|
Post by Coolkat on Feb 19, 2021 10:50:25 GMT -8
I tried to find another old thread that was appropriate but decided to open new one.
Many years ago when I first got into backpacking I purchased the cheapest stove I could at an REI garage sale. I have no idea what model it is but it's at least a 13 year old Primus canister stove. I've used it ever since with absolutely no problems. However, it's rather heavy. Made out of steel I think and I'm guessing it's close to 8oz. So I'm thinking about replacing it.
I'm looking for suggestions. It looks like the pocket-rocket 2 is very popular but I'd rather have one that has a pezio electric lighter built into it. I thought about getting one of those cheap knock-offs on amazon but I'm a little worried about burn quality (efficiency & evenness) with the knock offs. However, they are so cheap it might interesting just to get one and see what they are like.
Thoughts?
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Feb 19, 2021 11:20:55 GMT -8
As a liquid fuel fan and longtime user, like back to the original MSR XGK, I lightly dabbled recently with a canister burner (my first since a pure butane 1970’s Bluet) and actually like my current MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe (2.9 oz). The constant pressure regulation makes sense and the wind protection is slightly better. Tiny enough for me. www.rei.com/product/148209/msr-pocketrocket-deluxe-stoveThey include it in a kit as well if you could use the accessories. The pot is a reasonable one person size. www.rei.com/product/153362/msr-pocketrocket-deluxe-stove-kitETA: the deluxe has a piezo lighter. “ Push-start ignition provides fast, reliable piezo lighting; spark igniter is protected inside burner for durability” They’re tippy versus the lower profile remote fuel bottle liquid choices such as an XGK-EX or DragonFly, and that magnifies as the canister gets bigger, meaning taller but as I don’t try and “ real” cook on it, simply a water boiler, that’s not an issue for me. Prep involving a lot of simmering and stirring and it’s definitely a delicate two hands operation.
|
|
|
Post by Coolkat on Feb 19, 2021 11:53:19 GMT -8
I didn't realize there was a "deluxe" version. I appreciate this. With a REI 20% off sale coming here soon and maybe even a dividend I'm going to put this on my radar. I can "simmer" with my current one but I'm not sure that I really use it that way very often. I'm usually just boiling water.
|
|
|
Post by High Sierra Fan on Feb 19, 2021 12:16:06 GMT -8
It’s only maybe two years old now? They’d just before that released the 2.
The piezo works but tbh I still prefer a Bic
|
|
|
Post by trinity on Feb 19, 2021 12:19:39 GMT -8
+1 on the Pocket Rocket Deluxe. I've been using mine for a little over a year now, and I love it. A huge improvement over my old Gigapower. Did you get a BPL membership? If so, you can read a very comprehensive article here: link
|
|
zeke
Trail Wise!
Peekaboo slot 2023
Posts: 9,879
|
Post by zeke on Feb 19, 2021 12:44:25 GMT -8
PR was my canister stove. Piezo starters can be fussy, so carry a back up, as most of us already do.
|
|
jazzmom
Trail Wise!
a.k.a. TigerFan
Posts: 3,059
|
Post by jazzmom on Feb 19, 2021 15:20:48 GMT -8
I have a Monatauk Gnat that I've been using for about 10 years now. It was one of the earlier titanium stoves, weighs in at 1.6 oz. I think they offer a version with a piezo lighter but I'm not sure.
I personally think it's worth pairing your stove with your preferred pot shape. I prefer wider bowl-like pots, as opposed to the narrow mug-like ones. The Gnat has a nice wide burner head and has a short/wide profile, and supports even my bigger pots pretty well without it feeling like a precarious tower.
|
|
|
Post by bradmacmt on Feb 19, 2021 17:29:59 GMT -8
I have so many stoves it’s embarrassing. Personally, I prefer a Jetboil for speed, wind proofness and simplicity. I do have a Pocket Rocket Deluxe, and it’s the stove I’d use 2nd to the Jetboil.
|
|
rebeccad
Trail Wise!
Writing like a maniac
Posts: 12,667
|
Post by rebeccad on Feb 19, 2021 17:53:20 GMT -8
Reading with interest. I have one of those cheap knock-offs from Amazon, bought because I wasn’t sure I’d be using it more than occasionally. With fire issues as they are, it’s pretty much replaced my WB stove, and I’m seeing the need for a better stove. I got a Fire Maple something or other, about $15 maybe 4 or 5 years ago. I am finding that the flame is not even or consistent, and suspect it may be less efficient than a more expensive stove. Size and weight and price were all amazing, though.
|
|
almostthere
Trail Wise!
putting on my hiking shoes....
Posts: 696
|
Post by almostthere on Feb 19, 2021 18:04:56 GMT -8
I have been using the SnowPeak Giga (no piezo) for 13+ years. I also have a remote canister Olicamp (no piezo) that sees use when I want to use a pan to fry fish or pan-bake a pizza, it being lower to the ground. Both weigh 3 oz. Neither one was hugely expensive, or complicated. I have a dozen other stoves, from the White Box to a Primus (two of them) to this big Windburner knockoff that makes strange noises when I use it so I don't, often - it's in the car camping bin these days.
My Giga has rescued so many Jetboil users from cold coffee. The JB used to be really unreliable at cold temps. Seems like that has been shifting lately. But, I still refuse to carry something that heavy, when the 3 oz Snowpeak fits in the smaller pots I use, and works great.
|
|
gabby
Trail Wise!
Posts: 4,538
|
Post by gabby on Feb 19, 2021 18:09:57 GMT -8
I have a Monatauk Gnat that I've been using for about 10 years now. Am I wrong about the Gnat being discontinued? Piezo starters can be fussy, so carry a back up, as most of us already do. I have only ever had a piezo on one stove - I think it was a Jetboil remote that has been discontinued since, but it didn't work well. I don't trust 'em. I got a Fire Maple something or other, about $15 maybe 4 or 5 years ago. I am finding that the flame is not even or consistent, and suspect it may be less efficient than a more expensive stove. The Chinese "knock-offs" are inconsistent performers, I hear, but I've had good luck with the 2 or 3 Fire Maples I've bought. The Blade 2 stove I got is ultra light and a real hot stove (killed a heat exchanger pot I used on it - melted it!) I got a couple of knock-off copies of the MSR WindPro a few years back, the BuLin BL100, and the one I tried burned hot and was pretty consistent. The stove is pretty light, and is, outside of the tighter and smaller evaporation tube, an almost exact copy of the Windpro. It's available here and there for around $30 -$35. My favorite of my purchases so far, however, is the Optimus Vega: this stove has a very wide base and works well. Note: the problem isn't, of course, Chinese manufacture, it's the level of quality control for the product. Chinese products manufactured for American brands seem to have higher QC than the "knock-offs", so you get whatever they make with whatever quality with the knock-offs. Fire Maple is, I think, a good brand, however. I've had good experience with them.
|
|
jazzmom
Trail Wise!
a.k.a. TigerFan
Posts: 3,059
|
Post by jazzmom on Feb 19, 2021 18:40:53 GMT -8
I have a Monatauk Gnat that I've been using for about 10 years now. Am I wrong about the Gnat being discontinued? I didn't know that. :( I guess I'm going to have to take good care of it. I really like it.
|
|
gabby
Trail Wise!
Posts: 4,538
|
Post by gabby on Feb 19, 2021 20:05:17 GMT -8
I didn't know that. :( I guess I'm going to have to take good care of it. I really like it. I have one that's still in the box. I'll put it in my will for you. :^)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2021 5:32:47 GMT -8
I have the Optimus Crux, (not the Crux lite). folds down for storage, fits perfectly under a gas canister. Wide burner head, heats real fast when I want it to, good simmer control. The wide flame works great on wider pots such as a kettle. Where it really shines though is coupled with the Optimus Weekend HE pot. The pot has a heat exchanger and I can get to a rolling boil in less than 2 minutes if I crank the stove wide open. That pot may be too heavy for some. The wide burner head comes with a trade-off though, some complain it uses too much gas. But with a faster boil, I really have not had an issue with that. Optimus sells a complete set with burner & pot as well. Also has a wind screen available. A buddy of mine has the jetboil, and we found on one trip the Optimus boil time was a bit faster. No we didn't have much to do at the time, and there were a couple of pre dinner drinks involved.............. I use three different stoves depending on conditions and my mood, The Crux, a Trangia alcohol stove with a Clik Stand, or my 40+ year old Svea 123 just for the fun of using it. I get a kick out of watching people who don't know what it is when I prime it. In storage I also have an 8R, MSR Whisperlite and a lot of memories using those............
|
|
|
Post by bradmacmt on Feb 20, 2021 6:33:40 GMT -8
I have been using the SnowPeak Giga (no piezo) for 13+ years. I also have a remote canister Olicamp (no piezo) that sees use when I want to use a pan to fry fish or pan-bake a pizza, it being lower to the ground. Both weigh 3 oz. Neither one was hugely expensive, or complicated. I have a dozen other stoves, from the White Box to a Primus (two of them) to this big Windburner knockoff that makes strange noises when I use it so I don't, often - it's in the car camping bin these days. My Giga has rescued so many Jetboil users from cold coffee. The JB used to be really unreliable at cold temps. Seems like that has been shifting lately. But, I still refuse to carry something that heavy, when the 3 oz Snowpeak fits in the smaller pots I use, and works great. Not sure where you got your information about JB's in cold? Sounds like operator error. They've always worked just fine for me in temps down into the teens going back over three different models and 11+ years. No canister stove works well in genuine cold unless warmed (that's a whole other thread). Also, the SnowPeak Giga is pretty lousy in wind, and no different IME in cold than any Jeftboil. I have a Giga (3.7 oz's) I actually made a Ti windscreen for prior to the Jetboil becoming available since it's so bad in the wind. The Ti windscreen and stove weigh 5.5 oz's. Yes a light cannister stove and Ti pot will be lighter than a jetboil (unless like me you have a Ti JB version), but it won't be quite as good in the wind, won't boil quite as fast, hence will use more fuel, and will have a higher "fiddle factor." So yes, on a short trip a stove like the Pocket Rocket Deluxe can be lighter (depends on the cook ware). But on a long trip, for the ultimate in miserly use of fuel, a stripped down and lightened JB will be in practical terms the same weight or lighter since less fuel will need to be carried. Anyway, there are many ways to view stoves/pots/cooking and no "right" way, but I just thought I'd interject a bit of cold weather JB experience. I own and use many stoves, but the one I don't use anymore is the Giga because there are so many better options available. At one time 20 years ago it was the gold standard but time and better designs has left it far behind.
** Warning** Thread Drift... couple pics of my old Giga windscreen. It's a modified Snow Peak Ti Bowl. Works like a champ:
|
|