UL fuel efficient cook system

[Dobermann]

Has anyone compared the Fire Maple Hornet II to a Soto Windmaster?

I'm primarily interested in durability, and performance in minor wind.

 

[Dobermann]

This thread has got me going down the rabbit hole on lightweight stoves, and especially heat exchange pots.

I haven't read all 15 pages of the thread yet, but here are some of the other articles, sites, etc that I've come across that have had some useful information. Not saying they're all perfect; just some reference points:

Upright Canister Stove Reviews, StoveBench Tests, and Gear Guide - Backpacking Light

This article features upright canister stove reviews that include extensive test data in inclement conditions and market analysis.

backpackinglight.com

Best Heat Exchanger Pot For Backpacking Ultralight 2025

This buyer's guide will help you find the best heat exchanger pot for backpacking. Ultralight and fuel efficient, perfect for boiling water.

www.adventurealan.com

Best Backpacking Stove Systems 2025 Fast Light Efficient

These are the fastest boiling, most fuel efficient, most cold and wind resistant backpacking stove systems for basic food prep.

www.adventurealan.com

SuperStove For Optimal Backcountry Cooking

A SuperStove combines a pressure regulated, wind resistant, high BTU burner with a heat exchanger pot. FrankenStove is the best version.

www.adventurealan.com

Canister Topped Stove Performance in the Wind - Backpacking Light

I just compiled a bunch of photos and videos of various canister topped stoves operating in my wind tunnel. The visuals provide a bit of insight with respect to fuel...

backpackinglight.com

Firemaple Petrel Pot Review: Ultralight, Effective, Requires Filing

Firemaple Petrel Pot G3 is ultralight and perfect for solo use. We boil tested it against others. It's effective but requires filing to remove sharpness.

www.adventurealan.com

This piece has some nice history and comparisons: https://threepointsofthecompass.com/2023/06/03/gear-talk-heat-exchanger-pots/

And if you really want to get into the weeds:

https://backpackinglight.com/heat-exchanger-pot-test-hx-haa-caffin/

and this one - from 2017, so not sure if all of the issues raised then are relevant for today's designs ... but their 296 comments is enough to rival some of the best Rokslide threads!: https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/pots-with-heat-exchangers/

 

[Dobermann]

About 75% of the way into this rabbit hole, and I'm currently leaning towards the Fire Maple G2 Petrel plus Soto Windmaster combination.

A couple of sources about this combination here:

https://backpackinglight.com/forums...ement-for-the-sterno-inferno/page/3/#comments

And: https://threepointsofthecompass.com...l-heat-exchanger-pot-and-stove-compatibility/

Note that there are two Fire Maple Petrels - the older, skinner G3, and the newer, wider, more efficient (and slightly heavier) G2.

Some info on the G2 here from Jon Fong of Flat Cat Gear:

And a comparison chart by Fire Maple here:



And for anyone curious, Fire Maple is a brand name of Deer Maple ... looks like they may make the Olicamp XTS pot that was in Aron's video from a few months back. Some history about the company is here: https://threepointsofthecompass.com/2023/02/18/gear-talk-fire-maple-hornet-ii-stove/

 

[Dobermann]

And here's a quick overview of the Soto Windmaster + Fire Maple (in this video, the G3) that I later found by Jon Fong:

Note that in the video in the previous post, he shows how the G2 (wider/newer/fits the larger iso canisters) was more efficient in non-windy conditions, but the original G3 (narrower/only nests the smaller iso canisters) was better in wind, as there was less open space for wind to get around the flame.

Interestingly, while he specialises in making lightweight windscreens for stoves, he says that the combination of the Soto Windmaster plus Fire Maple Petrel (both G2 and G3) pretty much precludes the need for a screen - the Windmaster puts the flame closer to the pot than many other burners, and the Petrels have three slots cut into the HX base that the Windmaster stove supports fit into - so the base of the stove provides its own windscreen.

In practice, this is similar to the benefits of the MSR Reactor (although both the burner and the heat exchange design are more efficient on that, at a weight penalty).

I'll keep researching, but the Windmaster + Petrel so far looks like the best lightweight approximation of the Reactor that I've found so far ...

 

[HighUintas]

@Dobermann , have you checked out flatcats cheetah windscreen setups and his testing? I think one of those is likely the ultimate for a lightweight and wind/fuel efficiency standpoint. I have a an old jetboil flash pot i cut down to hold a bit over 2cups and used it with a brs3000 last fall. I had to use a thin aluminum ring to cover the HX fins so that the burner supports would sit on that and not flame quench itself. I got pretty good efficiency but it is lacking in the wind.

I have been considering getting his cheetah windscreen for the fire maple pot paired with the correct stove he sells and that would work with my pot. It would be killer in the wind. The only downside is the need to disassemble the stove each time to be able to stow the windscreen.

 

[Dobermann]

@Dobermann , have you checked out flatcats cheetah windscreen setups and his testing? I think one of those is likely the ultimate for a lightweight and wind/fuel efficiency standpoint. I have a an old jetboil flash pot i cut down to hold a bit over 2cups and used it with a brs3000 last fall. I had to use a thin aluminum ring to cover the HX fins so that the burner supports would sit on that and not flame quench itself. I got pretty good efficiency but it is lacking in the wind.

I have been considering getting his cheetah windscreen for the fire maple pot paired with the correct stove he sells and that would work with my pot. It would be killer in the wind. The only downside is the need to disassemble the stove each time to be able to stow the windscreen.

Thanks! I've only been on this research mission today (!), and had seen him post that he had something that would work, but not a dedicated item - so good to know the Cheetah would work.

Personally, I'm hoping to not have to use a windscreen. I have Reactors, and just looking for something that will be more lightweight in more moderate winds - and, like you, don't want to have to mess with it too much on set-up and pack-down ... so far, the Soto Windmaster plus Fire Maple Petrels (either G2 or G3) look like a good pairing.

The Adventure Allan links above also look at a few other combinations, but I like how the Petrels drop down onto the Windmaster's Tri-flex, mostly obviating the need for a windscreen.

 

[HighUintas]

Thanks! I've only been on this research mission today (!), and had seen him post that he had something that would work, but not a dedicated item - so good to know the Cheetah would work.

Personally, I'm hoping to not have to use a windscreen. I have Reactors, and just looking for something that will be more lightweight in more moderate winds - and, like you, don't want to have to mess with it too much on set-up and pack-down ... so far, the Soto Windmaster plus Fire Maple Petrels (either G2 or G3) look like a good pairing.

The Adventure Allan links above also look at a few other combinations, but I like how the Petrels drop down onto the Windmaster's Tri-flex, mostly obviating the need for a windscreen.

I'll have to take a look at those videos.

I don't really want to mess with a windscreen I have to disassemble the stove to stow (it looks very easy and fast) but it could be beneficial depending on the hunt you're doing.

Every October I do a 9-10 day backpack hunt . It can be windy in that area and last year was the first year I used my lightweight setup. It did fairly poorly in the wind and I worked hard to block it with objects. I was only out for 5 days, so I didn't get to see if I'd have had enough fuel left. I know it would have extremely close. So, a windscreen setup is valuable in that situation

 

[Idaboy]

I run the soto and the maple exchanger. The Olicamp pot I didn't like as much...you can just buy some Ti foil and then drill out a bunch holes. It's small and will roll up and fit down in your kit, you can use as needed for alot of wind above tree line. Just be aware to much wind screen and you'll choke out the O2