Another pro-tip on lighting an alcohol stove: Find a stick, dip it briefly in the alcohol in your stove, then light the stick and use it to light the stove. Easier to do than trying to dip your lighter into the cat can stove. Also keeps your hand hair from getting burned off. :)
Nice and I just switched to an EZ reach bic. Just barely fits into my kit. Now I can switch back to the mini bic with this tip. I did use a ferro rod and throw sparks in the burner. Worked great, but knowing myself, one of these times I would accidently hit the stove and spill things while trying to light with the ferro rod.
Gas stoves do not work below 35 degrees. Alcohol works at all temperatures. There is no one size fits all, you need gear suitable for the conditions you will be in.
Pro tip. Store your fuel canister with plastic cap upside down in your cup. Any moisture in there can cause rust rings from the bottom of the canister. Great topic. Thanks for sharing. Cheers.
I'm kind of back to alcohol. Just ordered a Trangia knockoff with a little holder. I saw a video where they added rolled up carbon felt in the middle and made it more efficient. I'm also thinking of soaking my dehydrated food I make at home to save boil time. Maybe I'll end up with a gas, but it just seems wasteful throwing away those cannisters. Some people say they can get a boil using about 1/2 ounce of alcohol. That would be 250 boils per gallon. I think the real savings comes from dehydrating your own food instead of using those expensive freeze-dried bags.
Heads up if back/bikepacking in France. The don't always stock the screw type cans but their Camping Gaz type (mid blue can) in a "clip style" so carry an adapter, available on line. (Camping Gaz also make a pierce type which is not suitable.)
Nice but a bit misleading on one aspect: you actually CAN regulate the flame on an alcol stove, just goet the famous Trangia stove 😉 Finding alcol in literally every grocery shop (cannot say the same for gas) is worth waiting some more minutes for the water to boil on alcol, in my opinion 😊
Heet (Yellow bottle, NOT red bottle) can be bought at many stores. Amazon, Walmart etc. Presently, it typically costs under $2.10 per 12 oz. In either of the alcohol stoves in this video, one ounce easily boils 16 oz/ two cups/500 ml of water, so one bottle of Heet provides 12 boils. The unused alcohol can be poured back into the bottle for later use. Isopropyl alcohol also works well in the alcohol stoves, but leaves soot on the pan/pot. No moving parts, nothing to break with the cat can stoves. I also like the isobutane stoves, but prefer the versatility and easily sourced fuel of the alcohol stoves.
The Trangia alcohol stove has a simmer ring. On the Trangia you can put steel wool on the bottom, carbon fiber fabric on top of the steel wool and cover with wire mesh cut into a circle to hold it all in place. This will prevent spilling and give you more burn time.
👍👍👍 Yep. I filled my Trangia with Glass Wool, topped with a tight Roll of Carbon Cloth. Done it with some of my other Alcohol Stoves and have never looked back.
Good video! I have found that proper wind protection makes a huge difference. For an extreme example, the Caldera Cone provides the most efficient wind protection while directing the heat directly to the cooking pot. The Trangia wind screen system is also extremely efficient. Whatever you use, a windscreen is necessary to conserve fuel. I have used various types of stoves and have found that, with high-altitude extremely cold winter backpacking over several days, nothing beats a white gas stove. When you have to melt snow for drinking water, heat cold water, or actually cook, isobutane and alcohol are both too inefficient and burn too much fuel to get the job done. During the warmer seasons, I'll use my Trangia, BSR, Esbit tablets, or even my twig stove. Winter is not the time to chance it.
I favor alcohol though admittedly I haven't been on any longer hikes. I usually add a dash of 91% isopropyl along with my HEET so I can see the flame easier. My reasoning is primarily due to the multi-purpose nature of alcohol, it's obviously a fuel, antiseptic and it works wonders on pine sap. There are probably a number of other uses I'm overlooking, feel free to add below 😁
I own several alcohol burners, an MSR pocket rocket 2, and several multi fuel stoves. Each type serves a different purpose. If I'm backpacking with one other person I take the alcohol stove. If I'm cooking for 3 or 4 people I use the canister one, and for bigger groups I use the white gas stoves. If I have to pick a favorite, the alcohol stoves win.
If you use carbon felt in a fancy feast alcohol stove there will be a lot less or no spillage due to the carbon felt being soaked with the fuel. You can put carbon felt in any alcohol stove to fix the spilling issue.
You can add the toaks 550 cup and it nest upside down into your cup with lid and can still fit fuel canister etc plus extras and a evernew fd lid will fit your current bowl/mug. So look for the other 550 that includes the lid from toaks!
On a thru-hike, I like to keep a tally on my phone - each time I do a boil with a canister. Then I have a rough idea of how much fuel I have left and when I need to pickup a new canister. Love the videos!
If it's a quick trip and I'm not doing a lot of cooking, it's the alcohol stove. The more cooked meals (and coffee) I'm planning, then the canister stove is a better option for space and weight once you compare the amount of alcohol needed for the alcohol stove. But as I mentioned on your IG post, I love the quiet of the alcohol stove. Just picked up an adapter so I can refill the small canisters so I might start bringing that more often. The small canisters don't seem to be as readily available around me and when you do find them, they are almost the same price as the next size up.
Great video! My backpacking style/experience matches yours. I figure about 9 boils for my area. I'm a iso for three seasons, a white gas in winter. I use a combination stove for my cold weather backpacking. For those that don't know. With some stoves, you can invert your canister for colder weather use (helps a little). IMPORTANT SAFETY TIP - Do not use a wind screen that wraps around your canister stove snugly (like the scenario with alcohol stove). The canister gets dangerously hot. My one experience with this the stove got so hot it rendered the pizo igniter inoperable (very scary). Block the wind when necessary with something that provides lots of room around your stove.
My BRS stove has no igniter. I monitor the tank and use a very low flame with my chimney (combines a windscreen for the burner with a heat director to keep heat all the way up the side of the pot. I ended up using about 2 oz of fuel for boiling about 5-1/2 liters total water over 5 nights (750 mL at night for soup and an entre, 350 mL for coffee). Very efficient, and well-vented, plus a reflector plate between burner and tank.
www.google.com/search?q=fancy+feast+stove+simmer+ring&sxsrf=APwXEddkt8PTCn4VtmrGmPdc7Wh5yVp7iQ%3A1687074373677&source=hp&ei=RbaOZPKaJ72Qur8P1eKisAM&iflsig=AOEireoAAAAAZI7EVTevxCcwKetbPtBtu1HfAwe0E4UD&oq=fanc&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAEYADIHCCMQigUQJzIICAAQgAQQyQMyCAgAEIAEEJIDMggIABCKBRCSAzIOCC4QgAQQsQMQgwEQ1AIyCwgAEIAEELEDEIMBMgsIABCABBCxAxCDATILCC4QgAQQsQMQ1AIyCwguEIAEELEDENQCMgsILhCABBDHARCvAToHCCMQ6gIQJzoECCMQJzoNCC4QxwEQ0QMQigUQJzoICAAQigUQkQI6CwgAEIoFELEDEIMBOggIABCABBCxAzoICC4QigUQkQI6EQguEIAEELEDEIMBEMcBENEDOgUIABCABDoOCC4QrwEQxwEQkgMQgAQ6CwguEIAEELEDEIMBOg4IABCABBCxAxCDARDJA1DaD1j8E2DEHmgBcAB4AIABfIgBtwOSAQMwLjSYAQCgAQGwAQo&sclient=gws-wiz You can also make a few simmer rings for your fancy feast stove. Here are a few options.
Another pro-tip on lighting an alcohol stove: Find a stick, dip it briefly in the alcohol in your stove, then light the stick and use it to light the stove. Easier to do than trying to dip your lighter into the cat can stove. Also keeps your hand hair from getting burned off. :)
Nice and I just switched to an EZ reach bic. Just barely fits into my kit. Now I can switch back to the mini bic with this tip. I did use a ferro rod and throw sparks in the burner. Worked great, but knowing myself, one of these times I would accidently hit the stove and spill things while trying to light with the ferro rod.
@@Doc_Watsonif you want to stick with the ferro rod, just light up some tp or some bich bark or something like that and toss it in the stove
Gas stoves do not work below 35 degrees. Alcohol works at all temperatures. There is no one size fits all, you need gear suitable for the conditions you will be in.
I just don't like disposable tanks. Bugs me.
BTW--the Trangia alcohol stove comes with a simmer ring! Works fine.
Pro tip. Store your fuel canister with plastic cap upside down in your cup. Any moisture in there can cause rust rings from the bottom of the canister. Great topic. Thanks for sharing. Cheers.
Pro tip? 🤦♂️😜
I'm kind of back to alcohol. Just ordered a Trangia knockoff with a little holder. I saw a video where they added rolled up carbon felt in the middle and made it more efficient. I'm also thinking of soaking my dehydrated food I make at home to save boil time. Maybe I'll end up with a gas, but it just seems wasteful throwing away those cannisters. Some people say they can get a boil using about 1/2 ounce of alcohol. That would be 250 boils per gallon. I think the real savings comes from dehydrating your own food instead of using those expensive freeze-dried bags.
Wood works at any temperature with a light titanium firebox
Heads up if back/bikepacking in France.
The don't always stock the screw type cans but their Camping Gaz type (mid blue can) in a "clip style" so carry an adapter, available on line. (Camping Gaz also make a pierce type which is not suitable.)
I am in this same loop! Back and forth between the pocket rocket 2, brs, and my diy fancee feest. I just wish i could make a damn decision!
Nice but a bit misleading on one aspect: you actually CAN regulate the flame on an alcol stove, just goet the famous Trangia stove 😉
Finding alcol in literally every grocery shop (cannot say the same for gas) is worth waiting some more minutes for the water to boil on alcol, in my opinion 😊
Heet (Yellow bottle, NOT red bottle) can be bought at many stores. Amazon, Walmart etc. Presently, it typically costs under $2.10 per 12 oz. In either of the alcohol stoves in this video, one ounce easily boils 16 oz/ two cups/500 ml of water, so one bottle of Heet provides 12 boils. The unused alcohol can be poured back into the bottle for later use. Isopropyl alcohol also works well in the alcohol stoves, but leaves soot on the pan/pot. No moving parts, nothing to break with the cat can stoves. I also like the isobutane stoves, but prefer the versatility and easily sourced fuel of the alcohol stoves.
The Trangia alcohol stove has a simmer ring. On the Trangia you can put steel wool on the bottom, carbon fiber fabric on top of the steel wool and cover with wire mesh cut into a circle to hold it all in place. This will prevent spilling and give you more burn time.
👍👍👍
Yep. I filled my Trangia with Glass Wool, topped with a tight Roll of Carbon Cloth.
Done it with some of my other Alcohol Stoves and have never looked back.
Good video! I have found that proper wind protection makes a huge difference. For an extreme example, the Caldera Cone provides the most efficient wind protection while directing the heat directly to the cooking pot. The Trangia wind screen system is also extremely efficient. Whatever you use, a windscreen is necessary to conserve fuel.
I have used various types of stoves and have found that, with high-altitude extremely cold winter backpacking over several days, nothing beats a white gas stove. When you have to melt snow for drinking water, heat cold water, or actually cook, isobutane and alcohol are both too inefficient and burn too much fuel to get the job done. During the warmer seasons, I'll use my Trangia, BSR, Esbit tablets, or even my twig stove. Winter is not the time to chance it.
Just put your phasor on "stun" and it will cook anything in a few seconds!
I favor alcohol though admittedly I haven't been on any longer hikes. I usually add a dash of 91% isopropyl along with my HEET so I can see the flame easier. My reasoning is primarily due to the multi-purpose nature of alcohol, it's obviously a fuel, antiseptic and it works wonders on pine sap. There are probably a number of other uses I'm overlooking, feel free to add below 😁
I own several alcohol burners, an MSR pocket rocket 2, and several multi fuel stoves. Each type serves a different purpose. If I'm backpacking with one other person I take the alcohol stove. If I'm cooking for 3 or 4 people I use the canister one, and for bigger groups I use the white gas stoves. If I have to pick a favorite, the alcohol stoves win.
Coffee is a requirement for me, but I'm not an ultralight hiker.
Nice overview of fire choices.
Downside of gas stoves is an inability to boil water in high wind.
Those alcohol stoves just seem so finicky to me. And if you knock it over, you've got to extinguish a flaming alcohol fire.
If you use carbon felt in a fancy feast alcohol stove there will be a lot less or no spillage due to the carbon felt being soaked with the fuel. You can put carbon felt in any alcohol stove to fix the spilling issue.
Clear and concise recommendations. Thanks for that
You can add the toaks 550 cup and it nest upside down into your cup with lid and can still fit fuel canister etc plus extras and a evernew fd lid will fit your current bowl/mug. So look for the other 550 that includes the lid from toaks!
Thank you so much! This was short to the point and had all the information one need 🙏
On a thru-hike, I like to keep a tally on my phone - each time I do a boil with a canister. Then I have a rough idea of how much fuel I have left and when I need to pickup a new canister. Love the videos!
Why go camping if you don’t drink coffee? 😅
I had fun making and testing various alcohol stoves.
5:00 Kovea!!!
K-stuff ㅋㅋㅋ
Femto is better than BRS
As far as safety goes the gas is also a safer option as you can't 'spill it'. I'm always slightly paranoid in dealing w/the alcohol.
He has not heard of the xboil yet... 😅
Thanks man. Watched with interest. All the best to you.
Be careful when the inner one rusts, change it.
Have you found a difference in performance between gas canister brands? I'll have to check out Menards the next time I'm there. Thanks for the tip.
I haven’t yet, but still I am just starting to use the non REI ones. Also, why were the ones I bought on clearance 🤷♂️
I use a classifier wood stove
If it's a quick trip and I'm not doing a lot of cooking, it's the alcohol stove. The more cooked meals (and coffee) I'm planning, then the canister stove is a better option for space and weight once you compare the amount of alcohol needed for the alcohol stove. But as I mentioned on your IG post, I love the quiet of the alcohol stove. Just picked up an adapter so I can refill the small canisters so I might start bringing that more often. The small canisters don't seem to be as readily available around me and when you do find them, they are almost the same price as the next size up.
You can get a adapter to refill the smaller tanks from a bigger one.
Great video!
My backpacking style/experience matches yours. I figure about 9 boils for my area. I'm a iso for three seasons, a white gas in winter. I use a combination stove for my cold weather backpacking.
For those that don't know. With some stoves, you can invert your canister for colder weather use (helps a little). IMPORTANT SAFETY TIP - Do not use a wind screen that wraps around your canister stove snugly (like the scenario with alcohol stove). The canister gets dangerously hot. My one experience with this the stove got so hot it rendered the pizo igniter inoperable (very scary). Block the wind when necessary with something that provides lots of room around your stove.
My BRS stove has no igniter. I monitor the tank and use a very low flame with my chimney (combines a windscreen for the burner with a heat director to keep heat all the way up the side of the pot. I ended up using about 2 oz of fuel for boiling about 5-1/2 liters total water over 5 nights (750 mL at night for soup and an entre, 350 mL for coffee). Very efficient, and well-vented, plus a reflector plate between burner and tank.
Coldsoaking is the best type of stove for backpackers trying to keep their pack weight low
Don't waste that cat food! Just add some mayo and sweet pickles and make a nice lunch.
www.google.com/search?q=fancy+feast+stove+simmer+ring&sxsrf=APwXEddkt8PTCn4VtmrGmPdc7Wh5yVp7iQ%3A1687074373677&source=hp&ei=RbaOZPKaJ72Qur8P1eKisAM&iflsig=AOEireoAAAAAZI7EVTevxCcwKetbPtBtu1HfAwe0E4UD&oq=fanc&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAEYADIHCCMQigUQJzIICAAQgAQQyQMyCAgAEIAEEJIDMggIABCKBRCSAzIOCC4QgAQQsQMQgwEQ1AIyCwgAEIAEELEDEIMBMgsIABCABBCxAxCDATILCC4QgAQQsQMQ1AIyCwguEIAEELEDENQCMgsILhCABBDHARCvAToHCCMQ6gIQJzoECCMQJzoNCC4QxwEQ0QMQigUQJzoICAAQigUQkQI6CwgAEIoFELEDEIMBOggIABCABBCxAzoICC4QigUQkQI6EQguEIAEELEDEIMBEMcBENEDOgUIABCABDoOCC4QrwEQxwEQkgMQgAQ6CwguEIAEELEDEIMBOg4IABCABBCxAxCDARDJA1DaD1j8E2DEHmgBcAB4AIABfIgBtwOSAQMwLjSYAQCgAQGwAQo&sclient=gws-wiz You can also make a few simmer rings for your fancy feast stove. Here are a few options.