Smelly Esbit and Thicker Gauge Aluminum

Fumes: Don’t know if they are toxic, the fumes get through almost any barrier. Try an Aloksak, or storing the ESBIT in an outside pocket. I’ve used ESBIT for years. I don’t worry about the fumes in the pot – nothing for the fumes to latch onto, unless you store food in there too.

https://loksak.com/civilian/aloksak-2/

Thicker aluminum: “disposable” roasting pans from the grocery store are thick enough and easy to work with. I made several windscreens from those before I switched to a Trail Designs Sidewinder Ti-Tri.

http://www.reynoldskitchens.com/bakeware/multi-purpose-roasting-pans

https://www.traildesigns.com/stoves/caldera-sidewinder

— Rex

+1  to what Rex said.

What I do is use these small gusseted bags that are kind of thick (heavy) but keep the smell in fairly well.  After a few trips the smell does eventually get through. I was thinking of trying a nylofume bag cut down to a smaller size to save some weight.  Here is a link to a similar bag that I use, I do not remember where I got them though.

http://www.clearbags.com/4-x-2-3-8-x-6-zipper-pouch-fda-gusset-bag-100-pieces-zbg2.html

Put a WTB ad on gear swap for aluminum flashing, some one ought to have a roll lying around.

I carry Esbit in various ziplock bags either in my cookset stuffsack (but outside the pot itself) or in the front mesh pocket of my backpack. Either way allows any smell to dissipate.

I find the 4 gram tablets to smell a lot less than the 14 gram tablets.

For aluminum, you can also use 36 gauge aluminum tooling foil

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/272401471000?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true

aluminum flashing from big box home improvement store – Home Depot, Lowes, or whatever

for example there are small flat pieces to go under shingles, or small rolls that are somewhat bigger

Thanks everyone, I should be set on the aluminum now.

Seems like the general consensus is to store the esbit away from the pot though? That’s how I feel, too, after reading about Hexamine tablets on Wikipedia ;)

Kind of a bummer since it all fits so nicely in the pot. There isn’t much wasted space. And space is a premium as I’m trying to fit all my kit, except shelter and active clothing, inside a 30L bag.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/220565737246?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Jon’s link gives you a lot more material for about the same price.  This link gets you a 6″ high windscreen that is cut perfectly straight and is likely close to what you need.  If you need a short piece I think he sells those also.

As to the esbit, I buy Coghlan’s tabs, which can be bought substantially cheaper.   Also, they store in sets of 4 or 5 pretty well in empty skateboard bearing containers.  I find the lightweight, but still fairly solid, containers keep the smell at bay pretty well, especially combined with another bag.  Of course if you don’t skate then you likely don’t have many of those containers around . . .

I use the Coghlan’s tablets as well and compared to Esbit don’t seem to smell nearly as much…..and the rounded tablets fit nicely in a Nuun Container.

https://www.rei.com/product/101656/nuun-active-tabs-hydration-tablets-10-servings

Pretty good smell blocker for Esbit are the “gourmet” potato chip bags. They’re impressively tough and you can roll the top shut and put a rubber band around it.

There are all sorts of smell-resistant bags in the cupboard when you think about it.

Has anyone determined if vacuum sealing food bags contain Esbit odors? If they can maintain a vacuum, wouldn’t they also be fairly good at containing odors?

Something like this might lose some of the odor containment once opened, but should allow a fairly good re-seal.

Use 4 gram esbit, they seem to have less smell for some odd reason.

2 ez-fold windscreen for $8.00 on ebay

I have a vested interest in the seller……..my son :-)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ZELPHS-EZ-FOLD-WINDSCREENS-2-FOR-8-BACKPACKING-CAMPING-COOKING-HIKING-/142135241775?hash=item2117ebac2f:g:NUEAAOSwPcVVy~C3

If you are willing to go with the Coughlan’s tablets they fit nicely into mini M&M tubes which are widely available anywhere that sells candy.

Dan – how much does each windscreen weigh?

4 inches tall, 22 inches wide stretched out.  How wide is it when it’s folded, approx.?

Can you cut them down with scissors or tin snips?

I don’t use Esbit all that much, but in my head-to-head comparison tests I’ve found that they perform much better than either Bleuet or the round Coghlan’s tablets–minimal ash, complete combustion. I have found that the least smelly container for the Coghlan’s is the one that Camelbak’s “cleansing” tablets come in. The M&M containers work OK too.

For my occasional “24” UL one nighter, I will take 3 Esbit tablets in their original packaging, and vacuum-seal them. They are odor-free until I open the sealed bag. When I use the first one, I will close the bag as best I can and use a tiny binder clip to try to keep them less smelly (it doesn’t quite contain the smell though, but it DOES keep them waterproof)). I don’t really like to store Esbit in my pot, but there are all sorts of other places to put them.

Jerry, don’t recall the weight of the screen. It rolls up into a 1″ diameter. The folds keep it nice an neat looking. ;-)

Simon,

I much prefer using ESBIT tabs with my small Sidewinder ti Caldera Cone stove. I bag them in foil lined coffee bags and never have the “fishy-smell” problem until I open the bag.

Also I have found a “semi- BGET” mod for my Gram Cracker fuel tab “stove”. From a disposable aluminum pie pan I’ve made small tablet holder with 1/4″ high sides that just barely wedges into the Gram Cracker and can be removed for storage. Like Brian Green’s tablet holder it holds the ESBIT tab’s liquid residue for a much longer burn time but is much easier to make (and replace).

ESBIT ain’t perfect but I feel it’s better than alcohol for trips over three days. With my 3 cup pot in the small Sidewinder I can always use wood if I run out of ESBIT. I take the two ti tent stakes that come with the Inferno wood burning conversion kit (to hold the pot higher when using wood) and leave the Inferno insert at home unless I’m winter camping. The Inferno insert makes the Sidewinder and Tri-ti versions very hot, as it makes the stove a true “gassifier” stove that burns virtually all of the gasses given off in wood combustion. It is HOTT and great for melting snow.