does anyone have any experience with Biolite stove

[brettb]

Hey guys and gals, I was just looking into a few things and came across the Biolite wood burning stove made for backpacking. I like the dimensions. 5x5x8.3 and only weighs 2.1lbs. another really cool feature its designed to do is charge your phone. The heat creates electricity. Just wondering if anyone has played with one before. thanks.

 

[Colo4x4XJ]

It's a lot heavier and bulkier than you would think. I played with one at Outdoor Retailer a few years ago and was amazed at how heavy it was. They might've gotten lighter recently but I remember thinking it was more a car camping toy than anything. Just my $0.02

 

[mk_v]

more a car camping toy than anything. Just my $0.02

+1 they are pretty heavy for backpacking

 

[lchavez]

You have to put it in perspective in regards to weight. This unit takes the place of stove, fuel, battery backup, and or solar charger. When I first saw it in the store and picked it up, I was shocked at the weight and size. I put it down and thought to my self, no way will I carry that. But it stuck in the back of my mind. I thought about all the items it would replace and a few months later picked one up.

What I found after use was that the design made sense. It simply works and works well. The other advantage is that you no longer worry about fuel. I sit and enjoy the heat and cook at leisure without the constant concern of fuel consumption. This guy is surprisingly efficient at how much flame you get from a few twigs.

When I took out all of the battery backups, solar charger, pots (I also have the biolite kettle) and fuel, my pack felt the same.

 

[dotman]

After you get past all the what ifs it is purely a base camp stove. Way too heavy to backpack with and there are other backpacking stove options that weigh oz's and burn wood as well that will heat water. As a base camp stove it is too small to cook with (even with the accessory griddle), a Coleman camp stove would be a better option.

We had one in our base camp last year, the neat factor wore off quickly and no way will it charge your phone unless you sit with it and stoke the fire for hours. After seeing it in action I have chalked it up to a gimmick since it lacks cooking space, too heavy for anything but a base camp setup and no way will it charge your phone unless you sit with it for half a day. I say save your money.

 

[boom]

The other advantage is that you no longer worry about fuel. I sit and enjoy the heat and cook at leisure without the constant concern of fuel consumption. This guy is surprisingly efficient at how much flame you get from a few twigs.

.

unless it rains like a mofo. i like the thing. i wanted to get my BIL one for the holidays, but they sold out cuz i waited til the last minute.

 

[ScottR_EHJ]

We are taking one out tonight and will be testing it a bit.

 

[mfolch]

Was just looking at these while revamping and updating my hiking equipment. 2.1lbs is massive. A seekoutside titanium wood stove weighs less (which is what I use for winter camping/base-camp and it's excellent). I ended up doubling down on a trail designs titanium caldera stove which can burn three fuels (wood, alcohol, solid) and *with a pot* weighs in at less than .5 lbs. Not inexpensive, but the total cost was no that much more than what you're looking at. I sometimes bring along a backup phone charger; inexpensive ones weigh under 4oz.

 

[Rizzy]

When used stand alone the time factor is the biggest issue. It takes a long time and requires a lot of attention to boil water, let alone charge your phone. Anyone that's ever used a small stove knows how much attention they require to maintain a burn. The Biolite is a super small fire box. You also need dry wood, which can be a time consuming problem in fall hunting conditions. For hunts where you are in a base camp and are using a stove, then thermoelectric generators is probably the best way to charge usb devices.

I have been experimenting with thermoelectric generators for over a year now and the most practical application for them is in conjunction with a wood stove.
The thermoelectric generator in the bottom of the biolite generates current based on the temperature differential between the boiling water and the flame. You have to keep the flame roaring in order to maintain a big enough differential to generate a suitable current. In ideal conditions the TEG generates a couple amps, but the Iphone requires 5 amps to charge. You make up the difference with a boost converter. When the flame is not hot enough and you lose your large temperature differential, the amperage drops off and it quits charging until you get the fire roaring again.

 

[TheRambler]

I tested the biolite for Trailspace a year or so ago. IMO the biolite kinda sucks, its fincky, heavy, and a genera; PITA to use. check out my review over on trailspace.com if your interested. A much better alternative that I have also tested is the power pot. I had not one issue with the power pot. It works like a champ and serves dual purpose as a cook pot and able to charge your electronic devices. I use it to charge both my iphone and my headlamp. I have used it not for about a year and can say it consistantly charges at about the same rate, ,maybe a tad slower than a wall outlet.

 

[chorpie]

Get a solely wood burning stove like the Emberlit or similar... the extra weight of the biolite isn't worth the charge you get from it. In my opinion at least.