Stoves, oval vs box

[Lawnboi]

Looking at getting a new stove.

Right now im looking at either getting a large kifaru box stove, or a medium high wall oval stove.

Anyone used both? The oval may be worth the extra $100 based on weight alone!

How about the rigidity of the stove. With the kifaru name on it im not too worried about something being flimsy.... but for 2lbs I cannot quite wrap my head around how robust the oval is going to be.

Titanium vs stainless steel?

Also curious on how everyone likes the door on the new oval over the hinge on the box stove.
This will be used in a 6man, with a liner, for winter camping.

 

[gobbler1662]

Ive used the box. It works great as you would expect from Kifaru. The stove drafts very well and is quick to put together.

 

[luke moffat]

What size shelter are you going to use it in?? If a lightweight like a Sawtooth or 4-6 man I can see the advantage of the lighter weight oval. For like a 12 man tipi you likely aren't going by yourself so weight isn't of as much concern, for that I'll continue to use my current box stove.

 

[Lawnboi]

This will be used for a 6man, and for real cold weather I do have a liner, so id assume that would add a little to the heat retention. It will be a do all stove, everything from backpacking to car camping, so weight is a concern, that said I don't mind carrying the weight for a little comfort in really cold weather.

I also forgot to throw in there that I am familiar with the kifaru box stove. I like the idea on the oval as it has no pieces to loose, and it looks easier to put together, just looking for imput on people who have used both, along with other stoves as well.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I do not have a ton of use with the oval, but I thought it heated better, drafted better and is tighter than the box stove. I thought it took a bit longer to set up, and although the door works well I didn't really like it all that much......and I don't really know why yet, maybe it will grow on me.
When I buy my next stove (might be a while) it will be the oval.

 

[Lawnboi]

What size do you have? ^

 

[Stid2677]

I have used the both the Kifaru Med Box and Med Oval stove in my Sawtooth, I much prefer the Oval High wall and sold the box stove after using the Oval this fall for 30 or so days. I personalty thought the Oval was much quicker and easier to assemble and dissemble than the box stove. If motorized was the main transport, I might feel different.

I like the removable door once I got used to it.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

What size do you have? ^

Sorry, just saw this. I used (do not have) the medium oval in both low and high wall configurations. I have both a small and medium box stove.
When I buy my next stove it will be the oval.

 

[crumy]

The center of gravity looks much higher on the oval. For those that have used it, did you ever have a concern about tipping?

 

[Ramcam]

Would the small oval be ok for a 4 man tipi roughly the size of a Golite 5?

 

[Stid2677]

Would the small oval be ok for a 4 man tipi roughly the size of a Golite 5?

I would choose the Med/low wall for that. The high wall add on is cheap if you ever need more volume.

 

[Ramcam]

I would choose the Med/low wall for that. The high wall add on is cheap if you ever need more volume.

Thanks the medium probably has a better burn time as well.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

The center of gravity looks much higher on the oval. For those that have used it, did you ever have a concern about tipping?

Again, limited time with the oval, having said that I never had a concern about it tipping over. We always poked the legs into the ground a little ways for some stability.

 

[Stid2677]

The center of gravity looks much higher on the oval. For those that have used it, did you ever have a concern about tipping?

The stove is very stable, the stove pipe holds it down to the ground. I bumped into it several times, a couple times after a drink or 2, and it was always solid.

 

[Lawnboi]

I ended up ordering a medium high wall oval and snow platform.

Ship date is in January unfortunately.... So ill just have to freeze through December. But I couldn't purchase till I sold my extra pack.

I couldn't say no to the 3lb savings it has over the large, with almost the same volume wood box.