in your analysis?
Wayne
Siestita's analysis...not mine...and oh God organic chemistry...yes fossil fuels are also lighter than water. It depends on the butane/isobutane/xxxane mixture that each brand uses (probably all made in the same factory?). However, it doesn't really matter about the weight of the canister fuel because you cannot fill it only with what you need...the weight is the weight.
I like either type of stove really, the weight savings in a canister stove would be greater of you could dial in the exact amount of gas and make the container lighter. If you could carry exactly 3 days of fuel in a smaller canister then canister stoves would get really efficient.
The main reason I usually use alcohol is because my trips (or resupplies) are usually less than 6 days. Fuel+container would be container + .6 ml alcohol per day= 3.8 oz total or:
(.6 ml per day x .78 x 6 days) + 1 oz for storage container = 3.8 oz
On my last day my fuel weight is simply the weight of the vessel.
I haven't weighed an empty gas can but I think they weigh 4 oz (I got that number from here on white Blaze). Basically my fuel and container for 6 days weighs less than the canister stove canister.
I will also say that the BRS titanium stove has reduced the Gap somewhat on the weight of canister stoves versus alcohol stoves (I have one but have not tested its efficiency)
There are other reasons I do prefer an alcohol stove also. I like the fact that I don't have to try and recycle the steel canisters (I have found is almost impossible on a thru-hike). I like the fact that most alcohol stoves are up cycled soda cans. I also like the fact that alcohol stoves are really quiet in the woods. I like the fact that and alcohol fuel container is infinitely reusable.
I have included a picture for clarity. I could reduce the weight overall if I use a smaller container also (110 grams=3.8 oz)
41443
also holy hell does anybody wanna buy an alcohol stove? I have 15 sets sitting around and probably 50 alcohol stoves that I haven't made windscreens and pot stands for. Pot stand, stove, vapor barrier, and wind screen weighs less than 1 ounce. I've used these stoves on the long trail and the colorado trail and they're pretty efficient. I started a thread to see if there was any interest at the link below. I sent 1 out to a forum member to test and a triple crowner used one of them on her CDT thru hike this year to complete her triple crown. She said it held up the whole way and is ready for at least a few more thru hikes :)
https://whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php/127647-Hand-made-sub-1-oz-alcohol-stove-cook-systems-for-sale-maybe
apologies, the above equation should read .6 oz, not .6 ml
Kaptainkriz
01-02-2018, 21:28
Great points on the weight of alcohol. I've mostly transitioned to Alcohol (Modified StarLyte @ 17g) except in very cold weather - not because it does not work, but because I have not learned to us it well in cold weather. I use BRS3000 in cold weather, which can run with a small flame if desired to increase efficiency. That being said, I want to comment on a couple of your points - This is not for everyone, but I've been using the same MSR 211g canister for almost 2 years now. I put as much fuel in it as I need using a high quality fuel transfer valve and source from a larger container. As you note, the empty vessel weighs about 4oz (mine is 100g or 3.5 oz) and does weigh more than your whole setup. I'd love to try an adapter on a travel size hairspray container...they are tiny...I just have not had time.
edited by Kaptainkriz for brevity:
However, it doesn't really matter about the weight of the canister fuel because you cannot fill it only with what you need...the weight is the weight.
I like either type of stove really, the weight savings in a canister stove would be greater of you could dial in the exact amount of gas and make the container lighter. If you could carry exactly 3 days of fuel in a smaller canister then canister stoves would get really efficient.
I haven't weighed an empty gas can but I think they weigh 4 oz (I got that number from here on white Blaze). Basically my fuel and container for 6 days weighs less than the canister stove canister.
I will also say that the BRS titanium stove has reduced the Gap somewhat on the weight of canister stoves versus alcohol stoves (I have one but have not tested its efficiency)
Great points on the weight of alcohol. I've mostly transitioned to Alcohol (Modified StarLyte @ 17g) except in very cold weather - not because it does not work, but because I have not learned to us it well in cold weather. I use BRS3000 in cold weather, which can run with a small flame if desired to increase efficiency. That being said, I want to comment on a couple of your points - This is not for everyone, but I've been using the same MSR 211g canister for almost 2 years now. I put as much fuel in it as I need using a high quality fuel transfer valve and source from a larger container. As you note, the empty vessel weighs about 4oz (mine is 100g or 3.5 oz) and does weigh more than your whole setup. I'd love to try an adapter on a travel size hairspray container...they are tiny...I just have not had time.
I'd be interested in your travel size hairspray container thing...if you get to it post us up :)
anakeesta
01-03-2018, 06:10
Nnnnmm
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Small jet type lighters are a must for lighting esbit and alcohol in frigid temperatures. Photo shows size comparison to mini bic:
41447
Traillium
01-04-2018, 01:19
I’ve been out of this WhiteBlaze thing for too long …
But I do have some thoughts on this matter of stove weight. Those thoughts are that there’s perhaps more grams to be saved in the food packaging than in fussing about remarkably slight differences across stove types and styles.
Weigh the packaging that you bring out after a trip. How many plastic bags? How much aluminized plastic foil? … What ways can you come up with that reduce the weight of your packaging?
Furthermore, I’m also aware of the volume and space I saved by replacing my kitchen setup from a Trangia system with DIY components to a much more expensive but more fuel efficient Caldera Cone TiTri that is hugely more efficient, that burns alcohol and solid fuels and also wood, and is significantly lighter. The new system also takes about half the pack volume of my old Trangia setup.
So complicate your spreadsheets by including other aspects of your total food approach, as well as volume considerations.
… ducks and runs …
Another Kevin
01-04-2018, 10:57
Small jet type lighters are a must for lighting esbit and alcohol in frigid temperatures. Photo shows size comparison to mini bic:
You may be right that's an easier approach.
In real cold, I've always primed my Penny Stove from below. I use a third pop can bottom as a stove stand/primer. A few drops of alky and possibly a wisp of TP to serve as a wick produces enough of a flame to warm the stove. In fact, it usually produces enough flame for the stove to be an impressive fireball when it blooms. It settles down when the primer burns out.
I prefer alcohol stoves, even if the fuel is heavy. No working parts to contend with, and little chance of failure. I learned my lesson when trying to troubleshoot an MSR Whisperlight stove back in the day. Thankfully I was not on a long-distance hike in the middle of nowhere. I was unsuccessful in repairing the stove in the field.
LittleTim
01-12-2018, 23:59
Fancee Feest alcohol stove weighs very little, 1/2 ounce fuel will boil 2 cups with proper windscreen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKAFAsPfC4s
Exactly.
With a windscreen, it's almost foolproof.
It's almost silent until your water is boiling.
No moving parts, almost no opportunity to fail.
Easy to find fuel.
Can be made with minimal tools (although zelph's look 100x sexier than my hack-job, he'll get you taken care of).
Shug recommended. Need I say more?
Also fits my ideal of a flexible cooking option at home if the occasional ice storm knocks out power for a few days. Three camping trips and the initial learning curve and still haven't burned through my first purchase of a 4-pack of heet.