View Full Version : Windscreens For Canister Stoves
What kind of windscreen are you using for your canister type stoves?
I'm looking for ideas to create one that will fit inside my Toaks 550 pot.
For me, it wasn’t worth the weight or hassle on the rare occasions that wind was strong enough to affect the flame of the stove. Usually, I could find rocks, dirt mounds or just use my Z Seat to create a micro climate area to get a boil. However, I did buy a Jetboil to improve speed of boil but often leave at home on section hikes due to weight and bulk versus the Toaks set up.
For me, it wasn’t worth the weight or hassle on the rare occasions that wind was strong enough to affect the flame of the stove. Usually, I could find rocks, dirt mounds or just use my Z Seat to create a micro climate area to get a boil. However, I did buy a Jetboil to improve speed of boil but often leave at home on section hikes due to weight and bulk versus the Toaks set up.
Thank you gbolt. I read recently:
quote:
"So it depends where you place your stove and where you are measuring the wind. 4.4 mph at chest height will not have a great effect at ground level. This is why it doesn’t make sense to raise your stove up on a bench or table to cook.
Classic fluid dynamics will say that the steady state velocity at the ground is zero."
LoneStranger
04-26-2022, 16:23
My hands, my sit pad, my umbrella, the piece of reflectix I wrap around my bear can sometimes. Basically anything but a windscreen :)
LoneStranger
04-26-2022, 16:29
Sorry for double posting, but I forgot about the windscreen that was part of the GSI Microdualist. This review is for the entire kit, but if you skim through it you will find pics and a video that shows the windscreen. It wraps around the pot when stored, but you could take the same concept and coil it tight enough to carry it inside the pot I bet. The way the ends of the screen connect is the part that matters as it is simple, yet functional.
What you don't want to copy is the bottom shield that protects the canister from overheating. The way they did that part is annoying :)
https://www.trailspace.com/gear/gsi-outdoors/halulite-microdualist-complete/#review36838
My hands, my sit pad, my umbrella, the piece of reflectix I wrap around my bear can sometimes. Basically anything but a windscreen :) Ditto. And you need to take care if using a windscreen not to let the canister get overheated
This one had a tendency to overheat the canister:
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LoneStranger
04-26-2022, 17:55
This one had a tendency to overheat the canister:
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Ummm, yeah that one looks dangerous. There needs to be an air gap of some size between the shield and the can.
gpburdelljr
04-26-2022, 18:32
Thank you gbolt. I read recently:
quote:
"So it depends where you place your stove and where you are measuring the wind. 4.4 mph at chest height will not have a great effect at ground level. This is why it doesn’t make sense to raise your stove up on a bench or table to cook.
Classic fluid dynamics will say that the steady state velocity at the ground is zero."
Have you ever accidentally dropped a piece of paper on the ground, and then had to chase it.
HooKooDooKu
04-26-2022, 18:51
Wind is one of the reasons I recently decided to swap my Snow Peak MaxLite for a Soto Windmaster (the same stove shown above labeled as the screen that tends to over heat the canister).
Notice how the burner is recessed?
However, I got the version with 4 arms rather than 3... to make it more difficult to knock your pot over.
Have you ever accidentally dropped a piece of paper on the ground, and then had to chase it.
Yes, a few times....just yesterday :-).. More than likely the wind at chest level was much more than 4.4 mph. We have to do everything we can to protect our stoves from the wind.
Thank you for your input.
Kaptainkriz
04-26-2022, 21:02
I just got one of these…designed around the 600…getting consistent 4g 2 cup boils:
https://youtu.be/HDVlvL4JtI8
Wow, that's a new one. Thanks for sharing that :)
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LoneStranger
04-27-2022, 11:23
I just got one of these…designed around the 600…getting consistent 4g 2 cup boils:
https://youtu.be/HDVlvL4JtI8
That is a nifty design. How do you think the connector tabs will hold up? Seems bending/breaking them is the only fail point.
Thanks for posting that. I hadn't seen that one before.
I think the design has weakness. The windscreen connecting tabs is one and the connection on the lower sheild also are a weak point.
Moisture is going to collect on the pot grip when removing pot from stove. No handles on pot.
Maybe Kaptainkriz (https://whiteblaze.net/forum/member.php/59330-Kaptainkriz) can give us some feedback on his usage of the kit.
Another windscreen design:
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LoneStranger
04-27-2022, 11:56
Oh I don't care about the stove or pot. I have too many of those already and you are partially to blame for that :)
I am just curious about the windscreen/heat shield. This looks light, easy to carry and functional. If I make or find something like that I might start carrying one.
Since I started looking at different designs I have something in mind on how to go about making one that will fit inside my 550ml pot.
On another forum this is a comment that someone had that got me to thinking:
Jan 14, 2012 at 7:03 am
Your idea, as I understand it, is essentially to attach the windscreen to the pot, with a flange extending down below the bottom of the pot to shield the burner from cross-winds. If this is right, then I think it's a cool idea, but that this won't leave an air gap for the hot gasses and flames to escape upward along the outside edge of the pot because this creates an inverted cup the burner jets into. If this is the case, I think the performance of the stove will suffer and it will reflect a lot of heat down onto the canister.
By anecdotal evidence, I am assured that heating the canister will result in a gigantic fireball that kills or maims everyone within approximately 1/4 mile. Well, sorta, but you get the picture.
I put together a bracket and spot welded it to the side of the pot opposite the handles. Made a titanium windscreen with a little dohickey welded to it that fits nicely to the cup bracket. The windscreen extends 1 inch below the pot bottom to protect canister stoves and alcohol stoves(Fancee Feest) from the wind. Windscreen fits inside the 550ml pot.
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That should work, very interestingly inventive idea. Have you done any testing as far as boil times? And do you use a fan and some type of anemometer for wind speed testing?
Almost looks like it should come down farther? But you want it to fit inside your pot.
That first photo shows the space between your wind screen and the pot looks perfect for allowing the flames and heat to come right up the pot for maximum heat gain of function:)
The design is evolving. When using the Fancee Feest stove, air seems to be entering under the handles. That's a win....keeps the handles cooler.
This stove is working realy well with the windscreen/pot combo. 2 cups boiled with 3 grams fuel, non scientific tests.
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You HAVE to have a windscreen with a canister stove. There's no question. If you don't you loose too much heat, and waste fuel...
The only windscreen I've ever liked is the thick metal foil from my 1970's vintage MSR mountaineering stove. But you can't get this stuff anymore, I've asked everybody. But it keeps going and going...
https://youtu.be/BdR0_NwaZFs
Woooo buddy, that sure is a perty boil!
Woooo buddy, that sure is a perty boil!
Here's his windscreen video:
https://youtu.be/40FnzfeF1OU