Battle of the compact stoves

[Ozmundo]

Comparison of some compact stoves.

Boiling time is for 300ml of cold water, quick summary of times below. More details of each set up to follow.

Gas fuel - Coleman butane/propane C100 cartridges

Jetboil Zip 2:40
Primas folder* titianium mug 2:40
Primus folder* steel mug 3:30

*I think it’s an old version on the the essential I’ve probably had 20 years.

Meths/denatured alcohol

Lixada spirit burner 5:00 ti / 6:00 steel TBA
Bushcraft spirit burner 4:50 Ti / 5:30 steel



L to R packed up Jet-boil, Primus, Meths burner minus fuel bottle.

These are really intended as compact brew kits for a day out or for a fairly minimalist long distant hiking trip.

There are lighter options these days but it’s things I have to hand.

Note I misread my measuring jug and I put 300ml in the cups not the 250ml I posted originally.

Note I can’t actually remember where the bushcraft meths burner was from.

 

[Ozmundo]

Jet boil zip.



The largest single package but it is a complete system. No extra storage, there are more compact “feet” options or omit them and have room for drink satchets.



Pro’s: Stable set up and is possible to move it while it is running. The base cover can be used as a cup. The silicon lid has a zipper and strainer, the cup has some insulation, fast.

Also jet boil was noticeably quieter than the Primus.

Con’s: Price, possible bulk.

I keep this in my work kit as it is very easy to use. In an emergency it’s a bit less faffy and the least bad option to use inside a broken down vehicle.

 

[Pattree]

Interesting. That Jetboil is quick!

My stick stove of choice, The KK, takes twenty minutes to boil 600ml. I’m happy with that - it includes average collecting, prepping and lighting up but you can’t ignore that when making a comparison can you?

 

[Chris]

Interesting. That Jetboil is quick!

My stick stove of choice, The KK, takes twenty minutes to boil 600ml. I’m happy with that - it includes average collecting, prepping and lighting up but you can’t ignore that when making a comparison can you?

It really takes that long? I can get 500ml boiling on a bushbox in about 5 mins. I had assumed KK would be more efficient than that.

 

[Ozmundo]

True enough, the collecting generally gets me quite warm though!

 

[Ozmundo]

It really takes that long? I can get 500ml boiling on a bushbox in about 5 mins. I had assumed KK would be more efficient than that.

Does than including getting the fuel and getting going?

 

[Ozmundo]

Primus Essential (old version?)



Depending on how you pack it’s possible to fit the stove, c100 gas can and several sundries into a 750ml (total volume) mug.



In this case lighter, match book, folding spork, scourer, packet of soup and instant coffee.



If you leave the gas can out a life adventure mug wrapped in insulation will nest inside with all the sundries above.

An aluminium foil wind shield will wrap around the mug and still fit in the supplied bag.

Pro’s: Very compact, options for pot/mug material size as not a fixed system. The built in igniter is robust and works well.

Titanium mug as fast as the Jet boil, steel was about a minutes slower.

Con’s: A little bit more fiddly than the jet boil, not as stable. I think the newer version of this stove will supports pot a bit better.

 

[Chris]

Does than including getting the fuel and getting going?

Yes

 

[Ozmundo]

Note I misread my measuring jug and I put 300ml in the cups not the 250ml I posted originally.

 

[Pattree]

Does than including getting the fuel and getting going?

Yes. It still has to be done before you can get a brew. Once you put the Kelly Trekker into the fire bucket it takes around four minutes.
None of this time is any problem at all - it’s what my time outdoors is all about. I enjoy playing with my toys.

I’ve never been sure why the speed of the stove is significant though I can imagine a situation when you are climbing and have to be off the rock before nightfall - the odd minute and the convenience could become very important.

Sorry mate - I know this isn’t what your post is about - but if stick stoves were to be included in an assessment then fuelling up and lighting are part of the deal Just as you would include priming a Primus type or fuelling an alcohol stove.

We slow boilers would quote other reasons for our choice of stove. I appreciate that your point is time.

 

[Ozmundo]

I may do a test on stick burners at some point. I think in they are more interesting and “bushcraft” but also more variables.

For clarity assembly, fuelling & lighting on the stoves in this test is 1-2 minutes with cold hands. I am not a particular Jetboil fan but I can see it being the easiest to use if you were hurt or unwell. I have the original model with built in ignition a well, although that can be a weak point.

 

[Ozmundo]

Meths burner test information.

I will redo the Lixada as I didn’t save the timings. In each case I filled the stove with 60ml of denatured alcohol. On the day this was enough to keep the stove running for at least 10 minutes.



Pot and fuel options.



Left is Ti mug and nested insulated cup, stove, bic lighter, matches, spork, waazoo water bag, puritabs, pot scrub, Lixada stove, trivet. Folded windshield wrapped around the outside. Fuel separate. This is something of an ultralight setup.

Right is steel mug, pot stand (US GI style), “Bushcraft” meths burner, bic lighter, spork, matches, coffee, 60ml of fuel.

Both have a bit of space for drink powder etc.

 

[Ozmundo]

Lixada spirit burner with Trivet and Lid.



For the test I did not wait for the stove to bloom.
Of the two meths burners it is a little fiddly to assemble as the trivet is two slotted plates. The wire retainer can be removed to make this easier.
The lid is not a tight fit, it’s even imperfect as a snuffer because it is so loose.
As a jet meths stove it is fairly wind resistant to the point of being hard to blow out.



It sits close to the pot. With the trivet in place it’s easier to light with a match rather than a lighter or ferro rod.



Total run time with 60ml of fuel was 17 minutes.

Pro’s: very light, wind resistant, cheap, stable/low, quiet, robust, runs a long time on little fuel.

Con’s: more awkward to light and extinguish. Doesn’t seal for storage.

 

[Ozmundo]

Bushcraft meths burner.

This is a make up tin, lined with carbon felt with fine steel mesh over the top. I’ve made a few of these myself but I got this from someone and I can’t remember who!



Performance is affected by your choice of pot support, be it three nails or inserted in a firebox. In this case I set it up under a TBS stove stand, basically a round US GI stove.



This gives a lot of space to the pot so probably looses a bit of efficiency.

60ml of fuel is not quite full to the brim on this stove. 60ml kept it running for over ten minutes, I have boiled 500ml of water with one fuel fill so it is possible to cook on it.

The stove is very easy to light with any method as it is open. The flame is the least controlled of the options tested however.



It is very stable but choice of pot support is what is going to effect handling.

Pro’s: potentially free, very compact, easy to light, stable.

Con’s: efficiency varies, not the most controlled flame.

 

[Ozmundo]

I have re-tested the Lixada to get some more data. Later in the day and a bit colder.

I’ve copied the results below:

Jetboil Zip 2:40
Primas folder* titianium mug 2:40
Primus folder* steel mug 3:30

Meths/denatured alcohol

Lixada spirit burner 5:00 ti / 6:00 steel
Bushcraft burner 4:50 Ti / 5:30 steel

Lixada total runtime 17 minutes
Bushcraft total runtime 10 minutes

 

[Ozmundo]

My initial thoughts are that I skewed the test by messing up the timing but it wasn’t hugely different from the bushcraft burner the first time.

The Jetboil zip was quick and easy. The Primus was as fast when using a Ti pot compared to the Alu flux ring. I did not expect that.

The Lixada was slower than the bushcrafter. I think this is because I dud not wait for it to bloom, it likely got more effective once it did so. I believe this is why it had a longer overall run time with the same fuel volume.

Or I buggered the stopwatch again.

Why test time to boil?

Because it is a simple thing to compare so that on similar fuel sources we can get some sort of handle on efficiency.

I am not overly fussed about a 1 minute difference but I could get more data for trip planning and estimating usage.

Where might each stove work best (or not)?

Jet boil, mobile office quick brew. But it could be handy as “first aid” tool to give you warmth rapidly.

Primus, still quick and compact. Can take a bigger pot than the jet boil. So better for actual meals.

Lixada, if you want very minimalist and light. Bigger reservoir than I used on the test, it will power a Swedish M40 system. Gloves or pot grab help with handling.

Bushcrafter, super simple and reliable. I carry this with my twig stove as a back up, with a vial of fuel it’s negligible extra weight. Gloves are very useful with this stove.

 

[stonepark]

Lixada/Tomshoo stove can be improved with addition of a lid for central chimney.

My lid come from mini F&M Christmas Tea Tin (press on type, like enamel paint tin lid).

After priming the stove, adding the lid "pressurises" the jets, leading to a more efficent burn.

1floz meths will heat up and then boil 300ml water for 3mins plus, exactly what you need for noodles.

 

[Pattree]

I love it when you find that something totally unconnected fits perfectly to solve an issue.
Well done!

 

[Ozmundo]

Nice one. Look Like I will be going through the tins in the shed tomorrow!

 

[stonepark]

I love it when you find that something totally unconnected fits perfectly to solve an issue.
Well done!

Nice one. Look Like I will be going through the tins in the shed tomorrow!

Thanks!

Please note lid doesn't need to fit tightly and "seal" the chimney, (it sits loose to prevent over pressureisation) and just needs to block chimney but still allow inner jets clearance.