ultra light / ultra compact stove

[boo]

Did a search and could not find any info here about this stove, so I thought I would do a mini review.

Here goes.

I bought a mini stove the other day and I like it.
It is a VARGO Titanium Decagon stove.
It weighs about two ounces, is 4 1/2" in diameter, and 1 1/2' thick or high. Very small, light, and compact.

On those occasions when a person wants to travel light but, would like the option of heating a small can of Beenie Weenies, or a cup of coffee. this is the answer.

It uses denatured alcohol. Very small amount to fill and burns about fifteen to twenty minutes on a fill.

I filled the blue cup in the picture a little over half full, " the amount I usually drink ", and it brought it to
a rolling boil in three minutes.

Test was done @ 78 degrees with water @ about 65 degrees.

Burn time on a full fill, about eighteen minutes. - 1 1/2 minutes to prime.
Enough to heat a small can of soup, and make a cup of coffee or hot coco.

I think i`m going to like this thing.
I have a bigger stove for bigger jobs but, for what it was intended for, I think it will do fine.

ps: Have not had the opportunity to use in cold weather.
Now have a double layer of tin foil to use as a wind break.

So far, I like it.

ps: Kinda pricey at $29., but it is nice, uses cheap, easy to find fuel.

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[Kosuki]

Nice stuff.

[Rick]

It's a nice stove. What you won't like is having to dump any left over alcohol out of the stove to pack it away. Other than that, cudos on the stove and the review!!

[balendor]

here is my stove it does require maintenance as you will see in the pics I have a kit to repair and clean the stove, the MSR whisper lite international
stove and fuel bottles.jpgcleaning screens and repair kit.jpgstove and fuel bottles packed.jpg

[hunter63]

Where is the post?

[Rick]

This is number 5. You were number 4. Go back 3 more from you and, presto!, you'll be there.

[crashdive123]

Where is the post?

It was awaiting moderation.

Hey Balendor - how do you keep things from falling off?

[hunter63]

This is number 5. You were number 4. Go back 3 more from you and, presto!, you'll be there.

It's not nice to play with old guys minds you know......so the Mods could see it and I couldn't......And yeah i can handle 5 mostly, one handed ya know.....Sheesh...only get in trouble past 11 (11 fingers ya know)

[balendor]

getting it level is the key, pots and pans can slide some if it is not level. the other trick is to find a rock to prop up the fuel bottle that keeps it from moving and disturbing the stove. I have had this one for many years now, and have run white gas, kero, and gasoline. while it will run on any of the three white gas seems to burn cleaner and requires less maintenance.

[hunter63]

The balancing act is quite a trick....never had to deal with it till a couple of weeks ago......I always just used the fire or a larger stove......But I do like the small stoves for weight (or lack of).

[balendor]

Yes it does take some trial and error to figure out the best way,I keep this in my BOB now since it can use multiple fuels it gives me options

[1stimestar]

It's a nice stove. What you won't like is having to dump any left over alcohol out of the stove to pack it away. Other than that, cudos on the stove and the review!!

This would make a sweet back packing stove where you are just heating water for the most part to rehydrate meals. Any excess fuel you can just let burn off.

[Rick]

I used an alcohol stove for a long time. You either have to let it burn off or empty it back into your fuel bottle. I hated wasting fuel because if you were out very long that extra fuel was important. But pouring it back in the bottle meant you had to let it cool, then try to empty it without spilling it all over you. Make sure it was out was kind of important, too, since it's hard to see the flame sometimes. I changed over to the Trangia because of the cap but finally got away from alcohol altogether because of the problems with cooler temps and sooting.

[pgvoutdoors]

Boo - I added your stove to the thread "unusual compact stoves", a running list of all kinds of stoves.

[boo]

It's a nice stove. What you won't like is having to dump any left over alcohol out of the stove to pack it away. Other than that, cudos on the stove and the review!!

Rick, the stove uses so little fuel it is no big deal to empty if you don`t do a full burn. Just flip the remaining fuel out or let it burn dry.

[boo]

Boo - I added your stove to the thread "unusual compact stoves", a running list of all kinds of stoves.

OK good.
I did not know there was a place for "unusual compact stoves". Will check it out.
Sorry if I posted in the wrong place.

ps:cannot find the list you speak of.

[crashdive123]

OK good.
I did not know there was a place for "unusual compact stoves". Will check it out.
Sorry if I posted in the wrong place.

ps:cannot find the list you speak of.

Here ya go. http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...Compact-Stoves

[hunter63]

I used an alcohol stove for a long time. You either have to let it burn off or empty it back into your fuel bottle. I hated wasting fuel because if you were out very long that extra fuel was important. But pouring it back in the bottle meant you had to let it cool, then try to empty it without spilling it all over you.
Make sure it was out was kind of important, too, since it's hard to see the flame sometimes. I changed over to the Trangia because of the cap but finally got away from alcohol altogether because of the problems with cooler temps and sooting.

Yeah, real good point..........

[Rick]

There's nothing prettier at night that a huge blue glow from someone adding alcohol to their all ready burning stove. In some other camp of course.

[hunter63]

Takes the fuzz off your fleece jacket....I'll tell ya that....