Comments on: Ultralight Backpacking Pt II

By: 1matt1025

1matt1025 — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:12:28 +0000

thats complete bull. most alcohol stoves are about an ounce or less it is about an ounce for a boil of water. so all in all its 10 ounces or less. and a fuel canister alone is about a pound. let alone another 5-6 ounces per stove.

By: boulder89984

boulder89984 — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:12:28 +0000

LOVE the videos and info.
KILL THE CHIMES!

By: BrokenAeroVT

BrokenAeroVT — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:12:28 +0000

Many people poopoo alcohol burners because they only boil water at one speed. Not such a big deal for thruhikers since dehydrated food is the order of the day, and boiling is what is called for. A burner becomes a stove when the output can be controlled. This can be accomplished with a draft choke to limit air. The boil can be reached, then the output turned down for a simmer.

By: BeaverNotch

BeaverNotch — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:12:28 +0000

Yeah, I actually prefer a white gas stove over any design. They’re the ultimate in efficiency no matter what the weather. I don’t personally use a Jet boil any longer. I have a Vaude Spider stove that’s works great. You can turn it down to an unbelievable low flame and when folded up it’s fairly small. Workmanship isn’t the best, but it works great. I nest the larger cup from the Snow Peak Titanium Solo cookset on the end of my sleeping bag to cook with. Blessings!

By: WeekendAdventurer

WeekendAdventurer — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:12:28 +0000

I am a former backpacking guide and I understand your point about efficiency. Back then I would use a white gas stove because of the long burn efficiency for large group cooking. I have never used a jetboil but I bet that short efficient burns would probably out weigh the fuel of an alcohol stove in a matter of a few meals. Thanks for the insight.

By: BeaverNotch

BeaverNotch — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:12:28 +0000

I agree, there is a savings in $ depending on what you buy. As far as weight goes I didn’t say no difference, I said not that much difference except on short hikes. You also have to take in consideration efficiency, as that;s a big factor. I can go a long way on a little jet boil canister using a pocket rocket, or some other small stove than with an alcohol stove when carrying the same amount of fuel in ounces. Thanks for the feedback and blessings!

By: WeekendAdventurer

WeekendAdventurer — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:12:28 +0000

I think that you are discounting the cost between the two. The entry cost of a homemade alcohol is almost nothing and fuel is only $2 per 11oz bottle. I am interested in your claim that there is no weight savings. I will go check that out and try to make a video about it. (I am totally bias because I love my alcohol burner.)

By: BeaverNotch

BeaverNotch — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:12:28 +0000

Yeah, I agree. It does come down to what you prefer. I had a Brasslite and it was a good stove, but I didn’t like the fact that every time I wanted to reheat something, or boil water for tea, or clean up a pot and spoon, I had to refill, re-prime and wait for it to finally boil. Blessings!

By: CARYBORDERSHART

CARYBORDERSHART — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:12:28 +0000

I finished a thru-hike on the AT in Sept.08. I actually started with the pocket rocket and ended up buying that same etowah stove. Finding canister started becoming a problem and they started getting pricer the farther north i went. actually every one that i finished with swithed over to alcohol stoves. But it really comes down to what you like.

By: BeaverNotch

BeaverNotch — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:12:28 +0000

IMO, there’s no real advantage to an alcohol stove. They’re inefficient, impractical and if you include everything that’s carried for it, they don’t really save that much weight except on short hikes (since you take less). Mainly space savers. Stoves today, such as the Pocket Rocket, or Jetboil (as examples) are much more efficient and practical for the weight. Just my opinion through experience with them.