Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => All Other Gear => Topic started by: eastfork on October 18, 2015, 07:43:40 PM

Title: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: eastfork on October 18, 2015, 07:43:40 PM: So I'm looking to reduce weight, right now I'm using a jetboil stove system, but I really like the looks of making a little alcohol stove.......any one used one? Pros. .......cons..........
And what pot or cup works best...
I'll be using it on 3-5 day solo hunts......is this asking to much of a upside down pop can!?! :chuckle:
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: jackelope on October 18, 2015, 08:19:48 PM: I'd use one as a backup. I wouldn't rely on one for 3-5 day solo hunts.
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: kentrek on October 18, 2015, 08:38:13 PM: I like the cat food can stove, same concept but simpler

There's nothing to go wrong with theses stoves so I wouldn't worry about reliability...as far as cups I use a snow peak ti cup with a tin foil lid maybe foil wind shield

Down side is cold weather is a killer (below freezing)

A jet boil ti cup with a foil wind shield and a can stove would make a awesome set up
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: Todd_ID on October 18, 2015, 08:45:53 PM: I've used a beer can stove. It works fine. I decide between that and a regular stove based on temp. Alcohol stoves work to about 0 and start to diminish below that. The isobutane stoves are ok down to where it's too cold for me.
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: Skillet on October 18, 2015, 09:40:24 PM: http://www.glensoutdoors.com/coghlans-emergency-stove.html?gclid=CI6Fr9fazcgCFRRgfgodbF8ClAurl (http://www.glensoutdoors.com/coghlans-emergency-stove.html?gclid=CI6Fr9fazcgCFRRgfgodbF8ClAurl)

I have cooked a lot of backcountry meals on this stove. Super lightweight, fuel is dry and light, and stove/fuel combo fits inside of my cook kit. I ran an MSR Dragonfly for a while, but came back to this for its simplicity and dry fuel.
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: Fl0und3rz on October 18, 2015, 09:49:08 PM: I am liking the emberlit stoves; don't have one yet.

http://emberlit.com/stoves/emberlit-original-stainless-lightweight-backpacking-stove

With that, I could use my Trangia alcohol burner, esbit cubes, wood, and probably a tealight or two.
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: Skillet on October 18, 2015, 09:56:12 PM: Those are cool... but my stove does the same thing, weighs less, and costs $3.49 :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: Fl0und3rz on October 18, 2015, 09:59:01 PM: Quote from: Skillet on October 18, 2015, 09:56:12 PM
Those are cool... but my stove does the same thing, weighs less, and costs $3.49 :IBCOOL:

I have one. Wouldn't work with wood as well, and my alcohol burner wouldn't fit it, without some further pot support. Those are best with esbit only, IMO.
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: Skillet on October 18, 2015, 10:02:56 PM: Good points. I only use alcohol tabs with mine, and i agree there is not enough room to burn wood in there. Especially since they only work well when the legs are deployed at a 45 degree angle.
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: jackelope on October 18, 2015, 10:19:25 PM: How long does it take to boil water with one of those stoves you guys are talking about?
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: Skillet on October 18, 2015, 10:27:09 PM: If you mean the solid fuel type i like, i can boil enough water for a mountain house with a single alky tab. With a proper wind break, about 5-6 minutes at altitude in my aluminum backpacking pot.
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: Smossy on October 18, 2015, 10:35:47 PM: https://store.kifaru.net/mobile/box-stoves-stainless-steel-p87.aspx
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: Fl0und3rz on October 18, 2015, 10:37:59 PM: Depends a lot on many factors, but I wouldn't expect alcohol burners to outpace white gas or canisters. But it is also not unbearable for simple boiling. They are probably not the best bet for cooking, versus just boiling water.
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: biggfish on October 19, 2015, 12:00:09 AM: I had trouble lighting my alcohol burner below 40 degrees, I'm planning to get a small canister stove because of that.
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: Shank on October 19, 2015, 06:22:22 AM: My 25+ year old whisper light works flawlessly. It's held up through boy scouts, camping off the dirt bike, and all other hiking/outings. Probably dated by what's out there day, but till it finally pukes and I can't fix it. It'll get used

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: losdaddy7 on October 19, 2015, 06:31:07 AM: X2 on the whisperlite. I've had mine for 15 plus years... Rock solid reliable performance.
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: jackmaster on October 19, 2015, 06:42:42 AM: Can i ask a dumb question? Wouldn't it be easier to just start a small fire to cook over? That would cut down on wait. I guess if your going somewhere where there isn't wood that would create a problem though.
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: kentrek on October 19, 2015, 07:20:49 AM: Quote from: jackmaster on October 19, 2015, 06:42:42 AM
Can i ask a dumb question? Wouldn't it be easier to just start a small fire to cook over? That would cut down on wait. I guess if your going somewhere where there isn't wood that would create a problem though.

I love cooking over fires, takes a bit of practice but definitely a go to choice if the stars aline...but your still having to pack a boiling cup and the stove and fuel only ways a few ounces more so depending on the trip it's not much of an issue to pack the stove if I'm in familiar territory
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: 7mag. on October 19, 2015, 09:16:46 AM: Quote from: jackmaster on October 19, 2015, 06:42:42 AM
Can i ask a dumb question? Wouldn't it be easier to just start a small fire to cook over? That would cut down on wait. I guess if your going somewhere where there isn't wood that would create a problem though.

Many places in the wilderness, fires are restricted. During most summer scouting and early bear season, there is often a burn ban.
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: mossy8352 on October 19, 2015, 09:50:30 AM: For those interested here is a site that I frequent:

https://www.youtube.com/user/MrHiramCook

He does a lot of reviews on all kind of alcohol stoves.
I personally like the Jet boil if I am doing serious cooking (more than just boiling water for coffee or a freeze dried meal). I have an emberlit wood stove that I have made a riser for to allow a trangia style alcohol burner to work in and I can burn wood in it too. I have a Firebox nano that also works with wood or my Trangia burner and he also has built it to take the small butane burner, this one fits in my shirt pocket but is very sturdy. Here is the site for the firebox stove, he also has a lot of videos so you can see what he does in the wilds of Utah with one.
http://www.fireboxstove.com/camp-stoves/3-inch-folding-firebox-nano
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: jackelope on October 19, 2015, 10:18:34 AM: I bought an MSR Reactor this year. Really nice stove. Not sure if there's any weight savings over the Jetboils though.
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: 300rum on October 19, 2015, 10:25:22 AM: Not a dumb question. Sometimes I build a fire especially if I have the time and if I am cold. A fire takes longer to get going, if I want something quick I break out the stove. I use a Pocket Rocket

Quote from: jackmaster on October 19, 2015, 06:42:42 AM
Can i ask a dumb question? Wouldn't it be easier to just start a small fire to cook over? That would cut down on wait. I guess if your going somewhere where there isn't wood that would create a problem though.
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: 300rum on October 19, 2015, 10:29:33 AM: I would not go with the solid fuel esbit type stoves for hunting. They work o.k. in good/warm weather but when it gets around freezing and below they do not work well at all. The fuel tabs also stink. They are, at best, a fair weather solution to warming up a cup of water.
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: Special T on October 19, 2015, 10:36:15 AM: A buddy has a Kelley Kettle and I recently acuired one. He has used it on all manner of trips and loves it. It great because it combines the idea of a rocket stove and a water jacket to make use out ofas much heat as possible. I have used several differnt gas systems and they are light and dependable but dont do as great a job heating water or in the wind.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547 using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: 300rum on October 19, 2015, 10:42:23 AM: Try this... http://www.cabelas.com/product/MSR-Pocket-Rocket/1202988.uts?productVariantId=1630711&srccode=cii_328768002&cpncode=42-96792999-2&WT.tsrc=CSE&WT.mc_id=BingPLA&WT.z_mc_id1=50014002&rid=20 (http://www.cabelas.com/product/MSR-Pocket-Rocket/1202988.uts?productVariantId=1630711&srccode=cii_328768002&cpncode=42-96792999-2&WT.tsrc=CSE&WT.mc_id=BingPLA&WT.z_mc_id1=50014002&rid=20)

Three ounces, fits inside your ti cup, and very fast. A canister will boil all the water you need for a week with some left over. I have used this at 10k+ feet in Idaho in snow storms that I was worried about, Montana at -10 blowing sugar snow and just about everything in between.

The only downside is that you want to make sure the rocket is level with the smaller canisters as they can get tippy.
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: James on October 19, 2015, 10:47:33 AM: I did the math a while back on the alchol "cat food can" stoves and they end up being heavyier than a jetboil after about 5 days due to needing lots of heavy liquid fuel.
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: Fl0und3rz on October 19, 2015, 10:50:01 AM: This is a pretty good comparison article.

http://www.pmags.com/stove-comparison-real-world-use
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: Stein on October 19, 2015, 10:51:29 AM: I have used the DIY alcohol stoves, liquid fuel (whisperlite international) and pressurized fuel. Unless it is going to be 20 below, I always end up packing the pressurized fuel stove. For just a few bucks, it always works and is so easy and mess free.
Title: Re: Back pack stove? ??
Post by: jackelope on October 19, 2015, 11:06:44 AM: Quote from: James on October 19, 2015, 10:47:33 AM
I did the math a while back on the alchol "cat food can" stoves and they end up being heavyier than a jetboil after about 5 days due to needing lots of heavy liquid fuel.

It's heavy
It stinks
It might leak or spill then you're hosed.
Naaah. Not for me.