View Full Version : Solo Stove?
writeronthestorm
09-27-2012, 23:27
So I came across some YouTube reviews for the Solo Stove and was so impressed that I went straight to their website and paid a small fortune for the thing. All of the sudden two days later I'm wondering if I made the right decision. I've been very intrigued by the idea of a wood burning backpacking stove so it was inevitable that I was going to buy one. I just really like the idea of never having to buy or carry fuel, but now I'm questioning whether I should have shopped around a little more. Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone has ever used it. I've read nothing but great things about it, but I was just wondering what you thru-hikers thought about it, since I respect your opinions so much. Mainly, I just want some positive affirmation that I spent my $69.99 wisely... haha. But seriously, anyone have one?
For those unfamiliar with the solo stove.
http://www.solostove.com/
So I came across some YouTube reviews for the Solo Stove and was so impressed that I went straight to their website and paid a small fortune for the thing. All of the sudden two days later I'm wondering if I made the right decision. I've been very intrigued by the idea of a wood burning backpacking stove so it was inevitable that I was going to buy one. I just really like the idea of never having to buy or carry fuel, but now I'm questioning whether I should have shopped around a little more. Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone has ever used it. I've read nothing but great things about it, but I was just wondering what you thru-hikers thought about it, since I respect your opinions so much. Mainly, I just want some positive affirmation that I spent my $69.99 wisely... haha. But seriously, anyone have one?
For those unfamiliar with the solo stove.
http://www.solostove.com/
................... http://www.qiwiz.net/stoves.html
Siestita
09-28-2012, 05:33
No, Toli, I don't think you've wasted your money. You'll undoubtedly enjoy playing with your new stove, both at home and on trips. The practicality of burning wood will depend partly on when and where you travel. Under the right conditions (an environment with wood available, a forest reasonably dry but not dangerously so) campfires (in established pits or fire rings), or wood burning stoves, can be viable.
My father 'Grandpa Paul' Daniel, section hiked the entire AT over a two year period, about twenty years ago. Most nights he cooked over small fires that he built in shelter fire pits. As a back up, which he sometimes needed, he used a small white gas stove.
Inspired by my dad, I've enjoyed taking a simple wood burning stove (old aluminum Sigg pot support/cook set) on some two to five night trips. I also took along an empty tuna can and some fuel alcohol on those trips. Having the alcohol was very helpful on several rain soaked occasions. I've never used Esbit tablets, but I suspect that they could potentially serve as an even lighter backup method, to complement wood burning. With practice you'll learn the capabilities and limitations of your new toy and determine how much you enjoy the "game" of finding dry sticks and then tending the beast.
daddytwosticks
09-28-2012, 07:17
Long hikes I use a SP Giga canister stove. Screw burner to canister, flick Bic, start cooking. On shorter hikes when I go lighter, I use Esbit on a lightweight folding ti stove. Simple setups. No spilling alcohol. No gathering dry wood at the end of a long day, etc. :)
Designed with a double wall, the Solo Stove is a natural convection inverted downgas gasifer stove. The air intake holes on the bottom of the stove channels air to the bottom of the fire while at the same time, channels warm air up between the walls of the stove. This burst of preheated oxygen feeding back into the firebox through the smaller holes at the top of the stove causes a secondary combustion. This allows the fire to burn more complete which is why there is very little smoke during full burn
This is not true. LOL - "inverted downgas gasifer stove" :rolleyes:
by the way, it's a carbon copy of the famous BushBuddy stove. I had one, tested it to the max and i prefer a stove made by Fourdogstove.
Wolf - 23000
09-28-2012, 10:15
I've used a similar stove for around 1500 miles - mainly in the winter. In the winter I like the atmosphere it created of having a nice camp fire (small).
In the summer the draw back was the smoke was often annoying other hikers. Also on a raining day, having a wood burning stove it not the best idea to have in a crowded shelter.
Wolf
writeronthestorm
09-30-2012, 23:30
@Toli - Yeah I looked at those stoves. I don't know, they are lighter, but to me they seem too flimsy and have too many parts. I'm a big fan of simplicity.
@daddytwosticks - Definitely a similar design to the Bush Buddy. The big difference, the Solo Stove is only 69.99 while the Bush Buddy is 120.00
Anyway, I just returned today from a weekend backpacking trip and the Solo Stove was sitting at my door. I think I'll give it a go tomorrow.
Llama Legs
10-01-2012, 11:53
I'm sure the math leans toward alcohol stoves, but twig stoves makes you hardcore ;)
Check out Four Dog, I have one of his old stoves. http://fourdog.com/
I'm sure the math leans toward alcohol stoves, but twig stoves makes you hardcore ;)
So . . . if you get a twig stove that allows you to use alcohol (or Esbit, or both) as well as wood fuel, does that mean you are hardcore but can still do math? Sounds like a winning combination to me! :D
Shug does a great video on the use of alcohol with the bushbuddy aka solo stove.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=KiPp2ZvL3h8#!
The Companion Burner is available here:
http://www.woodgaz-stove.com/companion-burner-for-woodgaz-and-bushbuddy.php