Portable Stove....I caved in...

batosai117

batosai117

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Jun 5, 2007
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I was extra early to work yesterday (Sunday) and decided to kill some time by visiting Academy sports and outdoors. I went through my usual route beginning at the knife aisle and ending by the flashlights and outdoor goodies. While looking at the little filler items for my day pack, I ran into a little portable stove that came with six cubes of insta-burn that looked really neat. So I popped the box open and looked at the stove in amazement :eek:

All nice and tidy, and it folds out and folds back in....the thing is idiot proof!!! :D

So seeing the price tag of $8-$9 after tax, I grabbed it was forced to wait until after work last night to play with it. I still haven't lit anything yet, but it was fun opening it and seeing what I could fit on top of it (and imagine putting it to use :o).

Here's a few shots of it:

In the closed position it's a nice little rectangle:
032910170110.jpg


This is the position that it snaps into for using cups or small pots to cook/boil with:
032910170123.jpg


And this is it "in action"
032910170139.jpg


Fully open for large heavy pots or just for warmth:
032910170212.jpg


Comparison shot for size reference, the Esbit stove next to a Spyderco double duty and a common buck 110 nylon pouch:
032910170300.jpg


And last but not least, a comparison pic next to my EDC, CRKT M21-04G:
032910170329.jpg


I hope you guys like it, I would like to put it to use soon to test it out. It's my first "real" store bought mini-stove. We'll see if it can outdo the folgers can :)

Thanks for looking, J.
 
let me tell you. those esbit tabs let loose the worst smell after a while. I don't even carry mine anymore because the fuel smells so awful.
 
Those have been around for a VERY long time and are a great item to have. There is even an "emergency" model that you can get and stuff in every BOB and bag you have for about $3 retail.

I would like to share a bit I learned that will help you. Firesteel will not light the cubes. If you are used to WetFire tender and expect this to be the same, it is not.

If you are as attached to Firesteels as I am, you can still use one, just put a small bunch of dryer lint in with the stove. Your Firesteel will light a penny size piece of lint, and the flame from that will light the cube. :thumbup:

Enjoy your stove!
 
I have a bunch of trioxane to go with my esbit - handy little piece of kit, and yes, you can burn twigs & such in it ala hobo stove.
 
This little stove also fits perfectly in a military compass pouch with room to fit a lighter too.
 
I have one of these in every pack and vehicle we own. They work great with the GSI or SnowPeak Ti cup. They work well with the milsurp trioxane tabs too.
 
I have a bunch of these. Burn twigs in them, works great. The tablets do smell so I wrap them in plastic wrap to keep it to a minimum. Get a small grater from REI, pull out the metal handle, flatten the grater, and voila! Instant cooking grate. Keep the handle to use as a pot bail.
 
If your not in a hurry , and there's no wind , a tea candle fits perfect under the Esbit.

I got two, and I use trioxane usually because it burns hotter. ( leaves a residue , so I put some foil first)
Great for the BOB bag and emergencies . Just keep the fuel tabs sealed up , or they stink up your gear.
 
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I've got a couple of these. The hexy fuel tabs I've got for them don't smell too Bad. Well, not till you light them!
 
I like esbit stoves and fuel.

put two cubes and a mini-bic lighter inside, and keep one in each vehicle.

they even work with some rust on them. :)
 
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