Thank you for showing this stove. Having watched yourself in action, I bought one. Takes a little practice to get the hang of it, especially with damp wood, like we usually have here in the UK. It certainly isn't as fast as my Coleman stove, nor as clean, but there is something really nice about cooking with wood. I was surprised of how little wood was required, even compared to other hobo type stoves I have used. Fits easy into my pack, so for summer at least, this is my stove to go. Many thanks once again and happy hiking.
Thanks again, my Canadian friend, for allowing me to join you on your little excursion into the woods. That is the most thorough explanation of the Vital Stove that I have ever heard. Great video!
Phong Nguyen: The skillet/frying pan and the pot gripper handle shown in this video are part of the Trangia cooking set. If you look at my my earlier videos about the Trangia stove you'll see the specific stove set to which the pan and gripper belong. The gripper handle is used for handling the cooking pots as well as the pan. Pot gripping handles of this sort are often sold separately in specialty camping supply stores. -Martin
Thanks very much Mike. You're absolutely right about the hardwood, especially if one is going to use it for baking, since baking a bread can take a long time and one doesn't want to have to feed pieces into it so often when a long cooking time is required (as is the case when baking a bread). We're glad you liked the video. We have more on the way. -Martin
Hi , 70 yr. old northern Canadian bush guy here. Well done video voice presentation perfect . I use this stove , fast , efficient. for fish from lake to pan . The last burn I do full throttle , only dust left . Bush safe !! I use a folding wind shield , zebra pots. lodge cast trivet as a grill top.. for frying . This winter for ice fishing going to load stove with charcoal briketts to warm hands outside .
Great video and thorough analysis. This stove was a gift from my older son many years ago, and I agree 100% with your pro and con conclusions. Because of the bulk and sooth, I did not bring it with me on a 11,000km off-road motorcycle trip to Alaska, but wish I had, since we had to search for butane during the trip. Thanks!
The paper towel/Nalgene packing technique has never failed us. We've never had a cracked egg on a camping trip, even when I've dropped the food barrel after a long, tiring portage. Of course, you have to make sure there's no jiggling around in the Nalgene bottle, so we pack it with extra paper towel to prevent that. The towels are great later on for wiping up greasy pots and dishes and they burn up easily. As for the powdered eggs, I agree with you. When I have had them, they were quite good.
I put a small rubber band around the damper mechanism so it remains locked in the 'closed' position when it's stored. One doesn't need to do so, I do it just to guard against the possibility that the damper could slide open while packed and perhaps be bent. It's just my own fussiness at work. Hope this helps, - Martin
Re Stoves, Thanks for the input regarding alcohol stoves in the snow/winter.I too enjoy the quiet and peaceful approach to cooking I will give it a try. Enjoying your videos working my way through episode 3 of your solo Igloo camp.
I'd heard of people doing that, but never tried it myself. I'm told that the egg's shell will prolong an egg's unrefridgerated shelf life compared to an open egg, which is why we've always brought whole eggs in the shell. Thanks for the suggestion. -Martin
I use an Emberlit Stove myself (small wood stove no fan). I find it very helpful to dedicate a kettle to it. I store the kettle and stove in its own bag to reduce the speading of soot to other items inside my backpack.
Thanks for your insight on the Vital stove and the BioLite Martin. A friend of mine brought along his BioLite when we hiked the North Boundary Trail out of Jasper last year and it was handy to have knowing you can boil as much water as you want without worrying about wasting fuel. We did find that charging a device such as a smart phone took a considerable amount of time and energy feeding the stove to get the device just back up to 20%. I now opt for carrying a smart phone instead of a camera and GPS (I always bring a compass) as well as a portable power bank that will charge my device 3-4x. The Vital stove appears to be a lot less bulkier and lighter then it's counter part. Again thanks for your thoughts and quick response.
imasurvivornthriver: I'm not sure which stove you mean, but I note that you're a prepper, and as such this might not be the stove for you because it requires batteries which likely be in short supply if the SHTF. Then again, you might have a good stockpile of AA batteries. Thanks for your comments. Cheers, -Martin
Thanks. Since you're going to be building igloos, I must mention that wood burning stoves (including the Vital Stove) don't mix with igloos. A wood-burning stove will produce smoke and any smoke in an igloo will permeate the snow walls and roof and leave the whole igloo reeking of smoke inside as long at the igloo is standing. When I camp in an igloo, I bring my Trangia stove, which burns methylated spirits (a kind of alcohol) so I can cook in my igloo if the weather gets really bad outside.
landsurfer86: I'm glad you found the review useful. The price varies quite a bit, but you can get it from Home Hardware for 80 bucks. They'll order it in for you if they don't have it in stock. Others have obtained it cheaper, so it's worth shopping around. Happy camping to you. - Martin
LongbordinBros: Thank you for that. I actually struggle with getting the audio levels high enough on our videos. The mic on our camera is just not very good, but I'm happy to know you thought my voice was clear, at least. And thank your for subbing. That's also appreciated. Cheers, - Martin
Thanks doubletraxx. I've been seeing and reading quite a bit about the BioLite stove. In may case, I don't own an devices (phones, Ipods, etc) that would require recharging using the BioLite, so it's not for me. For those who do have such devices and bring them camping, it seems like a pretty good option. -Martin
The one at Rona (which I did buy) is the entire grill set plus the stove which is currently selling for $157.00 on the vitalgrill site and was $149 at Rona before the sale, so essentially you are getting the grill/BBQ add-on for free with this closeout deal. I am just learning how to use it and I am not yet sure if the grill is worth it or not. I saw one other UA-cam video with a guy that just made his own little grill for the top of the Vitalstove and that almost seems to work better.
Another thing is that if you are freezing your naughty bits off, you can get a BIG WARM fire going REALLY fast! I love it! So much better than the bio-lite for my needs!
MrBushLife: No, I've never dehydrated my own scrambled eggs as it's pretty cheap to buy powdered eggs for use when camping, but I happen to prefer fresh eggs (over easy), so I never make 'em scrambled when I'm camping. As for our pots, no, I've never coated them. I actually don't mind sooty pots. Pot soot actually protects your pots and causes them to heat up faster than clean pots, so I just leave 'em sooty. Glad you liked the demo. -Martin
Kevin Noble: Thanks Kevin. I just checked and that's the very same price at which Home Hardware sells it, so once Rona's all closed down, you can still get it at that price. Cheers, - Martin
No, they don't have a manual option for the blower fan. You're correct that one mustn't let the electrical components get wet, but that's never been a problem for me. When I light any cooking fire or stove, I do it under the shelter of a tarp, since I don't like to get wet when cooking. The only real concern I have is with leaving it out at night without packing it up in case it rains overnight. Good comment. Thanks. -Martin
Interesting concept for a stove. Do they have anything that is hand operated? The electronic portion scares me a little as it will be ruined if it gets wet.
Thanks for the through video, appreciate you taking time for the pros and cons opinion. I'm pretty much sold on one of these when I have a few pennies. Thanks
Thank you cbarsonfire. No problems with the battery pack yet. It seems that the manufacturer's claim of approximately 30 hours of battery life is about right. In any case, I'm never worried about needing spare batteries because my camera also uses AA, so I could always use my camera batteries when I need to cook. In other respects the pack functions without issues. I too have burned damp wood with this stove. The fan moves enough air to keep even damp wood burning. It's a nice feature. -Martin
I've not had any problems with alcohol/methylated spirit stoves when winter camping even though they don't heat up as fast as white gas stoves. If I were mountain climbing and trying to cover a lot of ground in a day, I'd want something like the Jetboil to get water boiling in as little time as possible, but for my purposes, alcohol stoves serve perfectly well, though one does have to bring a bit more fuel as alcohol doesn't have the caloric content of white gas and canister fuels. [more]....
Nice review, The wife made out with a good breakfast. Any issues yet with the battery pack? I have had my Vital stove only around 6 months. I was able to burn damp wood without much problem.
I saw one of these in action once and it was pretty impressive. one thing the owner said was that he had to run the fan for a while after the fire is out so the heat doesnt ruin the fan. I suggested that problem would be solved if the fan section detached from the rest of the stove. Do you find you need to run the fan afterward like that? you didnt mention it in your video, and if its good for the hours you noted, I dont see it being a problem anyhow.
Les Dempsey Yes, I do run the fan motor for a minute or so after the fire has gone out, as recommended by the manufacturer. This is to prevent the heat from the firebox from being conducted back to the nylon fan when the fan's off. However, I have, on several occasions, neglected to do this and not had a problem. Still, it seems like a very sensible precaution and should be run for a minute or so after the fire's gone out. Leaving the fan run this way has two other advantages: First, it ensures that whatever combustible materials are left in the firebox are completely consumed (reduced to an ash so fine it literally just floats out of the box). Second, the firebox cools very quickly this way so it can be packed up and put away without having to wait what would otherwise require several minutes for the firebox to cool off. Hope this helps. Cheers, - Martin
Awesome review and demo of stove. I appreciate the great first hand info. and your efforts to make it helpful for our decision process of what stove to buy. Ted
Thanks for the input Tamara Maxwell: Yeah, do need to work on the audio. I'm not about to get a microphone, but I do need to remember to speak louder when I'm not holding the camera. Cheers, - Martin
Interesting idea with the eggs. I've given up on shelled eggs myself, despite everything I've tried they always end up broken and that makes for a sticky mess in my food bag. I personally quite enjoy the powdered eggs at Bulk Barn, they taste surprisingly good, and I'm pretty picky when it comes to eggs.
Ok, Martin you have me thinking on this one. Thought of purchasing a BioLite, to bulky and to heavy !! However this little puppy might just do the trick. Thanks for all of your videos in particular your how to vids on food prep. I currently have the dehydrator going, dehydrating veggies, and fruit puree for fruit leather (your recipes) for upcoming trips in the mountain parks. Cheers
Chris, I see the BioLite and the Vital Stove as serving very different needs. The Vital Stove, because the damper and fan permit you to control the heat output so easily, is a great stove for boiling water or slow-simmering, and even baking, but it won't allow you to charge your electronic devices. The BioLite, as I understand it, works more like a conventional twig stove in that you don't have fine and quick temperature control, but it converts the heat of the stove into electrical energy for charging devices. So, it really depends what your needs are. I don't have any devices that need charging when I'm camping or canoe-tripping, but I do want to be able to boil, simmer and bake out there, so I find the Vital Stove preferable. But if I were bringing a smartphone, tablet or other devices in need of charging, I'd seriously consider the BioLite. Cheers, - Martin
Rob Hyndman Great question (sorry for the long delay). In areas where open fires are restricted, I go with my Trangia alcohol stove. I have a detailed review of that setup elsewhere on my channel, if you're interested. Cheers, - Martin
Dear PineMaryn, I am a member of an Urban Search and Rescue group. I was looking for a good stove we could use everywhere we go. As I saw your video here and saw the reactions of al the users, I immediatly bought 2 of these stoves. I tried them and they work great. We can use them everywhere we go after a disaster has happened. regards, André Wevers
+Andre Wevers Thank you André for letting me know about this. I'm glad to know my review was of some value to you and your group. S & R is vital work; it's only fitting you should use the Vital Stove. LOL Best wishes to you and your group, - Martin
Was just looking at reviews for the sierra stove when the vital stove was mentioned in a review. Shame the company no longer trades and was bought out in 2011 to 'vitalgrill' whom do not seem to sell the stove anymore.
Thanks for the comment re Igloo stove use. I have several alcohol stoves that I use when backpacking ( check out minibulldesigns and smokeater908 youtube videos ) but was not sure they would be the best for winter use. I was kind of leaning toward the Jetboils and whitegas ones i.e MSR's for extensive snow melting. Looking forward to the Vital found a deal at Campstore. Plan to use it when boat or airplane camping when weight is not so much of an issue.
Thanks for your reply. :-) I do have the goal zero elite solar charger which I do charge re-chargeable batteries on. I would use that to keep the batteries charged if need be. :-)
There's really nothing that needs to be cleaned. The base & air chamber doesn't get dirty as air is forced up through so no ash or soot plugs up the holes. The inside of the folding firebox and the pot holders get sooty, but there's no reason to clean those. I leave 'em sooty. You can wipe some of the soot off with a paper towel or dry grass or leaves. Just put the stove in some sort of sack when done so that soot doesn't get transferred to anything else in your pack. Hope this helps, -Martin
[Cont'd] So, to be fair to the makers of this stove, it's not marketed like the Bear Grylls Survival Knife for use in the sort of survival situations that a camper or outdoor enthusiast might fall into. But it does make a good camping stove. Hope this helps, -Martin
... My biggest objection to the MSR stoves (Dragonfly, Whisperlite, etc) is that they are maddeningly loud when camping in the bush. Alcohol stoves and twig stoves are blessedly quiet...and that`s a real plus for me when I`m out there. -Martin
You can be a aftermarket bit of kit to reduce the noise significantly. I have one for my dragonfly and omnilite ti. BernieDawg. Good guy and very helpful.
[cont'd] If you look at how the promotional photos and videos on their site present the product for use by outdoor enthusiasts, it's clearly as a recreational camping stove like any other camping stove. In fact, when they do mention outdoor enthusiasts, they have this to say on their site: "The SolHuma Vital Stove is specially designed for extreme situations, but outdoor enthusiasts can benefit from this unique, portable stove as well." [More...]
[cont'd] The stove was designed to be used and delivered by relief agencies, governments, humanitarian organizations (along with batteries) for populations who have suffered such disasters, such as Haiti's earthquake victims. They specifically tout it's value as a stove that requires no fuel and can produce safe drinking water and cook food quickly using whatever little fuel is at hand in such a circumstance. [More...]
Dealing with eggs, what I do is usually crack about a dozen and empty them into the naglene bottle. They tend to keep for up to 5 days (havent tried them after this point). Cracking them allows you to bring more in less space, but I usually cant make over easy because the yolk is cracked and mixed in with the whites, but on day 5 of a hike, most people do not seem to mind :P Cheers
Sum Buddy: Now that's odd. The shipping cost to Ontario is $17.90. That difference between Ontario and NFLD shipping costs makes no sense, Please let me know what they tell you. As an alternative to having them send it to you, try a Canadian Tire or Home Hardware outlet in your area. Both of them carry it and can order it. Home Hardware will special order for you at no additional cost if they have none in stock. They sell it, for about $89.00. Hopes this helps, -Martin
Nice video, info was well presented and summarized. I love the stove and it would work well here in the pseudo rainforests of North Central Idaho. (jealous of your spring weather ) My Icebox Igloo kit will arrive tomorrow and match perfectly with the 36 hours of snowfall we just had. I will now begin the search to add to my stove collection ! Maybe its cabin fever. ;0)
The skillet is part of my Trangia cook kit, so I don't now how much it sells for separately, but I'm sure you could order it alone if you really wanted to do so. I have a video review of that cooking system if you're interested. The pot I use in this video is just a cheap aluminum pot that came as part of a kid's camping cookset by a company called 'World Famous. It's the sort of kit you might find at Walmart. Again, I don't know the price, but I've used it for years and it's light and served me well. Cheers, - Martin
LongboardinBros: I'd really rather not give it a numerical ranking and instead just let the review speak for itself as to the stove's pros and cons. It's so hard to compare stoves given the different types and purposes to which they are all put. I will say that, as twig stoves go, it's the very best I've ever tried, but twig stoves aren't for everyone. I'm happy to recommend it to anyone who can use a stove in the sorts of circumstances and for the purposes I put it to. I hope this helps.
LongboardinBros: The stove can be ordered directly from the manufactuer at VitalGrill_.dot_com, but the shipping might be costly. If you're in Canada, I suggest you buy one from Home Hardware. That's where I bought mine. They will order one in for you if they have none in stock. Home Hardware sells them for 89.99. I believe someone else in the comments was able to find a cheaper source, so read through these comments and you should find it. Hope this helps, - Martin
Like your Pot Cozy, to maintain your heated food. Good Tip. Have you guys , ever Dehydrated scrambled eggs? Martin, Have you ever thought of Coating your stove with Hi Heat (BarBQ spray), to increase its heat effiency, protection from soot, etc? Great Demo, Friend ;-)) Cheers
Has anyone used this with wood pellets (AKA kitty litter) we buy big bags for the cat and thought this would make a good emergency stove, 2022 with fuel crisis looming this could be a handy standby as well as a great camp stove.
Crypto0102: That's a good point, but in the case of the Vital Stove, it's not advertised as bit of gear or kit one carries on one's person like a pocket knife in case one gets lost on a day hike or ends up shipwrecked on a deserted island or survives a plane crash in the mountains. From their website we can see they are recommending it as a bit of survival gear for the home,car or cottage in the event of some sort of natural disaster that leads to a loss of services & utilities. [More...]
Crypto0102: It's not supposed to be part of some survivalist or prepper's "survival strategy". It's just an ordinary camping stove and is used by relief agencies for disaster victims who are supplied stoves, batteries, food, water, medical supplies. This is the only sense in which it's a survival stove. Your objection is misplaced if you think it's purpose is for use in a post-apocalyptic scenario or if one were to suddenly find oneself lost in the woods while back-country camping. -Martin
Nice stove, obviously works well... but survival gear that requires batteries...lol? Anyone else kind of see the problem with this? Sort of defeats the purpose IMO.
Thank you for showing this stove. Having watched yourself in action, I bought one. Takes a little practice to get the hang of it, especially with damp wood, like we usually have here in the UK. It certainly isn't as fast as my Coleman stove, nor as clean, but there is something really nice about cooking with wood. I was surprised of how little wood was required, even compared to other hobo type stoves I have used. Fits easy into my pack, so for summer at least, this is my stove to go. Many thanks once again and happy hiking.
Thanks again, my Canadian friend, for allowing me to join you on your little excursion into the woods. That is the most thorough explanation of the Vital Stove that I have ever heard. Great video!
Phong Nguyen: The skillet/frying pan and the pot gripper handle shown in this video are part of the Trangia cooking set. If you look at my my earlier videos about the Trangia stove you'll see the specific stove set to which the pan and gripper belong. The gripper handle is used for handling the cooking pots as well as the pan. Pot gripping handles of this sort are often sold separately in specialty camping supply stores.
-Martin
Thanks very much Mike. You're absolutely right about the hardwood, especially if one is going to use it for baking, since baking a bread can take a long time and one doesn't want to have to feed pieces into it so often when a long cooking time is required (as is the case when baking a bread).
We're glad you liked the video. We have more on the way.
-Martin
Hi , 70 yr. old northern Canadian bush guy here. Well done video voice presentation perfect . I use this stove , fast , efficient. for fish from lake to pan . The last burn I do full throttle , only dust left . Bush safe !! I use a folding wind shield , zebra pots. lodge cast trivet as a grill top.. for frying .
This winter for ice fishing going to load stove with charcoal briketts to warm hands outside .
Your video is very lively and you're very animated and straight to the point when you talk. I got an A in my Sarcasm101 class in college.
Great video and thorough analysis. This stove was a gift from my older son many years ago, and I agree 100% with your pro and con conclusions. Because of the bulk and sooth, I did not bring it with me on a 11,000km off-road motorcycle trip to Alaska, but wish I had, since we had to search for butane during the trip. Thanks!
The paper towel/Nalgene packing technique has never failed us. We've never had a cracked egg on a camping trip, even when I've dropped the food barrel after a long, tiring portage. Of course, you have to make sure there's no jiggling around in the Nalgene bottle, so we pack it with extra paper towel to prevent that. The towels are great later on for wiping up greasy pots and dishes and they burn up easily.
As for the powdered eggs, I agree with you. When I have had them, they were quite good.
I put a small rubber band around the damper mechanism so it remains locked in the 'closed' position when it's stored. One doesn't need to do so, I do it just to guard against the possibility that the damper could slide open while packed and perhaps be bent. It's just my own fussiness at work.
Hope this helps,
- Martin
Re Stoves, Thanks for the input regarding alcohol stoves in the snow/winter.I too enjoy the quiet and peaceful approach to cooking I will give it a try. Enjoying your videos working my way through episode 3 of your solo Igloo camp.
I'd heard of people doing that, but never tried it myself. I'm told that the egg's shell will prolong an egg's unrefridgerated shelf life compared to an open egg, which is why we've always brought whole eggs in the shell. Thanks for the suggestion.
-Martin
I use an Emberlit Stove myself (small wood stove no fan). I find it very helpful to dedicate a kettle to it. I store the kettle and stove in its own bag to reduce the speading of soot to other items inside my backpack.
Thanks for your insight on the Vital stove and the BioLite Martin. A friend of mine brought along his BioLite when we hiked the North Boundary Trail out of Jasper last year and it was handy to have knowing you can boil as much water as you want without worrying about wasting fuel. We did find that charging a device such as a smart phone took a considerable amount of time and energy feeding the stove to get the device just back up to 20%. I now opt for carrying a smart phone instead of a camera and GPS (I always bring a compass) as well as a portable power bank that will charge my device 3-4x. The Vital stove appears to be a lot less bulkier and lighter then it's counter part. Again thanks for your thoughts and quick response.
Thanks egghatch. I appreciate the kind comment and the views.
Cheers,
- Martin
Great review, thanks. I am just as interested in the little gadget you used to keep the food warm. Please share
Thank mitchamaphone. Glad you found us. Thank you for subscribing.
Cheers,
- Martin
imasurvivornthriver: I'm not sure which stove you mean, but I note that you're a prepper, and as such this might not be the stove for you because it requires batteries which likely be in short supply if the SHTF. Then again, you might have a good stockpile of AA batteries. Thanks for your comments.
Cheers,
-Martin
Thanks Ted. Judging from your channel, you know a thing or two about stoves, so that's high praise.
-Martin
Very thorough review; you covered all the bases. Looks like a great little stove, and it's made in Canada too. I'm going to buy one now.
Thanks. Since you're going to be building igloos, I must mention that wood burning stoves (including the Vital Stove) don't mix with igloos. A wood-burning stove will produce smoke and any smoke in an igloo will permeate the snow walls and roof and leave the whole igloo reeking of smoke inside as long at the igloo is standing. When I camp in an igloo, I bring my Trangia stove, which burns methylated spirits (a kind of alcohol) so I can cook in my igloo if the weather gets really bad outside.
landsurfer86: I'm glad you found the review useful. The price varies quite a bit, but you can get it from Home Hardware for 80 bucks. They'll order it in for you if they don't have it in stock. Others have obtained it cheaper, so it's worth shopping around.
Happy camping to you.
- Martin
LongbordinBros: Thank you for that. I actually struggle with getting the audio levels high enough on our videos. The mic on our camera is just not very good, but I'm happy to know you thought my voice was clear, at least.
And thank your for subbing. That's also appreciated.
Cheers,
- Martin
Thanks doubletraxx. I've been seeing and reading quite a bit about the BioLite stove. In may case, I don't own an devices (phones, Ipods, etc) that would require recharging using the BioLite, so it's not for me. For those who do have such devices and bring them camping, it seems like a pretty good option.
-Martin
The one at Rona (which I did buy) is the entire grill set plus the stove which is currently selling for $157.00 on the vitalgrill site and was $149 at Rona before the sale, so essentially you are getting the grill/BBQ add-on for free with this closeout deal. I am just learning how to use it and I am not yet sure if the grill is worth it or not. I saw one other UA-cam video with a guy that just made his own little grill for the top of the Vitalstove and that almost seems to work better.
Another thing is that if you are freezing your naughty bits off, you can get a BIG WARM fire going REALLY fast! I love it! So much better than the bio-lite for my needs!
MrBushLife: No, I've never dehydrated my own scrambled eggs as it's pretty cheap to buy powdered eggs for use when camping, but I happen to prefer fresh eggs (over easy), so I never make 'em scrambled when I'm camping.
As for our pots, no, I've never coated them. I actually don't mind sooty pots. Pot soot actually protects your pots and causes them to heat up faster than clean pots, so I just leave 'em sooty.
Glad you liked the demo.
-Martin
Great videos my good sir. Been reading your posts on HF and AA for a while, just now discovering the moving picture version! Cheers
I like that pan with the removable handle. Where can I find one?
Kevin Noble: Thanks Kevin. I just checked and that's the very same price at which Home Hardware sells it, so once Rona's all closed down, you can still get it at that price.
Cheers,
- Martin
No, they don't have a manual option for the blower fan. You're correct that one mustn't let the electrical components get wet, but that's never been a problem for me. When I light any cooking fire or stove, I do it under the shelter of a tarp, since I don't like to get wet when cooking. The only real concern I have is with leaving it out at night without packing it up in case it rains overnight. Good comment. Thanks.
-Martin
Interesting concept for a stove. Do they have anything that is hand operated? The electronic portion scares me a little as it will be ruined if it gets wet.
Because of your review, I ordered one of these stoves. :-) How do you keep it clean? I want to take care of it the right way. Thank you.
flpirate45: We're glad you enjoyed the video. Thank you for those good wishes. Happy camping to you to.
- Martin
Thanks for the through video, appreciate you taking time for the pros and cons opinion. I'm pretty much sold on one of these when I have a few pennies. Thanks
You're welcome and I thank you for taking the time to post that kind comment.
- Martin
Thank you cbarsonfire. No problems with the battery pack yet. It seems that the manufacturer's claim of approximately 30 hours of battery life is about right. In any case, I'm never worried about needing spare batteries because my camera also uses AA, so I could always use my camera batteries when I need to cook. In other respects the pack functions without issues.
I too have burned damp wood with this stove. The fan moves enough air to keep even damp wood burning. It's a nice feature.
-Martin
I've not had any problems with alcohol/methylated spirit stoves when winter camping even though they don't heat up as fast as white gas stoves. If I were mountain climbing and trying to cover a lot of ground in a day, I'd want something like the Jetboil to get water boiling in as little time as possible, but for my purposes, alcohol stoves serve perfectly well, though one does have to bring a bit more fuel as alcohol doesn't have the caloric content of white gas and canister fuels. [more]....
Nice review, The wife made out with a good breakfast. Any issues yet with the battery pack? I have had my Vital stove only around 6 months.
I was able to burn damp wood without much problem.
I saw one of these in action once and it was pretty impressive. one thing the owner said was that he had to run the fan for a while after the fire is out so the heat doesnt ruin the fan. I suggested that problem would be solved if the fan section detached from the rest of the stove.
Do you find you need to run the fan afterward like that? you didnt mention it in your video, and if its good for the hours you noted, I dont see it being a problem anyhow.
Les Dempsey Yes, I do run the fan motor for a minute or so after the fire has gone out, as recommended by the manufacturer. This is to prevent the heat from the firebox from being conducted back to the nylon fan when the fan's off. However, I have, on several occasions, neglected to do this and not had a problem. Still, it seems like a very sensible precaution and should be run for a minute or so after the fire's gone out. Leaving the fan run this way has two other advantages:
First, it ensures that whatever combustible materials are left in the firebox are completely consumed (reduced to an ash so fine it literally just floats out of the box).
Second, the firebox cools very quickly this way so it can be packed up and put away without having to wait what would otherwise require several minutes for the firebox to cool off.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
- Martin
Great video, been looking at this stove lately. Don't need another stove but maybe. Thanks
Thanks for the input, Lethals420. I had no idea LeBaron Outdoor carried the stove. That's a much better price.
Cheers,
- Martin
Awesome review and demo of stove. I appreciate the great first hand info. and your efforts to make it helpful for our decision process of what stove to buy. Ted
Yeah, after watching your review and doing some more research, I've ordered one myself. Thanks
LongboardinBros: Thank you. That's what I love to hear and my principle aim for this channel.
Cheers,
- Martin
Thanks for the input Tamara Maxwell: Yeah, do need to work on the audio. I'm not about to get a microphone, but I do need to remember to speak louder when I'm not holding the camera.
Cheers,
- Martin
Interesting idea with the eggs. I've given up on shelled eggs myself, despite everything I've tried they always end up broken and that makes for a sticky mess in my food bag. I personally quite enjoy the powdered eggs at Bulk Barn, they taste surprisingly good, and I'm pretty picky when it comes to eggs.
very good review. Appreciated the in depth show n tell from start to finish!
Thanks for the review, this is right up my ally, love the natural fuel aspect. Got one from a Home Hardware in my area. Cant wait to use it!
Ok, Martin you have me thinking on this one. Thought of purchasing a BioLite, to bulky and to heavy !! However this little puppy might just do the trick. Thanks for all of your videos in particular your how to vids on food prep. I currently have the dehydrator going, dehydrating veggies, and fruit puree for fruit leather (your recipes) for upcoming trips in the mountain parks. Cheers
Chris,
I see the BioLite and the Vital Stove as serving very different needs. The Vital Stove, because the damper and fan permit you to control the heat output so easily, is a great stove for boiling water or slow-simmering, and even baking, but it won't allow you to charge your electronic devices. The BioLite, as I understand it, works more like a conventional twig stove in that you don't have fine and quick temperature control, but it converts the heat of the stove into electrical energy for charging devices. So, it really depends what your needs are. I don't have any devices that need charging when I'm camping or canoe-tripping, but I do want to be able to boil, simmer and bake out there, so I find the Vital Stove preferable. But if I were bringing a smartphone, tablet or other devices in need of charging, I'd seriously consider the BioLite.
Cheers,
- Martin
Excellent demo and review. Great tip on carrying eggs, too.
Such a great video, Martin. Just curious, what do you use when you hike where there are open fire restrictions?
Cheers!
Rob Hyndman Great question (sorry for the long delay). In areas where open fires are restricted, I go with my Trangia alcohol stove. I have a detailed review of that setup elsewhere on my channel, if you're interested.
Cheers,
- Martin
fantastic video, very informative, although it was long it kept me attention throughout, many thanks
Hi Martin. Hope all is well. Question, are you still using the Vital stove?
Nice... I wish I had known about this stove before I bought the wood gas stove. This one has more flexibility. Thanks for sharing.
Dear PineMaryn, I am a member of an Urban Search and Rescue group. I was looking for a good stove we could use everywhere we go. As I saw your video here and saw the reactions of al the users, I immediatly bought 2 of these stoves. I tried them and they work great. We can use them everywhere we go after a disaster has happened. regards, André Wevers
+Andre Wevers Thank you André for letting me know about this. I'm glad to know my review was of some value to you and your group. S & R is vital work; it's only fitting you should use the Vital Stove. LOL
Best wishes to you and your group, - Martin
Very nice video, try using wood pellets for a longer burn time or hardwood charcoal.
Was just looking at reviews for the sierra stove when the vital stove was mentioned in a review. Shame the company no longer trades and was bought out in 2011 to 'vitalgrill' whom do not seem to sell the stove anymore.
how would you compare the Vital to a silverfire scout . If money was in the choice , which one and why would you choose the one you picked.
So do you have a video or DYI for the crank charger someplace?
Thanks for the comment re Igloo stove use. I have several alcohol stoves that I use when backpacking ( check out minibulldesigns and smokeater908 youtube videos ) but was not sure they would be the best for winter use. I was kind of leaning toward the Jetboils and whitegas ones i.e MSR's for extensive snow melting. Looking forward to the Vital found a deal at Campstore. Plan to use it when boat or airplane camping when weight is not so much of an issue.
I'll have to check these out , a great review , clear and informative , thanks for sharing
Thanks for your reply. :-) I do have the goal zero elite solar charger which I do charge re-chargeable batteries on. I would use that to keep the batteries charged if need be. :-)
There's really nothing that needs to be cleaned. The base & air chamber doesn't get dirty as air is forced up through so no ash or soot plugs up the holes. The inside of the folding firebox and the pot holders get sooty, but there's no reason to clean those. I leave 'em sooty. You can wipe some of the soot off with a paper towel or dry grass or leaves. Just put the stove in some sort of sack when done so that soot doesn't get transferred to anything else in your pack.
Hope this helps,
-Martin
Rona in Canada in clearing out the complete Vital Grill kits that include the Vital Stove for about $89.00.
Hello,
I am interested in me and blue glass pan. How is called and where you bought pan and blue glass. An address, a link!
Thanks!
oldguy537: I'm happy you found it helpful.
Cheer,
- Martin
[Cont'd] So, to be fair to the makers of this stove, it's not marketed like the Bear Grylls Survival Knife for use in the sort of survival situations that a camper or outdoor enthusiast might fall into. But it does make a good camping stove.
Hope this helps,
-Martin
... My biggest objection to the MSR stoves (Dragonfly, Whisperlite, etc) is that they are maddeningly loud when camping in the bush. Alcohol stoves and twig stoves are blessedly quiet...and that`s a real plus for me when I`m out there.
-Martin
You can be a aftermarket bit of kit to reduce the noise significantly. I have one for my dragonfly and omnilite ti.
BernieDawg. Good guy and very helpful.
Michael Mardini: My thanks to you.
Cheers,
- Martin
[cont'd] If you look at how the promotional photos and videos on their site present the product for use by outdoor enthusiasts, it's clearly as a recreational camping stove like any other camping stove. In fact, when they do mention outdoor enthusiasts, they have this to say on their site: "The SolHuma Vital Stove is specially designed for extreme situations, but outdoor enthusiasts can benefit from this unique, portable stove as well." [More...]
Kevin Noble: Thanks for clearing that up for me. The stove and grill combo for $89 is a real great deal, alright.
Cheers,
- Martin
[cont'd] The stove was designed to be used and delivered by relief agencies, governments, humanitarian organizations (along with batteries) for populations who have suffered such disasters, such as Haiti's earthquake victims. They specifically tout it's value as a stove that requires no fuel and can produce safe drinking water and cook food quickly using whatever little fuel is at hand in such a circumstance. [More...]
Dealing with eggs, what I do is usually crack about a dozen and empty them into the naglene bottle. They tend to keep for up to 5 days (havent tried them after this point). Cracking them allows you to bring more in less space, but I usually cant make over easy because the yolk is cracked and mixed in with the whites, but on day 5 of a hike, most people do not seem to mind :P
Cheers
Sum Buddy: Now that's odd. The shipping cost to Ontario is $17.90. That difference between Ontario and NFLD shipping costs makes no sense, Please let me know what they tell you.
As an alternative to having them send it to you, try a Canadian Tire or Home Hardware outlet in your area. Both of them carry it and can order it. Home Hardware will special order for you at no additional cost if they have none in stock. They sell it, for about $89.00.
Hopes this helps,
-Martin
mgblue: Thank you. That's very nice of you to say.
Cheers,
-Martin
Very nice video about an excellent wood stove, love it!
Nice video, info was well presented and summarized. I love the stove and it would work well here in the pseudo rainforests of North Central Idaho. (jealous of your spring weather ) My Icebox Igloo kit will arrive tomorrow and match perfectly with the 36 hours of snowfall we just had. I will now begin the search to add to my stove collection ! Maybe its cabin fever. ;0)
Good review Martin. I really like that stove.. Thanks...Rod
P.S. food looked great!!!! Take care
Where and how much did you pay for your skillet and pot?
The skillet is part of my Trangia cook kit, so I don't now how much it sells for separately, but I'm sure you could order it alone if you really wanted to do so. I have a video review of that cooking system if you're interested.
The pot I use in this video is just a cheap aluminum pot that came as part of a kid's camping cookset by a company called 'World Famous. It's the sort of kit you might find at Walmart. Again, I don't know the price, but I've used it for years and it's light and served me well.
Cheers,
- Martin
LongboardinBros: I'd really rather not give it a numerical ranking and instead just let the review speak for itself as to the stove's pros and cons. It's so hard to compare stoves given the different types and purposes to which they are all put. I will say that, as twig stoves go, it's the very best I've ever tried, but twig stoves aren't for everyone. I'm happy to recommend it to anyone who can use a stove in the sorts of circumstances and for the purposes I put it to. I hope this helps.
LongboardinBros: The stove can be ordered directly from the manufactuer at VitalGrill_.dot_com, but the shipping might be costly. If you're in Canada, I suggest you buy one from Home Hardware. That's where I bought mine. They will order one in for you if they have none in stock. Home Hardware sells them for 89.99. I believe someone else in the comments was able to find a cheaper source, so read through these comments and you should find it.
Hope this helps,
- Martin
Like your Pot Cozy, to maintain your heated food. Good Tip. Have you guys , ever Dehydrated scrambled eggs? Martin, Have you ever thought of Coating your stove with Hi Heat (BarBQ spray), to increase its heat effiency, protection from soot, etc? Great Demo, Friend ;-)) Cheers
Nice honest review.
very good review!
Oyouwannagethigh0: Thanks, we're glad you enjoyed it.
- Martin
Has anyone used this with wood pellets (AKA kitty litter) we buy big bags for the cat and thought this would make a good emergency stove, 2022 with fuel crisis looming this could be a handy standby as well as a great camp stove.
love this review !!
u got some nice hightech gears there. great videos and channle..
Have you checked out the BIOLITE Stove? Great Video, ty Martin. Have a Superb Day!! ;-))
Thank you 👍
Crypto0102: That's a good point, but in the case of the Vital Stove, it's not advertised as bit of gear or kit one carries on one's person like a pocket knife in case one gets lost on a day hike or ends up shipwrecked on a deserted island or survives a plane crash in the mountains. From their website we can see they are recommending it as a bit of survival gear for the home,car or cottage in the event of some sort of natural disaster that leads to a loss of services & utilities. [More...]
Thank you.
Nice, you have giving me idea's!!!
really nice tutorial and demo and such a cute couple ty for video :)
Crypto0102: It's not supposed to be part of some survivalist or prepper's "survival strategy". It's just an ordinary camping stove and is used by relief agencies for disaster victims who are supplied stoves, batteries, food, water, medical supplies. This is the only sense in which it's a survival stove. Your objection is misplaced if you think it's purpose is for use in a post-apocalyptic scenario or if one were to suddenly find oneself lost in the woods while back-country camping.
-Martin
That's a good idea for twig stove users. Thanks.
Thanks Martin. :-)
very useful things
Please get a microphone so I can hear you better... Other then that great job!! :)
Nice stove, obviously works well... but survival gear that requires batteries...lol? Anyone else kind of see the problem with this? Sort of defeats the purpose IMO.
You look and sound like a doctor. The inflections.