Lightest & smallest stove for extreme cold?

[BBob]

I went down the rabbit hole of lightweight stoves, small titanium pots and found that what I saved was more than lost by my needing to carry extra fuel. My fuel burn was about double.

Went back to a jet boil setup, the Stash, but I really miss my old titanium .8L jetboil that they discontinued a while ago

There are several efficient small light setups available and many better than the Stash. There's at least two threads on Rokslide dedicated to just that.

 

[Sundodger]

There are several efficient small light setups available and many better than the Stash. There's at least two threads on Rokslide dedicated to just that.

Links?

I tend to only jump into that level of scrutiny when I need a replacement.

Did the catfood can stove thing for a while and living in the PNW esbit stoves can be tricky, so kind of done with that sort of thing, but open to other options.

 

[BBob]

UL fuel efficient cook system

So I’ve been messing around for a while now trying to put together the absolute lightest, most efficient cook system, but also wanting something that I think will provide many years of use and not break the bank. Well, I think I did it! Total wt. for this system is just under 6 oz., and it will...

rokslide.com

 

[Beendare]

Yeah, the Iso Butane Canisters don't work well in extreme cold but there are things a guy can do like sleep with the canister.

It's old school but My Whisperlite will work in sub zero....which is what really matters.

 

[bradmacmt]

I went down the rabbit hole of lightweight stoves, small titanium pots and found that what I saved was more than lost by my needing to carry extra fuel. My fuel burn was about double.

Went back to a jet boil setup, the Stash, but I really miss my old titanium .8L jetboil that they discontinued a while ago

I've got a Jetboil Ti (just sold an extra one I had new on ebay for $250 lol - nuts).

However, for less weight, here are a few ideas that are lighter, and I think are better than the Jetboil Ti:

UL fuel efficient cook system

So I took delivery of a Fire Maple G3 this week, and got to work modifying it. Pot with everything including lid: 5.89 oz’s Lid: 1.02 oz’s Without lid: 4.87 oz's I drilled out the handle: 0.90 oz’s Pot bare, without handle: 3.92 oz’s I cut the top off right at the bottom rivet...

rokslide.com

 

[bradmacmt]

I posted earlier and got no replies, so trying in the LW forum.

Havent found a lot of info on this. I have a pretty light stove for backpacking that all packs into a small pot so it also takes up very little room, but it uses the butane cartridges which Ive had a few issues with in very cold weather. What are the smallest-packing and lightest stove and fuel options that work well when soaked in very cold temps? (0f or below)

If you keep an eye out on ebay, you can pick up a used, or new-old-stock MSR Simmerlite. It's around 3oz's lighter than the Whisperlite, and IMO a better stove. However, it didn't actually simmer so was discontinued lol. If you can't find a Simmerlite, the Whisperlite is the way to go.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

I believe a lot of cold weather campers will cut a piece of copper then tape it to their isobutane cannisters and up into the flame to keep the fuel warm as the stove runs. Standard practice is to keep the canister inside your outer layers till use. I can't remember the exact details, but some of the backpacking light and myog forums have more info than anything I've found on Rokslide.

 

[bradmacmt]

I believe a lot of cold weather campers will cut a piece of copper then tape it to their isobutane cannisters and up into the flame to keep the fuel warm as the stove runs. Standard practice is to keep the canister inside your outer layers till use. I can't remember the exact details, but some of the backpacking light and myog forums have more info than anything I've found on Rokslide.

That's the "Moulder Strip:"

Moulder Strip Directions - Backpacking Light

Cannot find specific directions on how to build this "Moulder Strip". Have seen numerous references to this, and links. Can anyone advise on materials and building this? Thanks.

backpackinglight.com

"Extreme Cold" necessitates a white gas stove IME.

 

[Macintosh]

Yeah, Ive made my butane stove work in cold wx, this particular use isnt really for camping per se, more of a “eat on the run” sort of a rig, so keeping it in a sleeping bag or similar isnt nearly as much of an option. Really looking for something I can use without needing warmed up. I can already tell Im going to miss the packing size of my butane stove kit though.

 

[Wacko]

JMHO...but for quick on the go, keep using what you are using. You can do the moulder strip, you can put the adhesive hot hands toe warmer on the bottom of the fuel can, you can put the canister in a small bowl with some of your water, you can add a small piece of insulation under the bottom of the canister and a tight windscreen to have the stove help heat the canister.

There are lots of ways to get your current stove to work in the conditions you want. Is it optimal.?..no...I think it works good enough for me though.

YMMV

 

[Dobermann]

@Sundodger - when you check out the thread posted by @BBob and @bradmacmt, just be aware that the thread starts a few years ago with a pot that is now discontinued ... info about a range of new heat exchanging pots, comparative testing, a spreadsheet tool for comparing overall setup weight over number of cooking days, and more, can now be found towards the end of that thread.

There's a lot in it - if you don't need a stove setup for extreme cold like the OP of this current thread, then you'll probably find a lot of good data, and a few good options.

 

[JoeK]

@Sundodger, why are you done with the catcan? I've used a trangia spirit burner last year and while it's a bit heavier it does have the simmer lid and can also snuff it out and then seal it up with residual fuel inside. if you can dial in the fuel required for a cook then there are myriad uberlite alcohol fuel stoves out there. like .5-1oz. These seem very efficient and simple solution for extreme cold. absolutely need a good wind screen.

I went down that rabbithole a bit a year ago and built a couple DIY aluminum can rigs that were OK but there's also a lot of products out there too. PaleohikerMD on youtube is a major nerdout on alcohol stove testing. Goshawk brand comes to mind for commercial products. As long as you have real good windscreen alcohol stoves should work just fine below 0* weather. I don't have 0* weather to test with. Is there advantages to go with white gas vs the super simple and readily available alcohol fuel? higher energy density perhaps?

 

[Sundodger]

@Sundodger, why are you done with the catcan? I've used a trangia spirit burner last year and while it's a bit heavier it does have the simmer lid and can also snuff it out and then seal it up with residual fuel inside. if you can dial in the fuel required for a cook then there are myriad uberlite alcohol fuel stoves out there. like .5-1oz. These seem very efficient and simple solution for extreme cold. absolutely need a good wind screen.

I went down that rabbithole a bit a year ago and built a couple DIY aluminum can rigs that were OK but there's also a lot of products out there too. PaleohikerMD on youtube is a major nerdout on alcohol stove testing. Goshawk brand comes to mind for commercial products. As long as you have real good windscreen alcohol stoves should work just fine below 0* weather. I don't have 0* weather to test with. Is there advantages to go with white gas vs the super simple and readily available alcohol fuel? higher energy density perhaps?

I really only go full gram weenie on extended trips, and if your trip is long enough the weight in fuel makes them a heavier option. I don't remember what the crossover time is, but it was lighter to go with butane mix for my primary trips, plus you get all the other benefits of a modern stove (time to boil and such)

 

[nphunter]

I've got a Jetboil Ti (just sold an extra one I had new on ebay for $250 lol - nuts).

However, for less weight, here are a few ideas that are lighter, and I think are better than the Jetboil Ti:

UL fuel efficient cook system

So I took delivery of a Fire Maple G3 this week, and got to work modifying it. Pot with everything including lid: 5.89 oz’s Lid: 1.02 oz’s Without lid: 4.87 oz's I drilled out the handle: 0.90 oz’s Pot bare, without handle: 3.92 oz’s I cut the top off right at the bottom rivet...

rokslide.com

Curious what you like better about the other options? I read through your posts making modified UL systems with windscreens and saw that the Jet boil still uses less fuel if I read correctly.

I just picked up a NIB Jetboil Ti and am debating selling it and building something, it seems like for the weight though it would be tough to beat the jet boils convince. I’ve been using an old original jet boil for 10 years.

 

[SonnyDay]

I don’t mess around with iso if it’s really cold. Just had too many issues over the years. White gas through an MSR Whisperlite all the way…

 

[COJoe]

This is all great info for me too as I am more than likely doing a 4th season CO elk hunt this year so I guess I'll be leaving my Jetboil Stash and taking my 30 + year old WhisperLite International with me this year. Used it a number of times in Alaska in sub zero temps.

 

[SonnyDay]

This is all great info for me too as I am more than likely doing a 4th season CO elk hunt this year so I guess I'll be leaving my Jetboil Stash and taking my 30 + year old WhisperLite International with me this year. Used it a number of times in Alaska in sub zero temps.

Good plan. And good luck!

 

[4th_point]

JMHO...but for quick on the go, keep using what you are using. You can do the moulder strip, you can put the adhesive hot hands toe warmer on the bottom of the fuel can, you can put the canister in a small bowl with some of your water, you can add a small piece of insulation under the bottom of the canister and a tight windscreen to have the stove help heat the canister.

There are lots of ways to get your current stove to work in the conditions you want. Is it optimal.?..no...I think it works good enough for me though.

YMMV

Those are good tips - snow pit or similar containment is another - not as a replacement for liquid-fuel, or even convenient, but might get someone by in a pinch and doesn't cost anything...

 

[mtwarden]

For extreme cold—liquid. Having said that, most of my winter camping is in temps above zero; honestly if it looks like a bunch of below zero weather—I'll usually wait a week.

I've used this MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe (the regular pocket rocket is NOT regulated) with the copper strip (search Moulder strip) several times with temps right zero.

 

[Yellowknife]

If you keep an eye out on ebay, you can pick up a used, or new-old-stock MSR Simmerlite. It's around 3oz's lighter than the Whisperlite, and IMO a better stove. However, it didn't actually simmer so was discontinued lol. If you can't find a Simmerlite, the Whisperlite is the way to go.

The used market Simmerlites are the answer for the most compact. They pack smaller than any other white gas stove I've used. I do find mine to be a bit pickier to operate than the old XGK stove

Although you can make a canister stove work ok for winter camping, it's hard to beat white gas if you happen to need to melt a lot of snow.