Does anyone use their Caldera Cone w/alcohol or esbit for 2P, and if so, what’s your setup?

For my wife and I, we use a Vargo Ti 1.3 liter pot to heat a bit more than a liter for “freezer bag” meals, exclusively with alcohol, across 3 seasons (not winter).

Works great.

Edit: corrected to 1.3 L

I did a couple of nights last year with a buddy and we used my Ti Tri Sidewinder 900 ml Evernue. We used Alcohol for boiling water and ate hot breakfast with coffee and hot dinners. Everything worked really well and it is pretty light.

Almost forgot I changed the stove out for a starlyte modified burner and never looked back

similar to this http://www.traildesigns.com/stoves/toaks-900ml-pot-sidewinder-ti-tri-bundle

When I move solo I usually use the Litetrail solid fuel cook kit

YMMV

Jeff

Thanks Greg and Jeff. Greg did you mean 1.3L pot? How long typically until you reach a boil (nothing scientific, just anecdotal for 3 season conditions)?

It's super common to see cones used with small < 1 liter pots, but I was wondering how many folks use them with 1.3-2L pots with acohol or esbit only, as many people use canister stoves when cooking for 2P and up.

I've used alcohol only when boiling less than 1L water, so was looking for examples of people pushing the edge.

My parents use a 1.9 liter pot with a caldera alcohol and esbit and swear by it. No issues with boiling times, but they are never in a hurry either

"Boil time was 14, 16, and 16 minutes"
"Fuel consumption averaged 24 grams per boil"

Details are in the link above.

I often use my Evernew 1.3L with the Caldera Cone. I like it with alcohol–the very thin Ti that Evernew produces (thinner than any other manufacturer I've seen) is very durable but also conducts heat better because it's so thin. I bring it when cooking for two. Usually, I plan on burning with alcohol, but, depending on the trip and environmental conditions, I also like the CC for its wood burning capabilities if you get it in Ti. I generally bring the Inferno set-up along so that we can cook with wood.

One benefit of the 1.3L Evernew pot is that it is only 0.4 oz heavier than the 900 mL, but you get a lot more versatility out of it. It's good for snow-melting in the winter and alcohol in the summer.

With alcohol, it's not fast, but it's never too slow and I don't mind the pace. It's good either for a rest or for relaxing once in camp. And I swapped out my 12-10 for the modified Starlyte (I have a Sidewinder cone and prefer not to use the stakes in alcohol mode).

Thanks Greg and Clayton. Greg I missed the hotlink first time around.

Clayton I agree the 1.3L is more versatile than the .9L for little extra weight, especially if you make your own Ti foil lid. Do you use alcohol and wood in winter or gas canister stove with your 1.3L pot?

Also, I'd heard a cone user say that his Ti Tri cone burned wood very well without the Inferno gasifier insert. From your experience how much does the Inferno help? (I should make this a separate thread). I don't plan on wood as a primary fuel but to augment and as a backup.

Is the modified Starlyte the one that's offered by Trail Designs with their cones?

Good day.

I'm also using my Ti-Tri with Evernew 1.3L pot. And I also switched the 10-12 to Starlyte stove.

12-10 is just fine! Trail Designs are great! The Starlyte stove has the following benefits:
0) it's smaller and packs in small pots
1) it doesn't spill the alcohol. It has some sort of absorbent material and even if you turn it upside-down after you've filled it, the alcohol will not spill out of it. This is great feature for alcohol stove, because even if you accidentally kick it, it is still safe.
2) you don't need the stakes, as it works great at it's height. You may need to place it a bit higher than 10-12 (1" or so), to make it work more efficiently.
3) when you've finished your cooking, no need to suck the remains of alcohol. Just place a lid on it, the remains will be burnt next time you need it.

You can buy this stove from Zelph Stoves. Make sure you pick the modified version for Caldera Cone setups.

Trail Designs does not sell it.

Hope this makes sense.

Greg.

P.S> Ah, and regarding your question, well, yes, but I have never done so for more than 3 nights. I think length of the trip does play here very important factor.

"Make sure you pick the modified version for Caldera Cone setups."

I was of the impression that Zelph recommends the modified for the smaller pots (e.g. 600ml), and the unmodified for 900ml and above. The issue is the best fit for the pot diameter.

Either way no pot support. What I meant is the one with the flame restrictor ring for 600ml, and the one without that restrictor for wider pots.

I noticed that Trail Designs sells the modified version but without the pot supports (even though the cone supports the pot it would be nice to have the supports if you ever wanted to run the stove without the cone with just a simple wind shield).

I'm not sure how easily removable the pot supports are.

Part of the point of the Starlyte is that it will fit in a small pot along with the rest of the Sidewinder setup — something it could not do with pot support attached.

Thought they were removable. They look like they pop right out from the photo.

supports just pull out . go back in easy.

You guys with your modified Starlytes and big pots surprise me.

I've been using a Starlyte n cone(s) regularly since 2010. no problems with fuel efficiency .

Bought the modified one when they came out (a year or less ago?). It isnt as good as the standard for me and my cones. Only just getting bubbling before it burns out. The standard gets a rolling boil and then some on the same amount of fuel and situation .
Maybe its the UK fuel.
Anyhow . Just saying, I don't see a modified starlyte as being a better option for a larger pan. (or at all for just boiling water)

I have two Ti Tri cones (.9 and 1.3 litre) and while they both burn wood satisfactorily without the Inferno insert, I must say that it is better with the Inferno. I have no scientific data, but it is easier to get the fire started and keep it going, with I think less smoke too.