this post was submitted on 21 Jul 2025
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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 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 (2 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.