Articles (2020)

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 Etowah Outfitters Solid Fuel Stove with Alcohol Burner is a tough little stove consisting of a small burner, a round pot support of stiff screen material, and two lids which fit onto the ends of the pot support for storage, one serving as a pre-heat pan during cooking. The stove takes a relatively long time (6 minutes 53 seconds) to boil 2 cups of water in optimal conditions. In most windy and/or cold conditions it heats water hot enough to re-hydrate dried food, but not to boiling. It weighs 2.2 ounces configured for storage (burner stowed inside the container formed by the pot support and two lids); one lid can be left at home, saving 0.5 ounce, without affecting cooking performance. The Etowah fits inside a Snow Peak 600 titanium cup and larger pots. Although eggs fry up nicely with the stove, it is basically a one-person/three-season stove for someone who prepares meals by adding hot water to dried food.

Specifications

• Stove ID	Etowah Outfitters Solid Fuel Stove with Alcohol Burner
• Stove Type	Closed jet
• Components Reviewed	Pot stand, base (pre-heat pan) and cover, carry sack
• Dimensions, Weight	Component Dimensions: height x diameter in (mm) Backpacking Light measured oz (g) Manufacturer claim oz (g) Burner 1.1 x 1.6 (3 x 4) 0.5 oz (14 g) – Pot support 2.0 x 3.3 (5 x 8) 0.7 oz (20 g) – Base (pre-heat pan) 0.4 x 3.3 (1 x 8) 0.5 oz (14 g) – Lid 0.4 x 3.3 (1 x 8) 0.5 oz (14 g) – Carry sack – 0.3 oz (9 g) – Complete set (burner + pot support + base and lid) 2.0 x 3.3 (5 x 8) (Set up for cooking or packed) 2.2 oz (62 g) 2.2 oz (62 g)
• MSRP	$16.00 Manufacturer’s suggested retail price
• Manufacturer Contact Information	Etowah Outfitters

Usable Features

Design – The burner is a small metal tin with eight holes punched into the lid. The pre-heat pan (base) and top are larger metal lids that fit onto the pot support. The pot support is a section of 2-inch high screen that has been formed into a rigid cylinder by interlocking the ends and bending them back. Distance from the burner to a pot is 0.8 inches. When ready for stowing, the burner sits inside the cylinder of mesh capped by a lid at each end. The carry sack is a silnylon sack with bungee and toggle closure.

In its stowed configuration, with base and cover on the pot support and burner stowed inside, the stove is very rugged. The pot stand provides a stable base for pots up to 2 liters. The burner holds about 0.5 fluid ounces of fuel so cooking time is very limited.

Weight – The Etowah Outfitters Solid Fuel Stove with Alcohol Burner weighs 2.2 ounces without the carry sack. The packed weight can be reduced by 0.5 ounce by leaving the cover at home without affecting stove performance. The stowed stove is less crush-proof without the cover, but still much stronger than a typical soda can alcohol stove. Stove weight could be further reduced, without affecting stove cooking performance, by using a smaller/lighter pre-heat pan. Leave the carry sack at home to save a few more grams.

Flame Control – None, burn time is controlled by measuring the amount of fuel used.

Pot Support – The pot support is a 2-inch high, 3-1/8 inch diameter circle of mesh that is easily strong enough to support a 2-liter pot full of water. Its relatively wide base provides very good stability for a 0.75-liter pot and good stability for a 2-liter pot. Stability would be even better if the pot support mesh was trimmed more evenly. The point where the two ends of the mesh are bent together is slightly higher than the rest of the edge and prevents a pot from being in contact with the full circle of the pot support.

Wind Protection – None provided.

Ease of Use

Setup – The burner cover must be removed to fill the burner with fuel and then replaced. Additionally, Etowah Outfitters instructs that the bottom of the pre-heat pan should be covered with fuel before slipping the pot support into it and lighting the stove. Set up time from stow bag to lighting averaged about 45 seconds in warm conditions and about 1 minute 20 seconds with gloves on. Set up time can be reduced slightly by using a fuel bottle with a squirt nozzle to squirt fuel into the pre-heat pan with the pot support in place.

Fueling – It requires some care not to spill fuel while replacing the lid after filling the burner. The pre-heat pan has a wide opening and it’s easy to squirt or pour a little fuel into it for stove priming.

Priming and Ignition – It is easy to light the pre-heat fuel with a match but difficult to hold a lighter flame to the fuel since the pot support gets in the way.

Once the pre-heat fuel is lit, the burner heats and starts a stable burn (eight jets of blue flame from the burner holes) in as little as 15 seconds in calm conditions. The higher the wind speed, the longer the burner takes to ignite. In moderate winds, the burner does not catch at all on the first try, but in the windy and cold conditions I encountered, it did catch on the second try after refilling the pre-heat pan and relighting.

Flame Adjustment – None.

Cold Weather Ergonomics – The most difficult parts of operating the stove with gloves on are getting the burner cap off, and keeping fuel off the gloves when replacing the cap. The burner cap fits very tightly after each burn. I got into the habit of loosening the cap just before storing the stove each time, which made removing the cap for fueling much quicker on subsequent stove firings. Since I used a squeeze bottle for fuel, I did not follow the manufacturer instructions to remove the pot support from the base/pre-heat pan before putting fuel into the pan. This simplified the stove lighting process. These minor adjustments made cold weather lighting of the Etowah Outfitters Solid Fuel Stove with Alcohol Burner easier but still not the one-step process needed for some of the stoves in the Backpacking Light review suite.

Cooking Performance

Capacity – Although the pot stand easily and stably supports pots up to 2 liters, this stove is not suitable for two people because of the small fuel capacity of the burner (less than 0.5 fluid ounce).

Versatility – The Etowah Outfitters Solid Fuel Stove with Alcohol Burner is suited for the “boil” and set method of cooking that simply requires that water be heated. I also successfully fried eggs (both real and powdered) over the stove by stirring constantly and holding the pot above the pot stand with a pot lifter when the flames were too hot. The fact that the stove doesn’t burn hot enough to boil water in all conditions is an asset for cooking dishes that require simmering. I prepared a rice dish meant to require 7 minutes of simmering by placing the pot and ingredients on the lit stove and leaving it for 20 minutes. Outside temperature was 57 °F with gusting winds up to about 25 mph. I did not disturb the stove during this experiment to check to see when the flames died out, but under the same conditions in previous burns the stove stayed lit about 7 minutes.

This stove is a great muffin steamer! I used a bent strip of aluminum from a soda can to raise a muffin foil filled with dough off the bottom of the pot. An aluminum foil lid and a small amount of water in the bottom of the pot completed the setup. Just as with the rice dish, I left the pot on the stove while the alcohol burned out and for some time after to allow the muffin to continue to bake. Perfect muffins every time! I’ve tried the same method with other alcohol stoves and had the water boil up over the top of the muffin foil because the stove burned too hot.

The Etowah Outfitters Solid Fuel Stove with Alcohol Burner is designed to use solid fuel tabs as well as alcohol as the name implies.

Wind Effects – The burner does not hold enough fuel to boil 2 cups of water in even mild winds. The water is normally steaming and hot enough to re-hydrate food, but does not reach boiling. The pre-heat pan is easy to light with a match even in windy conditions but when it is also cold, the burner doesn’t always light from the burning pre-heat fuel the first time.

Cold Effects – In cool conditions (50 °F) the burner does not hold enough fuel to boil 2 cups of water. I simulated cold weather by putting the stove and fuel in a freezer, and water in a refrigerator. Once everything was cold, I quickly set up the stove outside and lit it. I had no problem getting fuel in the pre-heat pan to ignite and the burner lit (blue flames out of all eight holes) in about 45 seconds. When I added wind to the scenario (in the form of a fan), the burner often did not catch on the first lighting of the pre-heat fuel. The burner did ignite every time after a second priming.

In the field at 45 °F and winds gusting to about 25 mph, the burner ignited on average in less than 30 seconds, but did not heat the water to boiling.

Heating Efficiency

The Etowah Outfitters Solid Fuel Stove with Alcohol Burner had a higher than average boil time and average fuel consumption under optimal conditions in the Backpacking Light stove tests. The burner cup is small and only holds about 15 grams of fuel, which was not enough to boil 2 cups of water in standardized testing (the water temperature was raised to 164 °F).

I used several cook pots (Snow Peak 600 titanium cup, 3-cup and 2-liter Antigravity Gear aluminum pots) with 2 cups of water under various conditions in field-testing. The stove only brought the water to a full boil in warm, calm conditions. In windy conditions, the Etowah stove won’t boil water. It does, however, heat water to the point that dried food can be re-hydrated.

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 Solid Fuel Stove with Alcohol Burner	6:53	15.2	+94 degrees (did not boil)	–
Average of All Stoves Reviewed	6:09	15.7	8:20	32.8

Durability

Packability – The stove packs very neatly into a small can that fits nicely inside a Snow Peak 600 titanium cup or a larger pot. It is larger than some alcohol stoves and fills up almost half the height of the Snow Peak cup.

Durability – In its stowed configuration, with base and cover on the pot support and burner stowed inside, the stove is very rugged. I stood on the stove without causing any damage. Even unpacked, the stove components are sturdy. The pot support can be bent out of shape but it requires some effort. I was not able to deform the sides of the burner by squeezing it with the lid on. The stove is much sturdier than a soda can stove and it won’t blow away in a light breeze.

Maintenance – Maintenance is not required on this stove. The components are sturdy and simple. The burner cup in particular is very strong and unlikely to be damaged.

Value

The Etowah Outfitters Solid Fuel Stove with Alcohol Burner is an inexpensive stove that does not have to be handled carefully and is not failure prone. It is simple to use and doesn’t require maintenance. However, it is a poor value because it does not heat water to boiling in cool and/or windy conditions. (It does heat water enough to re-hydrate food in most three-season conditions.)

Tips and Tricks

Wrap the burner in a bit of paper towel to keep it from rattling around inside the pot support. The cap on the burner can get quite tight after a burn; loosening it after it cools down saves time during the next use. Leave the cover at home to save 0.5 ounce without affecting cooking performance. Plan on using matches to light pre-heat fuel.

Recommendations for Improvement

A larger burner tin that holds enough fuel to boil 2 cups of water in a wider range of conditions would be a huge improvement for this stove.

Overview

The Hiknakd alcohol stove was one of the top four performing stoves in our review suite. It is well designed, meticulously crafted, and lightweight. It comes as a cooking system consisting of alcohol burner, pot stand, windscreen, simmer ring, snuffer, and fuel bottle. Its windscreen is adjustable to accommodate cook pots up to 2 liters, and the alcohol burner has enough capacity to cook for two people. It cooked simple and more complex meals as conveniently as a canister stove. I found the Hiknakd to be a capable stove ideal for ultralight backpacking, however it should be carried inside a cookpot to avoid damaging it inside a backpack.

Specifications

• Stove ID	Hiknakd Alcohol Stove Kit
• Stove Type	Open jet
• Components Reviewed	Alcohol burner, pot stand, windscreen, simmer ring, snuffer, fuel bottle
• Dimensions	Stove is 2.5 in diameter x 1.5 in high (7 cm x 4 cm); setup size is 5 in diameter x 2.5 in high (13 cm x 7 cm), excluding windscreen; packed size is 3 in diameter x 5 in high (8 cm x 13 cm), excluding fuel bottle
• Weight	Backpacking Light measured weight: 3.6 oz (102 g), Manufacturer claimed weight: 3.5 oz (99 g)
• MSRP	$35 Manufacturer’s suggested retail price
• Manufacturer Contact Information	Hiknakd Gear, hiknakd@hotmail.com, sold on eBay under the Backpacking Stoves category

Usable Features

Design – The Hiknakd alcohol stove setup is nicely designed and of exceptionally high quality. The cleverly designed three-piece pot stand is cut from 0.032 gauge aluminum sheet and easily connects together. The alcohol burner is meticulously made and has 24 small, evenly spaced jets. A seam on the side of the burner does not require aluminum tape to seal it. The windscreen is 24 inches long and 4 inches high with two rows of 0.25-inch holes along the bottom, and is adjustable for pot diameter. Two paper clips can be used to hold the windscreen at the desired diameter, usually about 1 inch larger than the pot diameter. This configuration forces the stove to draw combustion air through the two rows of holes at the bottom of the windscreen and exit along the sides of the pot.

Weight – The entire Hiknakd setup weighs 3.6 ounces – now that’s a light backpacking stove!

Flame Control – The Hiknakd Alcohol Stove Kit is one of the few stoves reviewed that comes with a simmer ring and an extinguishing ring.

Pot Support – The three-piece pot stand has 1.5-inch high pot supports that are spaced about 3.5 inches apart (center to center). This provides a very stable surface. A nice feature of the Hiknakd design is that the adjustable windscreen will accommodate pots up to 6 inches in diameter. The distance from the top of the burner to the bottom of the pot is 1.3 inches.

Wind Protection – Very good, if the windscreen completely surrounds the stove with about 0.5 inch of space between the windscreen and the pot. The aluminum windscreen protects the alcohol burner and the lower 1.5 inches of the cook pot. The windscreen is beautifully made and rolls up into a 3-inch diameter circle.

Ease of Use

Setup – Setting up the stove involves assembling the three parts of the pot stand, fueling the alcohol burner and setting it in the stand, lighting the burner, and setting the windscreen in place. Time required is about 1-2 minutes. The Hiknakd pot stand is exceptionally easy to assemble and disassemble.

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 ring is easy to use. It is not adjustable, just a ring with a hole in the center to limit the amount of combustion air. Simply place the simmer ring on the top of the burner. A snuffer ring is provided to extinguish the flame. Remove the simmer ring and drop the snuffer ring on top of the burner. The snuffer ring will not work on top of the simmer ring.

Cold Weather Ergonomics – The pot stand can be assembled with gloved hands, but frankly it is easier to take your gloves off and do it. Fueling and adjusting the windscreen can be done with gloves on.

Cooking Systems – The Hiknakd Alcohol Stove Kit is a complete cooking system, sans pot. It is simple, very well designed and crafted, and works very well. The components are specifically designed to efficiently work together. This stove was one of the better performers in our lab tests in terms of boil time and fuel efficiency. It was also quite wind resistant.

Options – The components are sold separately or as a package. The kit is available with your choice of a 4, 6, or 8 fluid ounce fuel bottle, and a longer/taller windscreen upon request.

Cooking Performance

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

Capacity – Unlike some of the other stoves we reviewed, the Hiknakd windscreen is adjustable for pot diameter. I used the stove with a 0.9-liter pot for one-person cooking, and just as easily with a 1.5-liter pot for two-person cooking. I opened the windscreen to the desired diameter (allowing 0.25 to 0.5 inch clearance around the pot), and secured it in a circle with two paper clips. The alcohol burner has enough capacity to cook for two people.

Versatility – I used the stove to melt snow, and cook macaroni and breakfast cereal at high elevations and cool temperatures. The stove melted snow and boiled the resultant water just fine, but it took some time and fuel to do it. The Hiknakd Alcohol Stove Kit boiled 1 pint and 1 quart of warmer water (40 °F) with no problem for simple boil and set dinners and breakfasts. Using the simmer ring, I cooked macaroni for one person with 0.75 ounce of fuel. However the simmer ring is not adjustable, and the stove tends to burn a little too hot for simmering. Overall, I found the Hiknakd to be a serious backpacking stove for one or two people, and it is capable of more complex meals, assuming the user has skill with using an alcohol stove.

Wind Effects – I tested the Hiknakd Alcohol Stove Kit under windy conditions in our lab and under breezy conditions in the field. Like most alcohol stoves, performance was significantly impaired in the wind. It is important to provide extra wind protection, in addition to the windscreen, to maintain decent efficiency under windy conditions. This stove has enough fuel capacity to boil 1 quart of water under windy conditions if good wind protection is provided.

Cold Effects – I put the stove and fuel in a freezer at 0 °F and water in a refrigerator at 40 °F overnight to simulate cold conditions. Straight out of the freezer, the stove would not light, but warming it in my hands for 30 seconds allowed it to light. The overall effect of cold was to introduce an extra step (hand warming) to light the stove, and an extra 30-60 seconds for it to reach cooking temperature.

Heating Efficiency

The Hiknakd Alcohol Stove Kit performed slightly better than average in the Backpacking Light lab tests; overall, it was one of the top four performing stoves.

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)
Hiknakd	6:08	14.9	6:43	28.6
Average of All Stoves Reviewed	6:09	15.7	8:20	32.8

Durability

Packability – The stove components (except for the fuel bottle) will fit inside a solo cookpot. It helps to enclose the unit in a stuff sack or plastic bag to keep the components together.

Durability – The Hiknakd Alcohol Stove Kit is made of light aluminum and can easily be damaged in a backpack. It would be best to pack this stove kit inside a cook pot so it is not damaged by other items inside the pack or from the pack banging against trees and rocks. The thin aluminum pot stand can bend while assembling or disassembling it, so reasonable care is needed to ensure its longevity.

Maintenance – None required. With proper care and use, it should provide many years of service.

Value

The Hiknakd Alcohol Stove Kit is very well designed, meticulously crafted, very lightweight, and performs well. At $35 for a complete cooking system (without pot), the Hiknakd is an excellent value for ultralight backpacking.

Tips and Tricks

If you will consistently be using the same cookpot with the Hiknakd Alcohol Stove Kit, you can cut the windscreen to the appropriate length and crimp the ends to fit your pot. I found this stove somewhat starved for air at higher elevations. Performance was much improved after I added a third row of holes to the bottom of the windscreen. In windy conditions, the wind may directly enter the windscreen through the air intake ports at the bottom, causing turbulence. The ports on the windward side (about one-third of the circumference) can be taped over or covered with aluminum foil to eliminate this problem, or just place rocks on the windward side to shield the ports.

Recommendations for Improvement

Backpacking Light supports the development of cooking systems – complete systems that are optimized for maximum efficiency. The Hiknakd Alcohol Stove Kit is already an excellent product. Some suggestions I have to make it an even better system are:

• Eliminate the air intake ports in one section of the windscreen to provide better wind protection. This may necessitate increasing the number of intake ports on the rest of the windscreen to provide enough combustion air.
• Offer the system with a lightweight pot and tight fitting lid (one that the other components fit into).
• Increase the number of air intake holes in the bottom of the windscreen, so the burner gets enough air for combustion at higher elevations.

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.

Overview

The Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove is a high quality stove with some great features. It has an innovative simmer sleeve that allows you to control the flame and simmer for more than 30 minutes. It also has a sturdy built-in pot stand that works well with pots up to 2 liters. The Brasslite Turbo II-D can easily cook for two or more people. As with any alcohol stove, it is essential that the Turbo II-D be used with a windscreen to minimize inefficiencies caused by wind.

Specifications

• Stove ID	Brasslite Turbo II-D
• Stove Type	Open flame
• Components Tested	Burner with attached pot support
• Dimensions	2.8 in (7 cm) high by 2.8 in (7 cm) diameter
• Weight	2.6 oz (74 g). Backpacking Light measurements were identical to manufacturer’s claim.
• MSRP	$40 Manufacturer’s suggested retail price
• Manufacturer Contact Information	Brasslite

Usable Features

Design – As the name implies, the Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove is made of brass in an open flame design (no jets). It includes a built in pot stand, and a sliding simmer sleeve for flame control.

Weight – At 2.6 ounces, including a built in pot stand, the Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove is heavier than a simple soda can stove plus a pot stand. The pot stand could be reduced in weight without significant performance loss.

Flame Control – The innovative simmer sleeve is very effective at flame control.

Pot Support – The pot support is the same diameter as the stove (2.8 inches). It is a mesh design that is strong and moderately stable.

Wind Protection – None included.

Ease of Use

Setup – With the pot stand built into the stove, there is virtually no set up time – just add fuel and light.

Fueling – Lighting the Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove is easy, so long as you have a directed nozzle on your fuel bottle with which to accurately place your fuel. Brasslite has a graduated fuel bottle with a nozzle dispenser available. Fueling the stove from a plastic soda bottle is prone to spillage.

Priming and Ignition – The Brasslite requires priming, especially in cool conditions (below about 55 °F in my experience). The warming pan is easy to use and works well to get the stove burning efficiently.

Flame Adjustment – The Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove has a simmer sleeve that encircles the main cylinder and allows you to control airflow to the flame. This effectively controls the flame height, temperature, and fuel consumption. The simmer sleeve on our Turbo II-D test sample got sticky and hard to slide with time. I solved this by keeping the stove and sleeve clean and free of dirt. It is best to adjust the simmer sleeve using a tent stake instead of your hands, as the sleeve and stove get very hot.

Cold Weather Ergonomics – Cold weather use is easy; there are no moving parts besides the simmer sleeve. Cooking with gloves on is no problem.

Cooking Performance

As with all alcohol stoves, a windscreen is mandatory for effective use of the Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove. I forgot a windscreen on a weeklong trip along the Continental Divide Trail and I struggled to get the stove to cook efficiently. With a well-designed windscreen, however, the Turbo II-D is a good performer.

Capacity – My standard pot, even for solo trips, is an Evernew 1.5 L pot. The Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove easily handles this size pot and could certainly be used as a two-person stove. Brasslite recommends the Turbo II-D for pots up to 2 liters.

Versatility – Most of my meals are of the “boil and stir” variety, but I have tested the Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove with meals that require simmering – pasta, rice and others. The simmer feature is effective at controlling the flame, but you must be careful not to tip the pot while adjusting the simmer sleeve. Either remove the pot, or make sure you are holding onto it while rotating the simmer sleeve. More complicated cooking such as frying eggs or cooking fish might be successful once you have experience with this stove. Brasslite claims that the Turbo II-D can simmer up to 30 minutes. I was able to adjust the simmer sleeve to simmer for 34 minutes on one load of fuel.

Wind Effects – As mentioned earlier, a windscreen is mandatory in anything but the calmest conditions. Frequently, a less than full wraparound windscreen is adequate, but for simplicity I find it best to use a full windscreen all the time. Without it, the Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove will cook much less efficiently, and may not complete your meal before you run out of fuel. In our wind effects tests the Turbo II-D was more susceptible to wind than most of the other stoves.

Cold Effects – I put the Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove and fuel in a refrigerator until they were chilled, then brought it out and it cooked just fine – as long as I used the preheat pan. My experience in the field was similar – the Turbo II-D ignited very quickly but the preheat pan was helpful below 55 °F.

Heating Efficiency

The Turbo II-D takes longer to bring 2 cups of water to a boil and is less fuel-efficient than most other stoves we tested. Wind more than doubled fuel use as shown in our test results.

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)
Brasslite Turbo II-D	6:55	16.6	13.59	40.4
Average of All Stoves Reviewed	6:09	15.7	8:20	32.8

Durability

Packability – The Brasslite Turbo II-D packs easily, and includes a built in pot stand.

Durability – I used the Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove heavily over the course of the summer, and it has held up extremely well because of its high quality brass construction.

Maintenance – Clean beneath the simmer sleeve to keep the sleeve moving smoothly.

Value

The Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove is well made and the built-in pot stand is strong and sturdy. The simmer sleeve is a simple and effective feature that allows this stove to extend to more complicated cooking better than most other alcohol stoves. But, our tests showed the Turbo II-D to be less fuel efficient and slower at bringing water to a boil than many of the other stoves we tested. It has good features and construction, but at $40 is more expensive than most alcohol stoves.

Tips and Tricks

The most important tip with this stove is to use a well-designed windscreen to maximize fuel efficiency. Try your windscreen at home to make sure it protects the stove from wind and allows adequate airflow to the flame.

Recommendations for Improvement

The Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove is a much sturdier stove than most other alcohol stoves. It could be constructed a bit lighter without sacrificing quality. The most beneficial changes would be improvements in overall efficiency. It is possible that the open flame design contributes to wind susceptibility and lower fuel efficiency.

Overview

The AntiGravityGear Mama’s Kitchen Deluxe Set alcohol stove is a complete cook set, with components designed to work effectively with one another. The system includes 3-cup and 2-quart cookpots, two appropriately sized pot cozies, pot gripper, Tin Man alcohol burner, windscreen, bowl/measuring cup, soap, and pot scrubber. The only items missing from this set are alcohol fuel and a bottle to put it in. The burner is lightweight (0.4 ounce for the burner/pot stand) and super easy to prime and use. I liked the pot cozies, which extended fuel supplies by allowing food to continue to cook long after removing the pot from the stove. My only complaint – the pot stand is the top of the burner and only 2.0 inches in diameter. This is unstable, particularly for larger pots, and reduces efficient heating to the center of the pot.

Specifications

• Stove ID	Mama’s Kitchen Deluxe Set with non-stick cookpots
• Stove Type	Closed jet (once the cookpot is placed on top)
• Components, Dimensions, and Weight	Component/accessory Dimensions: height x diameter (in) Dimensions: height x diameter (mm) Backpacking Light measured weight oz (g) Manufacturer claimed weight oz (g) Tin Man burner 1.6 x 2.6 41 x 65 0.4 (11.3) 0.4 (11.3) Windscreen 2.5 x 7.1 64 x 180 0.8 (22.7) 0.8 (22.7) 2-quart pot with lid 2.7 x 5.4 69 x 138 6.0 (170.1) 5.9 (167.3) 2-quart pot cozy 3.9 x 5.7 98 x 145 1.3 (36.9) 1.4 (39.7) 3-cup pot with lid 4.3 x 6.1 110 x 156 4.0 (113.4) 3.8 (107.7) 3-cup pot cozy 5.5 x 6.5 140 x 164 1.0 (28.3) 1.0 (28.3) Pot clamp handle 4.9 long 125 long 1.3 (36.9) 1.4 (39.7) Bowl/cup and cozy 2.5 x 4.3 63 x 110 1.0 (28.3) 0.5 (14.2) Fanatic Fringe UL soap 0.4 x 1.4 10 x 35 0.3 (8.5) – Measuring cup 1.4 x 1.8 35 x 45 0.1 (2.8) – Pot scrubby 3.0 x 2.0 75 x 50 0.1 (2.8) –
• MSRP	$55.95 Manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the Mama’s Kitchen Deluxe Set, non-stick version. The hard anodized version is $66.95. Refer to the manufacturer’s web site for pricing on other sets and individual items, which are plentiful.
• Manufacturer Contact Information	AntiGravityGear

Usable Features

Design – The AntiGravityGear Mama’s Kitchen alcohol stove Deluxe Set is similar to other cook sets with the exception of the Tin Man alcohol burner and the included pot cozies. The Tin Man burner is made from the bottoms of soda cans, is very compact, and fits easily in most cookpots. The burner has an inner chamber that is filled through a small slit in the inner chamber wall when fuel is added to the open cavity in the top of the burner. A cookpot effectively seals the burner’s top opening, so it performs as a closed jet burner rather than an open jet burner. During priming, the alcohol is heated to boiling and pressure builds up in the inner chamber. This pressure forces alcohol vapor out of the side flame ports and it burns as it emerges.

The pot cozies are designed to tightly fit the AntiGravityGear cookpots. They are made from a material that resembles bubble wrap covered in Mylar and are extremely lightweight and excellent at retaining heat. They are neither compressible nor foldable, and when used become the largest packed volume of the set, with everything else nested inside.

 

Weight – The Tin Man burner/pot stand combination is the lightest burner and pot stand in our review suite at 0.4 ounces. The 2-quart (6.0 ounces) and 3-cup (4.0 ounces) aluminum pots included with the Mama’s Kitchen Deluxe Set are lightweight, on a par with some titanium pots in fact, and much less expensive. The pots do not have integrated handles however, and require a pot clamp. The provided pot clamp weighs 1.3 ounces and is heavier than the MSR LiteLifter ( 1.0 ounce) and home made pot clamps. Fuel savings may cancel out the weight of the pot cozies (1.0 and 1.3 ounces) depending on your cooking style and trip length. See our performance review of the cozies here.

Flame Control – There are no mechanisms to control the flame on the Tin Man burner. If the food is getting too hot, either open up the windscreen to cool things off with wind, or remove the pot from the stove.

Pot Support – The Tin Man alcohol burner serves double duty as both burner and pot support. At only 2 inches wide, the support is not very stable and instability increases with pot diameter. The burner has the flame jets located on the side to prevent the pot from snuffing out the flame. With good site selection and care, even a 3-quart pot can be balanced upon the stove. However, we would like to see a more stable platform.

Wind Protection – A stiff aluminum windscreen is included with the AntiGravityGear Mama’s Kitchen alcohol stove Deluxe Set. Measuring 2.5 inches high, the windscreen can be slightly rolled up to fit in either the 3-cup or 2-quart pot. The windscreen does a good job of blocking wind. It does not have vent cut outs and sticks can be used under the edges of the windscreen to increase airflow when wind is minimal.

Ease of Use

 

Setup – The cook set is very easy to set up. There are no fuel lines or canisters to connect. Simply set the burner on the ground, add fuel, and it’s ready to light. The pot sits directly on top of the burner, and placing the windscreen around the pot completes the task.

Fueling – Filling the burner is easy – just pour fuel into the large center cavity. The large opening also makes it possible to use wider mouth fuel bottles like plastic soda bottles (alcohol stove fuel does not react with plastic).

Priming and Ignition – The Tin Man burner does not require external priming. All too often alcohol stoves require priming fuel to be poured around the outside of the stove, a process that consumes extra fuel and can be hazardous. Nearly all of my near mishaps with cooking in the backcountry have occurred with alcohol stoves that required priming. After filling the large center cavity of the Tin Man, a single match is usually enough to ignite it. As the alcohol begins to boil, alcohol vapor is forced out of the side ports where it is burned.

Flame Adjustment – The Tin Man burner lacks any means to adjust the flame. Essentially there are two settings: off and full output. In windy weather, opening the windscreen may reduce heat output to some extent, but this cannot be relied upon.

Cold Weather Ergonomics – With no moving parts, the AntiGravityGear Mama’s Kitchen Deluxe Set is fairly easy to use while wearing winter gloves. The large cavity of the burner is easy to fill and spillage is minimal. Burning alcohol is nearly invisible in daylight, so special care is needed to check to see if the stove is still burning so that bulky winter wear is not melted or caught on fire.

 

Cooking Systems – The Mama’s Kitchen Deluxe Set comes as a complete cooking system with a windscreen, pot gripper, Tin Man burner, insulated cup, pot scrubby, soap, two pots (3-cup and 2-quart), and pot cozies.

 

Cooking Performance

Capacity – The Tin Man burner produces enough heat for one or two backpackers. I tested the Tin Man at elevations from 8,000 feet to above 11,000 feet and temperatures from below freezing to 90 °F. Under all conditions, the stove ignited and cooked with negligible change in performance.

Versatility – Due to the lack of adjustability of the Tin Man stove, it does not score well in terms of versatility. This stove is excellent at boiling water but lacks the control needed for culinary tasks such as baking and simmering.

Wind Effects – The AntiGravityGear Mama’s Kitchen Deluxe Set has good wind resistance because of its solid sided windscreen. I used the cook set in winds approaching 30 mph with no major problems.

Cold Effects – I field-tested the stove at temperatures below freezing by placing the burner and fuel in a freezer overnight. There was no difficulty lighting the burner, but it did take longer to get the alcohol up to the boiling point

Heating Efficiency

 

Under our controlled and consistent testing conditions, the AntiGravityGear Mama’s Kitchen Deluxe Set Tin Man alcohol stove did not perform as well as other alcohol stoves. Boil times were longer because we had to wait for the burner to reach operating temperature before we could place a pot on top – otherwise the pot would snuff out the burner – and because the pot sits directly on top of the burner and that portion of the pot bottom does not get direct heat from the flame.

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)
AntiGravityGear Mama’s Kitchen Deluxe Set Tin Man	7:02	21.5	9:12	38.9
Average of All Stoves Reviewed	6:09	15.7	8:20	32.8

Durability

Packability – Made from aluminum soda cans, the AntiGravityGear Tin Man burner and windscreen pack well into the smallest of cookpots. There are relatively few parts for this alcohol stove, reducing the chance of leaving a key component behind. The 3-cup and 2-quart pots nest perfectly inside one another with the cozy on the smaller pot. And, everything fits inside the larger two-quart pot cozy.

Durability – Although the design of the Tin Man burner is very strong, it is obvious the aluminum used in soda cans is rather flimsy. Dings and dents may occur, but real damage to the usability will require a severe impact such as stepping on the stove while in camp. Keep it stowed in the pot or in another safe location when not in use and it should last for many years. One concern is the pot cozies, which could suffer damage from other items in the pack. They cannot be folded and stowed inside the pot and are best stowed around the pot. So, care must be taken to ensure the cook set is stowed in the pack against other soft items.

Maintenance – Due to the clean burning attributes of alcohol fuel, it is unlikely any maintenance will be necessary for the AntiGravityGear Tin Man burner. Wiping out the interior with a rag occasionally is about all that is required. The best means to lengthen its life is to avoid dropping debris into the center chamber. Since debris easily sticks to the wet bottom of a cookpot, this may prove difficult to do in actual field conditions. A simple wipe from a bandana is the trick. As mentioned above, the pot cozy is susceptible to damage due to the very light materials used in its construction. A small piece of repair tape is included with the set to fix any minor leaks. If it gets shredded, a replacement can be purchased for a reasonable price (starting at $8.00).

Value

The AntiGravityGear Mama’s Kitchen Deluxe alcohol stove Set costs $55.95, not bad if you need the whole set. A solo titanium pot, the Tin Man stove, windscreen, and appropriately sized pot cozy costs about the same. Since carrying a single pot is the norm for ultralight backpacking, we consider this set a good, not great value. AntiGravityGear offers many other options including other cook sets, individual pots, cozies, Tin Man burners, and other cooking accessories. For the solo ultralight backpacker, the 3-cup Solo Deluxe Set is a great value at $31.50 (non-stick pot, 8.6 ounces total weight). We also find their very useful pot cozies an excellent value when purchased either with the set or alone.

Tips and Tricks

The most useful tip for using the AntiGravityGear Mama’s Kitchen Deluxe Set is to replace the included windscreen with one of your own design. I recommend that you make a different windscreen for each cookpot so it fits with a minimal amount of gap at the top (about 1/2 inch), and extends an inch or so up the side of the pot. Air intakes are needed along the bottom to maximize the stove’s efficiency. A very light and foldable windscreen can be fashioned out of an oven liner by cutting two strips and connecting them together with a simple fold.

Recommendations for Improvement

The Tin Man burner design eliminates the need for a pot stand but it is very unstable. I recommend improving the pot support and stability either by increasing the diameter of the stove or including another option for supporting the pot. Of these two suggestions, I would prefer the latter. Adding a lightweight pot stand would raise the pot above the stove and allow the flame to directly heat the bottom of the pot, improving stability and cooking performance at the same time.

Overview

At 6.5 ounces (186 g, as verified on our scales) the Patagonia Specter pullover is one of the lightest woven fabric waterproof/breathable shells we’ve tested. The only same-category shell we’re aware of that may be a shade lighter is the Montane 180 Smock (manufacturer specification is 6.3 ounces, 180 g).

Unlike some lightweight rain jackets that barely fit over a thin fleece layer, the Specter offers a generous fit and layers easily over a moderate loft synthetic fill jacket (we tested a size M shell over a size M Patagonia Micro Puff insulated pullover) with a little room to spare. Unfortunately, its short hem requires the use of rain pants for full torso/trunk protection in real rain.

Considering its light weight, the Patagonia Specter offers more-than-spartan features that include a large dual drawcord hood, drawcord hem, articulated sleeves, a webbing stiffened zipper storm flap, and a kangaroo pocket.

Most unique about the Specter is a new seam construction technique, an ultrasonic welded seam manufacturing technology exclusive to Patagonia.

Patagonia also offers the similarly constructed 9+ ounce Specter Jacket (not reviewed, but with a full front zip and core-venting side/handwarmer pockets) and 6+ ounce Grade VI Pants (not reviewed) to complement the two shells.

The Specter belongs to a rapidly emerging category of sub-8-ounce shells. These garments are designed to provide complete waterproof/breathable weather protection at the weight and packed volume of our old emergency gear like a vinyl jacket/poncho, emergency blanket, or a water resistant windshirt. The philosophy is that there should be no reason to leave rainwear at home. By this measure (weight) alone the Specter is a success: it provides good weather protection and reasonable breathability for minimal weight and bulk. In summary, it is the lightest and most compact rain jacket we’ve used.

Specifications

Weight	6.54 oz (186 g) as measured Size M; manufacturer’s specification 6.5 ounces (184 g)
Model Year	2005
Shell Fabric	2.5-layer 1.9 oz/yd2 (64 g/m2), 20d x 22d nylon with 40d ripstop yarns; H2No® Storm barrier
Shell treatment	Deluge® DWR finish
Features	Water resistant half-length front zipper, dual drawcord adjustment helmet compatible hood, drawcord hem, simple elastic cuffs, single mesh kangaroo pocket also serves as a stuff sack, articulated elbows
MSRP	$225

What’s Good

• Lightweight: The Specter is one of the lightest waterproof/breathable shells we’ve tested. Lighter than last year’s model (our measured weights) by 2.5 ounces.
• Generous fit: The Specter will layer over a lightweight synthetic fill jacket like a Patagonia Micro Puff in the same size.
• Hood: Dual adjustment hood accommodates a low volume climbing helmet.
• Breathability: Waterproof/breathable fabric provides good breathability for its weight, unlike many other PU-coated ultralight waterproof fabrics.
• The Zipper: The Specter has one of the smoothest operating water resistant zippers we’ve used.
• Seam Technology: New welded seams have a lower profile, reduce weight, resist soil absorption, and minimize abrasive seam wear.

What’s Not So Good

• Kangaroo pocket: Wearing a pack hip belt blocks access and reduces ventilation.
• Ventilation: No pit zips or other core venting system further hampers ventilation of the half-zip pullover design.

Performance

Storm protection is a strong feature of the Patagonia Specter. Of special note is its large and dual adjustment hood that will seal around anything from a low volume helmet to a bare head, and when fully opened, provides a cavernous reprieve from a downpour while keeping the head area ventilated.

The Specter’s shell fabric is one of Patagonia’s most breathable 2.5 layer polyurethane membranes (their Stretch Element’s fabric takes top honors). The shell fabric breathed creditably when we hiked uphill at a brisk pace in 40 °F temperatures. What most limited the pullover’s overall comfort and moisture transport performance was its lack of ventilation options. With no pit zips, core vents, a vented kangaroo pocket that is blocked by a hip belt, and only a half-length, 14-inch front zipper, we overheated in this jacket at exertion levels that were lower than the breathability thresholds for most jackets and pullovers that offer core venting options. Of course, this is a tradeoff of the minimalist pullover design and is not particularly unique to the Specter specifically. With a pullover, which by nature is usually minimalist, you save weight, but limit your options to vent excess heat and moisture. If you need more ventilation options, consider the Specter Jacket (which offers a full zipper and large core vents built into the front pockets).

The 2.5 layer polyurethane membrane in the Patagonia Specter has a highly hydrophilic textured inner layer that is said to swell and become more textured as the inside of the garment gets damp (under the presumption that an increase in texturing improves moisture transport across the membrane by increasing the surface area for moisture transfer). In the field, wearing only a wool T-shirt, we found the inner surface of the Specter to be less clammy than some of the 2.5 layer PU garments we’ve worn, but can’t validate the membrane technology claims based on observation – the differences are not dramatic, if even noticeable.

The Specter has the smoothest operating water resistant zipper we’ve used. For a change, the slider moves easily with one hand, a refreshing change from most waterproof zippers on the market. The zipper is backed by a stiffened storm flap that never interfered with the zipper’s operation.

What’s Unique

The vast majority of seams on the Specter use a new construction technique by which seams are ultrasonically welded and backed by a narrow composite mesh reinforced seam tape – Patagonia calls this their Composite Seam System™ (CSS) technology, with the specific claims:

• Lighter weight
• More compressible
• More waterproof
• More supple
• More aesthetically pleasing
• More durable (more resistant to abrasion)

Addressing these claims in turn, the meaningful differences in weight, compressibility, waterproofness, and suppleness are not noticeable in the field, although technically, they appear to be valid.

Folding a seam upon itself and visually inspecting it relative to traditionally sewn garments, it is clear that the seams are more supple and compressible, but when wearing or packing the Specter, these features are not particularly noticeable. Narrower (7 mm), thinner seam tape, and a butt-joined sonic weld (as opposed to a felled sewn seam) are primarily responsible for this. A worthy note: The Specter does compress into a ball about four inches in diameter. Considering that the old Specter (which used a heavier fabric weight) compressed to a ball about 5 inches in diameter, and a similarly designed Pertex Quantum/Microlight garment compressed to a ball about 3 inches in diameter, the 2005 Specter certainly provides an industry benchmark for waterproof shell compressibility.

Without an exact replica of the 2005 Specter sewn traditionally for comparison, it’s impossible to understand the extent to which the new seam technology decreases weight. Patagonia claims a decrease in weight of 27% in their Spring 2005 catalog. However, some simple back-of-the-napkin calculations that consider garment seam length, tape width, and thread weight indicate that the differences are not quite that dramatic and probably result in a weight savings in the range of 5% or less of the garment weight on the Specter (potentially higher weight savings can be gained for heavier, more complex garments). The 2005 Specter is indeed lighter than the 2004 version (by 2.5 oz), but most of the weight savings comes from a lighter shell fabric – 1.9 oz/yd² this year vs. last year’s 2.5 oz/yd² fabric and a slight redesign.

As for waterproofness of the new technology, we feel that the new construction technique makes little difference on a new garment relative to traditionally-taped seams. However, depending on the ability of Patagonia’s welded seams to remain durable over long term use, these seams should maintain waterproofness longer than sewn seams, since they are completely sealed during welding and taping, with no potential leak spots resulting from needle holes.

We’ve had no durability problems (with respect to failure of waterproofness, abrasion, or tearing) with the seams on the Specter to date but it’s still too early to assess the strength and long-term durability of this new construction technique. It will take a couple of years of field use and feedback from the market to make a fair assessment of the durability of this construction technique.

A thin composite mesh between the seam tape and the fabric weld adds strength to the seam, since the weld by itself is not strong enough to resist seam tearing on its own (Patagonia has a patent pending on this construction technique).

Patagonia suggests that this construction technique is an improvement over traditional laminated seams (a construction technique gaining popularity in garments by Mountain Hardwear, Arc’Teryx, and others) because it does not expose tape to outer fabric surfaces and suffer seam failure due to “tape-edge abrasion,” whereby a glued felled seam, or an outer-face-taped seam, results in either one or two tape or fabric edges exposed to abrasion. While tape-edge abrasion has been noted as a point of failure for waterproof garments, the incidence is low relative to other modes of failure, including most predominantly, abrasion of the exterior fabric face itself, abrasion of the interior coating in high wear areas, and incidental pinholes (a mode of failure important in ultralight fabrics). Tape-edge failure is not expected to be a significant mode of failure for most ultralight backpackers, but this may be a selling point for the very small fraction of users that spend their time shimmying their way up granite chimneys in the rain.

According to Randy Harward at Patagonia, except for some very special cases (concentrated loads in a very small area), the Specter’s welded seams are stronger than the fabric.

Note: a sewn seam is still stronger than Patagonia’s welded and taped seam. But Randy points out that you only need a seam that is slightly stronger than the fabric itself so that seam strength does not limit the overall tearing resistance of the garment. Beyond that, Randy claims, seam strength is not a limiting factor in garment design. However, depending on garment design, seams can bear disproportionately high stress concentrations in response to active movement while wearing a pack, notably, in the shoulders and back. To Patagonia’s credit, fit and mobility are not a problem with the Specter, and we don’t expect these seams to fail in the field as a result of tearing.

We think one of the more realistic, and meaningful benefits of this seam technology (also a benefit of glue laminated felled seams) as compared to sewn seams is that there is less material to absorb water (which may improve drying time as well). One mode of failure in the waterproofness of traditional shells is the soaking through of seams and resulting wicking to the interior of the garment. We don’t expect this to be a mode of failure in the Specter.

While writing this review, we debated with each other at great length about the real benefits of this technology. Certainly, Patagonia’s claims appear to be incremental at best with performance advantages that may not be noticeable in the field for most users (with the exception of aesthetics). Eventually, we did some industry digging to investigate real benefits to the manufacturer for construction techniques like this, and discovered an important consideration: in the long term, these seam construction techniques will be cheaper for the manufacturer. Garments using them can be constructed quicker and require less skill to operate the machines effectively. An increased capital investment is required up front, but long term cost savings will eventually drive the market to use welded and laminated seam construction techniques. The real question, however, remains: will we as consumers enjoy the fruits of this technology with lower priced garments? In the short term, this is doubtful: new technologies such as this always demand a price premium. Even in the long term, it’s unlikely that companies like Arc’Teryx or Patagonia will drop prices to compete with mid-market manufacturers for fear of brand quality dilution. So, instead, the consumer can expect to enjoy the fruits of this and similar technologies as manufacturers adopt the machinery and it begins to appear in a wider variety of garments from more brands.

Recommendations for Improvement

The kangaroo pocket is not compatible with a pack hipbelt, which blocks it for both storage and ventilation (see photo above). We’d prefer a more readily accessible napoleon-style pocket on the shell.

The Patagonia Specter Pullover is great for brief showers but if I planned on wearing a rainshell for long periods, ventilation would be a serious concern – Patagonia’s claim (from their Website) that the zipper is “deep for ventilating” doesn’t rise to the standard of other manufacturers (especially those in the UK, who are known for creating very functional smocks/pullovers) and is in reality only a 14-inch half zipper (size M). And so, if you are expecting to wear a rain shell in sustained wet conditions, consider the 9-ounce Specter Jacket or similar design with better ventilation.

And a reality check: From a technical design and engineering standpoint, we think that Patagonia’s new seam construction techniques are superb, and have no reason to invalidate any of the claims they make about them. But in the field, don’t expect the seams to create meaningful increases in garment performance for you. Where this technology could really shine is in long term durability and waterproofness – but it will be a few years before we understand the impact of this technology during sustained field use.

Overview

Out of 17 stoves we tested, the Clikstand was one of the four best performers in terms of boil time, fuel efficiency, and ease of cooking. The four-piece pot stand/burner holder is easy to assemble, and as the name suggests, the center section simply clicks into place. The components are made of stainless steel, and weigh a little more than aluminum stove setups, but are far more durable and long lasting. An elegantly made aluminum windscreen fits on three small extensions from the pot stand to protect the flame/pot interface. The stove is sold with a Trangia burner, which works very well with the Clikstand, but the Trangia burner is heavy at 3.9 ounces. To offset the weight of the pot stand/burner holder, I recommend using an aluminum alcohol burner, which would save around 3.5 ounces. Overall, I was very impressed by the Clikstand’s design, durability, and ease of use.

Specifications

• Stove ID	Clikstand S-1 Complete Set
• Stove Type	Open jet
• Components Reviewed	Clikstand pot stand/burner holder, Trangia burner, windscreen
• Dimensions	Burner is 3 in diameter x 1.75 in high (8 cm x 4.5 cm); stove setup size is 6 in diameter x 4 in high (15 cm x 10 cm); packed size is approximately 5 in x 4.5 in x 3.25 in (13 cm x 11 cm x 8 cm)
• Weight	Backpacking Light measured weight: 8.4 oz (238 g). Manufacturer claimed weight (stand, stove, windscreen): 6.7 oz (190 g).
• MSRP	$51.95 Manufacturer’s suggested retail price
• Manufacturer Contact Information	Ursa Design

Usable Features

Design – The Clikstand’s design is a marvel to behold. It consists of three sections of stamped thin gauge stainless steel that connect together precisely, plus a center section that clicks into place. The center section supports a Trangia burner. Other alcohol burners can also be used. The setup will burn Esbit fuel tabs as well by placing the fuel tab on the bottom side of the up-side-down stove. Three ledges on the outside of the pot stand support the windscreen. Air enters from the bottom and exits around the cook pot.

Weight – The stainless steel pot stand/burner holder (3.3 ounces), and Trangia burner (3.9 ounces) are on the heavy side, but the windscreen is light aluminum (1.2 ounces). The Clikstand’s excellent durability offsets its extra weight. A lightweight aluminum stove can be substituted for the Trangia burner to save some weight.

Flame Control – Slide the Trangia’s adjustable simmer ring to lower the flame by restricting combustion air, or close the simmer ring to extinguish the flame. It also has a cap to seal alcohol in the stove after it has cooled.

Pot Support – There are three projections from the pot support that contact a cook pot. Each has three teeth to grip the pot. The distance from the top of the burner to the bottom of the pot is 1.3 inches. The pot support is very sturdy and will accommodate any pot up to 5.25 inches in diameter in conjunction with the Clikstand windscreen.

Wind Protection – The Clikstand uses an aluminum windscreen 6 inches in diameter and 2.5 inches high. It covers the lower 1.25 inches of the pot and protects the critical stove to pot gap. The windscreen is beautifully made and rolls up into a 3-inch tube.

Ease of Use

Setup – Setting up the stove involves assembling the four parts of the Clikstand, fueling the Trangia burner and placing it in the stand, lighting the burner, and setting the windscreen in place. Time required is about 1-2 minutes. The Clikstand is easy to assemble and disassemble.

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 Trangia simmer ring is easy to use. It consists of a cap with a slide to adjust the amount of combustion air. For simmering, simply set the slide partially open and drop it on the top of the burner. To extinguish the flame, close the slide completely and drop the cap on the burner.

Cold Weather Ergonomics – Assembling the Clikstand with gloves on is no problem.

Cooking Systems – The Clikstand S-1 was provided for review as a cooking system (sans pot). It is exceptionally well designed, is easy to assemble, and cooks efficiently. This stove was one of the best performers in our lab tests, in terms of boil time and fuel efficiency. It was also quite wind resistant.

Options – The components are sold separately or as a package.

Cooking Performance

I took the Clikstand on backpacking trips in the Southern Colorado Rockies and camped among snowdrifts in mid-June. Daytime temperatures were in the 50’s °F and nighttime temperatures dropped into the 30’s °F.

Capacity – The Clikstand will accommodate cook pots up to 5.25 inches in diameter. The Evernew 0.9-liter titanium pot and the MSR 1-liter titanium pot work well for solo cooking with the Clikstand. For two people a taller 1.5 to 2-liter pot less than 5.25 inches in diameter is needed, such as half of a Mirro aluminum double boiler. The stove can accommodate a wider cook pot by substituting a wider windscreen for the Clikstand windscreen. The Clikstand’s Trangia burner has plenty of capacity to cook for one to four people.

Versatility – The Trangia burner has a very nice adjustable simmer ring that allows the user to adjust the flame to any desired level, with some practice. I used the Clikstand stove to melt snow, boil water, make macaroni, and boil fish. It performed all tasks well. However it is a bit impractical to expect an alcohol stove to melt snow and boil the resultant water; it simply takes too much time and fuel.

Wind Effects – I tested the Clikstand under windy conditions in lab tests and in the field. It was one of the more wind resistant alcohol stoves we tested but still required twice as much fuel to boil 1 pint of water under windy as compared to calm conditions. The Trangia burner has plenty of capacity to hold the extra fuel needed for windy conditions. The use of extra wind protection in addition to the stove’s windscreen is desirable in order to conserve fuel and increase efficiency.

Cold Effects – With morning temperatures in the high 30’s °F, I found that warming the alcohol filled stove in my hands was all that was needed to get it to light. Once lit, the stove took about 30-60 seconds longer to heat up to cooking temperature, but that was the only difference I noted.

Heating Efficiency

The Clikstand was one of the four best performing stoves, on the basis of consistent good results, in the Backpacking Light lab tests. It is interesting to note that the Trangia burner performed much better in the Clikstand than it did in the Mini-Trangia setup or Liberty Mountain Westwind setup.

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)
Clikstand	6:00	11.3	7:55	23.0
Average of All Stoves Reviewed	6:09	15.7	8:20	32.8

Durability

Packability – The stove components (pot support/burner holder, burner, windscreen) will fit inside an Evernew 0.9-liter cookpot.

Durability – The Clikstand setup is the most durable of all the stoves tested. The stainless steel Clikstand and brass Trangia burner will last a long time under normal backpacking conditions.

Maintenance – None required. With proper care, it should provide many years of service.

Value

The Clikstand is exceptionally well designed and well built, and extracts remarkable performance out of a Trangia burner. At $51.95 for the complete set, the Clikstand costs more than most aluminum stove setups, but it is built to last. The price is comparable to the cost of a canister stove or the Brasslite Turbo II-D, and you get a complete system (sans pot). The Clikstand is a very good value considering its great design, high quality, good performance, and durability.

Tips and Tricks

Although the Trangia burner has good design and features, it is heavy (3.9 ounces). To offset the 3.3-ounce weight of the Clikstand, a lightweight aluminum stove weighing around 0.4 ounce could be used, yielding a weight savings of 3.5 ounces. According to the Clikstand website, an aluminum cat food can works just as well as the Trangia burner, and is basically free. The bottom side of the cat food can (or other alcohol burner) can be used to burn Esbit fuel tabs with the Clikstand setup.

The Clikstand stove can easily cook for several people, but its windscreen limits pot diameter to 5.25 inches. A wider windscreen can be made from aluminum roof flashing or an aluminum bake pan. It is best to tailor the windscreen to the pot, allowing a quarter to half-inch gap around the pot, and cutting air intake holes at the bottom of the windscreen.

Recommendations for Improvement

The Clikstand S-1 is an excellent product. Some suggestions to make it a better system are:

• Offer a lightweight aluminum alcohol burner as an option.
• Include a simmer ring and snuffer ring with the aluminum stove.
• Offer the system with a lightweight pot and tight fitting lid (one that the other components fit into).
• Offer lightweight 8 fluid ounce and 16 fluid ounce fuel bottles that measure the amount of fuel dispensed.

Overview

The Hike N’ Light alcohol stove is simple and boils a small amount of water quickly. There are no adjustments, it’s either on or off, and burn time is controlled by how much fuel is added prior to ignition. The clips that hold the stove together and form the pot stand extend under the stove and make this stove very wobbly. It worked OK with small/light pots, but when heating a 1.5-liter pot of water, the pot fell off the stove! With its large burner and large jets, this stove produces a mini-bonfire without a windscreen. With some practice, a windscreen can be used to control combustion air and damper it down. Overall, this stove is suitable for solo use, but lacks the stability needed to handle larger/heavier pots.

Specifications

• Stove ID	Hike N’ Light
• Stove Type	Closed jet
• Components Reviewed	Alcohol burner, preheat pan, pot stand (3 clips)
• Dimensions	Preheat pan: 5 in (13 cm) diameter, burner: 4 in diameter x 1.25 in high (10 x 3 cm)
• Weight	Backpacking Light measured and manufacturer claimed weight: 4.0 oz (113 g)
• MSRP	$14.99 Manufacturer’s suggested retail price
• Manufacturer Contact Information	Hike N’ Light Inc.

Usable Features

Design – The Hike N’ Light alcohol burner is a 4-inch tin with holes in the lid. The two halves of the tin are held together with steel clips that form the pot stand. The burner sits on a 5-inch base that serves as a pre-heating tray. Once the bottom of the burner is filled with fuel, the lid is replaced and the three clips are installed to create the pot support. The assembled stove is placed on the base and 2 tablespoons of fuel are added to the base and ignited. This heats the stove’s fuel reservoir and vaporizes the fuel, which flows out of the stove’s nine jets under pressure and burns as it exits.

Weight – This stove is heavy by alcohol stove standards. Total weight is 4.0 ounces. It is definitely a minimalist stove and the only way to make it lighter would be to use a smaller tin or lighter metals.

Flame Control – None provided. Once pre-heated and ignited, this stove burns until all of the fuel is consumed.

Pot Support – The pot support consists of three steel clips. Unfortunately, the design of these clips does not produce a stable pot stand. A small 0.75-liter pot was noticeably tipsy on this stove. When I tried a larger 1.5-liter pot it was so unstable that it fell off the pot stand while heating. I could not find a way to eliminate the stove’s tendency to wobble. The stove was always wobbly and every pot wiggled on the pot stand. This stove is definitely suitable for small pots only.

Wind Protection – I followed the Hike N’ Light instructions, which say to “wrap the stove and pot with a windscreen (not included) to minimize heat loss. Leave a small opening near the bottom of the foil for fresh air inlet.” I constructed a simple aluminum foil windscreen and used it as per the stove’s instructions.

Ease of Use

Setup – Setup time is a little longer than other alcohol stoves we reviewed. I did not like the process of removing the lid of the burner to pour alcohol inside, and then assembling the clips before the burner could be ignited. The clips do not attach smoothly and require some fiddling to get them arranged properly.

Fueling – It is more cumbersome to fuel this stove compared to an open jet alcohol stove. The burner’s lid must be removed, the base filled with alcohol, then the pot support clips installed.

Priming and Ignition – Typical of closed jet stoves, the Hike N’ Light requires priming – a lot of it. The instructions say to place 2 tablespoons of fuel in the priming pan. That’s a lot of priming fuel; other stoves can boil a cup of water with that amount of fuel. I found the stove easy to prime in calm conditions, but susceptible to snuffing out in windy conditions.

Flame Adjustment – Stove burn time is regulated by the amount of fuel added prior to ignition. Without a windscreen, this stove produces a small bonfire, making it hazardous to reach a cookpot. I found that a windscreen (see photo) provides a way to limit combustion air and control the flame for more efficient cooking. Raise the windscreen to increase combustion air, and lower it (as shown) to reduce combustion air.

Cold Weather Ergonomics – The clips were hard to assemble under cold conditions while wearing gloves.

Cooking Systems – A windscreen (not included) is mandatory. While I made one of aluminum foil for testing purposes, a better windscreen for longer-term use could be made or purchased.

Cooking Performance

Capacity – The instability of the pot supports limits the capacity of this stove. The stove adequately heated 1 pint of water to boiling in a small titanium pot. It will heat larger volumes, but instability becomes a major issue with heavier pots. A larger pot containing 1.5 quarts of water was too heavy for this stove and tipped off the stand while heating.

If all you need to do is boil 2 cups of water, this stove will do the job. I would not recommend it for two or more people or for the more extreme conditions found in mountain environments. A windscreen is absolutely essential to obtain decent performance from the Hike N’ Light stove.

Versatility – I found the Hike N’ Light to burn too hot without a windscreen to restrict combustion air. With a little practice, a windscreen can be raised or lowered to provide some flame control. The configuration in the photo (minimal air intake) produces a low flame level. That said, I found it difficult to control the flame level enough to do anything but boil water. When attempting to simmer something as simple as macaroni, I had to hold the pot above the stove when the flame was hot.

Wind Effects – The stove is very susceptible to windy conditions; use of a good windscreen with this stove is mandatory.

Cold Effects – The stove’s efficiently was reduced under cold conditions.

Heating Efficiency

The manufacturer claims the most efficient fuel for the Hike N’ Light alcohol stove is methanol. We used Kleen Strip S-L-X denatured alcohol – which is about half ethanol and half methanol – so our fuel usage was consistent among all the stoves we tested. The manufacturer claims you can boil 2 cups of water in 4 minutes with 1 ounce of fuel. We verified that claim in our lab tests (see table below). The Hike N’ Light boil times were the fastest of all the stoves we tested. Our boil times were longer in the field; to get water at 55 °F to boiling required 5 minutes 29 seconds on average. Fuel consumption (including priming fuel) for the Hike N’ Light was the highest of all the stoves we tested under optimal conditions, and among the highest 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)
Hike N’ Light	3:54	26.9	4:27	37.3
Average of All Stoves Reviewed	6:09	15.7	8:20	32.8

Durability

Packability – This stove collapses down to a small neat package. The pot stand clips can be stored inside the stove, which nests in its base. The base is 5 inches in diameter and easily nests inside a small pot that is just larger in diameter than that.

Durability – The stove is simple and fairly durable. Hard knocks on rocks might dent the stove, making it hard to open and keep airtight.

Maintenance – The only maintenance needed is to wipe the stove periodically to remove carbon. The manufacturer claims the stove is disposable and recyclable.

Value

In spite of its low cost ($14.99), the Hike N’ Light alcohol stove is a poor value because of it cumbersome fueling process, poor pot stability, excessive flame size, and high fuel consumption.

Tips and Tricks

A pot about 5.5 inches in diameter and about 2.5 to 3 inches deep with a lid would maximize this stove’s efficiency and permit nesting the stove inside.

Recommendations for Improvement

I would suggest that the manufacturer improve the clip system that forms the pot supports for the Hike N’ Light. I played with these clips a lot but was never satisfied with how they attached. Perhaps some indents on the stove to guide the clips and a better clip design would solve the problem.

Also, this stove needs a better provision for flame control. Without a windscreen, it produces a mini-bonfire that threatens to burn hands or clothing. With a windscreen, some measure of flame control is possible, although the output is still erratic.