In Praise of cheap wind shields

[tombear]

Having tried various wind shields for stoves I have finally settled on the following folding aluminium jobs. They started off as one camping gaz stove sized affair which cost about a fiver from a cheapo camping shop. After removing the rods (they conveniantly fell out) the plates where easily cut with a Stanley knife (I burnished the raw edge smooth as a safety measure) and the rods with a hacksaw. I cut the later slightly short so I could crimp the ends of the tubes they fit through to stop them falling out.

One I made to go with a clickstand

which left another just the right size for my Nova

They pack up very small, are light and can be pushed into the ground when needed. They also fit around mess tins much better than most screens designed for round pots.

A sad part of me wishes they were titanium...


;-{D)

ATB

Tom

 

[gregorach]

A sad part of me wishes they were titanium...

You know, I caught myself thinking the very same thing about my pocket cooker...

Nice windshields - they certainly look a bit more durable than the bit of heavy foil I'm using.

 

[AJB]

Ooo nice – Tom, what make of mess kit and spork are they?

AJB

 

[tombear]

Hi, the mess tin is the infamous BCB Crusader one and the Sporks a Brunton one (US version of Silva I think). A mate is paying me for research info' in titanium sporks (don't ask), and that ones quite handy as it fits anywhere.

ATB

Tom

 

[Gwhtbushcraft]

Are these too short for a camping gaz?

 

[spamel]

Interesting spork, and I really like the mess tins. That is the best picture I've seen of them yet. Do they fit onto the mug in some way? Can you put the mess tin on the mug for example, as a steamer, or use the lid stright on the mug?

If so, they could be a good investment for a lightweight set up for a day trip.

 

[tombear]

The mess tin doesn't seem to fit the mug in anyway, I think the names just branding, the metal isn't even the same gauge.

The two wind shields shown were made from a single one long enough to use with a gas burner fitted to the top of the gas canister type stove so are both two short for that type. When folded they fit inside the mess tin shown or the larger pans I usually use with the Nova.

ATB

Tom

 

[cyclist]

nice windshields - weight?

wow - a folding spork - great.
Is the handle made from ti too? weight?

 

[tombear]

The handles steel wire (not sure how springy Ti is so that may have been a consideration).

Unfortunately our scales are more suitable for sacks of potatoes than lightweight kit (which put the mockers on some fuel effeciency measurements I wanted to do) but I'm told backpackinglightUk now sell the spork and they are bound to do the grams. They also do a very similar wind shield (full size) for £5.99.

Tch, never a drug dealer around when you need one!

ATB

Tom

 

[cyclist]

well, I´d say it all depends - maybe those potatoe bags are lightweight and filled with lightweight (dehydrated) potatoes

5.99 how much is that in $? Seems to be at not so very low budget .....
I guess a roll of standard household aluminum foil is a little less and makes some more (one roll being a group-buy) lightweight windshields (foil 3 to 5 layers with some insulating air in between )

The Snowpeak ti spork is 16g - without a folding handle

 

[tombear]

Five quid isn't so bad as to be honest compared to the US we get screwed for outdoors gear. Often we are paying in pounds what your paying in dollars so its often worthwhile to source anything light weight from across the pond One bought one does make 2 shields in use so in this case I don't feel too burned.

I've tried foil but found it blew away too often, although my lumbering after it/ into trees/streams/nettles in persuit is always a crowd pleaser.

The joy of these suckers is they will dig into anything but rock hard ground and they will last meny, meny trips.

I've the Snowpeak spork myself, a excellent bit of kit although I've since found sporks with more efficient tines for EDC and which are much better for spiking chips, saddly this is a major selling point with me!