Stable pot stand for canister stoves

“Unstable”

We use a 1.3L pot so we’re close in size. We found that “instability” was a result of not being able to center the pot, or keep it centered, on the supports. By adding a windscreen that defined the “target zone” we accomplished “stability”

Is this what you see, and need, or is it something else?

If the former, look Here for one that attaches to the pot as server as a ‘docking guide’.

Or look Here for windscreen that center on the pot supports.

If the latter, keep explaining.

Not sure which stove you are using, Greg, but the Pocket Rocket has less contact with the pot than other stoves I've seen pictures of.. the MSR Pocket Rocket has 3 sharp points of contact with the base of the pot.

You might think that this is actually more stable than large contact but I certainly wouldnt call it very stable with about 0.8 L of water in my Snow Peak 1400.. without winds, I might take the chance..

Your suggestion seems to amount to 'center the pot right'.. I haven't been able to solve that problem that way. I do plan to built a windscreen attached to the base of the pot like in the links you posted anyway though..

What I have in mind is some sort of wire pot stand, like those common for alcohol stoves.. it would get a bit complicated here with weight resting on the Pocket Rocket and / or on the pot stand..

Some stands like these perhaps.. adapted for canisters.

http://zenstoves.net/PotStands.htm

Yes, "centering" greatly improved our issues.

Here is our Snow Peak GigaPower on the bottom of our 1.3L Evernew –

From what you describe I'd pick Deems Burton's SpokeStand support for simplicity and packability. A slotted windscreen could rest on the supports, provided they extend past the pot.

I'll be interested to see what you settle on.

If the issue is the stability of the stove itself– having a good base– you can get the base for a Brunton stove that will work with standard canisters: http://www.brunton.com/product.php?id=276

Brunton also makes a foot and for their stoves that allows using a windscreen as the canister can be lhttp://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/mb_post_form.html?forum_thread_id=32468ocated outside the windscreen. It lowers burner and gives a better base too– at the expense of the 5.4oz weight. I assume it will work with any canister stove as it is using the same nipple that a canister has. I'm tempted to try one myself. See http://www.brunton.com/product.php?id=596

Adding a closed windscreen around a canister is dangerous. I do think that making a hardware cloth stand is reasonable (and easy). In a perfect world, it will fit inside your pot when done– height being the deciding factor, as in "is your assembled stove shorter than your pot?" If you can use a remote adapter as above, then you can make a windscreen/pot stand out of aluminum flashing and can punch holes at the proper height for tent stakes to support the pot. It will still needs some holes to provide air to the burner.

I would sell or save the existing stove for use with small pots and get one that works better with the larger ones. For all the time and trouble, the stoves aren't that expensive and solutions that retain the offending stove just get heavier and more complicated. Cut your losses and run :)

It looks like I have these options:

1. Get a remote canister stove setup with tubing like Dale suggested. (Adds too much weight if I use it with the Pocket Rocket though..)

2. Sell the Pocket Rocket and get a stove which makes more contact with the pot like the Snow Peak stove above.

3. Build a tall wire pot stand like these:
https://dpcr19kltm61a.cloudfront.net/backpackinglight/user_uploads/1227865321_08654.jpg
and add some aluminum foil near the top as a windshield and use stakes through the wire stand to set the height of my pot.

4. Stabilize the canister better (doing it Jim Wood style: Jim Wood and hope it fixes stability of the pot.

I’m going to start at 4 and work backwards..

The MSR Pocket Rocket is a bit notorious for this instability. Those long flimsy pot supports are a problem. Almost any other small upright is significantly more stable imho.

Cheers

The Pocket Rocket will tend to tip over if you have a heavy pot on it. Recommendation: don't use a heavy pot on a small stove. The pot supports have never been a problem in the last ten years that I have used this consistently.

–B.G.–

I've used the MSR pocket rocket and the Snowpeak gigapower with my 2 liter pot about 2/3 full of water. The Gigapower is stable enough that I let my 10 year old stir the Lipton Alfredo noodle & sauce mix while it's simmering / thickening. The pocket rocket is so unstable that I worry whether I'll be able to do it, and I'm sure my 10 y.o. wouldn't be able to do it. The gigapower with a 3 liter pot feels like the pocket rocket with a 2 liter pot (each about 2/3 full).

ps: I always use the 8 oz MSR canisters, and they are a little wider than most so this may help the stability I've experienced.

you.

Canister stoves really need to be well matched to the pot style used.

Hence why I own so many pots and stoves :-D

In all seriousness…the Snow Peak Giga is my favorite for stability for a smaller stove. The MSR windPro is a good example of another stable stove – but alas is heavier.

As well….pots with bottom grooves will be more stable than smooth ones.

I haven’t used those plastic canister stands but from Jim Wood’s website,

Super Legs

I’m not very favorably disposed to them. His tripod solution seems a lot more stable, simpler and cheaper..

get some!

I use a Primus Micron Ti 2.5, and team it with the Primus canister feet and their windshield. Granted it adds some weight but it means I save fuel and save hassle, I can set up in more unstable locations and it gives me peace of mind. I highly recommend all three!

When I got my Jetboil Flash the stabilizer was included. Very helpful with the tall and lean cooking cup. Definitely worth buying if you use a Jetboil PCS or Flash.