New cook stove on the market

[Chris Neville]

@mtnbound It’s all high-temp silicone on our pot handles and titanium lid, so it can withstand a decent amount of heat. I’ve never personally tested it on an open fire, but I feel like if you positioned the pot on coals on the outside of the fire, you might be okay as long as there’s no direct flame or coals hitting the silicone.

But again, I’ve never thrown it in an open fire to see what happens. I’ll probably have to add that to my testing list.

 

[schwaf]

@mtnbound It’s all high-temp silicone on our pot handles and titanium lid, so it can withstand a decent amount of heat. I’ve never personally tested it on an open fire, but I feel like if you positioned the pot on coals on the outside of the fire, you might be okay as long as there’s no direct flame or coals hitting the silicone.

But again, I’ve never thrown it in an open fire to see what happens. I’ll probably have to add that to my testing list.

Setting a pot on top of coals smothers them and kills the heat. Pots usually need to be set next to or on top of flames to effectively cook. Open flames will inevitably lick the silicone and burn them up. Totally usable pot without the lid, so it's not like a jetboil with plastic and a sleeve that burns. Probably a little late for a major design change, so a fire proof lid maybe a consideration for a next gen improvement. Either way, looks like a pretty solid system. Best of luck!

 

[mtnbound]

@mtnbound It’s all high-temp silicone on our pot handles and titanium lid, so it can withstand a decent amount of heat. I’ve never personally tested it on an open fire, but I feel like if you positioned the pot on coals on the outside of the fire, you might be okay as long as there’s no direct flame or coals hitting the silicone.

But again, I’ve never thrown it in an open fire to see what happens. I’ll probably have to add that to my testing list.

Thanks, if I did it I would position it like you’re saying and fully understand that it’s not really designed for that purpose.

 

[mtnbound]

Setting a pot on top of coals smothers them and kills the heat. Pots usually need to be set next to or on top of flames to effectively cook. Open flames will inevitably lick the silicone and burn them up. Totally usable pot without the lid, so it's not like a jetboil with plastic and a sleeve that burns. Probably a little late for a major design change, so a fire proof lid maybe a consideration for a next gen improvement. Either way, looks like a pretty solid system. Best of luck!

The coals do burn up but I don’t think I have ever seen them smother out. I do this quite often when using a Dutch oven and it works out. It’s better with charcoal briquettes but wood coals do work in a pinch.

 

[35WhelenAI]

To be fair, this cook system and a dutch oven are very different ways to cook. Dutch oven is cast iron and traveling light is not in consideration if a dutch oven is part of the hunting camp repertoire or if charcoal briquettes are part of the conversation as being ideal.

Makes sense to position the handle away from the direct heat, I don't know that I'd chance putting something other than metal in a position that melting or damage would be the possibility. With that, folks considering this system are most likely not setting a sub 1 L titanium pot on top coals to cook or to warm something up when the stove that comes with the pot will do it in a couple minutes.

Lol, less distraction of keeping track of a pot in the fire and enjoy the fire while the stove does it work.

 

[schwaf]

The coals do burn up but I don’t think I have ever seen them smother out. I do this quite often when using a Dutch oven and it works out. It’s better with charcoal briquettes but wood coals do work in a pinch.

True, it works out well for dutch ovens, but those are made of thick cast iron which absorb and hold on to heat very effectively. The coals directly under the pot will get smothered from lack of oxygen and cool off, but the heat is transferred to the pot and that residual heat will cook the food. Usually dutch ovens benefit from radiant heat from the coals surrounding or on top of the pot. They're also easy to overheat over flames and will burn food without enough liquid, so they need to be suspended at an adequate height over the flames.

I find getting water to boiling temps require flames.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Agree with the last line in the above post from experience.

With a bed of coals hot enough to boil water, I'm pretty desperate to boil water. And I would have had plenty of time to build the fire and let it burn down to have said bed of coals in the first place. So it may not be necessity or desperation after all. However, if yes, at that point I don't care if my handles have silicone or not.

Over the years I've gone from the camp of roughing it using the fire as much as possible to the point that an extra fuel canister to assure there's no need for a fire to do boiling or cooking, makes life so much easier. There's always a need for a fire in camp, to lift spirits at the end of a long day and provide warmth before diving into sleeping bags on well below freezing nights in the Colorado High country.

In any case, this is a cool system for those looking at a one-stop shop solution and looking forward to seeing how it turns out a couple years down the road.

 

[schwaf]

Makes sense to position the handle away from the direct heat, I don't know that I'd chance putting something other than metal in a position that melting or damage would be the possibility. With that, folks considering this system are most likely not setting a sub 1 L titanium pot on top coals to cook or to warm something up when the stove that comes with the pot will do it in a couple minutes.

Lol, less distraction of keeping track of a pot in the fire and enjoy the fire while the stove does it work.

Depends on the situation. If I'm in a hurry and need to boil water quickly, I'll use my stove. Coffee, tea, instant meals, breakfast/lunch. Boiling times is usually under 2-3 minutes with a stove. It's faster and easier to set up and break down and get on with the day. I sometimes cold soak my food as well.

Dinner at camp is usually a slower time to wind down, and I might choose to use different ingredients or try to save fuel. If I use my fire box, it takes a couple minutes to set up, gather a handful of twigs, light the fire and tend to it because it requires constant attention. Boiling water usually takes about 5-6 minutes. I enjoy it because even a small fire can be a big morale boost. I also boil to sanitize water whenever I can avoid using my steripen or filter so they last longer.

A full camp fire is a lot of work, but definitely makes the most memorable meals. I'm kind of a diva with camp fires, so I'll take the time to cut down a dead tree and split the wood to make a hot fire that burns down to really nice coals and clean flames. Steaks, stews, fire roasted veggies, pasta, hot sake, bread, rice, curry, and whatever else. Way better with an open fire for a constant/dispersed heat source, and 2 pots are usually required for a lot of my meals. An extra pan or plate adds a lot of capability for better meals.

On a hunting trip, I rarely do a campfire for the purpose of cooking until I tag out. Cooking and eating isn't the intended activity, and it spreads a lot of odor. Going out with buddies on a weekend or bushcraft/scouting trip, I'll bring plenty of fresh food to enjoy at camp because that's the intended activity and usually cheaper.

A 110 canister typically lasts me 3-4 days. I don't think jetboils are actually much more efficient consumption-wise, just marginally faster at full blast. I can stretch one of those cans to about a week with the occasional fire, or not use my fuel at all if I feel like it. I'd argue that good firecraft and open flame cooking is better woodsmanship, and relying on modern ultralight gear and packaged food is glamping (no offense, I'm a glamper too).

 

[BBob]

I don't think jetboils are actually much more efficient consumption-wise,

You might think that but the heat exchanger pots are definitely more efficient especially when wind enters the picture compared to a bare pot and burner. Some combos more so than others. You should actually try it sometime.

 

[schwaf]

However, if yes, at that point I don't care if my handles have silicone or not.

I've only had the silicone burn up once in the 15 years I've had my cook kit. Luckily the handles could be removed, so I cut off the burnt ones and used heat shrink tubing to replace it.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Great posts, fellas. Appears there are many similarities, yet differences in the nuances of keeping camp when it comes to cooking.

I concur heartily a heat exchanger pot is a game changer. As well, advertised boil times are with run with the stone at maximum which is very inefficient. For a stove that can be fine tuned lower than full throttle and has simmering capability that is legitimate, throttling back and taking a few more minutes stretches fuel way out. Soto windmaster which I use and has been mentioned many times, weighs 3 oz and 1 L Aluminum heat exchange pot weighs 6 oz. How much bulk and weight is too much?

Hopefully the new cook system being discussed turns into a successful venture for the brothers Neville.

 

[schwaf]

You might think that but the heat exchanger pots are definitely more efficient especially when wind enters the picture compared to a bare pot and burner. Some combos more so than others. You should actually try it sometime.

I've used jetboils that my buddies have carried in. Don't get me wrong, I think they're nice for boiling water. But I think they're too bulky and heavy for what you get, and they are fragile systems if they aren't usable without isobutane fuel. I think the burner is significantly more efficient than a pocket rocket 2 or brs, but compared to the soto windmaster, the difference is very marginal. The regulator, concave burner head, and low legs make a massive difference. The flame is not highly affected by wind. I can make a windscreen with whatever I have with me. Insulating my pots on the burner with a homemade koozy seems to help a lot as well. I think the wind/cold weather robs a lot of heat from bare pots and is a big factor with overall efficiency.

 

[Dobermann]

If anyone's wanting to go down the rabbit-hole of stoves, check out our very own Rokslide 'UL fuel efficient cook system' thread. It has some incredible information, and links to some interesting stove testing protocols.

 

[IDVortex]

How is the igniter? Besides bulky/weight. My biggest complaint with my JB is their trashy igniter.

Im going to be looking into a new cook system for this coming year due to that annoyance alone.

 

[BBob]

But I think they're too bulky and heavy for what you get. I think the burner is significantly more efficient than a pocket rocket 2 or brs, but compared to the soto windmaster, the difference is very marginal.

Which is exactly why (Jetboil bulky and heavy) many of us have pursued and use the hybrids. Don’t sell that stupid little cheap BRS short. On one of my hybrids it’s the most efficient stove tested including a Windmaster.

 

[35WhelenAI]

That's a good thread. Hunting solo and defining individual needs to create that set up and work required to do it fits the specific need to a T. If there was a market for such a system that is limited as to boil water 16 oz at a time, they would be thick as thieves being offered by manufacturers

The thread states many times boiling is the primary goal. If the need or simply the want goes beyond that, that system has thrown versatility out with the bathwater.

I've noticed the bulk of a 1 L Pot with a nested system is mentioned as an issue. Use a small ziplock bag to hold a small tube of toothpaste, a sawed off toothbrush, ibuprofen, tylenol, whatever you need for personal things and fill up the space in the pot to your advantage.

 

[BBob]

I've noticed the bulk of a 1 L Pot with a nested system is mentioned as an issue.

Or do like a lot of guys have done, cut it off to the capacity you want instead of living with an unneeded, unwanted capacity.

 

[schwaf]

Which is exactly why (Jetboil bulky and heavy) many of us have pursued and use the hybrids. Don’t sell that stupid little cheap BRS short. On one of my hybrids it’s the most efficient stove tested including a Windmaster.

Not sure where the irritation is coming from, but that's fine. I think the point of this rough ridge stove is to offer a hybrid for your needs without needing to piece together all the random parts into a frankenstein cook kit. Like I said before, my only qualm is not being able to cook with it in an open campfire with the lid on. If your system can, I'm very open to learning about it. Mine isn't the lightest option, but it gives me a lot of capability to cook the meals I want to make. If weight was ultimately my biggest concern, I'd do what the ultralight through hikers do and cold soak everything in a plastic container.

 

[35WhelenAI]

Or do like a lot of guys have done, cut it off to the capacity you want instead of living with an unneeded, unwanted capacity.

What's the system you have created by cutting off the capacity you don't want? To me it makes more sense to use the extra capacity to put other items in that I'm taking anyway, and have the versatility. To each his own for sure.

 

[35WhelenAI]

The Neville Brothers have certainly created a unique system, the engineering simplicity of a multi-sided pot is pretty genius when you think about it. Easier to manufacture, and of a design to hold all of the components.

And they didn't have to cut anything off to save 3 oz and be limited to half the pot size.