Post by: Andrew on July 24, 2012, 09:20:11 PM
Says you can extinguish the tabs...how?
Post by: ICEMAN on July 24, 2012, 09:56:21 PM
I use esbit tabs for this type of cooking. Tabs run 12 minutes in my experience, and in cold weather or wind, not enough burn time, so I also bring a few trioxane tabs to slide into the flame when the esbit flames out.
Post by: fillthefreezer on July 25, 2012, 08:05:32 AM
Post by: 300rum on July 25, 2012, 11:12:28 AM
I use it in late Nov/Dec. archery hunting and even with two tabs I can't get it to boil. It will get scalding hot, but it won't boil. I have also used the fuel tabs in Idaho at 9K feet in sub freeing temps and same thing, they work good to get water hot but not boil. The fuel tabs also stink, which I don't like. Stansport also makes fuel tabs which are cheaper, are easier to find and work the same.
As far as extinguishing them, you can pour a little water on them or snuff them out with a leaf. Since I haven't been able to boil water with them, I use the whole enchilada to heat the water so I don't have to worry about cutting them in half or snuffing them out. Typically I sit down on a ridge, break out the stove and get a cup of water going and then by the time I break out the spotting scope and look over a ridge pretty good, the water is hot. I also use two of the Stansports as it has more surface area to burn and seems to get hot quicker and I can't wait for my coffee! On the same note, it takes longer to get water hot with the Esbit fuel tabs vs. a stove.
I am switching it up this year and going with a pocket rocket and the titanium cup or maybe a Jetboil zip as I am going to need to boil on a 5-6 day hunt. Hope that helps.
Post by: Andrew on July 25, 2012, 11:47:35 AM
Post by: kentrek on July 25, 2012, 11:55:06 AM
Post by: MikeWalking on July 25, 2012, 12:25:59 PM
Haven't used Triox in years, I remember the stink. Like low grade CS..
Post by: 300rum on July 25, 2012, 02:46:00 PM
300Rum thanks. Once on the last day of a 5-day trip I was changing bottles over and spilled damn near half of the fuel; which got me to thinking about canister or fuel tab stoves. Based on your comments I think I'll lean towards canister.
Post by: ICEMAN on July 25, 2012, 06:48:46 PM
In below freezing I switch to an alcohol stove.
Post by: 300rum on July 25, 2012, 10:30:26 PM
Do you make your own Alcohol stove? If so, how did you do it? I have been kicking around the idea of making one but I don't know what I would be gaining other than having fun.
We get full boils with ours, but always employ an aluminum foil wind guard.
In below freezing I switch to an alcohol stove.
Post by: Swannytheswan on July 25, 2012, 10:34:45 PM
http://www.amazon.com/Innovative-Products-Foldable-Pocket-Cooker/dp/B000HR95NO/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1343280758&sr=8-8&keywords=backpack+wood+stove (http://www.amazon.com/Innovative-Products-Foldable-Pocket-Cooker/dp/B000HR95NO/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1343280758&sr=8-8&keywords=backpack+wood+stove)
Post by: ICEMAN on July 26, 2012, 07:18:51 AM
Good site is Zen's site ( http://zenstoves.net/Stoves.htm (http://zenstoves.net/Stoves.htm) )
I stopped carrying alcohol stoves in my hunting bag, but for our back country snowshoe over night camping trips we still use an open vat type alcohol stove (trangia)
Post by: Shawn Ryan on July 26, 2012, 10:47:25 AM
At that price and the quality of stove he builds, I can't justify making my own.
Post by: Miles on July 26, 2012, 10:52:58 AM
If you want less weight and more simple, I think the alcohol stove is the way to go. George at http://end2endtrailsupply.com/Alcohol_Stoves.html (http://end2endtrailsupply.com/Alcohol_Stoves.html) makes a great stove (Gram Weenie Pro) that weighs .7 oz and costs $12.50 (he really should charge 2-3x as much). I have his Thru Hiker, but haven't seen it on the website for several months. Fuel (HEET in the yellow bottle) is cheap and easy to find, even at remote gas stations in the woods.
At that price and the quality of stove he builds, I can't justify making my own.
What's the total weight for a 3-4 day trip (fuel/stove/cup/lid/wind shield)?
Post by: Shawn Ryan on July 26, 2012, 09:44:41 PM
EndtoEnd's wind screen comes in 2 sizes, .9 and 1.3 oz. So the Gram Weenie Pro, priming pan, and (recommended medium) wind screen are 1.7 ounces total. Add 4 oz of fuel for a total of 5.7 oz for 4 days of dinners.
Post by: JackOfAllTrades on July 26, 2012, 10:47:18 PM
The Snow Peak Hybrid Ti cookset with Ti spork (8oz.) gives you a polymer bowl, cook pot and a pan/plate that doubles as a lid to the pot. -Which retains more heat when boiling and reduces boil time by nearly 1/3. The pocket rocket (3oz.) fits inside the cookset. If I use a piece of foil, rocks, my pack or other 'something' as a wind break, making sure to use the pan as a lid every time I boil water, then the amount of fuel is reduced. A 4oz. canister lasts quite well. I can leave the polymer bowl home and save a couple ounces.
I might have gotten a little off track huh...? What I'm trying to point out is that the weight difference isn't everything, and if you put a lid on your boil pot and use a wind break, you'll likely have a better experience boiling water with any type of stove/fuel.
-Steve
Post by: Miles on July 27, 2012, 08:29:50 AM
I use the Snow Peak 700 cup/lid, spork, giga power stove (8.2 oz), along with the 100g jet power fuel canister (6.5 oz) and it's a grand total of 14.7 ounces.
I have yet to run out of fuel on a 4 day hunt making mountain house and coffee every day. Sometimes I'll even use it to cook some Ramen Noodles mid-day if it's cold. I like it because everything nests together and I can also toss in my packets of Starbucks Via/sugar (which helps keep everything from rattling around).
Post by: AKBowman on July 27, 2012, 09:36:44 AM
That may be my problem, I don't use a wind guard. That might be enough to push it over the top. Most of the time it is below, at or just above freezing so it probably wouldn't boil with the guard anyway.
Do you make your own Alcohol stove? If so, how did you do it? I have been kicking around the idea of making one but I don't know what I would be gaining other than having fun.We get full boils with ours, but always employ an aluminum foil wind guard.
In below freezing I switch to an alcohol stove.
The guard makes all the difference in the world. It's best to have one that covers 360 degrees and well up over the top of the canister into the pot.