Articles (2020)

Overview

In the world of look-a-like trekking poles, the Pacerpoles stand out. They have a radically-angled grip and pole length substantially shorter than traditional trekking poles. They are heavy by lightweight standards at 11.2 ounces (318 grams) per pole without baskets, but they are still worth a close look – under most conditions, the Pacerpoles are the most comfortable poles to hold of any we have used. The grip is designed to facilitate a relaxed walking style that permits you to use your upper body strength to help propel you forward without forcing you to put undue strain on your arms. When used properly, we found the Pacerpoles let us move forward in a fluid yet relaxed manner under a broad range of conditions.

In Brief

• Designed specifically for left and right hands
• Sturdy construction using 7075 aluminum, neoprene, and hard plastic
• Encourages a strong yet relaxed style of walking under a wide range of conditions
• Require some getting used to, but once you adjust the benefits are clear – more forward propulsion with less arm movement
• Heavier than most lightweight trekking poles
• Not the best choice for snow or mountaineering applications

Specifications

• Trekking Pole Type	Collapsible, three sections
• Shaft Material	7075 aluminum alloy
• Tips	Carbide
• Grips	Grip material Grip Size Strap included? Molded plastic – designed to fit the left or right hand One size Yes
• Weight (without baskets)	Weight per pole (oz) Weight per pole (g) Backpacking Light measured 11.2 318 Manufacturer claim 11.5 325
• Pole Length	inches centimeters Minimum length 27 68 Maximum length 56 142
• Model Year	2004
• MSRP	£83 as listed at www.pacerpoles.com (approximately $155 USD)

Usable Features and Ease of Use

The Pacerpole is unique among trekking poles because each pole grip is designed to work with just the left or the right hand. The grips, shaped like a joystick for a modern video shoot-’em-up game, are made to cradle your left or right hand in a natural posture. At first when you grab a Pacerpole you find yourself wondering how you can possibly use the poles. But it quickly becomes clear that although your hand is just resting on the grip you are in no danger of accidentally releasing the pole: your fingers have curved around the grip just as they would do if you were walking with your hands held in a relaxed position at your sides.

The different grip affects how long the poles need to be. The manufacturer suggests, and our reviewers agree, that a good starting point for determining the proper height of your poles is to have the top of the grip just below your elbow height when you are standing with your hands at your sides making the Pacerpoles about 10-12 centimeters shorter than traditional trekking poles. The idea is to use the poles as extensions of your arms without compromising the relaxed grip of your hands. You position the Pacerpoles so that you can let your normal walking motion move the poles along with your stride. The pole tips are barely raised, almost skimming over the surface of the ground with the primary arm movement below the elbow. This ideal motion is more pendulum-like instead of a lift-and-plant motion. When you achieve this motion, ground permitting, the stress on your arms is greatly reduced and you are still able to use your upper body strength to help propel you forward.

There is an informative online user manual along with several articles on how to improve your walking style on the Pacerpoles website. The suggestions laid out in this material help you walk more efficiently and feel better doing it.

The Pacerpole grip has some interesting side-effects. When the weather cools off I may start a day hiking with light gloves. If I am using a traditional style trekking pole and it is not too windy I will almost always remove my gloves even when the temperature is in the 20s °F. When using the Pacerpoles my hands do not warm up as much and certainly not as fast. I often need to leave my gloves on with the Pacerpoles when I would have removed them if using other trekking poles. I believe this is further evidence that you can hold a Pacerpole securely without exerting much force.

While extremely comfortable for non-technical hiking, we found the grip angle was not as well suited for deep snow or mountaineering applications. In these situations, a more vertical pole placement is more secure and the non-adjustable angle of the grips made them harder to use. During several days of snowshoeing in deep, crusty snow, we constantly wished for traditional, straight grips.

There is a security cord on the grip that you can insert your wrist through to achieve an added sense of control. We found that the wrist cord was a valuable aid, especially on steeper descents.

Immediately below the hard plastic grip is a 5.5-inch sleeve of neoprene that can be used during steep climbs. We found this to be another valuable tool as this hand position is more natural during technical ascents.

Pacerpoles use the common twist-and-lock system for length adjustment. Once tightened we found the poles stayed locked even when we placed our full weight on them. The pole length needs to be adjusted as the terrain varies to get the most out of them. Fortunately they are easy to manipulate even when wearing gloves.

The Pacerpoles come with small 2-inch trekking baskets and larger 4-inch snow baskets. These Leki-style baskets are easy to screw on and off the pole.

Shelter (pole length needed)	Usable with this shelter?
Six Moon Designs Europa 2 (41 in/104 cm)	Yes
Golite Trig 2 (48 in/123 cm)	Yes
MSR Missing Link (54 in/137 cm)	Yes

We used the Pacerpoles with a variety of shelters and found that they worked as well as trekking poles in most situations (see below). Shelters that require the grip to contact the fabric grip-side up (such as the MSR Twin Peaks) are harder to set up with Pacerpoles, but it is still possible.

The tip is a basic tungsten carbide tip. The poles come with a removable rubber protective ferrule.

Weight/Swing Weight

The Pacerpoles weigh 11.2 ounces per pole (without baskets). While this is heavy by lightweight standards, the poles generally do not feel heavy when properly used in non-technical situations. Once you have the poles well adjusted and are using them in a smooth pendulum-like, ground-skimming motion the weight of the poles becomes much less noticeable. If, however, you have to lift and plant the poles frequently, as we found ourselves doing in deep snow conditions, the extra weight becomes readily apparent.

We estimate that nearly a third of the Pacerpoles’ weight is in the hard molded plastic grip. We wonder if the grip can be lightened and whether the poles need to have three sections. Even our tallest reviewer, 6’2″, typically only extended his Pacerpoles to about 115 centimeters – a length that can be achieved with a two-section pole.

Lateral Stiffness/Stability

The Pacerpole length remained stable when properly tightened even when I placed my full weight on it. It is a very stiff pole, whether used for hiking or as a shelter support.

Trail Vibration

When you are properly swinging Pacerpoles they should just skim over the ground in an easy pendulum motion. You aren’t bringing the poles into contact with the ground with great force which translates into minimal vibration, although more than carbon fiber trekking pole models.

Durability

The Pacerpoles are solidly constructed using 7075 aluminum alloy and tough plastic for the hand grips. There are no signs of wear on our test samples after many hard days of use on all manner of terrain.

Value

Pacerpoles are not cheap at approximately $160 USD. However, the Pacerpoles offer a different approach to using trekking poles that we think is well worth examining carefully.

Recommendations for Improvement

The Pacerpoles are heavy. While the weight is less of an issue when skimming the poles across the ground without excess lifting, this style is not always possible. We’d like to see the grip weight reduced. Our reviewers found that they generally did not have to extend the poles nearly as much as they would traditional poles. A two-section version of the pole that extends to 120-125 centimeters could shave a couple ounces off the weight. (Pacerpole is currently developing a carbon fiber bottom segment that should reduce pole weight.)

An adjustable grip angle would make the poles more usable in snow or technical situations although this feature might add unwanted weight.

Overview

We have used two different pairs of Leki Ultralite Ti Air Ergo poles over the last couple of years in a wide variety of settings. At 7.5 ounces (217 g) per pole, they are among the lightest three-section trekking poles on the market. They offer comfortable, mid-size grips, a reliable carbide tip, and a locking system that, if kept clean, stays right where you put it. These poles are somewhat flexible but do a good job of absorbing trail vibration. They compact to a short 24 inches (61 cm) but only extend to 51 inches (130 cm) – not long enough for hikers taller than about 6’2″ (188 cm) or those that use shelters that require long extensions (such as the MSR Missing Link). Over years of abuse, our sets of Leki Ultralite Ti Air Ergo poles have been durable and dependable.

In Brief

• Lightweight at 7.5 ounces (217 g) per pole
• Locking system is simple and reliable
• Somewhat flexible but better at absorbing trail vibration than other aluminum poles
• Compacts to just 24 inches (61 cm)
• Only extends to 51 inches (130 cm) – not the pole for tall hikers

Specifications

• Trekking Pole Type	Collapsible, three sections
• Shaft Material	7075 aluminum/titanium alloy
• Tips	Carbide flextip
• Grips	Grip material Grip Size Strap included? EVA foam with cork tops medium small yes – padded
• Weight (without baskets)	Weight per pole (oz) Weight per pole (g) Backpacking Light measured 7.5 213 Manufacturer claim 7.65 217
• Pole Length	inches centimeters Minimum length 24 61 Maximum length 51 130
• Model Year	2004
• MSRP	$109.95

Usable Features and Ease of Use

Both of the Leki poles we reviewed collapse to 24 inches (61 cm) (the only poles in our review suite that compressed shorter were the EMS Women’s Ridge Lite at 22 inches). This short length makes it easy to travel with the Ultralite Ti Air Ergo poles. The maximum extension of these Leki poles is 51 inches (130 cm), suitable for hikers up to about 6’2″ (188 cm) and usable in many trekking pole shelters, but not the MSR Missing Link (see below).

Shelter (pole length needed)	Usable with this shelter?
Six Moon Designs Europa 2 (41 in/104 cm)	Yes
Golite Trig 2 (48 in/123 cm)	Yes
MSR Missing Link (54 in/137 cm)	No – exceeds maximum extension

The Leki locking system is called the Easy Locking System (ELS). Leki claims that this system requires less torque to tighten than other systems. We found that this was true and that the system didn’t require as much hand strength to tighten as other systems – plastic sleeves at section ends made getting a tight connection easy. It did take a few more turns than other systems, though.

After hundreds of miles on the trail with these poles, we have found that when properly tightened and occasionally cleaned, these poles do not collapse when you don’t want them to. Like all collapsible trekking poles, you’ll want to take them apart occasionally and clean out the mechanism to keep them working well. It’s a good idea to buy the optional Leki cleaning brush for this chore.

The poles come with small trekking baskets that are 2 inches (5 cm) in diameter. Leki also offers a wide variety of accessories for their poles including snow baskets, rubber tips for pavement, and replacement parts. Leki baskets are removed by screwing them off the tip. It is a simple, secure system – you can change baskets in a minute but they do not come off accidentally.

The tip is a carbide flex tip. It flexes to a certain degree before breaking off, saving the pole shaft from breaking. After years of abuse with two sets of these poles, we have never had the tips break off and the flex is unnoticeable when hiking. They create a very secure contact with any trail surface.

The grips are extremely comfortable, offering a smooth transition from the main foam grip to the cork/rubber upper grips. The straps are adjustable and have a smooth wicking surface against your skin that is comfortable during all-day treks but doesn’t pack with snow or ice in the winter. The grips are on the small size, better sized to Amy’s small hands than Doug’s big hands.

Weight/Swing Weight

At 7.5 ounces, the Leki Ultralite Ti Air Ergo poles were the lightest three-section collapsible poles we tested and the lightest in the Leki line. They feel light in your hand and have a balance point in the upper third of the pole, making the pole easy to swing when hiking.

Lateral Stiffness/Stability

While these poles are the lightest collapsible poles in our review, they are certainly not the stiffest. While Amy (5’2″/157 cm, 115 lbs/52 kg) never experienced any problems with flexibility in the poles, Doug (6’2″/188 cm, 185 lbs/84 kg) could consistently feel flex when hiking with the Leki poles, especially during technical or off-trail hiking. While the poles never failed to support either reviewer’s body weight, heavier hikers may want to choose a stiffer pole.

Trail Vibration

These poles have a medium level of trail vibration. With aluminum-shafted poles, stiffness and trail vibration go hand in hand; a stiffer pole means more trail vibration, a more flexible pole means less. This is certainly true of the Leki Ultralite Ti Air Ergo poles – they absorb much of the trail shock in their flexibility and are more comfortable on the trail than other aluminum poles. The grips do a good job of absorbing vibration as well. The only poles that did a better job of absorbing trail vibration in our tests were those constructed of carbon fiber.

Durability

After years of use and abuse, our two pairs of Leki Ultralite Ti Air Ergo poles have never failed us. This is despite numerous falls, stepping on the poles, bashing them on rocks, etc. These are durable poles. The only place we’ve had issues is with locking mechanisms gummed up with fine sand or mud (this took well over a year to affect the locking mechanism). Like all collapsible poles, taking them apart and cleaning the mechanism will keep them working better.

Value

At $109.95, these poles are a good value. You get a comfortable, lightweight pole that is versatile and will be with you for a long time. While other poles in this price range come with both trekking and snow baskets, Leki only included the trekking baskets with the Ultralite Ti Air Ergo poles. We think snow baskets should be included as well.

Recommendations for Improvement

There is little we would change on the Leki Ultralite Ti Air Ergo poles. They are a good value and work well. Angled grips or extended grips on the shaft for climbing would be nice but these are available in other models (such as the Ultralite Ti Air Ergo PA AS) for extra cost and weight. Other poles in the Leki line offer increased stiffness and length for heavier or taller hikers. For the weight and price of the Ultralite Ti Air Ergo, though, we wouldn’t change a thing…except to ask that snow baskets be included.

Overview

The Exped Alpinist Carbon poles are close to being the ultimate “big guy” poles. They are extremely stiff, very durable, have comfortable, large-size grips, extend to a full 58 inches (148 cm), and are still very lightweight at 8.7 ounces (247 g). However, they have a locking mechanism that slips. Despite roughening up the surface of the expanders, the poles still slip a bit during hard landings or when putting full body weight on them. In addition, the poles rattle on impact with hard surfaces such as rock or pavement. By adding a more secure locking system and eliminating the trail vibration, these $129 poles would be an excellent value.

In Brief

• The longest extension of any pole we reviewed – 58 inches (148 cm)
• Large carbon fiber shafts are extremely stiff – great for large or aggressive hikers
• The locking mechanism slips, needing frequent readjustment
• The poles rattle more than most poles in rocky, high-vibration impacts
• Large grips are perfect for large hands

Specifications

• Trekking Pole Type	Collapsible, three sections
• Shaft Material	Full carbon fiber
• Tips	Carbide
• Grips	Grip material Grip Size Strap included? EVA foam, plastic large Yes – webbing, adjustable
• Weight (without baskets)	Weight per pole (oz) Weight per pole (g) Backpacking Light measured 8.7 247 Manufacturer claim 9.1 260
• Pole Length	inches centimeters Minimum length 26 66 Maximum length 58 148
• Model Year	2004
• MSRP	$129.00

Usable Features and Ease of Use

The Exped Alpinist Carbon poles have the longest extension 58 inches (148 cm) of any collapsible poles we reviewed, making them a prime choice for the tallest hikers. They also compact to a short 26 inches (66 cm), which barely extends above the top of a pack when stashed. The generous length of the Exped poles makes them compatible with virtually any trekking pole shelter including the MSR Missing Link and teepee-type shelters (see chart below).

Shelter (pole length needed)	Usable with this shelter?
Six Moon Designs Europa 2 (41 in/104 cm)	Yes
GoLlite Trig 2 (48 in/123 cm)	Yes
MSR Missing Link (54 in/137 cm)	Yes

The locking mechanism of the Exped Alpinist Carbon poles was consistently problematic during our tests. Whether it was the smaller than average expander or the smooth inside of the carbon shafts, the poles simply would not consistently lock when extended, causing the poles to slip during use. The frustrating part was that no amount of tightening would make the poles lock – the expander wouldn’t grip and just kept spinning inside the shaft.

After roughing the hard plastic expanders on rocks several times, and later with sand paper and a metal file, I did manage to get the poles to the point where they lock solidly enough for normal hiking. However, hard landings and applying my full body weight still cause the poles to slip. Roughing up the inside of the shafts might eliminate this issue but I didn’t spend much time with this approach.

The tips of the Exped Alpinist Carbon poles are durable carbide and consistently provide solid traction in ice and rocky conditions. They use a screw-on basket system that is similar to Leki; it is very secure and makes changing baskets simple and easy. I found that widely available Leki baskets worked well with the Exped poles.

The grips are made of EVA foam with a plastic top. The transition between the foam and plastic parts is smooth and the plastic is comfortable when resting my palm on top of the pole. The grips are large, best suited to large hands. The strap is non-padded nylon. While they were not uncomfortable, they couldn’t match the comfort of wider, padded straps of other trekking poles.

Weight/Swing Weight

At 8.7 ounces (247 g) per pole without a basket, the Exped Alpinist Carbon poles are not the lightest of the ultralight poles. However, these poles are among the lightest collapsible poles for their maximum length. The center of balance is in the upper third of the poles, leading to a lighter swing weight and making them feel lighter on the trail.

Lateral Stiffness/Stability

The Alpinist Carbon poles are the stiffest poles we tested and the stiffest I’ve ever used. The upper shafts are substantially wider than the MSR Overland Carbon poles (19 mm to MSR’s 16 mm). When hiking buddies swapped several different poles during trips, the Exped poles were the favorites of taller, heavier hikers. These poles are solid.

Trail Vibration

While the carbon shafts do a good job of absorbing trail vibration, other vibrations and occasional slight rattling sounds came from inside the shafts. These sounds were presumably caused by the locking mechanism and less tight tolerances than on other poles. While the rattles were typically only present when impacting solid surfaces such as rock or concrete, they were somewhat annoying. This was a significant difference between the Exped Alpinist Carbon poles and the quiet, tight MSR Overland Carbon poles.

Durability

After many miles on the trail, several falls, and even stepping on the poles, the Exped Alpinist Carbon poles showed virtually no wear. They are tough and durable. However, I am concerned about the locking mechanism. They still don’t lock well after a long break-in period as well as roughening up the expanders; I’m concerned that this will not improve with use and may get worse.

Value

The Exped Alpinist Carbon poles are extremely stiff, extend to a full 58 inches (148 cm), and are still very lightweight. However, trekking poles require secure, consistent locking mechanisms and these poles just don’t have them. In addition to the inadvertent compressing of the poles, they also rattle a bit in rocky terrain. They have the potential of being the best pole out there for bigger, more aggressive hikers but as they are, their $129.00 price tag is just not a good value.

Recommendations for Improvement

These poles could be much better with just a couple of improvements:

• Fix the locking mechanism problem. They need to be more reliable and secure.
• Create tighter tolerances to eliminate the slight rattling.
• Add some padding to the straps to make them more comfortable to use without gloves.

Overview

The Exped Trekker Ergo poles are made of stiff aircraft quality aluminum and have a solid locking mechanism that rarely slips. Their distinctive feature is the handles that are angled 15-degrees forward for improved downhill ergonomics. I tested the Trekker Ergo poles extensively, both on and off-trail, and found them to be solidly built, comfortable, and dependable. Their stiffness is great for vaulting across streams, stepping down from rocks and ledges, and supporting a shelter. However, the stiffness adds to trail vibration. These poles are tough and built to last, but heavy at 18 ounces (310 g) for the set.

In Brief

• Ergonomic 15 degree grip angle
• Very stiff – great for shelter support
• Stiffness adds to trail vibration
• Not the lightest at 9.0 ounces (255 g) per pole
• A good value at $79

Specifications

• Trekking Pole Type	Collapsible, three sections
• Shaft Material	Aircraft quality 7075-T6 aluminum
• Tips	Carbide
• Grips	Grip material Grip Size Strap included? Closed cell EVA foam large Yes – non-padded, adjustable
• Weight (without baskets)	Weight per pole (oz) Weight per pole (g) Backpacking Light measured 9.0 255 Manufacturer claim 9.0 255
• Pole Length	inches centimeters Minimum length 28.0 71 Maximum length 55.5 142
• Model Year	2004
• MSRP	$79.00

Usable Features and Ease of Use

Exped poles are anodized inside and out for extra scratch and corrosion resistance. The distinctive feature of the Trekker Ergo over the other Exped poles we tested is that the handles have a 15-degree forward bend for improved downhill ergonomic posture. The poles have large anatomic grips made of EVA foam with “buckle-less” straps. The poles adjust from 28 to 55.5 inches (71-142 cm), and collapse to 27 inches (68 cm). The shafts on the two lower sections are marked from 115-140 centimeters at 5-centimeter intervals, so the desired pole length can easily be set by adjusting both sections to the same mark. Plastic snap-on caps for the carbide tips are provided to prevent damage to other gear. The poles come with two sets of baskets: smaller ones to prevent sinking in soft ground or sand, and larger ones for use on snow. No special options are available for these poles.

Locking Mechanism

The Exped Trekker Ergo poles have a special expander with dual contact areas for a fast and slip free lock. The poles require moderate force to unlock and slide to the desired setting. They lock easily and firmly. Once they are locked they are solid, with no slippage at all. There is little possibility that the poles will accidentally compress, unless they are not locked tight enough.

Baskets and Tips

The ends of the poles have a hard plastic sleeve with smooth carbide tips. Two sets of baskets are provided: 2-inch (5 cm) diameter baskets for soft ground, and 3.75-inch (10 cm) baskets for snow. The baskets thread tightly onto the pole and do not loosen by themselves. Changing the baskets is as easy as twisting one set off and twisting the other set on.

Grip Comfort and Performance

Grips are large and padded with EVA foam. They are angled forward 15 degrees. Straps are 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide and connect to a hard plastic cap on the top of the grip. They adjust easily and keep their adjustment without the use of a sleeve or buckle.

Usability with Trekking Pole Shelters

Shelter (pole length needed)	Usable with this shelter?
Six Moon Designs Europa 2 (41 in/104 cm)	Yes
Golite Trig 2 (48 in/123 cm)	Yes
MSR Missing Link (54 in/137 cm)	Yes

The Exped Trekker Ergo poles are especially suitable for supporting shelters because of their stiffness. Their adjustable range is 28-55.5 inches (71-142 cm). The following table is a list of popular shelters and our assessment of the suitability of the Exped poles to support the shelter:

Weight /Swing Weight

At 9 ounces (255 g) per pole the Trekker Ergo poles are about average weight by conventional standards and heavy by lightweight standards. The balance point is 22.5 inches (57 cm) from the top of the pole. The shaft tapers from 0.7 inches (17 mm) at the top to 0.4 inches (10 mm) at the bottom. The balance point more towards the handle of the pole and moderate taper combine to give these poles a swing weight requiring average exertion on the trail.

Lateral Stiffness/Stability

Exped poles are made of aircraft aluminum, which is claimed to be the ideal pole alloy because of its exceptional stiffness and rebound characteristics. These poles are indeed stiff and only bend about 1.25 inches (3.2 cm) laterally with 25 pounds (11.3 kg) of force. This makes then very suitable for use as a shelter support. I also found them very helpful for rock hopping across snowmelt-swollen streams. Their stiffness allowed me to vault across some gaps I may not have attempted otherwise.

Trail Vibration

Vibration is high due to the poles’ stiffness. They are a little noisy on the trail although the foam grips do an excellent job of isolating vibration from the hands.

Durability

I used these poles to vault across streams, caught them in cracks, put my full weight on them stepping off of rocks and ledges, accidentally stepped on them, used them to dig a cat hole, and I put a bunch of miles on them. The only damage I have to show for it all is a few scratches. The locking mechanism is solid. These poles are tough and built to last. They should stand up to years of use without failure.

Value

I could find little fault with the Exped Trekker Ergo poles. They are well designed, solidly built, comfortable to use, durable, and perform well – what I look for in a trekking pole. At $79 they are priced $20 less than most of the poles in our review suite – a good buy.

Recommendations for Improvement

The Exped Trekker Ergo poles are solidly built and perform well, but are heavy on the lightweight backpacker scale. I would like to see at least one set of really lightweight poles in the Exped lineup that retain the performance of the Trekker Ergo poles.

Overview

The Masters X-Light trekking poles are lightweight, very well built poles with some excellent features. The Masters Super Blocking System used to adjust and lock the poles is a standout and is the most reliable and secure pole locking mechanism I have used. The X-Light poles are constructed of strong and durable 7075 aluminum alloy that looked as good after three months of use as the day I received them. I took the poles on the PCT and CDT last summer, and also put a lot of tough miles on them in the mountains of southern Arizona. After putting over 200 miles on the Masters poles, I was pleased to find that I did not really miss a shock absorption system. I did find that the poles felt heavier in use than their weight would suggest due to a heavier swing weight; extra strength and weight built into the lower section of the pole adds more weight to this area. Also, I found the grips a bit uncomfortable when I put my palms on top of the grip. But these are minor complaints, given the other excellent qualities of the poles. I plan to put a lot more miles on the X-Lights in the future.

In Brief

• Lightweight (8.8 ounces per pole)
• Durable, high quality construction
• Excellent, reliable extension locks
• Highly collapsible, down to only 24.5 inches
• No shock absorption system
• Grips uncomfortable in some types of use

Specifications

• Trekking Pole Type	Collapsible, three-section trekking poles
• Shaft Material	7075 tempered aluminum alloy
• Tips	Carbide flextip
• Grips	Grip material Grip Size Strap included? EVA foam with extension and plastic cap medium yes
• Weight (without baskets)	Weight per pole (oz) Weight per pole (g) Backpacking Light measured 8.8 250 Manufacturer claim 8.8 250
• Pole Length	inches centimeters Minimum length 24.5 62.6 Maximum length 52.5 133.4
• Model Year	2004
• MSRP	$115.00
• Manufacturer’s Contact Information	Masters Ski and Trekking Poles, US distributor Alpina Sports Corporation

Usable Features and Ease of Use

Shelter (pole length needed)	Usable with this shelter?
Six Moon Designs Europa 2 (104 cm)	Yes
Golite Trig 2 (123 cm)	Yes
Tarptent Squall (adjustable height)	Yes
MSR Missing Link (137 cm)	Yes

There are two significant usability features in the X-Light poles. The first is the Masters Super Blocking System (SBS). This high quality locking system makes the Masters X-Light easy to adjust and lock when adjusting pole length. The Masters poles were the best I have used at reliable, secure locking. Masters claims that their SBS clamps down tighter, with equal torque, than any other trekking pole mechanism on the market. Although I cannot confirm this claim, the X-Light poles were extremely secure. Another nice feature is the collapsibility of the X-Lights. They collapse down to 24.5 inches, making them easy to store and carry when not in use. I had no problems using my X-Lights with my Tarptent Squall, and the overall stiffness of the X-Lights will make them usable with any shelter that they fit.

Weight/Swing Weight

The Masters X-Light poles weigh 8.8 ounces per pole, exactly the manufacturer’s specification. I found the poles easy to use and swing, and similar in weight characteristics to poles from major manufacturers. Since I am tall and use my poles at almost full extension (about 52 inches/132 cm), the swing weight suffers (as a pole is collapsed, the center of gravity of the pole moves toward the handle, making the swing weight less). The Masters X-Light concentrates a much of its weight in the lower sections, increasing durability, but also increasing swing weight. I found the swing weight nearly identical to my Leki Makalu Air Ergo poles, which weigh 10 percent more, but have a center of gravity closer to the handle.

Lateral Stiffness/Stability

The Masters X-Light poles have a medium lateral stiffness when compared to other poles. I used the poles on many off-trail steep, rocky descents where I put a lot of weight on my poles and relied on them to keep weight off my knees and help me stay balanced on the loose rock. I had no problems with excessive flexibility that might surprise a hiker when using the poles in extreme situations.

Trail Vibration

For the past several years I’ve used poles with shock absorption almost exclusively. Since the Masters X-Lights do not have shock absorption, I was concerned that I would find them uncomfortable on downhills, especially when I was moving fast. Although there are some situations where I prefer shock absorption, I got used to the X-Lights quickly and did not find trail vibration or lack of shock absorption to be a significant problem.

Durability

The Masters X-Light poles excel in this category. Over the course of the summer, I used and abused these poles on lots of rocky trails. The trails near my home in Arizona are particularly tough on poles and the Masters X-Lights held up exceptionally well. The 7075 aluminum alloy is tough as nails. Although some paint wore off around the tips, the anodized finish was very tough – the poles didn’t suffer a single scratch or dent despite my abuse.

Value

The Masters X-Light poles are well made, lightweight, and good looking to boot but priced a bit high at $115.

Recommendations for Improvement

My only complaint with the Masters X-Light poles is the design of the cap on the grip. I like to put my palms or fingers on top of the grip in some situations, and the relatively sharp edges on the top of the grip make this less comfortable than it should be. A little more rounded grip top could easily improve this, with little or no sacrifice to the usability of the grip.

Overview

At just over 2 ounces per pole, the Gossamer Gear Lightrek poles virtually disappear in your hands. These are the lightest trekking poles on the market, weighing just a fraction of what the lightest collapsible models weigh. The Lightrek poles are also extremely simple – small, comfortable grips without straps, one-section carbon fiber shafts, and Leki-style carbide tips with a trekking basket. They are quite flexible, especially in the longer lengths, and can’t be abused. However, they are stiff enough for on-trail hiking and do an excellent job of absorbing trail vibration. If you’re looking for the lightest, most efficient poles, these cannot be beat.

In Brief

• EXTREMELY LIGHTWEIGHT- only 2.3 ounces (62 g) in a 125 cm length – you hardly notice you’re carrying them!
• Very flexible, especially in the longer lengths, but stiff enough for on-trail hiking and snowshoeing
• Absorb trail vibration very well
• Fixed-length, non-collapsible
• Comfortable small grips – no straps
• Not the most durable poles – not the best bag for bigger hikers or off-trail hiking
• Our favorite trekking poles!

Specifications

• Trekking Pole Type	Fixed length, non-collapsible
• Shaft Material	Carbon fiber
• Tips	Carbide flextip
• Grips	Grip material Grip Size Strap included? EVA foam small no
• Weight (without baskets)	Length Weight per pole (oz) Weight per pole (g) 110 cm (43 in) 2.2 62 125 cm (49 in) 2.3 65
• Pole Length	Fixed – 105 cm to 135 cm (41-53 in) lengths available in 5 cm (2 in) increments
• Model Year	2004
• MSRP	$95.95

Usable Features and Ease of Use

The Gossamer Gear Lightrek poles are extremely simple – they consist of straight carbon shafts, EVA foam grips, and Leki-style tips (with trekking baskets). No compression/locking system, no wrist straps, no angled grips, no ice axe attachments – and none of the weight that goes with them. As you have already noticed, the weight of the Gossamer Gear poles is their greatest asset. The question, is if the compromises made in features are worth it.

First, these are not collapsible poles. While some people adjust their poles often, we rarely readjust poles for climbing, descending, or traversing, instead leaving the poles at the best overall length. When using collapsible poles, we do compress them occasionally when they need to be stashed (for brushy conditions, using an ice axe or umbrella, etc.) and in these instances, we missed the Lightrek’s lack of compactability. On the other hand, we did not miss locking mechanisms that may slip or the added weight of collapsible poles. In the end, we found that a fixed length was wonderful in its simplicity and we rarely missed the collapsible option.

Shelter (pole length needed)	Usable with this shelter?
Six Moon Designs Europa 2 (41 in/104 cm)	depends on shaft length,about 100-110 cm
Golite Trig 2 (48 in/123 cm)	depends on shaft length, about 120-130 cm
MSR Missing Link (54 in/137 cm)	depends on shaft length, about 130-140 cm

Trekking poles are also often used to support shelters and, depending on pole length, the Lightrek poles can work with a variety of shelters as well. Both the 110 and 125-centimeter poles worked in our floorless Tarptent Squall, a Gossamer Gear Spinnshelter, and various tarp configurations. The 125-centimeter length poles were fine as tent poles for a Six Moon Designs Europa 2 and a Golite Trig 2. When a shelter required a different length, we could get creative by adding a small wrap of duct tape around the shaft and using a clove hitch or elevating the pole a bit with a rock or stick placed underneath. We usually found that setting the poles at an angle effectively lowered the pole height and digging a small hole also worked. However, there are definitely times that you will find the fixed height limiting; we would not be able to use the 110 or 125 length poles with an MSR Missing Link and all lengths are too flexible to use with Teepee-style shelters.

The grips of the Lightrek poles are small. They were a perfect fit for Amy’s small hands, and were small but still comfortable for Doug’s medium-large hands. The grips are built of EVA foam with a comfortable flair at the bottom that can be used to effectively shorten the poles for climbing.

These poles, wisely, come without straps. Because of their flexibility, Glen Van Peski at Gossamer Gear designed these poles to pop out of your hands in a fall rather than breaking. It was a good decision – despite many falls when using the Lightrek poles, we never had one break during a fall. The lack of straps also caused occasional dropped poles on the trail. If a little extra security is desired, loops for attachment straps are included.

The pole tips are similar to Leki models. They offer consistent traction on the trail and were very dependable. The screw-on basket attachment system is a favorite for security and easy basket changes. The Lightrek poles come with trekking baskets but Leki baskets are widely available for snow use as well. Gossamer Gear recommends using the trekking baskets in rocky conditions to keep the fragile shafts from breaking due to leverage when placed in a hole. Good advice that we didn’t follow (see Durability below).

Weight/Swing Weight

The Lightrek poles weigh an almost-unbelievable 2.2 ounces (62 g) per pole in the 110-centimeter length and just 0.1 ounces more in the 125-centimeter length. They are so light that you almost don’t notice them in your hands. The difference between the weight of these poles and all the other poles we’ve used was simply astounding.

It’s hard to explain just how light these poles are. When swapping from the Lightrek poles to the lightest three-section poles, the collapsible poles felt like tanks. These poles whip very lightly between placements and using them is virtually effortless. During a 48 hour, 75-mile hike with 9,800 feet of elevation gain last fall, the Lightrek poles were a huge factor in Doug’s success; they supported and propelled his every step while adding little to his fatigue.

Lateral Stiffness/Stability

These poles are not very stiff. The stiffness and feeling of stability varies with pole length, conditions, and the person using the poles.

Amy weighs 115 pounds and used the 110-centimeter poles both for backpacking and snowshoeing. She found that the poles were reasonably stiff and not overly flexible. When applying body weight to these shorter poles, they give somewhat but always felt supportive.

Doug weighs 180 pounds and used the 125-centimeter length poles for backpacking, off-trail hiking, and snowshoeing. He also tends to have a rather aggressive style. Doug found the poles to be quite flexible, bending under his body weight and when descending. These are not the most confidence-inspiring poles at this length but they are certainly stiff enough for most conditions. The Gossamer Gear Lightrek poles are stiffer when applying power straight down than when dealing with side loads; they are precise and efficient when pushing off.

When hikers taller and heavier than Doug used the poles (of those that carry heavier, traditional backpacking loads), they found them to be a little too flexible to be usable. Such hikers who still want ultralight poles, may want to opt for the upcoming Gossamer Gear Lightrek Plus model, which will feature stiffer shafts.

Trail Vibration

The Gossamer Gear Lightrek poles are extremely comfortable on the trail. Their carbon shafts flex somewhat during sharp impacts and absorb small trail vibrations. This makes them wonderful for all-day comfort. The longer shafts tended to vibrate slightly after impacts with hard surfaces such as rock or concrete; this was not an issue with the shorter poles.

Durability

We experienced two breakages with our poles over hundreds of miles of trail use.

The first was caused by a pole placement in a hole between large talus boulders during a descent. When stepping forward, the leverage was too much and caused the pole to snap in the lower section (a similar placement with an aluminum pole two years ago caused an irreparable bend). It is important to note that if the trekking baskets had been used, as recommended by Gossamer Gear, this break would have been avoided. Lightrek poles carry no warranty but replacement shafts are available for $30; my replacement arrived in less than a week and a half from my initial e-mail.

The second break is a mystery. Amy was using the pole to clear packed-up snow from a snowshoe cleat and the lower pole just snapped. It wasn’t cold enough to make the carbon fiber brittle so we have concluded that it was probably previously damaged. In this instance, Gossamer Gear replaced the shaft with no cost.

Despite the fact that one of these breaks was due to user error and the other due to freak causes, it is important to note that the Lightrek poles lack some durability. However, the poles were thoroughly abused over hundreds of miles, both on and off trail. When we did experience breakages, Gossamer Gear promptly replaced the shafts at a reasonable price.

Value

At $95.95, the Gossamer Gear Lightrek poles offer serious performance for the ultralight hiker. They are simple, yes, and not the most stiff or durable poles, but they are insanely lightweight, very comfortable, and effortlessly apply power to the trail. If the trade-offs are worth it to you, the Gossamer Gear poles are an excellent value.

Tips/Tricks

Want to free up a hand for scrambling, using an umbrella, or eating while using Lightrek poles? Attach the poles together at the tip end with a Velcro fastener or small strap and use both poles as one unit. Make sure that one pole is about 4 inches above the other so only one tip touches at a time and your hand only has to wrap around one grip and the pole shaft. Even with both poles in one hand it’s still half the weight of most trekking poles!

Recommendations for Improvement

While both of us love our Lightrek poles and rarely want to carry anything else, we do offer the following ideas for improvement:

• Use thicker, stiffer shafts – the minimal weight gain would be worth it *
• Offer thicker shafts for longer lengths for taller, heavier hikers
• Use a slightly larger grip for a better fit with average-size hands

*Editor’s note: In Spring 2005, Gossamer Gear will also offer the Lightrek Plus model which will have thicker shafts and a more ergonomic grip made out of Kork-O-Lon, a different EVA material. Early tests of these thicker shafts show that they are stiffer and more durable than the Lightrek pole shafts at only a slight weight increase.

Overview

The Exped Trekker poles are some of the stiffest and longest extending poles of those we tested. Exped hard anodizes the shafts, both inside and out, strengthening the aluminum against breakage, scratches, and corrosion. The poles include comfortable foam grips with wrist straps and carbide tips all for a very reasonable MSRP of $69. On the down side, the Exped Trekker poles weigh 18.4 ounces (520 g) for the pair, and the shaft locking mechanisms occasionally slip.

In Brief

• Very durable and stiff
• Stiffness leads to trail vibration at the grips
• A great value at $69
• Not the lightest at 9.2 ounce (260 g) per pole
• Locking mechanism occasionally slips

Specifications

• Trekking Pole Type	Collapsible, three sections
• Shaft Material	Extruded, aircraft quality 7075-T6 aluminum
• Tips	Carbide steel tips
• Grips	Grip material Grip Size Strap included? EVA foam with plastic tops medium large yes
• Weight (without baskets)	Weight per pole (oz) Weight per pole (g) Backpacking Light measured 9.2 260 Manufacturer claim 10.0 280
• Pole Length	inches centimeters Minimum length 26 67 Maximum length 58 147
• Model Year	2004
• MSRP	$69

Usable Features and Ease of Use

The Exped Trekkers are full-featured aluminum trekking poles. They are collapsible into three sections adjusting in length from 26 to 58 inches. They include EVA foam grips with wrist straps and carbide steel tips. The Exped Trekkers tested came with snow baskets, measuring 3.75 inches in diameter that screw onto the tips.

Locking mechanism – ease of use

The expanding locking mechanisms used in Exped Trekkers are designed to make contact with the inside of the poles in two places for a “fast and slip-free lock” (see photo). However, after several trips the white expansion nuts became coated in dust and occasionally slipped inside the pole shafts rather than tightening. This can be overcome by extending the pole section enough to expose the white expansion nut, holding the expansion nut during preliminary tightening until it is snug, sliding the lower pole section into the upper section (with some resistance) until the proper length is reached, and then fully tightening the expansion nut.

When the sections are fully tightened, some continue to slip when full body weight is applied to the pole. Measured on a scale, it takes approximately 70 to 80 pounds to cause the pole sections to collapse.

Baskets and tip

The tip section of the Exped Trekkers is fairly stiff. They are tipped with smooth concave carbide, which held up well against countless rock encounters. We found the concave, smooth shape to slip more often than other tips that utilize more aggressively cut patterns.

As mentioned above, the Exped Trekkers came with 3.75-inch snow baskets. Exped offers true trekking baskets, which were not tested. The baskets are attached by screwing them onto the plastic portion of the tip. Removal is fairly simple and it only takes a couple of minutes to re-outfit both poles.

Grip comfort and performance

The Exped Trekker grips are mostly EVA foam with hard plastic tops that house the adjustment mechanism for the wrist straps (see photo). The grips are anatomically shaped and are sized medium large. They were a good fit for most of our reviewers, even those with larger hands. The seam between the EVA foam and plastic tops is noticeable but not uncomfortable. The adjustment on the straps has a wide enough range to accommodate most users.

Usability with trekking pole shelters

Shelter (pole length needed)	Usable with this shelter?
Tarps	yes
Six Moon Designs Europa 2 (41 in/104 cm)	yes
GoLite Trig 2 (48 in/123 cm)	yes
MSR Missing Link (54 in/137 cm)	yes
Pyramid type tarps/tents	yes, and fits Leki’s pole adapter, which connects two poles into one

Weight/Swing Weight

The Exped Trekker poles are on the heavy side of lightweight, at 9.2 ounces per pole. The majority of the weight is concentrated in the aluminum shafts and adjusting mechanisms, which translates into additional swing weight and greater fatigue in the wrists after long trail days as compared to lighter or more balanced poles.

Lateral Stiffness/Stability

Exped hard anodizes both the outside and inside of their trekker series. Aluminum that has been anodized is both harder and stiffer. The Trekkers tested were among the stiffest poles we reviewed with very minimal flex on the trail. These poles are excellent in their double duty role as shelter supports. The stiffness and adjustability make them ideal for tarps and pyramid tents alike.

Trail Vibration

Although stiffness can be a good thing, it contributes to the trail vibrations felt while hiking with these poles. The Exped Trekkers exhibit very high trail vibration and transfer a great deal of shock to the user’s hands. The EVA foam grips do a reasonable job of dissipating some trail shock. On the up side, there is very minimal rattling or noise from the poles while hiking, the result of close fitting tolerances in the shaft sections and locking mechanism.

Durability

The Exped Trekkers appear to be virtually bombproof. We put them through considerable abuse, both on the trail and in camp, with only minor scratches resulting. As mentioned above, Exped hard anodizes the pole shafts both inside and out. The anodizing makes the shafts harder, stronger, more scratch resistant, and protects against corrosion. As a result, the poles are less likely to bend or snap. The locking mechanisms are a combination of hard plastics and metal screws that should hold up well to hard use.

Value

The Exped Trekkers are priced a solid $20 to $40 below the market standard. As such they are a good value but would be a better value if they lost a little of their 18.4-ounce weight and had better locking mechanisms.

Recommendations for Improvement

The Exped Trekker poles could be improved with better locking mechanisms and lighter weight. The plastics used in the locking mechanism, while very durable, might be too hard to adequately grip the inside anodized shafts. To improve ease and security of locking, we suggest exploring other plastics or locking mechanism shapes that would more securely hold within the shafts. These poles excel at stiffness and strength and may currently fill a niche with travelers who desire such traits. For our purposes however, reducing the shaft weight at the sacrifice of lesser strength and more flexibility would be a favorable trade-off.

Overview

The Advanced Mountain Products Alumilite Stove Set alcohol stove has prodigious heat output and minimal weight. The closed jet burner can boil 1 pint of water in less than 5 minutes under optimal conditions. It was one of the top four performing stoves in our lab tests of 17 alcohol stoves. Advanced Mountain Products provides two stoves (one for boiling, one for simmering), a windscreen/pot support, and a fuel bottle for a very competitive price of $15.95. On the downside, the stove is difficult to fill through the small hole in the top, and the two-piece windscreen/pot stand is unstable resulting in an overall average rating for the Advanced Mountain Products Alumilite Stove Set.

Specifications

• Stove ID	Advanced Mountain Products Alumilite Stove Set
• Stove Type	Closed jet
• Components Reviewed	Two stoves, combination windscreen/pot stand, two priming cups, fuel bottle
• Dimensions	Burner is 1.4 in (35 mm) high by 2.6 in (65 mm) diameter; windscreen/pot support is 2.6 in (65 mm) high by 5.9 in (150 mm) diameter; packed size is 2.6 in (65 mm) high by 2.8 in (70 mm) diameter
• Weight	Backpacking Light measured weights are: burner 0.5 oz (14 g) with priming cup, windscreen/pot stand 0.8 oz (23 g), fuel bottle 0.9 oz (26 g). Total measured weight: 2.7 oz (77 g). Manufacturer claimed weight is 3.0 oz (85 g).
• MSRP	$15.95 Manufacturer’s suggested retail price
• Manufacturer Contact Information	Advanced Mountain Products

Usable Features

Design – The Advanced Mountain Products Alumilite Stove Set alcohol stove comes with two closed-jet alcohol burners. One burner has 32 jets and is intended for fast boiling, the second has 16 jets and is intended for simmering. The reality – from the Backpacking Light lab tests – is that the two stove configurations perform similarly. If only one burner is carried at a time, the burner itself will easily nest inside any cookpot. Likewise, the windscreen/pot support comes apart and can be rolled tightly to the diameter of the burner. If the second burner is also carried, it nests on the top of the other burner. The combined height of the two burners is slightly less than the windscreen/pot support.

Weight – Each individual burner is extremely lightweight because it is made from the bottom of two aluminum soda cans, a small metal screw, and a bit of heat resistant tape. The windscreen/pot support is heavier than a purpose-built windscreen, but given its dual role as a pot support the extra weight is necessary. The windscreen/pot support separates into two pieces and could lose a few grams (and gain some convenience and strength) if it were built as a single piece.

Flame Control – Flame control is achieved by switching between the two burners. There are 32 jets in the high output burner and 16 in the other. The manufacturer claims the 16-jet burner is to be used for simmering, but we found its output is about the same as the fast burner.

Pot Support – On the top edge of the windscreen are four notches in two pairs that accept tent stakes for pot support. To work well, the tent stakes need to be at least 6.5 inches long. The pot sits about 1.4 inches above the top of the burner. The stability of the pot is somewhat dependent on the type of tent stakes used. I used 6-inch titanium skewer stakes, which barely worked, and the pot sat at an angle due to the shape of the skewer stakes.

Wind Protection – The combination windscreen/pot support is 2.6 inches high. The bottom of the pot is at approximately the same height as the top of the windscreen, so the overlap between the two is minimal. The bottom of the windscreen has cutouts to provide intake air for the burner. There are two seams in the windscreen that allow it to be separated into two pieces (an unnecessary and undesirable design).

Ease of Use

Setup – Because the pot support design relies on the user’s tent stakes for pot support, the amount of time and difficulty in setup is directly dependant on how quickly one can locate the tent stakes. To use the stove, you fuel the burner (preferably using a squeeze bottle), place the burner upon a priming cup on the ground, ignite the burner, place the assembled windscreen/pot stand over the burner, and then place two tent stakes in the notches on the windscreen. This entire process can be accomplished in less than a minute.

Fueling – Fueling the Advanced Mountain Products Alumilite alcohol stoves can be incredibly frustrating if attempted without a squeeze bottle. Each burner has a small screw in the center (don’t lose it!) that is removed to provide a small, 3-millimeter hole to fill the stove. It requires a squeeze bottle with a small spout to prevent massive fuel spillage. The manufacturer suggests about 1 ounce of fuel for 10 minutes of burn time.

Priming and Ignition – The Advanced Mountain Products Alumilite alcohol stove requires priming prior to ignition. To prime the stove, add fuel to a priming cup below the burner. Burning the fuel in the priming cup pre-heats the burner, causing the alcohol within the stove to boil. This forces vaporized alcohol through the jets. Generally, the flame from the priming cup will ignite the burner’s jets. In my experience, the priming cup fits so closely under the bottom of the burner that the priming fuel beneath the burner does not burn. I found that tipping the burner at a slight angle allows the priming fuel to burn (first photo). Once the stove was lit, I pushed it squarely onto the priming cup with one of the tent stakes.

Flame Adjustment – Once lit, there is no means to adjust the flame.

Cold Weather Ergonomics – Most operations involved with the set up and use of the Alumilite burners can be achieved while wearing winter weight gloves in cold weather conditions. The one exception is removal and reinsertion of the small screw that covers the fill hole, which cannot be done with gloves on.

Cooking Performance

Capacity – I tested the Advanced Mountain Products Alumilite alcohol stoves’ cooking performance in typical field conditions, with temperatures from freezing up to the low 50’s °F. I also used the stove at elevations above 11,000 feet. The high heat output of the Alumilite stoves can boil 2 cups of water in just a few minutes. However, these stoves take more time and fuss than the average alcohol stove to fill and prime. I found the stove compatible with a variety of pots as long as they did not exceed the windscreen/pot stand’s 6-inch diameter. A larger pot closes off the upper opening of the windscreen and reduces performance. The high heat output extends the use of the Advanced Mountain Products Alumilite stoves to accommodate two or more hikers; but may require an alternative or homemade windscreen/pot support to extend usability to larger pots.

Versatility – I found a nominal difference in burning time and heat output between the 32-jet and 16-jet burners. They both exhibited virtually uncontrollable, high heat output, making both stoves very well suited to boiling water. I found that simmering and frying required immense patience and dexterity. The process involved holding the pan over the burner long enough to get things sizzling, but just shy of burning, then removing the pan from the burner to let it cool a bit, and repeating until food is acceptably cooked.

Wind Effects – I found the Advanced Mountain Products Alumilite alcohol Stove Set to be adversely affected by wind, which I attribute to the windscreen design. The windscreen is only high enough to slightly overlap the bottom of the pot. Thus, wind easily enters through the top to cool and dissipate the stove’s heat. A second windscreen (aluminum foil) wrapped around the first on the windward side greatly improves the stove’s performance in wind.

Cold Effects – In sub-freezing conditions, the stove primes and ignites with little difficulty although it takes a little longer to prime.

Heating Efficiency

The closed jet burner design utilized in the Advanced Mountain Products Alumilite alcohol stoves is highly efficient, resulting in better than average performance (faster boil times and lower fuel consumption) under both optimal and windy conditions. It was one of the four best performing stoves in our lab tests. Although this stove is difficult to fuel through its small 3-millimeter fill hole, closing the small opening with the included screw creates a sealed chamber whereby the only escape for pressurized vapor is through the burner jets, thus optimizing heat output.

See performance results for all the stoves we tested in Performance Comparison Testing of Lightweight Alcohol Stoves.

Table 1: Boil Time and Fuel Consumption for Optimal and Windy Conditions

	Optimum Conditions Boil Time for 1 pint of water (minutes:seconds)	Optimum Conditions Fuel Consumption (g)	Windy Conditions Boil Time for 1 pint of water (minutes:seconds)	Windy Conditions Fuel Consumption (g)
Advanced Mountain Products 16-jet	6:04	10.8	7:28	22.6
Advanced Mountain Products 32-jet	4:41	11.7	6:17	26.5
Average of All Stoves Reviewed	6:09	15.7	8:20	32.8

Durability

Packability – The small size of the Advanced Mountain Products Alumilite Stove Set allows it to nest in most small backpacking pots. I had no trouble stowing it in an Evernew 0.9-ounce titanium pot. The cylindrical shape proved compatible when nested inside a cookpot, and a safe fit when packed loosely among soft goods.

Durability – Being made from aluminum soda cans, the Advanced Mountain Products Alumilite stoves are only slightly stronger than their beverage counterparts. Care must be taken in camp to avoid stepping on them, and they must be packed properly, i.e. stowed in a cookpot, to prevent damage on the trail. With proper care, the stoves should hold up to repeated use quite well.

Maintenance – The minimal moving parts and clean burning nature of alcohol fuel requires little maintenance.

Value

For $15.95, the Advanced Mountain Products Alumilite alcohol Stove Set is a superb value since the price includes two stoves, a combination windscreen/pot stand, a fuel bottle, and complete and detailed instructions.

Recommendations for Improvement

The Advanced Mountain Products Alumilite windscreen/pot support is a major weakness in what would otherwise be a superb stove. I feel strongly that the present two-piece windscreen should be replaced by a one-piece design. Aluminum roof flashing can easily be used to fabricate a one-piece windscreen.

• The windscreen should be higher, so it better overlaps the pot to provide improved wind protection. The tent stake pot supports could be inserted through holes in the windscreen, rather than setting them in notches at the top.
• It is inconvenient to require the user to provide two tent stakes for the stove. (Stakes need to be at least 6.5 inches long, and aluminum stakes won’t work because they easily bend from the heat of the stove.) I suggest providing two 1/8-inch steel rods for this purpose, or titanium tent stakes if the buyer is willing to pay extra for them (and have two spare tent stakes).
• Though it may increase the cost of materials, the fill hole screw should be replaced with something impossible to lose.
• The priming cups fit the bottom of the burner too closely, allowing fuel to become trapped beneath the burner and preventing its ignition. A priming cup with raised burner supports would lift the burner slightly allowing the fuel to move to the outside of the priming cup for combustion.

Overview

The Etowah Outfitters Etowah II alcohol stove is a tough stove that can handle large or small pots, boils water very quickly, and includes an “economizer burner” that, when inserted into the main burner, simmers better than most alcohol stoves. At 4.5 ounces (126 grams) for the complete kit, the Etowah II is not as light as many alcohol stoves on the market; but you gain serious toughness, excellent stability, and usable simmering (and you can leave the simmer burner at home if you won’t need it.) At $20 for the kit, the Etowah II is an amazing value that will outlive any other item in your pack.

Specifications

• Stove ID	Etowah Outfitters Etowah II
• Stove Type	Open flame main burner and closed jet simmer burner
• Components Reviewed	Main burner with heavy aluminum pot stand, simmering burner, fuel bottle, carry sack
• Dimensions, Weight	Component Dimensions: height x diameter in (mm) Backpacking Light measured weight oz (g) Manufacturer claimed weight oz (g) Burner/Windscreen 1.8 x 3.1 (46 x 79) 1.3 (37) – Pot supports (2) – 1.4 (40) – Minimum Stove Setup (burner/windscreen + pot supports) 2.4 x 5.0 (61 x 127) 2.7 (77) 0.9 (26) Economizer Burner (for simmering) – 0.9 (26) – Fuel bottle – 0.4 (11) – Stuff sack – 0.5 (14) – Full Stove Setup (all included items) – 4.5 (126) 4.5 (126)
• MSRP	$20.00 Manufacturer’s suggested retail price
• Manufacturer Contact Information	Etowah Outfitters

Usable Features

The Etowah Outfitters Etowah II alcohol stove has a 3-inch open flame burner with 5-inch wide aluminum cross supports. A closed jet “economizer” (simmer) burner sits inside the main burner. The main burner can be used on its own (simply fill and light) or as a pre-heater for the simmer burner. When using the simmer burner, you fill the smaller burner and put one teaspoon of fuel into the main burner. Large vent openings in the main burner allow for easy lighting from the side.

At 4.5 ounces for the complete setup, the Etowah II is heavy by alcohol stove standards. However, by leaving the simmer burner and stuff sack at home, you can lower the weight of the stove to 3.1 ounces – not ultralight, but not bad for a stove that can handle very large pots with ease. In fact, the pot support, which consists of two thick aluminum slats that lock into the heavy gauge steel burner, was so strong that it easily supported a 10-quart cookpot full of water. This is a seriously strong stove!

When it comes to cooking, the Etowah II is a stove with two personalities. While the directions say to use the economizer (simmer) burner all the time and to only remove it when using rubbing alcohol, I found this set-up to be frustrating when trying to boil water. When using the stove without the simmer insert, it boils water quickly, is reasonably efficient, and is much easier to use. (See Cooking Performance for further detail.)

The Etowah II stove offers some limited wind protection, especially when using the economizer insert. However, it requires the use of a windscreen for reasonable performance in windy conditions; I used one made from heavy-duty aluminum foil and improved stove performance a great deal.

Ease of Use

In my first 2 weeks of field use I was quite frustrated with the Etowah Outfitters Etowah II alcohol stove. The directions called for using the economizer insert all the time and using the outer burner only for warming up the inner burner (or using rubbing alcohol). When following this method, the stove starts out hot but as the fuel in the outer burner burns out (you’re only supposed to use one teaspoonful), the inner burner cools down and emits a small simmering flame. Further, the economizer burner is so economical that the flame never seems to go out – great for simmering but horrible when you’re waiting for the fuel to burn out so you can add more fuel to get your full pot of water to boil. To be honest, this caused me to absolutely HATE the stove…until I found a better way.

It was the term “economizer burner” on the Etowah Outfitters website that got me thinking… I wasn’t looking for economy, I wanted a quick boil time. So I tried it without the simmer stove and voila, the stove boiled water much more quickly! In fact, once I got rid of the inner stove, this became the fastest boiling alcohol stove I’ve ever used, especially with larger pots. I highly recommend that you skip the directions and leave out the economizer burner. That is, unless you want to simmer. If you’re interested in simmering, this stove does a great job of that with the inner burner in use; it kept soups warm and did a decent job with pancakes as well.

When using the simmer burner, the manufacturer recommends leaving the cotton inside the burner to increase economy. Tests at home confirmed that the cotton did slow down the burn rate. Lighting the stove (in either setup) simply requires holding a match close to a side air intake.

Cooking Performance

Without the simmer burner, cooking with the Etowah II is very straightforward. Simply attach the pot supports, pour fuel into the main cup, light through a side vent, and watch your water boil quickly. The stove has no tendency to blow out and its base never gets hot enough to burn paper or other flammable materials. That said, watch out for the aluminum pot supports; they stay very hot long after cooking is finished and the rest of the stove has cooled.

Like other alcohol stoves, the Etowah II is highly affected by wind. The effect of wind was shown in Backpacking Light lab tests as boil times increased 64% and fuel consumption increased a whopping 114%. In other words, you must protect the Etowah II from wind in order to get good performance.

When using the economizer burner for simmering, fill the inner burner and put 1 teaspoon of fuel in the outer burner, then light it as you would for normal use. The inner burner ignites in about 1 minute and the fuel in the outer burner burns out in about 2 minutes. After this, you have a nice, mellow flame that is perfect for simmering. This is the best simmering alcohol stove I’ve ever used (I own five different alcohol stoves).

The Etowah II is large compared to soda can-type alcohol stoves. The burner fits into an MSR Titanium Kettle, but the pot supports stick out about 1.5 inches.

Heating Efficiency

The Etowah Outfitters Etowah II alcohol stove is one of the fastest boiling alcohol stoves, although our lab tests (shown below) indicate otherwise. This is because all lab tests were done according to manufacturer suggestions, which indicated that the economizer burner should be used. When using the Etowah II without the economizer burner, this stove consistently outperforms both the Brookside Crafts and AntiGravityGear Tin Man stoves, especially when using a larger 2-liter pot. When using the economizer burner, fuel will last seemingly forever. I often watched the stove burn for well over 20 minutes when using moderate fuel levels in the burner.

See performance results for all the stoves we tested in Performance Comparison Testing of Lightweight Alcohol Stoves.

Table 1: Boil Time and Fuel Consumption for Optimal and Windy Conditions

	Optimum Conditions Boil Time for 1 pint of water (minutes:seconds)	Optimum Conditions Fuel Consumption (g)	Windy Conditions Boil Time for 1 pint of water (minutes:seconds)	Windy Conditions Fuel Consumption (g)
Etowah II	6:33	14.7	10:10	31.4
Average of All Stoves Reviewed	6:09	15.7	8:20	32.8

Durability

This stove is really tough and there’s zero complexity or moving parts. If I had to rely on one stove to save my butt, this is it. Besides some rust on the inside of the economizer burner, this stove showed no wear after weeks of hard use in the field.

The included fuel bottle doesn’t leak, but it is too small for extended trips.

Value

At $20 for the complete kit, the Etowah Outfitters Etowah II alcohol stove is an exceptional value. It works well, is bombproof, and will seemingly last forever. Sure it would be lighter in titanium, but that would miss the point. This is an inexpensive stove that will last long enough for your grandkids to use it.

Tips and Tricks

Ignore the directions – only use the economizer burner if you want to simmer. Watch those pot supports after cooking, they will get wicked hot! Always use a windscreen but make sure it doesn’t cut airflow from getting to the base of the stove; small holes at the bottom or lifting it above the ground with sticks or small rocks will do.

Recommendations for Improvement

I would change nothing on this stove in its current form – it’s tough, reasonably lightweight, and offers options for quick boils and good simmering. However, I recommend changing the directions to indicate more clearly how to use the stove when you aren’t interested in simmering. I also recommend making a lighter version available, perhaps with lighter aluminum pot supports – not everyone needs a stove strong enough to hold a 10-quart pot.

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Overview

The ThermoJet MicroLite alcohol stove is the best overall (light weight and top performing) alcohol cooking system we tested. The alcohol burner weighs only 0.28 ounce and the minimum carry weight is 3.0 ounces. This stove performed well in all of our tests, turning in some of the best boil time and fuel efficiency numbers under optimal and windy conditions. The complete cooking system rolls up into a small cylinder that fits inside a one-person cookpot. It is easy to set up and use. Cooking with the ThermoJet was as convenient as using a canister stove. I easily cooked macaroni and cheese for one person on 1 ounce of fuel using the stove’s simmer band. The ThermoJet MicroLite is one alcohol cooking system that gets everything right – it’s well designed, nicely constructed, and a top performer.

Specifications

• Stove ID	ThermoJet MicroLite
• Stove Type	Open jet
• Components Reviewed	Alcohol burner, combination windscreen/pot stand, simmer control band, 4 fl oz (118 ml) fuel bottle, stuff sack
• Dimensions	Alcohol burner: 2 in diameter x 1.1 in high (5 x 3 cm), stove setup: 6 in diameter x 4.3 in high (15 x 11 cm), packed size: 2.3 in x 4 in (6 x 10 cm)
• Weight	Backpacking Light measured minimum carry weight (burner, windscreen/pot stand, simmer band): 3.0 oz (85 g), manufacturer claimed minimum carry weight: 2.5 oz (71 g)
• MSRP	$39.95 Manufacturer’s suggested retail price
• Manufacturer Contact Information	Synergy EC

Usable Features

Design – The aluminum alcohol burner is enclosed in a “combustion chamber” which is an aluminum windscreen/pot stand combination. Air enters through a row of 0.5-inch ports at the bottom and exits at the top around the cook pot. A simmer control band around the combustion chamber controls airflow.

Weight – The minimum setup (stove, combustion chamber, simmer band) weighs 3.0 ounces.

Flame Control – A simmer band controls the flame by limiting air intake. There is no snuffer provided to stop the stove. Burn time is controlled by varying the amount of alcohol used, snuffing the burner with a can, or using the simmer band to retard the flame.

Pot Support – The pot support is two 1/8-inch diameter steel rods that fit in four holes in the combustion chamber. The distance between the top of the stove and the bottom of the pot is 1.75 inches. The pot support is very stable, and will handle a pot up to 5.5 inches in diameter. A larger version is available for pots up to 6.5 inches in diameter.

Wind Protection – A combination windscreen/pot stand is provided. It provides very good wind protection.

Ease of Use

Setup – Setting up the ThermoJet MicroLite alcohol stove involves unrolling the combustion chamber and locking it, unrolling the simmer band and locking it, slipping the simmer band over the combustion chamber (if simmering is planned), placing a measured amount of alcohol in the stove, and lighting the stove. Time required is about 1-2 minutes.

Fueling – The open jet stove is very easy to fuel; just pour alcohol into the open cavity.

Priming and Ignition – No priming is needed, simply light a match and hold it over the stove. It lights with a “puff” and stays lit. Warm up time depends on air and fuel temperature.

Flame Adjustment – The simmer band fits snugly around the combustion chamber. I thought it would be difficult to adjust, but it turned out to be simple: just use two twigs to push it down on opposite sides (the reverse is not as easy). If the stove will only be used to boil water, the simmer band can be left at home.

Cold Weather Ergonomics – The main stove is easy to set up and light while wearing gloves. The simmer band is a bit tight and can be difficult to install with gloves. In cool or cold weather I found it necessary to warm the stove plus alcohol with my hands before lighting it; otherwise it would not light.

Cooking Systems – The ThermoJet MicroLite is a cooking system. It is obvious that the components were designed to work together. This stove was one of the two best performers in our lab tests in terms of boil time and fuel efficiency. It was also quite wind resistant.

Options – A larger stove is available for pots with a diameter between 5.75 and 6.5 inches. This is generally suitable for pots with a capacity of 1 to 1.5 liters. The large capacity stove costs the same as the standard stove.

Cooking Performance

I took the ThermoJet MicroLite on several backpacking trips in the Colorado Rockies. Evening temperatures were in the 50’s °F and breezy, and morning temperatures were in the low 30’s °F and calm.

Capacity – The ThermoJet MicroLite alcohol stove worked beautifully cooking for one person using a 0.9-liter titanium pot. It has sufficient capacity to cook for two people, but it would require a pot less than 5.5 inches in diameter and about 1.5 liters in volume. If cooking for two people consistently, I’d recommend buying the larger version of the stove.

Versatility – Any alcohol burner will boil water, but it requires a controllable stove to cook macaroni. The ThermoJet MicroLite cooked macaroni with aplomb. I cooked half a box of macaroni and cheese with 1 ounce of fuel. Once the noodles reached boiling, I pushed the simmer ring down to cover the air intakes. I added the dry ingredients after the noodles had simmered, just as the alcohol ran out.

Wind Effects – The ThermoJet MicroLite cooking system was one of the least affected by wind in our lab tests. This stove has an excellent windscreen/pot stand combination that provides good wind protection. However, wind does blow into the combustion chamber through the air intake ports on the windward side and causes turbulence within, resulting in heat loss.

Cold Effects – I simulated cold conditions by placing the alcohol burner and alcohol in a freezer overnight, then fueling the stove and lighting it. It would not light at first, but warming it for 30 seconds in my hands was enough for it to light, and the jets were burning within 1 minute.

Heating Efficiency

The ThermoJet MicroLite alcohol stove was one of the two top performing stoves in the Backpacking Light lab tests. Boil times for 1 pint of water were over a minute and a half less than the average for all the stoves tested. Fuel consumption was better than average under optimal conditions and significantly below average under windy conditions.

See performance results for all the stoves we tested in Performance Comparison Testing of Lightweight Alcohol Stoves.

Table 1: Boil Time and Fuel Consumption for Optimal and Windy Conditions

	Optimum Conditions Boil Time for 1 pint of water (minutes:seconds)	Optimum Conditions Fuel Consumption (g)	Windy Conditions Boil Time for 1 pint of water (minutes:seconds)	Windy Conditions Fuel Consumption (g)
ThermoJet MicroLite	4:29	14.1	6:38	22.8
Average of All Stoves Reviewed	6:09	15.7	8:20	32.8

Durability

Packability – The windscreen/pot stand and simmer band roll into a bundle 2.5 inches by 4 inches with the burner and fuel bottle inside. This package fits nicely inside a 0.9-liter cookpot or larger. The included fuel bottle is only 4 fluid ounces, enough for trips over a long weekend.

Durability – During my testing I assembled and disassembled this stove many times. The basic stove setup is sufficiently durable for ultralight backpacking. The stove is mostly aluminum, so it would be best to carry the stove inside a cook pot to prevent unnecessary damage.

Maintenance – None required.

Value

The ThermoJet MicroLite alcohol stove is a very good value at $39.95 for the complete setup. It costs more than most alcohol burners alone and more than many complete alcohol stove setups, but you are paying for efficient design, quality construction, ease of use, and the time savings of not having to tweak components to optimize performance.

Tips and Tricks

The wind protection provided by the ThermoJet’s combustion chamber (windscreen/pot stand) could be improved by covering the ports on one side (about one-third of the circumference) with aluminum tape, or using aluminum foil to cover one side of the windscreen when needed. Orient the windscreen with the covered ports on the windward side to reduce direct wind effects. It works best to locate the combustion chamber on bare soil and push it into the ground slightly to seal the bottom, and then place a piece of aluminum foil under the alcohol burner to act as a heat reflector.

Recommendations for Improvement

Backpacking Light supports the development of cooking systems – a complete system that is optimized for maximum efficiency. The ThermoJet MicroLite alcohol stove system is already one of the best available, but it can be improved by:

• Including a lightweight heat deflector to go under the alcohol burner.
• Offering the system with a lightweight cookpot with tight fitting lid that is correctly sized for the stove and large enough to pack the collapsed stove inside.
• Offering lightweight 8-ounce and 16-ounce fuel bottles that measure the amount of fuel dispensed.

Overview

The Rhino alcohol stove is a minimalist, inexpensive alcohol stove. It comes with a simple hardware mesh pot stand and an aluminum foil windscreen. Although I had some problems with the windscreen interfering with stove performance and efficiency, this stove will perform adequately for simple cooking for one person. A sturdier and more functional windscreen would improve performance significantly.

Specifications

• Stove ID	Rhino Alcohol Stove
• Stove Type	Open jet
• Components Reviewed	Alcohol burner, pot stand, windscreen
• Dimensions, Weight	Component Dimensions: height x diameter in (cm) Backpacking Light measured oz (g) Manufacturer claim oz (g) Stove 2.5 x 1.5 (6 x 4) 0.36 (10) 0.35 (10) Pot stand 3.0 x 2.6 (8 x 7) 0.6 (17) – Windscreen 6 H x 11.5 L (15 x 29) 0.3 (9) – Complete setup: burner + windscreen + pot stand – 1.3 (38) –
• MSRP	$6 Manufacturer’s suggested retail price
• Manufacturer Contact Information	Brian Cox, brian@big-rhino.com; sells on eBay under Backpacking Stoves category

Usable Features

Design – The Rhino alcohol stove is based on the Scott Henderson design. It uses an aluminum soda can burner with 32 irregular medium sized jets on the top edge. There is a taped joint on the side of the stove. The pot stand is made from 0.5-inch hardware cloth that hooks together at the ends. The windscreen is made from heavy-duty aluminum foil and measures 6 inches high x 15.5 inches long. Using a 5.5-inch diameter pot, the windscreen extends to the top of the pot and does not completely encircle it. Since there are no air intake holes in the windscreen, combustion air must enter from the open side of the windscreen and exit around the pot.

Weight – The entire Rhino alcohol stove setup weighs 1.3 ounces – very light!

Flame Control – None. Use a pre-measured amount of alcohol and let it burn out.

Pot Support – The hardware cloth pot stand is simple, light, sturdy, and stable. Distance from the top of the burner to the bottom of the pot is 1.2 inches.

Wind Protection – The aluminum foil windscreen is very light and functional, but it does not completely enclose the stove and provide access for combustion air from the bottom of the windscreen.

Ease of Use

Setup – Setting up the stove involves fueling the alcohol burner, setting the pot stand over the burner, lighting the burner, placing the cookpot on the pot stand, and setting the windscreen in place. Time required is about 1-2 minutes.

Fueling – This open jet stove is very easy to fuel – simply pour alcohol into the open well.

Priming and Ignition – No priming is needed, just light a match and hold it over the stove. It lights with a “puff” and stays lit. Warm up time depends on air and fuel temperature.

Flame Adjustment – No simmer ring or extinguishing ring is provided, so there is no control over the flame. The best approach is to estimate and measure the amount of fuel needed and let the stove burn out.

Cold Weather Ergonomics – This stove is very simple, and easy to set up with gloved hands.

Cooking Systems – The Rhino alcohol stove is a simple, bare bones cooking system, sans pot. Unfortunately, the components do not work very well together, and the problem seems to be with the windscreen. The windscreen surrounds about two-thirds of the stove, and if placed close to the stove, it causes crosscurrents and turbulence behind it that interfere with stove performance and efficiency.

Cooking Performance

I used the Rhino alcohol stove on three backpacking trips in the Southern Colorado Rockies under cool, breezy conditions.

Capacity – The stove easily cooked for one person using a 0.9-liter cookpot. The alcohol burner itself has enough fuel capacity to cook for two people, but using a larger pot on the Rhino’s narrow pot stand is a balancing act.

Versatility – The Rhino alcohol stove melts snow and boils the melt water, but it is not an easy task for this stove. The Rhino is more suitable for boiling water and simple boil and set meals. There is no simmer ring to lower the flame level for more complex cooking.

Wind Effects – The Rhino alcohol stove did not perform well in our lab wind tests, with strong lateral wind currents and turbulence behind the windscreen. In breezy conditions in the field, I found that locating the windscreen 6-8 inches away from the stove helped to reduce the crosscurrents and turbulence.

Cold Effects – On a 37 °F morning in the field, I needed to warm the stove (with fuel) in my hands for 30 seconds before it would light. Once lit, the stove took an extra minute to reach operating temperature, then performed normally.

Heating Efficiency

The Rhino alcohol stove was one of the worst performing stoves in the Backpacking Light lab tests. The problem seems to be with its windscreen, as explained above. Under optimal conditions, the stove has air flow problems with inadequate combustion air and cross currents carrying the heat away from the pot. In windy conditions, this problem was accentuated, with the flame bending sideways inside the windscreen!

See performance results for all the stoves we tested in Performance Comparison Testing of Lightweight Alcohol Stoves.

Table 1: Boil Time and Fuel Consumption for Optimal and Windy Conditions

	Optimum Conditions Boil Time for 1 pint of water (minutes:seconds)	Optimum Conditions Fuel Consumption (g)	Windy Conditions Boil Time for 1 pint of water (minutes:seconds)	Windy Conditions Fuel Consumption (g)
Rhino	7:13	18.0	13:32	48.1
Average of All Stoves Reviewed	6:09	15.7	8:20	32.8

Durability

Packability – The stove components compact to a small size and fit easily inside a small cookpot.

Durability – By itself the stove setup is susceptible to damage in a backpack, but packed inside a cookpot it will hold up well for long-term use. The aluminum foil windscreen is very lightweight, but not very durable.

Maintenance – None required.

Value

I like the Rhino alcohol stove’s simplicity and low price, but the workmanship, while serviceable, does not evidence the pride in construction of many of the other stoves in our test. The Rhino did not perform well in our lab tests; with a better windscreen design, the Rhino Stove would probably perform similarly to the other stoves we reviewed.

Tips and Tricks

Ditch the windscreen and make your own. The best windscreen design seems to be one that encircles the pot with about a 0.5-inch gap around the pot with air intake ports near the bottom. This type of windscreen is lightweight and will roll up for easy packing.

Recommendations for Improvement

Backpacking Light supports the development of cooking systems – making available a complete system that is optimized for maximum efficiency. The Rhino Stove makes a good start, but needs some more R&D to improve its performance. My suggestions for improvement are:

• Use fewer jets or smaller jets that are more uniform.
• Develop a more efficient windscreen design.
• Offer a complete cooking system that adds devices for flame control and a cookpot that will contain the entire system.

Overview

The new Outdoor Research Zealot rain jacket is aimed squarely at the growing ultralight market, packing no frills storm protection into a simple package and weighing in at just over 7 ounces (7.2 ounces, 204 g Backpacking Light measured weight). The Zealot has a minimalist design; one pocket, one hood adjustment, elastic cuffs, and hem drawcord. A water resistant two-way full zipper adds a measure of breathability and ease of use. The waterproof/breathable shell fabric is 15 denier Gore-Tex PacLite. The Zealot performs nearly as well as heavier rainshells, with little sacrifice in performance due to the simple feature set. It has limited storage space relative to a full-featured rainshell, and the water resistant zipper is more difficult to operate than others I have used. The Zealot jacket does not contain new technology, but Outdoor Research made good trade-offs to produce a fully functional waterproof/breathable jacket and keep it under 8 ounces.

Specifications

Weight	7.2 oz (204 g) as measured size M; manufacturer’s specification 7.7 oz (218 g) size L
Model Year	2005
Shell Fabric	15d Gore-Tex PacLite
Features	Full double separating zipper, chest pocket, single hood adjustment, hem drawcord
MSRP	$199

What’s Good

• Full zip waterproof/breathable shell weighing only 7.2 ounces (204 g)
• Double separating zipper provides good breathability control
• Low bulk Gore-Tex PacLite fabric with Gore taped seams provides good storm protection
• Roomy enough to fit over layers

What’s Not So Good

• Water resistant zipper is difficult to operate
• Single rear hood adjustment provides limited control

Performance

I tested the Outdoor Research Zealot on late winter trips in the southern Arizona mountains. I stayed dry in light and heavy rain while hiking, resting, or performing basic camp chores. The water resistant zipper performed well and the hood stayed in place while cinched down in wind driven rain. The lack of control on the hood brim exposed my face and forehead to more weather than a full-featured hood with multiple adjustments does. I tested breathability and comfort in my standard fashion; wearing the jacket on a 1,200 vertical foot, 2 mile climb into the Saguaro Wilderness with temperatures in the 50s °F. This test puts most shells squarely in the discomfort zone. While I was certainly warm and moist by the time I finished this climb, the Zealot performed as well as other, heavier rainshells I’ve used. The zipper is critical to maintaining some comfort under these conditions. I experimented with the two-way zipper and found its versatility useful when wearing the jacket with different pack configurations (waistbelt, no waistbelt, sternum strap). The elastic cuffs held in more moisture and heat than adjustable cuffs that can be opened wide. I found the small hood volume to be just fine in normal use. With a high volume climbing helmet (Black Diamond Halfdome) the hood was too small to use comfortably. A lower volume helmet might fit under the hood more effectively. The lack of storage space in the Outdoor Research Zealot is the most significant weight/performance trade-off. The chest pocket has a vertical zipper and is large enough to hold your keys, or an energy bar or two, but not much else. The chest pocket’s vertical zipper makes it easy to access while wearing a pack under most conditions, but use of a sternum strap blocks entry. I will gladly sacrifice the convenience of more pockets to get a functional shell at just over 7 ounces. According to Todd Walton at Outdoor Research, the design goal was to create a hardshell so light that there would be "no reason not to take it." At this they have succeeded.

The Zealot is well constructed with good overall fit. The tail is slightly dropped and the sleeves are articulated to keep the jacket from rising when arms are lifted to shoulder height. The hem drawcord has a single toggle lock on the left side and adjusts easily and tightly. The hood has a moderate brim stiffener and a single drawcord adjustment in the rear. The hood adjustment cinches the hood around your ears, providing better protection from wind and rain. The hood adjustment does not provide any control over the brim of the hood, making it a little less storm resistant than more full featured hoods.

The Outdoor Research Zealot hood cinches up well around your ears, but its single adjustment provides no control over the brim.

What’s Unique

Outdoor Research has used lightweight fabric and pared down the features to reduce the weight to near 7 ounces in a waterproof/breathable shell, while retaining the most functional feature – a full zipper. By including a double separating zipper they have added extra usability and breathability control for very little extra weight; a good trade-off in my opinion. The 15 denier Gore-Tex PacLite fabric is significantly less bulky than most other waterproof/breathable materials and has Gore seam tape which adds little bulk to the seams – features I appreciate when wearing the jacket or packing it. The PacLite fabric features a Gore-Tex membrane with abrasion resistant dots designed to protect and enhance the life of the membrane. This abrasion resistance allows PacLite shells to eliminate the full liner layer common to other Gore-Tex fabrics, saving weight and bulk; although Gore states that PacLite shells will be less durable than heavier Gore-Tex shells.

Recommendations for Improvement

My biggest concern with the Outdoor Research Zealot jacket is the difficult operation of the zipper. Water resistant zippers are frequently difficult to move, but the zipper on the Zealot I tested is more difficult to use than most I have experienced. There was no significant improvement after several weeks of use. A smoother zipper would be a welcome improvement.

Overview

The Mini-Trangia and the Liberty Mountain Westwind alcohol stoves are two lightweight configurations of the Trangia family of stoves. Both use the Trangia alcohol burner. The Mini-Trangia includes a cook kit that also serves as a packaging system for the stove. The Westwind is a lighter weight version that includes a three-piece windscreen/pot stand. The Trangia burner is nicely designed and has some useful features. For example, for shorter duration trips, fuel can be stored within the stove itself, which is sealed by a threaded cap. The Trangia burner is on the heavy side compared to other alcohol burners we reviewed, but it is well designed, quality made, and performs well.

Specifications

• Stove ID	Mini-Trangia and Liberty Mountain Westwind
• Stove Type	Open jet
• Components Reviewed	Mini-Trangia: Trangia burner with simmer ring and cap, pot stand, 0.8 L pot, lid/fry pan, pot clamp; Liberty Mountain Westwind: Trangia burner, three-piece pot stand
• Dimensions, Weight	Component Dimensions: height x diameter in (cm) Backpacking Light measured oz (g) Manufacturer claim oz (g) Trangia burner (alcohol burner, burner lid, simmer/extinguisher cap) 1.75 x 2.9 (4 x 7) 3.9 (110) – Mini-Trangia accessories (pot stand, 0.8 L cookpot, nonstick fry pan/lid, pot holder) – 8.4 (239) – Mini-Trangia, complete setup For cooking: 2.5 x 3.8 (6 x 10) Packed: 2.5 x 6.0 (6 x 15) 12.3 (349) 11.7 (332) Liberty Mountain Westwind pot stand Packed: 5.9 x 3.1 x 0.125 (15 x 8 x 0.4) 2.7 (77) – Liberty Mountain Westwind, complete setup (Trangia burner and pot stand) 3.4 x 5.9 wide x 5 deep (9 x 15 x 13) 6.6 (187) – Liberty Mountain Westwind, complete setup (Trangia burner and pot stand) 3.4 x 5.9 wide x 5 deep (9 x 15 x 13) 6.6 (187) –
• MSRP	Mini-Trangia $39.90 Manufacturer’s suggested retail price; Liberty Mountain Westwind $27 with burner, $15 without Trangia burner
• Manufacturer Contact Information	Liberty Mountain. Liberty Mountain distributes Trangia in the USA

Usable Features

Design – The Mini-Trangia alcohol stove comes complete with alcohol burner and cook kit. The burner and pot stand nest nicely into a 0.8-liter cookpot that closes with a nonstick fry pan/lid making for a nice contained cook system. The Liberty Mountain Westwind model packages the Trangia alcohol burner with a collapsible pot stand/windscreen only. The Trangia alcohol burner has the capability to store its own fuel when the burner cap is used, which is a nice feature for 1-2 night outings where all the needed fuel can be stored within the stove. The burner cap has a rubber seal providing a leak-proof container. Set up times for the Trangia burner are minimal, especially when the stove is used as the alcohol storage container. Lighting is accomplished by simply igniting the alcohol pool in the middle of the stove and a half minute later the burner starts jetting. The simmer/extinguisher cap has an adjustable ring providing simmer control. The cap is simply rotated to its closed position to extinguish the stove.

Weight – The Trangia alcohol burner is heavy at 3.9 ounces when compared to other alcohol stoves. There are no modifications available to lower the burner’s weight without sacrificing performance.

Flame Control – The only flame control is the simmer/extinguisher cap, which effectively controls the amount of flame.

Pot Support – The Mini-Trangia alcohol stove comes with a 0.8-liter pot that was designed to fit on the included pot stand. A circular section on the pot is stamped out so that the pot nests within the pot stand supports. The Liberty Mountain Westwind alcohol stove has a three-piece pot stand that assembles together in a triangular configuration, and includes cutouts to support the Trangia burner. While both pot stands adequately support large pots, the Westwind has a larger base offering even more stability.

Wind Protection – Some wind protection on both the Mini-Trangia and the Liberty Mountain Westwind is provided by the pot supports. The Mini-Trangia pot stand provides more coverage of the alcohol burner and thus better wind protection.

Ease of Use

Setup – The Mini-Trangia is easy to assemble into cook mode, taking under 10 seconds. It takes about 15 seconds to mate the three pieces of aluminum together to form the Liberty Mountain Westwind pot stand.

Fueling – Fueling the Trangia alcohol burner is a matter of simply placing alcohol into the reservoir in the middle of the burner. If the burner has been used to store the alcohol, that step is eliminated.

Priming and Ignition – The alcohol reservoir remains lit once ignited; we had no trouble with the flame going out. Once the stove warms up, it starts to burn from the jets in less than 30 seconds.

Flame Adjustment – The simmer cap works well to adjust the flame.

Cold Weather Ergonomics – Operating the burner with gloves on is a little tricky. The most difficult part is unscrewing the burner cap from the alcohol burner. This cap is essentially the same as those found on a mason jar.

Cooking Systems – The Mini-Trangia stove comes with a cookpot, pot stand, and windscreen that were designed to work together. The pot bottom has a punched out section that nests within the pot stand. The fry pan lid has a similar recess that forms a good fit on the cookpot when used as a lid. When the stove is packed up, this fry pan lid snaps firmly onto the cookpot containing the pot stand, stove, and pot handle within the cookpot. The Liberty Mountain Westwind has cutouts in the pot stand to support the alcohol burner. Trangia manufactures a wide array of cooking systems that work with the Trangia alcohol burner.

Cooking Performance

Capacity – The Mini-Trangia alcohol stove comes with a 0.8-liter cook pot that is suitable for boiling water for one person. Flames from the alcohol burner spilled around the pot. A larger cook pot would lessen the amount of flame spillage, allowing for more efficient heating.

Versatility – The simmer cap is adjustable by sliding a metal cap over the alcohol burner. When completely shut, the simmer cap acts as an effective extinguisher. Adjusting the simmer cap after it is placed on the alcohol burner is difficult. The rotating metal on the simmer cap does not move easily and actually requires removing the simmer cap, letting the cap cool sufficiently for handling, adjusting the opening on the cap, and then replacing the simmer cap back onto the burner. An in situ adjustment would be desirable. Additionally, the included pot stand on the Mini-Trangia interferes with the simmer cap when it is opened past a certain point. This interference was also true for the Westwind pot stand. Once the simmer cap is set to achieve a desired flame level, the stove can be used for more complex meals beyond the simple task of boiling water.

Wind Effects – Without an additional windscreen, the Trangia alcohol burner is seriously affected by the wind. The pot stands of both the Mini-Trangia and the Liberty Mountain Westwind provide only minimal protection from wind. The burner jets are directly exposed to any wind disturbances, and are not protected by the stove’s design.

Cold Effects – The Trangia burner and fuel were placed in a freezer to simulate cold weather performance. When the burner was removed from the freezer, it lit right away; approximately 45 seconds later, the burner started to burn from the jets. Cold weather did not seem to drastically alter the its performance. This was most likely due to its brass construction. Brass has a relatively high thermal conductivity and quickly heats or cools depending on the thermal environment.

Heating Efficiency

The Mini-Trangia and Liberty Mountain Westwind versions of the Trangia stove have higher boil times in optimal conditions than the average for all the alcohol stoves we reviewed. The Mini-Trangia stove consumed a higher than average amount of fuel to achieve boiling, but the Westwind used significantly less fuel than average. This may be a result of the Mini-Trangia’s flame spread, which disperses flames around the cook pot, causing decreased efficiency. Under windy conditions, the Trangia burner becomes a blowtorch, especially in the Liberty Mountain Westwind where the boil time was faster than in optimal conditions, probably due to the fanning effect. Fuel consumption under windy conditions leaped for both stoves (the highest of all stoves tested) illustrating why good wind protection is necessary for an alcohol stove.

See performance results for all the stoves we tested in Performance Comparison Testing of Lightweight Alcohol Stoves.

Table 1: Boil Time and Fuel Consumption for Optimal and Windy Conditions

	Optimum Conditions Boil Time for 1 pint of water (minutes:seconds)	Optimum Conditions Fuel Consumption (g)	Windy Conditions Boil Time for 1 pint of water (minutes:seconds)	Windy Conditions Fuel Consumption (g)
Mini-Trangia	7:07	17.1	7:50	51.2
Liberty Mountain Westwind	8:09	11.5	6:41	48.3
Average of All Stoves Reviewed	6:09	15.7	8:20	32.8

Durability

Packability – The Mini-Trangia nests wonderfully into a relatively small package that can be packed away easily. The Liberty Mountain Westwind pot stand has three pieces that can be misplaced easily.

Durability – The alcohol burner is made from a relatively thick gauge of brass, which can be expected to resist use and abuse. The burner is further protected within the cookpot of the Mini-Trangia setup.

Maintenance – The only foreseeable maintenance is unclogging the jet holes.

Value

The Trangia alcohol burner cooks well and is a good value for its durability. The bare-bones model (Liberty Mountain Westwind alcohol stove) is available for $27, and the Mini-Trangia integrated and packable cook system is $39.90. The best feature of the Trangia burner is the ability to store fuel within the stove thereby reducing the need for a fuel bottle on short duration trips.

Recommendations for Improvement

The Trangia burner would be more versatile if the simmer cap is modified so that it can be adjusted while the stove is in use, rather than needing to remove the cap from the stove to adjust it.