Bushwalk Australia

Im looking at alternative LIGHT WEIGHT Fuel stove options for National Parks.
This is my prefered option:
http://www.imrisk.com/forge/forge.htm
[see forge 202 version, 171grams all up is great though and no fuel carrying!]
but as national parks do not allow the taking and burning of vegetation, its normal format is a no go.

I am looking at alternative packable fuels though that could be burnt adequately in the forge.
More research needed.

Anyone with alternatives that are light weight?

I have tinkered with that type of stove (single and double wall) using a fan from a computer display card and that 9v batt. It works but if you need to carry your own solid fuel you will end up with much more weight (and volume) than a gas stove and even alcohol.
Franco

Franco wrote:I have tinkered with that type of stove (single and double wall) using a fan from a computer display card and that 9v batt. It works but if you need to carry your own solid fuel you will end up with much more weight (and volume) than a gas stove and even alcohol.
Franco

I thought you might have. The Lightweight Brigade!
What about fuel tabs? Esbit and the like? Try them at all?
http://www.footprintpress.com/Articles/esbittabs.htm

Yep, tried Esbit too, with the usual Army type kit , a couple of commercially made stoves ( one was the type that is alcohol on one side and Esbit when you turn it the other way) and made my own (very easy...) but the only combo that managed to boil 1/2 liter with one tablet was the GramCracker inside the Caldera Cone. I boil 250/300/400 and 450 ml but no more than that. Splitting a tablet works for some but after all I can't stand the fish smell.
If you have a subscription there is a good article about fuel usage with various systems here :

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin ... s_pt2.html

but of course you won't find a line that states "Franco does not like the fish smell"
That is one of many articles there. (search under "fuel consumption")

Our "own" Roger Caffin was good enough to put his findings here :
http://www.bushwalking.org.au/FAQ/FAQ_Efficiency.htm
That should keep you busy for a few minutes. BTW check out the rest of his site, just remember that making your own tent is only easy once you know how.

The "best" system depends a lot on how many days you are out, how much you boil, if you cook or boil only and of course temperature/wind, volume and convinience.
Franco

Interesting link Franco. Thanks for that. I havent got a subscription with BPL so no go with that one.

Looks like the 'ol butane/propane burner is still the lightest option for my needs.
Aaahhhh well.........theirs some more weight to be added to my gear list.......keeps getting heavier!

Hi,

I was always a shellite man with a dragonfly stove but we are very happy with our new jetboil. It is the black one called personal cooking system (not group cooking system) but it is fine for two people. Weighs 425g including a 1 litre pot and lid. Gas cans are 193g (100g of gas) so 625g all up.

It lights itself, is an insulated cup and packs up very neatly.

In high country it will safely boil 32 cups on a gas tank or 8 litres, supposed to do 12 litres and supposed to boil 1/2 litre in 2 minutes. Probably do 36 cups or more when warmer.

It is a bit tricky to clean and I don't like to scrape the aluminium so we try not to do too many sticky meals. It is ideal for freeze dried meals. We boild up a few veggies (snow peas, broccoli, mushrooms, capsicum) and then tip the lot into a freeze dried meal. Not especially stable but the one time it fell over the lid saved the meal. Great for instant oats, tea and if we want to do something like deb potatoe we tip the boiling water into a mug and make in there.

Cheers,

Andrew

Andrew wrote:Hi,

I was always a shellite man with a dragonfly stove but weare very happy with our new jetboil. It is the black one called personal cooking system (not group cooking system)but it is fine for two people. Weighs 425g including a 1 litre pot and lid. Gas cans are 136g (100g of gas).

It lights itself, is an insulated cup and packs up very neatly.

In high country it will safely boil 24 cups on a gas tank or 6 litres, supposed to do 12 litres and supposed to boil 1/2 litre in 2 minutes.

It is a bit tricky to clean and I don't like to scrape the aluminium so we try not to do too many sticky meals. It is ideal for freeze dried meals. We boild up a few veggies (snow peas, broccoli, mushrooms, capsicum) and then tip the lot into a freeze dried meal. Not especially stable but the one time it fell over the lid saved the meal. Great for instant oats, tea and if we want to do something like deb potatoe we tip the boiling water into a mug and make in there.

Cheers,

Andrew

Thanks Andrew for the info.
The nitty gritty...
A jetboil and 1 cannister weighs 561grams.
My current two pot system plus mug, stove and gas bottle weighs in at 725 grams!
Thats a difference of 164 grams.
This is mainly because of the larger fuel cannister I carry. You quoted the small 136grams of gas when I would use a 230 gram gas container...94 grams difference.
I still have 70 grams more though....plus, would I really need the larger fuel cell for max 4 - 5 day trips?
Mmmmmm...will look into this a bit more. Thanks.

Hi Earthling,

I reckon the 100g of gas would be enough for one person for 5-7 days especially if you didn't drink a lot of tea/coffee and it was just for Oats/coffee in the morning and a freeze dried meal/tea at night. Even for 2 people without many hot drinks it would probably do. Best to take 2 cans to test the first time. The stove does seem very efficient so probably saving carrying gas overall.

Cheers,

Andrew

Earthling wrote: would I really need the larger fuel cell for max 4 - 5 day trips?
Mmmmmm...will look into this a bit more. Thanks.

I use about 30 grams per day for the two of us: morning tea and dinner. We eat well.
A 450 g canister lasts us two weeks.
I can get lower consumption, but I need to be very careful.

Cheers

Hi guys,

I just edited my post above as realized the gas can I weighed was part used. 193g is the weight of 100g gas can. So all up weight is 625g including jetboil with gas, 1 litre pot and lid and auto ignition. Also changed to 32 cups/8 litres safely in high country and 36 cups/9litres or more if warmer from 100g gas can. Just heading off on a fly-fishing/walking trip and trying to figure out best way to hopefully cook fish in it.

Cheers,

Andrew

Hi,

Just did a 7 night trip with the Jetboil and have cut down to 30 cups safely. Summary of the trip as follows:-

Jetboil was great. Boiled 26 cups (250ml) of water on 84g of gas so had 16g spare. It used 3.22g per cup so would boil 31 cups or 7.7 litres per 100g canister at sea level. Water was cold but may need a bit more for high altitude where gas is less efficient although I calculated a bit over 32 cups per can for our last high country trip so maybe altitude not as critical.

This trip each day I used 1/3 cup for oats, 1 cup for soup, 1 3/4 cups for FD meal plus I warmed the water to soak the mung beans so they sprout better. I boiled a bit too much water for FD meals until I realized my cup was 380ml not 300ml. I didn't have tea/coffee but would easily get by with 2 cans for a week or 10 days if I did.

Cheers,

Andrew

In discussing alternative fuel stoves, are you inferring that the Trangia systems are no good now? Ive sort of just starting out and have been investigating fuel systems etc.

Chrisbulldog wrote:In discussing alternative fuel stoves, are you inferring that the Trangia systems are no good now? Ive sort of just starting out and have been investigating fuel systems etc.

Trangia are a good comprehensive stove/pots/windsheild kit. They are excellent if you get the gas option instead of the metho option.

However, with all the shield and variety of pots/kettle/etc, they are not as light weight as many other options out there.

(I use a Trangia, and have just converted it to gas. I have also customised my own 250g Trangia metho kit for solo walks, which is reasonably light, but still nowhere near as light as some other kits around these days).

Chrisbulldog wrote:In discussing alternative fuel stoves, are you inferring that the Trangia systems are no good now? Ive sort of just starting out and have been investigating fuel systems etc.

Trangia System is stll excellent but other much cheaper light weight stove are available for solo walkers.
Check the forum for info sorry Im not smart enough to direct you to the exact posts
c

Thankyou for the stove info, i think i'm being steered in the right direction