View Full Version : Alcohol Stove Recommendation
cvillars
11-23-2008, 17:23
I am looking to purchase an Alcohol stove. Any recommendations?
Any features I should be looking for?
Thanks
I realy like the pop can stove from Antigravity Gear.
There are lots of good choices... plus you might want to think about making a stove requiring few tools. Most of my friends who use an alcohol stove have settled on the Caldera Cone system because it is easy to use, very stable, and is reasonably efficient in field conditions. I haven't switched to a Caldera stove, though I appreciate tyhe attraction. I keep a list of recommended alcohol stoves (http://www.verber.com/mark/outdoors/backpack/kitchen.html#astoves) you might want to check out.
The Caldera Cone is very efficient. They have a new model now (Keg?).
The Caldera Cone is very efficient. They have a new model now (Keg?).I had the Caldera Cone, but now use the Caldera Keg (http://www.antigravitygear.com/proddetail.php?prod=TDCKEG) and love it. It's one of the best pieces of gear I ever bought. Two thumbs up, fo' shizzle. To increase its already crazy fast boil time, cut a piece of aluminum foil the size of the bottom of the wind screen/support. Put it under the stove before you light it. You won't lose anywhere near as much heat to the ground, reflects it all right back up.
Find someone with a cat, beg for the 3 oz. wet food can, clean it out, punch 10-13 holes just below the rim with a paper punch, punch another 10-13 holes directly below the first set, as far down as you can reach, and, voila - you have a Supercat stove. Light, fuel efficient, quick to boil, requires no pot stand (extra weight), uses a shorter windscreen (no pot stand to shield from wind), is relatively sturdy, foolproof, and works better than any other stove I've purchased or built (over 30 prototypes).
Just don't use it directly on any surface you're afraid of burning - it's very hot.
I use mine with a 1.3 liter Evernew ti. pot (the wider the pot, the better it absorbs the heat from the stove).
Critterman
11-23-2008, 22:36
I like the Brasslite stoves. They are very well made, light, efficient, and simmer well. I have made many stoves but use my brasslite on the trail. http://www.brasslite.com/
I wouldn't recommend the Vargo Titanium Stove. Didn't like it.
MDhiker1967
11-23-2008, 22:54
Try Mini Bull Design
www.minibulldesign.com (http://www.minibulldesign.com)
Try Mini Bull Design
www.minibulldesign.com (http://www.minibulldesign.com)
Cue the "I ******IN HATE TINNY" posters in 3... 2... 1...
MDhiker1967
11-23-2008, 23:10
Cue the "I ******IN HATE TINNY" posters in 3... 2... 1...
Why do you say that??:-?
Why do you say that??:-?
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=43267
I guess i've been following this thread (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=43267) too much lately.
MDhiker1967
11-23-2008, 23:15
http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?t=43267
Everyone is entitled to their opinions..
My suggestion is buy several stoves and see what YOU like best.....
Skidsteer
11-23-2008, 23:17
I am looking to purchase an Alcohol stove. Any recommendations?
Any features I should be looking for?
Thanks
What is your cooking style/goals?
What size pot do you use?
SunnyWalker
11-24-2008, 00:02
Solo hiking: I have switched to an alcohol stove. Very pleased with it. Been using it to make coffee out in the garage the last few nights. Got down to freezing is all. Worked great though. Sure lighter then cannister stoves. There are many models and homemade types. Like many others I started using a "trangia" stove with a windscreen. Very light and you can adjust the flame. Pretty neat. Before this I went in this order: fire, MSR Whisperlight, Stratus wood stove, then to alcohol. The neatest thing about the alcohol stove is that I personally think the alcohol is readily available-more so than any other "fuel" except maybe wood. This is one of the main reasons I switched. Have fun figuring it all out. We all did! that's why we have more than one stove! :-)
SunnyWalker
11-24-2008, 00:13
Correction-I think it was down to the 40s or low 50s, and of course in the garage no wind. This is of course quite different then what one would face outdoors.
http://mysite.verizon.net/restoq6v/index.html
Well I've made my share of pepsi can, cat, a side-burners and I played with the Swedish military SVEA, but I settled on the Trangia burner. It has the feature set I like the best. So I'm pretty much a Trangia bigot. Having confessed that, there are some might-fine alcohol stove designs available for a reasonable price that emphasize different features that might fit your needs better. Have fun exploring!
88BlueGT
11-24-2008, 14:28
I have used the pepsi stove with great success... I made my own following from pcthiker.com
atraildreamer
11-24-2008, 16:01
I am looking to purchase an Alcohol stove. Any recommendations?
Any features I should be looking for?
Thanks
Purchase...BLASPHEMY!!!! :eek: Pick up a couple of empties by the side of the road and make your own stove! :D:banana
One feature you might be interested in... If you are doing any cold weather (read: below freezing) do NOT get a pressurized or semipressurized stove. Get a wick based stove instead. I have used the Starlyte with great success at temps near 0*F.
optimator
11-24-2008, 16:54
Just get a Starlyte from Zelph and be done with it.
sheepdog
11-24-2008, 17:25
The hardest part for me was learning how much alcohol to put in the stove. I like stoves, I like buying stoves, and I like making stoves. The easiest alcohol stove to use for a beginner IMO is the Trangia. It has a reservior that holds the alcohol and you never use too much or too little. There are lighter and maybe better stoves, but there is a learning curve.
big_muddy
11-25-2008, 11:50
I've got a trangia, brasslite and some of minibull design stoves, the best? depends on what you want to do. For solo hiking I like minibull, just plan good stoves. brasslite is nice, but a bit heavy, trangia is heavy but bomber, and a little big for going solo (even their t-27 model).