Bushbuddy durability and customs

I first bought the regular, because i was afraid the ultra would be too thin, i used it for a few week hikes before my wife lost it the first day of a 5 day hike in summer …

When i replaced it i bought an ultra, because in the meantime i saw one from a friend.

– ultra is much thinner, with the regular i used the stove a few times to lvl the dirt below him, ( using some weight on the stove and rotating it ) i would definitly not do that with the ultra.
– the regular could be transported by himself, i wouldnt transport the ultra without my 1.1L firelite pot to protect it.
– but as for the thinner tsteel suffering from normal use , i mean from heat : never

so i am happy with the ultra instead of the regular.

I only have the Ultra, but I'm confident it will last for years as long as I store it in a pot for travel. If I step on it in camp it'll be toast, but I'd be willing to bet the regular version wouldn't fair well either. Maybe I should paint it hazard yellow.

G

I had to pay custom tax here in Finland, about 16€ iirc.

Re: Durability, so I have no concerns that the Ultra is not durable. I used it the complete spring and autumn, and it shows no signs of giving up. Its well protected during transport in its Tibetian Titanium 1100 pot, and in cooking mood its standing either on the ground or another even place like a bench or table. However, I can not compare it to the regular BushBuddy.

Someone mentioned that the Bushbuddy Ultra can't handle being stepped on – I can confirm. After only a few nights out, I tripped in the dark at camp, and put some weight down on the top of the Bushbuddy Ultra. I only weigh 135 lbs. The outside metal crumpled badly on one side, bending the whole stove sideways. I was able to use a set of pliers to carefully straighten it enough to hold a pot mostly level again. Its still ugly, but functions.

I wish I got the regular. I am reasonably careful with my gear, but stuff happens.