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First time trying an alcohol stove in the wild (i.imgur.com)

submitted 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) by beastlykings@sh.itjust.works to c/backpacking@lemmy.ml

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I forgot my wind shield, so it took way longer and way more fuel than necessary. But we got there in the end. It was just a day hike, after all.

For those curious, this is a "cat can" stove, or "super cat". I can't speak to its effectiveness, as I used it wrong. But a lot of people really like it. And it weighs basically nothing!

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[–] Death_Equity@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago (5 children)

I have the Converter + the Hexagon stove.

The multi fuel aspect of the Triad didn't appeal to me because the gels are pretty terrible. With the Converter and Hex I can do alcohol and, in an emergency, wood.

You can just put the pot right on them, but wind is an obvious issue, so the Hex addresses that. The other problem with them is using them on unstable/uneven ground, another issue the Hex addresses quite well in the pairing.

On weight, the soda can or cat food stoves are very light, but the Converter is also lightweight. The penny stove and stand I made is a bit heavier than the Vargo.

It is like $80 for the pair, but a Snow Peak is like $45 plus $11 for the wind screen and you can use it in more places with less trouble at higher elevations or colder temps.

[–] beastlykings@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Thanks for the write-up!

I don't care about multi fuel, I just thought it looked like the smallest lightest one, but obviously that isn't always most important.

You really make a good argument for the Hex and converter. I'm gonna use my cat stove for awhile to get some experience, but the Hex sounds like a great option for me.

Thanks!

[–] Death_Equity@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (3 children)

TBH, your cat stove will serve you as well as a Vargo except in durability. Just make sure you have a wind screen because the wind really screws your efficiency and can make a boil neigh impossible.

I used tinfoil on a C shaped strip of hardware cloth for a while, which also acted as a pot stand for my penny stove. You can store it in or around a pot. I wanted to try and get a scrap piece of stainless duct for a more long-term option that wasn't as frail, but I ended up getting the Vargo stuff because it was on sale or a Drop deal.

[–] beastlykings@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Yeah I experienced that in the breeze in this video, couldn't get a boil.

Funny, my wind screen is also tin foil, I was hoping for something a little more durable though. What is hardware cloth?

[–] Death_Equity@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Hardware cloth

I've also seen people cut a strip out from a thrift store aluminum baking pan or pot.

Note: Galvanized steel does emit a harmful zinc oxide gas when heated, so heat it thoroughly to red hot in an open and well ventilated space a couple times to minimize the risk of the off-gassing during actual use. The heat will make the steel easier to bend, but I have crushed it flat a few times and it bent back fine. You can also dunk it in HCL to melt it off, once again in a well ventilated open space.

[–] beastlykings@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 days ago

Thanks!

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