sierra stove

S

sasha

Joined
Feb 28, 2006
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Ahoy fellows. I found a sierra stove for sale for $10. The price is not high but its a 30mile ride one way. Is it worth it???? The guy says he never used it.. But it dont tell me much.. If it is worth it to go and get it.. From people that have one or used it.. Anything i should pay attention for???
Thanks
Sasha
 
I would get it. They are great little stoves. As with anything, they have their pro's and con's. Even the base model at wisementrading.com is $53. I have one and they are no JetBoil, but on the upside, you don't have to transport fuel and can pick it up along the trail! They'll even burn pine cones. :D I really like it. A lot of folks don't like the fact that it uses a battery, but even if your battery is dead, it makes for a fine containment for your fire. I never bought the larger D cell power upgrade, and I'm glad didn't, because I use the Energizer Lithium AA batteries with it. That way they store better and I don't have to worry about leakage and a dead battery due to the cold as much.

You used to be able to get parts like the motor from the original ZZStove website, but I think they sold out to Wisementrading and I think you can still get them from them. Never have needed one though.
 
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It's a great stove but I would hate to fight LA traffic for thirty miles just to get it. As to whether or not they are legal to use in CA during a "fire ban" well it's a tough call. You get different opinions from the staff at REI. I would check with forest rangers. There is another alternative to the sierra stove I forget what it's called but it looks like a BBQ starter. No electric fan. You may find it if you google "better then sierra stove" as mentioned in their add. Now that you have mentioned the sierra stove you piqued my interest. I have become very handy with electrical modifications ( I play with RC toys;) ) and believe I could really Juice up a sierra stove with a tiny brushless motor and Li poly battery. It could used as a forge after I'm done:D The concept of using a small fan is a good one. I use a standard fan to blow over the cools when I BBQ and it burns with twice the intensity as when it's off.
 
Thanks Ejes, I just got an email from the seller the model is super sierra stove. How tough build is the stove?? Would you trust it on packpacking trip of a few days?? I got two svea123 and one hunterR8 that i love.

Sasha
 
Traffic? What's traffic? :D Bein's I live in KS I forget what some of you have to go through for a 30 mile drive. Here that is no big deal, but I hear what you are saying. It might be worth it if you ask your friend to mail it to you and you pay shipping actually.

I don't really know what a super Sierra would be. They did make a titanium version and also a full kit with the regular version with all the goodies that maybe he is referring to. (here is the old sight http://www.zzstove.com/mcart/ )

I would not hesitate to rely on it on a backpacking trip for a few days. In fact I have; and do! You just need to be realistic as to what it can do. Play with it in the backyard a few times before you take it out so you can get comfortable with it.
 
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Hi DrivebyTrucker, I didnt think about how the ranger looks at the sierra stove when backpacking...Maybe it not as good as idea. Yea traffic is bad here but i ride a motorcycle and can lane split which helps alot.

Sasha
 
Ejes,, but we can also go to the beach and watch some HOT girls mostly naked so there .....................
 
sasha said:
Ejes,, but we can also go to the beach and watch some HOT girls mostly naked so there .....................
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Ha! :D

Hey, one thing about the Sierra is it can be sooty and leave a build up on your pot(s). I don't really mind myself, but some people do. I've found that if you put a very thin layer of soap (either liquid or just suds up a little bar soap and wipe it on) on the pot before you use it, the soot cleans off much easier.
 
I keep my pots most of the time in a cotton bag or a cut off pant from old jeans. The pants from old jeans are very usefull for many things.

Sasha
 
I've got one. I like it.

IMO for 10 bucks you can't go wrong.


What to look for? Does both high and low work? Sometimes it gets gummed up.

I've had one for about 4 years. It's not ultralight but if you are really gonna cook stuff on the trail it's super handy.

My pal borrowed it and used it with a solar panel and rechargable battery. Battery probably lasts a week.

IMO the only downside for you guys is a lot of your pics out there on the west coast it's not woodsy. The biggest advantage is not having to carry fuel. Would you always be able to find fuel in your environs.

It takes about 3 fillings to boil half a gallon of water.

Let me know if you have any questions.
 
There is lots of wood out there but i rather not make a camp fire at high elevation. As the trees grow very slow. I might feel better if the stove uses very little wood for cooking then a camp fire would.

Sasha
 
sasha said:
There is lots of wood out there but i rather not make a camp fire at high elevation. As the trees grow very slow. I might feel better if the stove uses very little wood for cooking then a camp fire would.

Sasha
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Sasha,

Might be a good thing for you then. you get it going with a handful or 2 of sticks and then I like to take my hatchet or knife and cut some stuff say 3" long and about as big around as your thumb. Also big hunks of charcoal out of fire rings really rock also. Pinecones work great even green just fallen ones.

It is NOT as fast as a gas stove but nowhere near as slow as an alcohol stove.

If you use cotton balls to start it and some fine stuff first it will burn wet wood no problem cause the little bellows gets it going fast.
 
I bought Sierra (zip) stove and it worked okay. The problem I had was that storing the battery pack with the stove caused the fan to come on. Must have some kind of magnetic switch. You have to take out the batteries.

The barbeque starter type stove is the Stratus Trailstove. I personally like it better because it is simple, works, weighs 12 ounces and is cheap ($25 including storage bag and a blow tube that costs $10 by itself elsewhere). When you are done cooking, it makes a nice little fireplace for light and warmth.
 
thanks guys i left the guy a msg that if its not sold i would come and get it. I figure another $5 worth of gas to pick it up. I watch the craigslist all the time for any good deals. There are some every once in a while. Just came back from a guy that were i picked up a brand new Svea123 a backpacking cook set that looks brand new even when they said he used it once. Candle lantern a black diamond funny pack, some cheap sleeping bag an MSR fuel bottle and a couple other adds and ends.. all that for $25. What i realy wanted was the stove and the fuel bottle everything else is the gravy.. Yea me cheap one lol

sasha
 
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