I bought the 4-Plex Soto Windmaster at the point in time where I wanted to buy a canister stove because I determined that it would be the most fuel efficient stove on the market. Agreed, it doesn't pack down like the MSR Pocket Rocket, however, the Soto igniter works every time whereas the MSR igniter has been reported as troublesome by many. It replaced my MSR Whisperlite which as you know is a liquid fuel stove that never failed me. It is a stove I bought way back in 1967 when it first appeared in the market place & replaced my Sterno stove which I happily discarded. TIP#1 - contact Soto & ask them for a set of O-Rings for your Windmaster so that you'll have an O-Ring if ever needed while out on the trail. To date, I've never replaced any O-Rings, however, I do have a replacement with me, if needed. TIP#2 - Get yourself a G-Works fuel transfer valve so you can always begin any hike with a full 4oz fuel canister. Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada
I did have serious issues with my first Pocket Rocket Deluxe, but this one is working great. The whisperlite is a great stove, just nowhere near as convenient, compact or light as a canister stove. I do have an extra o-ring, and I do need to get a transfer valve!
Mark, with the Peak Refuel meals needing 8-10oz I use the BRS stove to boil water. It has always worked and it packs down so small you just cannot beat it. I would never go to another stove. Happy Hiking
Hey Mark.. I've been using the BRS for as long as I can remember 8-10 years. It has never failed me in hundreds of nights out. I recently purchased the Windmaster but have not taken it out on a trip yet. The BRS is just so light and small its been hard to switch. I have worked on going as light as possible over the past 6-7 years, so its hard to add any weight back lol. Base weight was around 13lbs on the CT last year with a Helinox Chair Zero and it was never too heavy. Even when loaded up on water and food for . So the next trip I'm taking the Windmaster. I don't think an ounce or two will change that. Oh I'm also going out this weekend just to camp with a buddy and I'm using my Ridge runner. With the 4" thick Sea to Summit pad in it it is so comfortable. Finally!! For years I did not like it and now its the most comfortable sleep ever.
I got the BRS when I got into backpacking a few years ago (two actually, since I could get one for my son as well and still spend way less than I would have on most stoves). It's not great in the wind, but I usually just use some kind of wind stop (log, food bag, backpack, etc) if need be. I do plan to get one of the better performing stoves at some point. It just hasn't been high on my upgrade priority list as I'm still able to make my coffee on some mountaintops with the BRS.
@@SpiguyverBackpacking1 - Exactly. Upgrades are fun, and something that works more efficiently in windy conditions will be a good thing to have, but for the most part the BRS has proven to be a pretty singular exception to the rule of "Pick 2" when it comes to weight, price, and quality/functionality.
I am kind of a stove nerd so I have all of these stoves except the BRS but I have a Fire Maple that is similar to the BRS. Where I live in Northern California the wind is always blowing at least 5 mph so I mostly use the Windmaster. If the wind is blowing a hoolie I use my MSR Windburner which I have used in a steady 30 mph wind with no problem. I should mention that I don’t backpack anymore and only do day hikes so weight is not a big issue for me.
Hey Mark, I like my Snow Peak LiteMax Titanium. 1.9 oz, although as you are aware, it can be useless if you forgot to bring a lighter/sparker/etc. lol Good comparison video!
@@PisgahGravelProject it's also a way lighter setup. They're completely silent. Fuel wieght is almost 100% consumable if you use a lightweight container. Sure they take a little more intelligence to use effectively if you know you know.
Well I have the 9 dollar orange box I'm sure everyone has seen and it has never failed me but it splits time with my ff just depends on my mood speaking of did you finish the alcohol stove series? just wondering if I missed it I would like a windmaster but don't know that I can justify it since I do about as much car camping as Backpacking these days good thing is I'm getting the wife to go occasionally
Like just about anyone else that's been backpacking for decades, I too have collected far more stoves than I should have. Nearly everyone that shows and tests stoves is concerned with how quickly the stove boils water. With a few exceptions (alcohol stoves in particular), boil time is virtually meaningless! You should be testing the lowest setting with which you can get the stove to boil water. In other words, the amount of boils you get from a canister is far more important than the speed with which it boils. Speed wastes fuel for pressurized stoves! That has is a proven fact. How many boils do you get out of a canister? How many boils do you get out of a canister with wind screens in place?! These are what is important in stove reviews. The most backpacking efficient stove can be proved to be a BRS3000-T with a flatcat engineering ultralight windscreen costs less than any of those other stoves, including the extra windscreen, and weighs less than any of the others, with said windscreen! Numbers of boils per canister is the key stat...
I bought the 4-Plex Soto Windmaster at the point in time where I wanted to buy a canister stove because I determined that it would be the most fuel efficient stove on the market. Agreed, it doesn't pack down like the MSR Pocket Rocket, however, the Soto igniter works every time whereas the MSR igniter has been reported as troublesome by many.
It replaced my MSR Whisperlite which as you know is a liquid fuel stove that never failed me. It is a stove I bought way back in 1967 when it first appeared in the market place & replaced my Sterno stove which I happily discarded.
TIP#1 - contact Soto & ask them for a set of O-Rings for your Windmaster so that you'll have an O-Ring if ever needed while out on the trail. To date, I've never replaced any O-Rings, however, I do have a replacement with me, if needed.
TIP#2 - Get yourself a G-Works fuel transfer valve so you can always begin any hike with a full 4oz fuel canister.
Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada
I did have serious issues with my first Pocket Rocket Deluxe, but this one is working great. The whisperlite is a great stove, just nowhere near as convenient, compact or light as a canister stove. I do have an extra o-ring, and I do need to get a transfer valve!
Mark, with the Peak Refuel meals needing 8-10oz I use the BRS stove to boil water. It has always worked and it packs down so small you just cannot beat it. I would never go to another stove. Happy Hiking
Right on, glad the BRS is working well for you!
Hey Mark.. I've been using the BRS for as long as I can remember 8-10 years. It has never failed me in hundreds of nights out. I recently purchased the Windmaster but have not taken it out on a trip yet. The BRS is just so light and small its been hard to switch. I have worked on going as light as possible over the past 6-7 years, so its hard to add any weight back lol. Base weight was around 13lbs on the CT last year with a Helinox Chair Zero and it was never too heavy. Even when loaded up on water and food for . So the next trip I'm taking the Windmaster. I don't think an ounce or two will change that. Oh I'm also going out this weekend just to camp with a buddy and I'm using my Ridge runner. With the 4" thick Sea to Summit pad in it it is so comfortable. Finally!! For years I did not like it and now its the most comfortable sleep ever.
That's awesome that it's lasted you that long!
Glad you're getting to use the Ridge Runner, the sleeping pad is a good way to go with it!
I got the BRS when I got into backpacking a few years ago (two actually, since I could get one for my son as well and still spend way less than I would have on most stoves). It's not great in the wind, but I usually just use some kind of wind stop (log, food bag, backpack, etc) if need be. I do plan to get one of the better performing stoves at some point. It just hasn't been high on my upgrade priority list as I'm still able to make my coffee on some mountaintops with the BRS.
Hey if it’s working why make a change!
@@SpiguyverBackpacking1 - Exactly. Upgrades are fun, and something that works more efficiently in windy conditions will be a good thing to have, but for the most part the BRS has proven to be a pretty singular exception to the rule of "Pick 2" when it comes to weight, price, and quality/functionality.
I am kind of a stove nerd so I have all of these stoves except the BRS but I have a Fire Maple that is similar to the BRS. Where I live in Northern California the wind is always blowing at least 5 mph so I mostly use the Windmaster. If the wind is blowing a hoolie I use my MSR Windburner which I have used in a steady 30 mph wind with no problem. I should mention that I don’t backpack anymore and only do day hikes so weight is not a big issue for me.
Hey Mark, I like my Snow Peak LiteMax Titanium. 1.9 oz, although as you are aware, it can be useless if you forgot to bring a lighter/sparker/etc. lol Good comparison video!
I used to really want a titanium snow peak stove! I’ve been out and have forgotten a lighter and been stuck!
Fancee feast for me every trip.
One of my favorites! That or the Spiguyver Stove!
@@PisgahGravelProject🙄 speak for yourself. sounds like operator error to me. Haven't burnt a thing with mine in almost a decade I bet.
@@PisgahGravelProject your channel also has no content
@@PisgahGravelProject it's also a way lighter setup. They're completely silent. Fuel wieght is almost 100% consumable if you use a lightweight container. Sure they take a little more intelligence to use effectively if you know you know.
The Soto Windmaster is my go to. The igniter is failing on me though.
You need to watch the video I’ll be posting today!
Well I have the 9 dollar orange box I'm sure everyone has seen and it has never failed me but it splits time with my ff just depends on my mood speaking of did you finish the alcohol stove series? just wondering if I missed it I would like a windmaster but don't know that I can justify it since I do about as much car camping as Backpacking these days good thing is I'm getting the wife to go occasionally
The alcohol stove series just kind of went away.
@@SpiguyverBackpacking1 I understand
Like just about anyone else that's been backpacking for decades, I too have collected far more stoves than I should have. Nearly everyone that shows and tests stoves is concerned with how quickly the stove boils water. With a few exceptions (alcohol stoves in particular), boil time is virtually meaningless! You should be testing the lowest setting with which you can get the stove to boil water. In other words, the amount of boils you get from a canister is far more important than the speed with which it boils. Speed wastes fuel for pressurized stoves! That has is a proven fact. How many boils do you get out of a canister? How many boils do you get out of a canister with wind screens in place?! These are what is important in stove reviews. The most backpacking efficient stove can be proved to be a BRS3000-T with a flatcat engineering ultralight windscreen costs less than any of those other stoves, including the extra windscreen, and weighs less than any of the others, with said windscreen! Numbers of boils per canister is the key stat...