REVIEW: TOPS Multi-fuel stove

The good folks at TOPS put me in touch with the multi-fuel stove's designer and we are discussing the various features and how to get the best performance and work around the problems I am having. Stay tuned for an update.
 
Less than a year in the new digs and already you are "in like a dirty shirt on washday" with the locals ... :D
 
taldesta said:
Less than a year in the new digs and already you are "in like a dirty shirt on washday" with the locals ... :D
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Even retired, one has to stay busy. Hopefully I won't get an asset recovery order for one of their company vehicles. That would put me in Dutch with them. ;)
 
Wishing your Idaho and environs life every possible fun and enjoyable experience ... family and adventure.
 
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Life is an adventure is it not? And just so you know, the first sixty years of growing up is the hardest. All downhill from there.
 
From among choices of being kind, wise, knowledgeable, having a grin - I would lean to kindness and grin. Hey, you're in, Michael, on all counts

Time, sweet time, luxury of time - to have control above other's needs for your time - every morning to happily get out of bed to decide, to relish, to accomplish something important to you ... your luxury of freedom - well earned

Yup, over sixty is gold. Mum told me so and I live it and sincerely hope that it is true for most.

On topic - watching for update on the stove. Further discussion in Paddling re: accumulating gear as well.

Life just goes wonderfully on ... agreed s
 
neeman said:
Yes, over 60 is gold
Turned 61 today
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Happy birthday you old Codger! :thumbup:

Still waiting for replies from the stove's designer. Is it possible that he is busy with his business? I think so. I'll be patient some more. I approached him with many of the questions I raised in my initial review. I may just experiment by altering the unit I have if he doesn't get back to me soon. Cold and rainy here today but should clear and be warmer this coming week. And I definitely want to try some workarounds and also a high heat burn. Hot enough to melt aluminum anyway. A windscreen of some sort for sure. And that pesky front baseplate tab.
 
pinnah said:
For my purposes, and my purposes only, I've concluded that multi fuel capability (wood + either alcohol/gas) doesn't make much sense for me.

For me, the big split isn't wood availability or not, it's the rhythm of the trip.

If I'm on a fast leg powered trip where I roll into camp late and leave early, I'm not using a wood stove. They're just too time consuming, too fiddly and too messy. I'm either too tired to deal with it or I'm wanting to be off exploring and not processing wood and tending the fire. The really nice thing about alcohol stoves in this setting is how little mind load they create. I light it, put the pot on and can turn my attention elsewhere. I don't have too tend to it like a wood stove nor worry about it going bang like a gas stove. I put around doing other chores till I see steam coming out of the pot. Or, I lay in my sleeping bag nice and warm while I keep a sleepy eye on the stove.

I take my Emberlit to the beach a lot. When I'm hanging out, feeding a fire is fun. I take it on ski tour day trips where I want a super light way to survive the night. Relying on wood means I don't have to carry liquid fuel. A cube or two of Esbit fuel is a cheat, but worth the few ounces in that scenario.
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We were on a day hike this Friday
Stopped opened the liter kettle with a $15 gas canister stove
Within 5 minutes or so we had a hot cup of brewed tea
And by the time we had finished our tea, I had packed away the stove and kettle

For years I carried a Optimus gasoline stove that was bombproof
Lit every time without fail in any weather
It took no head space, just worked and worked, and liter of fuel was over ten days
No collecting wood, no prep, no attending it

As a teenager without money, I used hexamine
Simple and fast

Methanol is a finicky fuel, not readily available in travel, not here and not easily abroad
I carry it in England where Methalated spirit is available almost every where
Lovely silent cooking
And the Trangia storm cooker is easy to cook with

Wood is a hang out at the beach, where I want the atmosphere and perhaps some warmth if the evening is cooler in the summer
 
neeman said:
Yes, over 60 is gold
Turned 61 today
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Happy belated! Temps above 5 C and sunshine took me outside yesterday. :) Sort of on topic, I did prep the firepit out back for more testing of W&SS recipes and looking forward to that after this frozen winter and cold spring.
 
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neeman said:
We were on a day hike this Friday
Stopped opened the liter kettle with a $15 gas canister stove
Within 5 minutes or so we had a hot cup of brewed tea
And by the time we had finished our tea, I had packed away the stove and kettle

For years I carried a Optimus gasoline stove that was bombproof
Lit every time without fail in any weather
It took no head space, just worked and worked, and liter of fuel was over ten days
No collecting wood, no prep, no attending it

As a teenager without money, I used hexamine
Simple and fast

Methanol is a finicky fuel, not readily available in travel, not here and not easily abroad
I carry it in England where Methalated spirit is available almost every where
Lovely silent cooking
And the Trangia storm cooker is easy to cook with

Wood is a hang out at the beach, where I want the atmosphere and perhaps some warmth if the evening is cooler in the summer
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Neeman, yup on all counts.
 
taldesta said:
Happy belated! Temps above 5 C and sunshine took me outside yesterday. :) Sort of on topic, I did prep the firepit out back for more testing of W&SS recipes and looking forward to that after this frozen winter and cold spring.
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Thanks...

today we had our first Chamsin (heatwave) 30 C
 
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