Bushbox XL First Burn

[Guyon]

I finally got around to trying out my Bushbox XL twig stove last night.

I've had this thing for a while, and it appears that I bought mine before the price went up significantly. I paid $60 when they first hit Amazon's site. Current price is $86.
I have a slight obsession with all things stove-like, so at that time, I actually picked up all three models. Though I got them all on Amazon, they were shipped from Germany, where the stoves are made.

L to R: Bushbox Micro Pocket, Bushbox (Pocket), Bushbox XL

The other night, I used my new ESEE-3 to process some firewood.

I went from ferro rod to jute to fatwood to twigs really quickly, so I didn't have time to capture much, but here's the initial fire.

Stepping it up to bigger sticks of dry, split wood.

Because of an excellent draft, the stove puts out some BTU's. Initially, I had trouble with boil-over because I just had the flame way too high. Seen in next two pics...

There was a learning curve, but I finally found that I only needed one stick of wood at a time to keep a boil going.

After about 11 minutes, voila! Dinner. That's over 500 trail calories. More if you toss in some vacuum sealed tuna or chicken.

 

[Guyon]

I was also using a new Stanley cookpot I bought to pair with this stove for kayak trips, and I just read this post over at the ESEE forum the other day.

In future you can prevent soot accretion by smearing a thin layer of liquid dish soap on the outside of the cup/bottle/whatever before putting it over the fire. The soot wipes right off when you're done cookin'.

Decided to try the trick, and it absolutely works. After cooking...

During rinse, just the force of the water washed off most of the soot.

After a light scrub with a Scotchbrite...

 

[Guyon]

My initial impressions are that the stove is easy piece of kit to use and a good addition to my kayak kit. Because the fire's center rests on a skeletonized grill plate, the flame gets a lot of oxygen and drafts really well. The stove is heavy for backpack carry though. For a twig stove in my pack, I'll still go with my titanium Emberlit, even though the Emberlit is more trouble to put together, and it doesn't have as many configurations as the Bushbox XL. I shelled out for the two extra grill plates and two extra trivets (the supports you see on top), so I can grill on the Bushbox XL, I can pair the stove with all manner of alcohol burners, and I can adjust the height to flame. The trivets fit into several slots up and down the side of the Bushbox stove, so you can raise or lower a mug or smaller diameter cookpot/kettle. The biggest convenience though is the set-up and take-down. The whole thing just folds up. No tabs to insert or pieces to fit together. Below are a few more pictures I took this morning to show some of the features.

Here's how the stove folds out. The bottom ash plate and fire grate just flip down and catch into slots.

Here are the various slots on the sides where you can position the trivets to adjust height from flame.

The trivets store conveniently on the back of the stove.

Here's one grill plate I added (accessory). I could put a Trangia here and use the stove mostly as a wind break/stand.

 

[Guyon]

Here's the top grill plate (also an accessory). I'm going to try a steak on here at some point.

Stove folded flat.

It packs into this 5"x8" bag (found it at Wal-Mart) along with a little starter (fatwood).
The stove came in a white cotton draw-string bag, but it is pretty flimsy. The stock bag would also get sooty as the dickens.

 

[Jerry D.]

That looks like an awesome little stove! I like the idea of the modular accessories for it.

 

[RWT]

Good looking stove

 

[The Warrior]

Cool stove. You like it better than the Emberlit?

EDIT: Guess I should have read a little better.

 

[schmittie]

I really need to upgrade to something else other than my coffee can stove. These take such little space and are really thought out designs.

Thanks for all the pics and for sharing.

 

[trailbum]

Great review Guyon.

 

[rkmoore]

Great review G! I really like the idea of a packable stove but still can't pull the trigger on one. I've always gotten by with an old coffee can or some such. I know the Emberlit and many others have numerous advantages but still I persist in my backwards ways.

 

[Techtim]

I love the grilling attachment. Does it snap into place? If the food sticks it might want to pull the grill off and that would be bad. I have to say that was a great review.

 

[Guyon]

Cool stove. You like it better than the Emberlit?

It's just different. Heavy, so no problem in a kayak. A bit heavy to lug in a backpack.

I love the grilling attachment. Does it snap into place? If the food sticks it might want to pull the grill off and that would be bad. I have to say that was a great review.

It does. If the food sticks, you won't pull off the grill plate.
I'm going to oil it well before I cook on it, and I'm thinking about taking a small spatula along like this one:
http://www.pamperedchef.com/our_products/catalog/product.jsp?productId=16763&categoryCode=KW

 

[ukknifer]

Is it better than the firebox?

 

[AngryDaddyBird]

Your missing the Bushbox Ultralight Outdoor Pocket Stove in the group shot!

Great photos and details! Look forward to seeing more.
I like the XL and Ultralight as my favorites from BE.
ADB

 

[BladeScout]

Excellent review and nice bit of kit.

You pretty much answered the questions I had.

Ive been leaning towards the Emberlit ti but someone recommended this also.

Its a toss up, but for an absolute minimalistic stove that works for hiking, the Emberlit ti seems to have a leg up, though the Bushbox certainly has advantages over the Emberlit, as you point out.

I also want to use the same stove for kayaking, so I dont have to buy more than one, . When kayaking, where IMO weight considerations are also a concern at least to me, the Emberlit ti should do well.

I do like many certain aspects about the Bushbox, I must admit.

 

[AngryDaddyBird]

The XL is a great choice for Kayaking! On the hesvy side for Packing in long trips but certainly not lacking in other areas besides weight!

 

[BladeScout]

Well, as a backpacker/hiker/kayaking fan, weight (or rather lack there of) is where its all about.

 

[AngryDaddyBird]

Well, as a backpacker/hiker/kayaking fan, weight (or rather lack there of) is where its all about.

Get one of each from Bushcraft-Essentials and your all covered!