You are counting one of the best features as a liability. The ability to choose the stand is one of the best things about the Windmaster. Going ultralight and just boiling water? The Triflex is perfect, and it’s faster to set up than the Polaris. Actually cooking and using a frying pan or larger pots? The 4Flex is probably the most stable canister mounted stove on the market. Combined with stabilizer legs for the gas tank, it can even replace a remote canister stove or portable grill when car camping, assuming you don’t cook with cast iron.
I Never Remove pot stand from the SOTO WM, Always Leaving it connected, NO Need for me to remove it, same weight on or off, fold n roll into same size pouch, More importantly, it easily fits right into my compact cook set without issue + room to spare, the SOTO WM is superior when cooking with & supporting bigger heavier pots with its more substantial stand, its faster into action without having to unfold the fire maples pot stand. SOTO WM = Rock Solid Winner for our group👍👍
I have both and have had 3 Soto Windmasters and like you hate the fact it comes apart. The F😂iremaple is great, but not the same quality of fit and finish. I'm now using the Msr pocket rocket deluxe, which has the best of both these stoves features. The central igniter, the fixed legs and equal quality to the soto and better than the polaris and it comes in a great quality pouch. It also works a dream with the firemaple heat exchanger pot !
An interesting video, thank you. I had an FM Polaris a couple of years ago, the valve assembly came undone and fell out. I was fortunate that it wasn't attached to a gas canister at the time, or even worse, in use! Also, regarding stove weight, you didn't factor in the additional piezo lighter you need to carry for the Polaris. Personally, I think the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe trumps both of these stoves, but it's also the most expensive, by quite some way!
My last windmaster test had me using 7g of fuel for 16oz of water that started at around 60F at 6.3k ft in a 900ml wide evernew ti pot. I don't think it was windy though and I don't crank the flame very strongly.
I have approximately 8 SOTO stoves and they have all been totally reliable I would highly recommend them. I don’t have any experience with Fire Maple stoves so I can’t comment them.
@@Fellmandave1 Different stoves for different situations. Like you I’m a fan of the Stormbreaker and if I had to grab one only it would be that. The Amicus is a lovely little stove and if it had three pot supports I would be using that with Fire Maple Petrel. The Fusion Trek is a great remote stove, a remote version of a Windmaster. My favourite though is the ST 301 (I have three) that I use when we go glamping, it’s has a large diameter burner and is great for cooking like you would at home but with a relatively small packed stove but they aren’t light, not for backpacking. The odd man out is the the ST 320 (cassette stove) a novelty that I have because it was unique but not really a brilliant stove. It came to my attention that there is now a looky likely version (non Japanese) but I don’t know much about it. I have others which I feel are car camping with style stoves, ST 330 and ST 310 which has almost a cult following in Japan with lots of accessories and mini tables that the stove sits in, it was these that actually got me hooked on SOTO stoves. Hope this isn’t too much detail 😀
The Soto quality shines thru for me, if I had to take one on a long adventure I know which one it would be. Is the Polaris good in the wind? I think that's why I bought my windmaster was because it was better in the wind than some of the common alternatives such as the MSR pocket rocket. I'm sure the Polaris will be popular with some but it seems expensive when you consider what their jetboil copies are going for. Thanks Dave
I haven't either of these burner heads, but it is a god bit of info if needed. Don't burner heads have gas heater tubes anymore, or is this covered by the regulator you mentioned. Cheers Dave
I’m currently using the Windmaster with the triflex pot stand and the fire maple petrel pot and that makes a great combination, the triflex being a tri stand fits into the slots on the fire maple heat exchanger pot and makes it nice and secure.
@@Fellmandave1 Its called the Petrel 600ml Dave and with the Soto Windmaster you would be hard pushed to beat that combo for Burn time in wind / weight etc
@@Fellmandave1The one with slots in it is the Petrel, I’m using that with SOTO WM and triflex pot stand, a great combo. This combination I’m sure would be way more efficient than using that titanium pot, the Petrel is hard anodised.
@@SnowyAspenHills Totally agree mate. For years i used the MSR Windmaster because its super efficient in high winds but its ended up on eBay since i bought the Petrel and Soto Windmaster combo and its way cheaper and lighter. I put a Wildo mug over the end of it which fits snug too.
@@Fellmandave1 I have the Windmaster, a friend had the Polaris. We compared a couple of times as he was looking at getting the Windmaster before the Polaris landed in his lap. He now owns both and only has the Polaris as his spare as we both agreed the Windmaster is the better stove. *I apologise for coming across a tad curt in my initial comment.
Now worries, I'm growing a thicker skin. So what were the particular qualities that made you decide it's a better stove? Let's qualify your statement with some details Sog!
You are counting one of the best features as a liability. The ability to choose the stand is one of the best things about the Windmaster. Going ultralight and just boiling water? The Triflex is perfect, and it’s faster to set up than the Polaris. Actually cooking and using a frying pan or larger pots? The 4Flex is probably the most stable canister mounted stove on the market. Combined with stabilizer legs for the gas tank, it can even replace a remote canister stove or portable grill when car camping, assuming you don’t cook with cast iron.
Thanks John for your perspective.
I Never Remove pot stand from the SOTO WM, Always Leaving it connected,
NO Need for me to remove it, same weight on or off, fold n roll into same size pouch,
More importantly, it easily fits right into my compact cook set without issue
+ room to spare, the SOTO WM is superior when cooking with
& supporting bigger heavier pots with its more substantial stand,
its faster into action without having to unfold the fire maples pot stand.
SOTO WM = Rock Solid Winner for our group👍👍
Brilliant, thanks for that Anthony, indeed , why remove?
Should add lighter etc for the polaris weight as its useless without one
Fair point..
I have both and have had 3 Soto Windmasters and like you hate the fact it comes apart. The F😂iremaple is great, but not the same quality of fit and finish. I'm now using the Msr pocket rocket deluxe, which has the best of both these stoves features. The central igniter, the fixed legs and equal quality to the soto and better than the polaris and it comes in a great quality pouch. It also works a dream with the firemaple heat exchanger pot !
Oh no, not another stove I need!
An interesting video, thank you.
I had an FM Polaris a couple of years ago, the valve assembly came undone and fell out. I was fortunate that it wasn't attached to a gas canister at the time, or even worse, in use!
Also, regarding stove weight, you didn't factor in the additional piezo lighter you need to carry for the Polaris.
Personally, I think the MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe trumps both of these stoves, but it's also the most expensive, by quite some way!
Oh my giddy Aunt! The stuff of nightmares.
My last windmaster test had me using 7g of fuel for 16oz of water that started at around 60F at 6.3k ft in a 900ml wide evernew ti pot. I don't think it was windy though and I don't crank the flame very strongly.
Yes the wide pot is a major performance boost. thanks for commenting.
I prefer the soto as I'm assuming with it being wider, it will be more stable cooking with pans and will spread the heat across the pan better
It's a great choice Leeroy. Soto does some great stuff
I have approximately 8 SOTO stoves and they have all been totally reliable I would highly recommend them.
I don’t have any experience with Fire Maple stoves so I can’t comment them.
8! I am an amateur with just 3. I worship at the altar of my stormbreaker. Just wish it wasn't so heavy. Which is your favourite 😍?
@@Fellmandave1 Different stoves for different situations. Like you I’m a fan of the Stormbreaker and if I had to grab one only it would be that. The Amicus is a lovely little stove and if it had three pot supports I would be using that with Fire Maple Petrel.
The Fusion Trek is a great remote stove, a remote version of a Windmaster.
My favourite though is the ST 301 (I have three) that I use when we go glamping, it’s has a large diameter burner and is great for cooking like you would at home but with a relatively small packed stove but they aren’t light, not for backpacking.
The odd man out is the the ST 320 (cassette stove) a novelty that I have because it was unique but not really a brilliant stove.
It came to my attention that there is now a looky likely version (non Japanese) but I don’t know much about it. I have others which I feel are car camping with style stoves, ST 330 and ST 310 which has almost a cult following in Japan with lots of accessories and mini tables that the stove sits in, it was these that actually got me hooked on SOTO stoves.
Hope this isn’t too much detail 😀
Never!
The Soto quality shines thru for me, if I had to take one on a long adventure I know which one it would be. Is the Polaris good in the wind? I think that's why I bought my windmaster was because it was better in the wind than some of the common alternatives such as the MSR pocket rocket. I'm sure the Polaris will be popular with some but it seems expensive when you consider what their jetboil copies are going for. Thanks Dave
Cheers buddy.
I haven't either of these burner heads, but it is a god bit of info if needed. Don't burner heads have gas heater tubes anymore, or is this covered by the regulator you mentioned. Cheers Dave
Only some remote canister stoves have the reheat tubes now.
Have you tried the fire maple with the matching pot it has a heat exchanger for better wind protection and faster boil times
I have got a fire maple heat exchange pot but not the one with the slots in. Is that what you mean? Do you know the model?
I’m currently using the Windmaster with the triflex pot stand and the fire maple petrel pot and that makes a great combination, the triflex being a tri stand fits into the slots on the fire maple heat exchanger pot and makes it nice and secure.
@@Fellmandave1 Its called the Petrel 600ml Dave and with the Soto Windmaster you would be hard pushed to beat that combo for Burn time in wind / weight etc
@@Fellmandave1The one with slots in it is the Petrel, I’m using that with SOTO WM and triflex pot stand, a great combo.
This combination I’m sure would be way more efficient than using that titanium pot, the Petrel is hard anodised.
@@SnowyAspenHills Totally agree mate. For years i used the MSR Windmaster because its super efficient in high winds but its ended up on eBay since i bought the Petrel and Soto Windmaster combo and its way cheaper and lighter. I put a Wildo mug over the end of it which fits snug too.
A misleading and obviously biased review. The Soto is definitely the better stove.
Have you tried them both to help eliminate your bias?
@@Fellmandave1
I have the Windmaster, a friend had the Polaris. We compared a couple of times as he was looking at getting the Windmaster before the Polaris landed in his lap. He now owns both and only has the Polaris as his spare as we both agreed the Windmaster is the better stove.
*I apologise for coming across a tad curt in my initial comment.
Now worries, I'm growing a thicker skin. So what were the particular qualities that made you decide it's a better stove? Let's qualify your statement with some details Sog!