Kovea Spider - Lightweight Gas Stove - First Impressions

[Mikey P]

Hi all,

Though this isn't really a review as I haven't had it long enough, I'd just like to present a small, lightweight gas stove which could find a place in your emergency kit, climbing/mountaineering kit or brew pack. Whilst I love to make a fire as much as most others on this site, often it just isn't appropriate (local law, weather, etc) and/or there's not enough time. As a keen mountaineer/hillwalker, there are many occasions when I need to bivvy out, use a tent or bothy, and need a lightweight, quick and reliable solution for hot drinks/cooking. I'm not going to get into the gas/meths debate: I cannot abide meths stoves - gas, wood or pressure fuels for me only. I know many love their meths stoves - but they're not for me. End of discussion.

I have had a small Kovea titanium stove (folds very small and has integrated piezo ignition - http://www.kovea.com.ph/index.php?route=product/product&path=59&product_id=51 ) for about 8 years and it's still going strong. The only issue with it is it screws into the top of a canister which can make things a little top-heavy and unstable.

I recently saw a good review of the Kovea Spider, which is still a canister stove but the main body sits low to the ground and connects to the canister via a tube. This allows the stove to be more stable and also has the advantage of being able to turn the canister upside down in the cold which, using butane/propane mixes, lets the stove work more efficiently (there is also a preheat tube). This may not mean much to many of you but if you like a bit of winter camping and mountaineering, it can become pretty important.

Kovea Page: http://www.kovea.com.ph/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=50

I have used the stove a couple of time already and it has performed well. It is well-made (Kovea make stoves/kit for other companies and have a great reputation), it folds down into my MSR Titan Kettle along with a small canister and comes with a little piezo igniter. I have only two issues so far:

a. I have a Primus clip-on windshield which I use with the other Kovea stove but it won't work with the Spider. I dug out my MSR XGK windshield but, frankly, it is not as elegant a solution. Does anyone know where I can get thin aluminium sheet (like really thick tin foil) I can use to make a custom windshield?

b. The peizo igniter is separate - therefore, it is loseable! It does have a lanyard hole but spare lighter and/or firesteel are necessary or it might be no tea for you!

I'll write more when I feel I've enough to go on. I like it so far and it solves some of the issues I've had with other stoves but I am not sure it is as convenient and 'useable' as my earlier Kovea yet.

You can pick these up on eBay for about £30 from Korea (no import taxes needed and delivery within about 2 weeks). That is pretty good value for money in my book already - we'll see how much 'value' after a bit more use...

I'll try and post a quick pic later on but, frankly, there are some very good reviews on the Internet already - just google 'kovea spider review'. Simples.

Comparison of Titanium stove (left) and Spider

Spider with canister attached.

Spider packed in MSR Titan kettle

 

[Mikey P]

As a quick addendum, the piezo igniter is useless and has gone in the bin.

 

[mrcharly]

Mike, the 'single use' aluminium bbqs can be cut up to make good windshields.

 

[Mikey P]

Mike, the 'single use' aluminium bbqs can be cut up to make good windshields.

Aha! Good call! I suppose any of the single use roasting trays, etc. Thanks.

 

[Clouston98]

Nice stove, I like how it fits in the Titan kettle with the gas.

 

[Shewie]

That's a good looking stove, it kind of reminds me of the Dragonfly a bit.

I delved into the world of remote gas stoves this year, only a cheapy Hi Gear Inferno but it did us proud on a two week trip recently.

 

[ADz-1983]

You tried the Optimus Crux?

Its same weight but packs down better

http://www.optimusstoves.com/seen/o...pconnect/optimus-outdoor-kocher/optimus-crux/

 

[rik_uk3]

All overpriced considering a stove of similar output and not much more in weight can be had at @25% of the price. Don't buy into the label...just my pennies worth. Do your homework. Look at the 'new' MSR Pocket Rocket and compare to the Wilkinson gas stove, the MSR has holes in the pan supports, the burner and control assembly itself seems to be identical (from the same factory more than likely).

 

[ozzy1977]

I recently purchased one of the cheap stoves off eBay for £5 delivered, it screws on top of the gas can and really can't fault it, almost identical to my brother in laws msr one but a quarter of the price, build quality is very good.

 

[petrochemicals]

I agree liquid gas feed stoves are far superior to cannister mounts in efficiency and ease of use. As a point of intrest, the gas inside your cigarette lighter is 2bar pressure, at 2 bar pressure butanes boiling point is 25¤c, so fairly soon your just running off evapouration, which is why cigarette lighters and gas stoves taper off power fairly soon. If you get an a4 cartridge adapter from ebay, you can use a4 cartridges that are avaliable everywhere and have a liquid pick up tube inside them. Don't get the cannister too close to the flame as it can create pressure inside the cartridge !

As for the windshield, barethrills posted something about titanium ones somewhere from china. On my primus spider I use an aluminium gelert foldable that I cut down 2/3rds as it doesnt need to be as high, and its nice and compact.

 

[rik_uk3]

Or you could use double folded aluminium foil. I've got the MSR and Optimus or Primus heavy foil wind shields and they been folded/unfolded many many times and lasted well. Titanium seems yet another overpriced bit of tut that sells to fans of all things titanium.

 

[bilmo-p5]

On my primus spider I use an aluminium gelert foldable that I cut down 2/3rds as it doesnt need to be as high, and its nice and compact.

+1 to that. I use a similar folding w/s, cut down to half-height, with the Westwind. With a little thought it can be made to form a complete enclosure and can also be pinned to the ground.

 

[rg598]

I've been using the Kovea Spider for over a year now, and I love it. I have an initial and a long term review which you cna see here:

Initial review: http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2012/07/kovea-spider-stove-review.html
Long term review: http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2013/02/kovea-spider-kb-1109-long-term-review.html

The stove is very portable, it is easy to use, I use it inside my shelter without a problem, and it can operate in cold temperatures because it allows for inverted canister use. It has replaced all my other stoves, including my petrol stove for winter use.

 

[Mikey P]

+1 to that. I use a similar folding w/s, cut down to half-height, with the Westwind. With a little thought it can be made to form a complete enclosure and can also be pinned to the ground.

. That's a really nice solution. Like it.

 

[Mikey P]

I've been using the Kovea Spider for over a year now, and I love it. I have an initial and a long term review which you cna see here:

Initial review: http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2012/07/kovea-spider-stove-review.html
Long term review: http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2013/02/kovea-spider-kb-1109-long-term-review.html

The stove is very portable, it is easy to use, I use it inside my shelter without a problem, and it can operate in cold temperatures because it allows for inverted canister use. It has replaced all my other stoves, including my petrol stove for winter use.

I think your review was one of the reasons I bought it.

 

[Mikey P]

You tried the Optimus Crux?

Its same weight but packs down better



http://www.optimusstoves.com/seen/o...pconnect/optimus-outdoor-kocher/optimus-crux/

.

It's very much like the Kovea Titan I have already. Same advantages, same problems.

 

[Mikey P]

All overpriced considering a stove of similar output and not much more in weight can be had at @25% of the price. Don't buy into the label...just my pennies worth. Do your homework. Look at the 'new' MSR Pocket Rocket and compare to the Wilkinson gas stove, the MSR has holes in the pan supports, the burner and control assembly itself seems to be identical (from the same factory more than likely).

I know where you're coming from but I found the prices for both Kovea stoves very competitive and I didn't want to buy the cheapest kit I could find. I felt the Kovea Titan was justified by its performance over the years - I am not so sure about the Spider yet but I think it is still very competitively priced as a remote canister stove if you buy from eBay.

 

[ADz-1983]

.

It's very much like the Kovea Titan I have already. Same advantages, same problems.

Problems?

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 4

 

[Mikey P]

Problems?

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 4

Yes. The issue with the upright canister stoves is one of shape and stability. They are a narrow upright cylinder (stove head perched on canister) which is easier to knock/spill, especially with a pot on top as all the weight is high up. Despite being the most unstable shape of any of the upright canister stoves, Jetboil gets over this a little bit as you can actually hold it by the pot handle (the pot is mechanically connected to the burner unit) and stick it between your knees! Or use the hanging kit.

With the remote canister stoves, the centre of gravity is much lower and it's far less easy to spill/tip (low profile, flat cylinder).

The issue with remote canister stoves has largely been one of size/weight but I think the Kovea is a good compromise if I can get some thick aluminium foil to make a windshield. As I mentioned though the piezoelectric igniter is garbage and has already been replaced with a lighter.

 

[Mestersvig]

I made an excellent windscreen for my Kovea Spider with two section of beer can. It weighs about 17g and cost nothing - (or cost £1.50, with free beer!). The two sections of can have a fold at each edge to they slot together, making a strip approximately 12cm high by 37cm. This is high enough to shield the wind and extend halfway up the pot on the spider, and long enough that goes around 2/3rds of the Spider. The gap in the windshield (on the downwind side) can be used to warm the gas canister to keep the pressure up. The beer can windscreen wraps perfectly around an aerosol can of cheap pure butane an held in place with a rubber band or two. The whole setup is cheap to make, cheap to run, very light and stable and packs down very small. With this setup, for the first time in years I've now stopped looking for a new stove every week!