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View Full Version : What alcohol stove should i get? and where?



SavageLlama
08-25-2004, 16:41
Thinking of leaving my MSR stove home and trying out an alcohol stove for a thru-hike of the Long Trail in October.

I understand making one is a bitch. What's a good one to buy and where?

tlbj6142
08-25-2004, 16:58
If you don't want to make one (its not that hard), there are 4 on the market...

www.antigravitygear.com (http://www.antigravitygear.com/)
www.brasslite.com (http://www.brasslite.com/)
http://www.vargooutdoors.com/
http://www.trangia.se/

The last one weighs a ton, the vargo is prone to leaks and a bit tough to start.

You can't go wrong with a Brasslite or the AGG. Brasslite's Turbo I are only $20 now.

My brother is just about finished with his AT thru and he used a Turbo I the entire trip. He bought his trail found girl friend a AGG, which she has been using since Hot Springs


Edit: Forgot anti gravity gear.

SavageLlama
08-25-2004, 17:28
If you don't want to make one (its not that hard), there are 4 on the market...
Thanks for the info. http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif

Is there a web page somewhere with steps on how to make one?

SGT Rock
08-25-2004, 17:34
I have a lot of stove instructions at my site, plus there is wings, www.thru-hiker.com, etc. The web is now full of sites that carry instructions. Of course I feel mine is the best ;)

SavageLlama
08-25-2004, 18:04
I have a lot of stove instructions at my site
Thanks Rock. Good site you got there.. http://hikinghq.net/

Footslogger
08-25-2004, 19:22
Hey now ...the Trangia may be the heaviest of the ones listed but we're talking ounces here.

Just to add some balance to the recommendations ...I've used them all and the Trangia is my choice, on an overall basis. Each has its advantages and disadvantages but when it comes to price, durability and ease of use you'll be hard pressed to do better than the Trangia.

Anyhew ...just my .02

'Slogger
AT 2003

tlbj6142
08-25-2004, 21:34
Check out www.backpacking.net (http://www.backpacking.net/) as well. They have several stoves in their Make Your Own section.

BTW, I forgot about www.trailquest.net (http://www.trailquest.net/). They, too, sell a simple pepsi can stove.

Fallingwater at www.sixmoondesigns.com (http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/) also as a not to common stove design posted on his site. He also has a fairly complete list of other sites that contain stove designs.

There is probably a new stove design posted by someone a couple times a year.

Pick one you like. Don't get hung up on boil times and/or efficency. As long a you can boil a pint (16oz, ~500ml) with a little less than an ounce of fuel in less than 8 minutes. Your stove is fine.

Lilred
08-25-2004, 21:47
Thanks for the info. http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/images/icons/icon14.gif

Is there a web page somewhere with steps on how to make one?


http://www.pcthiker.com/pages/gear/pepsistove.shtml

Here's the directions for the ones I've made. I've made five so far and they are really not that hard. I didn't bother notching out the inner wall. Just hold it together with masking tape till you get the two cans together, then take off the tape and it holds just fine. I love mine and have given a couple of them away. I used nothing more than a push pin and my two inch hiking blade to make mine. Seal it up with heat tape and you're good to go.

Scorpion
08-27-2004, 18:38
I used a Brasslite Turbo for my thruhike, and never had any problems with it. Don't see what could go wrong with it. It's simple and works good.

I have made a number of Photon soda can stoves and really like them. I've heard though that they might not hold up to an entire thru hike, and that's why I went with the Brasslite.

Scorpion GA-ME 04

MileMonster
08-28-2004, 00:39
I was worried about my Pepsi stove being durable enough - alcohol can dissolve the glue in aluminum tape. I bought a Brasslite Turbo F. No complaints, worked great for me.

SGT Rock
08-28-2004, 08:10
Depending on what stove you make, and how you make it, you will not need tape. Some stoves do not need to pressurize, so they do not need a perfect seal. Since they don't, you can just leave a little sugary stuff in there and they will be as good as super glued together the first time you burn them when that stuff caramelizes.

SavageLlama
08-30-2004, 23:27
Thanks for everyone's input. I picked up Antigravity Gear's pepsi can stove to try out. It was only 12 bucks and came with a windscreen.

Of course, the local EMS doesn't have denatured alcohol.. so i'll have to wait til this wknd to give it a test burn.

Nightwalker
08-30-2004, 23:42
Thanks for everyone's input. I picked up Antigravity Gear's pepsi can stove to try out. It was only 12 bucks and came with a windscreen.

Of course, the local EMS doesn't have denatured alcohol.. so i'll have to wait til this wknd to give it a test burn.

My homemade Photon pepsi-can stoves tend to blow up, as I sometimes forget to put the screw back in when I'm tired. My Anti-Gravity Gear one worked great, though.

Even though it's about another ounce (the horrors!) I like my Brass-Lite Turbo II D the best.

Get denatured alcohol at Wal-Mart.

Choices are great...

:clap

neo
08-31-2004, 00:11
i made my own using tinmans instructions,any one can make one
i made my own cozy out of a windshield sunvisor,made of alumnium
bubble wrap and alunium flu gas tape,and my prefered alcohol is
heet or any methonal alcohol 79 cents anywhere that sell gasoline
:sun :banana :jump :jump :jump :clap :bse neo

MedicineMan
08-31-2004, 06:08
I might as well have 'brasslite' stamped on my but since I've bought 7 of Aarons stoves-most given away as Christmas gifts.
Currently using the Turbo-F and a Turbo-2d, both are heirlooms just waiting to happen....yep anyone can make a pepsican stove but what Aaron's putting out is an artform.

Big Guy
08-31-2004, 20:09
How do you get on your xmas list? Neat gift. Happy trails :clap :clap

Peaks
09-01-2004, 08:07
Of course, the local EMS doesn't have denatured alcohol..

Of course not. Frankly, EMS carries more fashion clothing than practical backpacking gear.

Find denatured alcohol at almost everyplace that sells paint, including paint stores, hardware stores, big boxes like Home Depot, Lowes, and Wal-mart.

squirrel bait
09-01-2004, 09:13
I am one of the people that LilRedMg gave one of her stoves to. It has never failed,blown up, and is very simple to use. Hopefully if won't be Hurricane Fran tested. The other stoves all sound fine but for the love of me I still haven't expierenced any down side to the pop can stoves. For a windscreen I simply use tinfoil. :clap

TDale
09-01-2004, 10:21
I've got the Liberty Mountian Trangia Westwind with simmer ring and stand. I made a windscreen from aluminum flashing. What I really like about it is the screw on cap. No fuel bottle on short trips.