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Post by cweston on Jul 6, 2018 4:47:43 GMT -8
I usually have no interest in no-cook meals (other than lunch), but we have so many fire restrictions across Colorado that I'll have trouble finding anywhere that I can use my Whitebox Stove.... I guess there's still at least one reason to have a traditional isobutane stove in your kit. I'm leaving for the Gore Range in a couple days--with my Primus canister stove.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 6, 2018 9:36:42 GMT -8
Still trying to decide about stove for next week. For a 10-day trip, I think the canister wins, weight-wise, at least for the first several days—which is when it really matters
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Post by cweston on Jul 6, 2018 10:02:48 GMT -8
Still trying to decide about stove for next week. For a 10-day trip, I think the canister wins, weight-wise, at least for the first several days—which is when it really matters I know this is heresy here these days, but a canister stove is pretty-much all I ever use.* I've never really looked into lighter alternatives like alcohol or woodburning stoves. I really don't want to fuss with having to ignite wood in the alpine and/or in a storm, and the canister just seems much easier and more reliable for a fairly small weight penalty. I'm open to being convinced, though. (*My Primus stove actually can burn canisters or liquid fuel from a refillable tank, but I use canisters exclusively.)
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2018 10:43:32 GMT -8
Still trying to decide about stove for next week. For a 10-day trip, I think the canister wins, weight-wise, at least for the first several days—which is when it really matters If I cook a breakfast in the AM, I found that putting the canister at the foot end of my sleeping thing (quilt or bag); keeping the canister warm, reduces fuel consumption.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jul 6, 2018 12:13:29 GMT -8
rebeccad Let's do the math. Given that one 8 ounce canister will do for 10 days, 2 burns per day. Or, for alcohol, it might take 2 fluid ounces (or 1.6 ounces by weight) per day for the duration of the trip. Canister stoves typically weigh about 3 ounces, whereas the WB weighs 1. So on Day 1, one kitchen has 8 ounce canister +5 ounces of steel, 3 ounces for the stove, so 16 ounces altogether. Kitchen 2 has 16 ounces (weight, not fluid) of alcohol, 1 ounce for the bottle, and 1 for the stove, totaling 18 ounces. Not much difference, but some. Nonetheless, you will carry that 5 ounces of steel back to the car. if you can get by with a 4 ounce canister, the numbers change by about 5 ounces on Day 1. I am not so sure 2 burns a day is possible for 10 days with the smaller canister.
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Post by cweston on Jul 6, 2018 12:48:05 GMT -8
if you can get by with a 4 ounce canister, the numbers change by about 5 ounces on Day 1. I am not so sure 2 burns a day is possible for 10 days with the smaller canister. It would be close, depending on the elevation and the amount of water to boil. I would not count it.
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Post by trinity on Jul 6, 2018 15:32:17 GMT -8
I'm open to being convinced, though. I have several canisters stoves (Kovea Spider and Snowpeak Gigapower), but given my druthers, I'll carry my Caldera Cone. Much of my preference is aesthetic, rather than practical. Alcohol stoves have an elegant simplicity that I find very appealing. The other big plus to alcohol is always knowing exactly how much fuel I have, and not having to deal with partially-full canisters left over from each trip. Alcohol stoves are low-tech and functional, a winning combination in my book.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2018 17:02:48 GMT -8
I know the full weight and empty weight of the canisters I use and can gauge their reaming burn time from their weight.
In the field, a canister stove can be floated in water, the float line shows how much fuel is left.
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rebeccad
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Post by rebeccad on Jul 6, 2018 20:02:45 GMT -8
Canister stoves typically weigh about 3 ounces, My stove weighs just over an ounce--almost exactly the same as the WB set-up. An 8-oz canister lasted 3 of us about 4 days in Hawaii.* The 2 of us don't heat that much less water--typically a full 1.5 L morning and night, and I like to have enough for some extra. The WB will boil that pot-full on about 1.5 oz, so for 10 days I still want to have about 30 oz. For the canister, I'd think I need and 8 oz and a 4 oz, to be safe. We can and do save fuel by putting our dark pot in the sun while we nap in the afternoon, but it would be awkward to run out The worst of using the can is that I haven't done so enough to be confident of usage. Given that one 8 ounce canister will do for 10 days, 2 burns per day. How much water are you boiling when you do that? *There is some question here because I bled off an unknown amount to start a campfire one night. putting the canister at the foot end of my sleeping thing (quilt or bag) Good tip.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jul 7, 2018 4:12:48 GMT -8
rebeccad I burned 1 L per burn and it still had fuel left inside it. Re-doing the numbers using your own calculations would result in; Kitchen 1 needing 2 canisters, an 8 and a 4, weighing 13 and 8 when you count the steel; + 1 oz for your stove = 22 oz on day 1. WB would be 30 fl oz of alcohol, weighing 24 oz by weight + 2 bottles for 2 more + the WB for 1 more = 27 ounces. (I don't know what your snuffer can weighs, but a cut off soda can weighs less than 1 ounce) 5 ounce difference, so some significance. If you take 2 large canisters instead, all of that adds up to the same as the WB kitchen. That is one of the nice things about alcohol, knowing exactly how much is left. Going on your own experience in Hawaii, I'd recommend 2 large canisters if you want to not run out on the last day or 2.
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ErnieW
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Post by ErnieW on Jul 7, 2018 6:02:17 GMT -8
Getting back to the OP, is going to a no-cook strategy for the last couple of days and letting your fuel run out (if it does) an option? I do need my coffee but air temperature coffee made from the high end instants suggested in another thread might be OK for my caffeine fix.
One thing I have found with the lightweight canister stoves is that time to boil is very dependent on wind. Just a slight breeze takes a lot of heat away. Windscreens for them always make me nervous. Keep too much heat in against the canister and I worry about a very bad result.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jul 7, 2018 8:25:15 GMT -8
Stop worrying so much about being able to trap enough heat to adversely affect the canister. I frequently surrounded my Pocket Rocket with a metal windscreen, and the canister never got so warm it was difficult to handle. Yes, wind affects all outputs, canister or alcohol. Easier to screen off an alcohol burner, but still possible and easy to screen a canister stove. If you'd like, prop up the screen on some rocks so the air can circulate around the bottom of the canister.
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Post by JRinGeorgia on Jul 7, 2018 15:09:47 GMT -8
Pretty much any dehydrated meal can be rehydrated with cold water if you give it enough time, and if you don't mind how it tastes cold. Packit Gourmet has a selection that are designed to be eaten cold, like chicken salads and bean salads you can wrap in a tortilla. Couscous salad is good hot or cold, I like it with mushrooms and cranberries, as is for lunch or add a chicken or salmon packet for dinner. Or, not something I would do, but you can have your cake and eat it too with Gossamer Gear's Crotch Pot, leave your stove at home and warm the food with your body heat.
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Jul 7, 2018 15:16:08 GMT -8
Nope, not going there.
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Post by tomas on Jul 7, 2018 15:23:19 GMT -8
I know this is heresy here these days, but a canister stove is pretty-much all I ever use. Then burn me alongside of you for being a heretic. I mostly use a pocket rocket or my whisperlight. I only really use the alcohol stove when I want to go superlight for an overnight or a long dayhike.
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