I tested 3 stoves I own on how long it took to get a rolling boil, ease of lighting, fuel burn, price and weight. I tested them all indoors in optimum conditions.
1. Vargo titanium hexagonal wood stove I placed in my house fireplace for draft and lit with birch bark as tinder with my magnesium rod first time, which was awkward but I got lucky. I had to feed it two sets of tinder dry kindling and it took 8 mins 15 seconds to get 300ml of water to a rolling boil.
2. Swedish military gel cooker, started first time with the magnesium rod and took 6 mins 15 seconds to get 300 ml of water to a rolling boil.
Note: After 50 minutes I added another pot of 300ml to test efficiency after long term use, rolling boil time was: 8 mins 30 seconds (and it is still burning)
Note: After 63 minutes I added another pot of 300ml to test efficiency after long term use, rolling boil time was: 8 mins 30 seconds to a simmer and stopped test.
3. Highlander solid fuel cooker with 4 hexamine tablets. 1 hexamine tablet used - Would not start from magnesium rod, even after fluffing up. Ended up using my trusty bic lighter and even that was a struggle... However it took 4 mins 30 seconds to get to a rolling boil. 1 block stayed lit for 7 mins and it was supplied with 4 which can be carried within the unit.
Verdict:
The Swedish gel cooker is cheap, light and compact, has reasonable boil time and excellent fuel burn, it even comes with a pot stand which wraps around the unit. 10 cups of tea/soup.
The Highlander has terrific boil time, mediocre fuel burn, reasonable weight and not too expensive. 4 cups of tea/soup, tablets not really reusable.
The Vargo although titanium needs dry sticks and these add weight. Is expensive and takes a lot of tending, had mediocre boil times and short fuel burn and from experience is a nightmare in the wild. 1 cup of tea/soup all be it reusable if you have the patience of a saint.
Note: I realise the vargo is a bit of a wildcard in this test, however it was used in optimum conditions and this was to test 3 that I own. I do have a trianga but I'm not lighting that stinky thing in my house at 1am ;-) I'll update with trianga test at some point. I also need to think of how much meths fuel to add to the equation.
This is by no means a fully scientific test! But it has certainly answered a question or two of my own. What stove to carry in my pack? Swedish gel every time.
1. Vargo titanium hexagonal wood stove I placed in my house fireplace for draft and lit with birch bark as tinder with my magnesium rod first time, which was awkward but I got lucky. I had to feed it two sets of tinder dry kindling and it took 8 mins 15 seconds to get 300ml of water to a rolling boil.
- Combined weight of tinder and stove was: 281 grams
- Fuel lasted: 9 mins 30 seconds.
- Cost: £50
- Speed to set up and light: 3 minutes + time for tending.
2. Swedish military gel cooker, started first time with the magnesium rod and took 6 mins 15 seconds to get 300 ml of water to a rolling boil.
- Weight: 198 grams.
- Fuel lasted: 71 minutes
- Cost: £4.99
- Speed to set up and light: Aprox 10 seconds.
Note: After 50 minutes I added another pot of 300ml to test efficiency after long term use, rolling boil time was: 8 mins 30 seconds (and it is still burning)
Note: After 63 minutes I added another pot of 300ml to test efficiency after long term use, rolling boil time was: 8 mins 30 seconds to a simmer and stopped test.
3. Highlander solid fuel cooker with 4 hexamine tablets. 1 hexamine tablet used - Would not start from magnesium rod, even after fluffing up. Ended up using my trusty bic lighter and even that was a struggle... However it took 4 mins 30 seconds to get to a rolling boil. 1 block stayed lit for 7 mins and it was supplied with 4 which can be carried within the unit.
- Combined weight of stove and 4 hexamine tablets: 263 grams
- Fuel lasted: 7 x 4 = 28 minutes. (all be it space inbetween to light and place new tablet)
- Unit cost: £6.99
- Speed to set up and light: With a bic aprox 20 seconds + 15 seconds for each change of tablet = 1 minute 5 seconds.
Verdict:
The Swedish gel cooker is cheap, light and compact, has reasonable boil time and excellent fuel burn, it even comes with a pot stand which wraps around the unit. 10 cups of tea/soup.
The Highlander has terrific boil time, mediocre fuel burn, reasonable weight and not too expensive. 4 cups of tea/soup, tablets not really reusable.
The Vargo although titanium needs dry sticks and these add weight. Is expensive and takes a lot of tending, had mediocre boil times and short fuel burn and from experience is a nightmare in the wild. 1 cup of tea/soup all be it reusable if you have the patience of a saint.
Note: I realise the vargo is a bit of a wildcard in this test, however it was used in optimum conditions and this was to test 3 that I own. I do have a trianga but I'm not lighting that stinky thing in my house at 1am ;-) I'll update with trianga test at some point. I also need to think of how much meths fuel to add to the equation.
This is by no means a fully scientific test! But it has certainly answered a question or two of my own. What stove to carry in my pack? Swedish gel every time.
