Guest Review: The Alcohol Stove

by Marc Hutchison

One year ago, I wrote an article for Brian's web page dealing with small stoves for camping, hiking, and survival. Those stoves included wood burning, pressurized canister, and fire tablet. This past year I've had a ton of fun using a tiny stove that is very popular in the hiking/backpacking world. It's called the "Alcohol Stove". This is a non-pressurized stove that you fill with fuel, light it, allow the stove to "prime" (once the stove heats up it will vaporize the fuel and allow the jets to blossom on the stove), then you're ready for business.

Over this past year, I've purchased several alcohol stoves and created a few home made versions. For informational and picture purposes concerning this article, I'm only going to focus on 2 stoves that I've purchased. For the record, I'm not associated in any way with the makers of these stoves. I've just used them countless times and I know I can depend on them without any reservation.

The Venom Super Stove (made by Zelph Stoves):

(Other equipment pictured: ESEE "Izula" knife, Stoic 700ml cup, "Light My fire" fire steel)

Weight - 1.6 ounces

Height - 2.75 "-

Diameter - 2.50"

Fuel capacity - 1 ounce

Cost: $13.00

The following video shows the operation of the Venom Super Stove:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiZq8MHbgUc

The RUCAS Stove:

(Other equipment pictured: Gossman "WTK" knife, Stoic 700ml cup, LMF fire steel)

Weight - 1.24 ounces

Height - 2.38"

Diameter - 2.6"

Fuel capacity - 4.0 ounces

Cost - approx. $22.00

The following is a very informative video on the RUCAS stove:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4F8y6nbJE4

Whether you're doing a month long solo trail hike or spending a few days in the woods camping with family, you don't want to experience any complications or failures with your equipment. This being vitally important concerning your cooking gear. The beauty of the alcohol stove is there are NO moving parts, no hoses, no seals, and no computer chips to malfunction and render the stove useless in the field. Case in point: Roland Mueser, author of, "Long - Distance Hiking: Lessons from the Appalachian Trail", conducted a survey of stoves used by thru-hikers (one who attempts to hike/backpack an entire trail in one uninterrupted journey) and he found that the alcohol stove was the only type with a zero percent failure rate.

In addition to simplicity, this style of stove is clean burning and odorless. The two most popular fuels to use with an alcohol stove are HEET (in the YELLOW bottle) and Denatured alcohol. Both of these fuels burn clean and will not leave any soot or coating on your stove and cooking gear.

This fuel is non-combustible and is safe to light with a match, lighter, or even scraping a fire steel rod with the spine of a knife resulting in the sparks igniting the fuel. Both HEET and Denatured alcohol are readily available in most stores across the country

Tip: The use of rubbing alcohol (70% and 90% Isopropyl) will leave that nasty black soot on everything. But, they can be used as a last resort in an emergency.

Alcohol stoves can be used in all temperatures. I've read articles where freezing temps will hamper the stove's performance, but in my experience, I've not had any issues when the temps dip below the freezing mark. Here are a couple suggestions that will actually enhance the performance of your stove.  First, if using the stove in windy conditions, always use some kind of windscreen. This will keep the flame from blowing all over the place which makes for a longer boil time.

While in the woods, if I don't have a windscreen with me, I'll try to use natural objects like rocks, wood, or some other item that will block the wind.  For this article, I tried using bricks as a wind screen and they worked just fine at keeping the wind from the stove. In fact, it only took 3 minutes and 45 seconds to bring one cup of water to a rolling boil. The stove went on to burn for 10 minutes before running out of fuel and it was very windy outside (1.5 ounces of fuel was used for this experiment). Note: Before putting the bricks around the stove, the wind actually blew out the flame before the stove had a chance to prime.

My personal "wind screen" preference is to use a small wood burning stove.  Just place the alcohol stove down into the wood burning stove which blocks the wind nicely and also provides a larger area for your cup, pot, or pan. The following pictures illustrate this procedure (Note: the wind was howling, the temp was 29F, and the snow was blowing. I used 1.5 ounces of fuel and 2 cups of water. The soup began boiling in no time).

(Other equipment used: Backwoods "KDC" knife (designed by Brian King), MSR Stowaway pot, "LMF" fire steel, Emberlit "EL Mini" wood stove).

Tip: If placing your alcohol stove on the bare ground, always try to use something like aluminum foil underneath the stove which will reduce conduction (heat being sucked into the ground which will make for longer boil times and waste fuel).

One of the major benefits of this kind of stove is how compact it is along with it's ultra light weight. Most alcohol stoves weigh anywhere from less than 1 oz. for a home made cat food can up to almost 4 ounces for the Swedish made Trangia stove. As you can see from the following pictures, you can carry everything you need for a day hike inside a small cup which doesn't take up hardly any space in a backpack.

(Other equipment in picture: Backwoods "Battle Axe" knife, Stoic 700ml cup, LMF fire steel).

As I mentioned earlier, it's incredibly easy to make your own stove. The following link is an instructional video on making your own alcohol stove by using a small cat food can and a hole punch:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pajkt594Ruw

With all the positive attributes of the alcohol stove, there are a few issues that need to be addressed when using this style of stove.  

- You can't see the flame very well during daylight hours. Never look directly into the stove or place your hand directly on top when trying to see/feel if the stove has successfully been lit.  

 - Make sure you have a stable area for the stove. You don't want it to tip over while burning. In addition, make sure your cup or pot is sturdy before you begin cooking.

- The alcohol stove is not suited to make large buffet meals. If you're determined to prepare 4-course meals with the finest ingredients and insist on carrying a professional "Viking" stove system while on the trail, then you will be sorely disappointed in the alcohol stove. It's a small stove that works perfectly for boiling water for dehydrated foods and your trails drinks (coffee, tea, etc.). But, don't let these limitations stifle your imagination. Did someone say blueberry pancakes?

- The alcohol stove doesn't have a simmer control. Some stoves, like the Trangia, have a simmer ring, but generally this style of stove is either on or off.

- This style of stove is not as strong as some of the other stoves on the market, so just use caution when packing them in your backpack or vehicle.   So far, I've never had any issue with the 2 above mentioned stoves. They are very strong and sturdy and I've never worried about them in my various backpacks. Note: If you were to crush your stove while in the woods, you can always look around for a soda/beer can and make your own.

In conclusion, if you'd ask me why I own several alcohol stoves, I would answer by saying they are so light, reliable, and simple to use that it has earned a permanent place in my vehicle bag and backpack. And, I always want a few extra stoves on hand when the power is out at my house. For clarification, I have other means of cooking, but I like having several items on hand to accomplish a task. If you're reading this article and have never heard of these stoves, hopefully you've learned something new in the world of hiking, backpacking, and survival gear. If you decide to make your own or to purchase one, remember this piece of advice..........make sure you're alone when you go out on the back porch in the freezing cold to whip up some pancakes and coffee. You definitely don't want your family or friends to think you're nuts for not using the main stove and coffee maker in your warm kitchen. I speak from experience.

Guest Review: Small Stoves For Camping, Hiking, Survival

by Marc Hutchison


[Brian's Note: I've known Marc practically my entire life. We've spent a lot of time in the outdoors fishing, hunting, and shooting. He has been receiving a lot of requests for information regarding these small camp stoves and thought it would be easiest and most efficient to write up an article. Marc is far more knowledgeable than I about these tools and I was happy to post his review.]

_________________________________________

Over the past few years, my sister, Myra, and I have chatted many times about all the different "survival/emergency" items that can be used in the event of power outages occurring in one's home or place of work. Many of these same items can be extremely useful, and even life saving, when included in a "Bug Out Bag" or "vehicle bag". I would probably be labeled as utilitarian and/or minimalist when it comes to buying items for my various backpacks because I'm a staunch believer in keeping things very simple and basic. Among the simplest and most basic items I carry are small camp stoves. There are numerous models on the market today of all different sizes, but my purpose for writing this article is to focus on the small stoves that can actually fit in your pants/jacket pocket, hiking backpack, and your survival/emergency bags. And, reflecting on my first sentence, these small stoves are priceless when you're faced with an extended loss of electricity, lost in the woods, or experiencing vehicle troubles in the middle of nowhere. 


I've personally used the following 4 stove systems and would highly recommend them. And for clarification, I'm not associated with any of these companies at all. I'm listing them from lowest to highest in price. 


1. ESBIT Mini-Stove (approx. $10)
This is an extremely compact stove that I keep in all my vehicles as well as my backpacks. This is a very simple stove that you open, place a fuel tablet in the center of the stove, light the tablet, and you're in business. I've used this particular set up to make everything from hot beverages to instant potatoes. The stove has a two-position design where the top can be fully apart for larger pots and half closed for smaller cups.

This stove uses Hexamine type fuel tablets which generate up to 1400 degrees (Fahrenheit) of heat. These tablets don't liquify when in use and they don't put out any smoke (unless leaves, sticks, etc. are also used). The fuel tabs can actually be cut in half, or even into four pieces, if you're in a situation that you need to conserve tablets. In addition, you can extinguish the tablet and re-use the remainder at a later time.

The tablets should be lit with a match or lighter because they will not hardly light with a "Fire Steel" or other sparking device. During one setting, I tried lighting these tablets with various fire steels for a duration of 20 minutes without any success. The tabs would just get brown spots that looked like a small brownish marshmallow. These tabs will light up with no problem once a match or lighter is held directly on them. On a side note, I've wrapped the tablet in a petroleum covered cotton ball and threw sparks on it with my Fire Steel rod. The sparks ignited the cotton ball which in turn lit the tablet.

Generally, one fuel tablet will burn between 12 and 15 minutes. For this article, with snow falling and winds howling, I poured one cup of water in a stainless cup and lit the tablet. Small bubbles appeared at the two minute mark and it was a full rolling boil at 4 1/2 minutes. The fuel tablet finally extinguished itself at exactly 15 minutes.

If there is an "open fire" ban in your outdoor activity area, this is a perfect way to make your coffee, cocoa, and noodles while on the trail. Also, if you are in windy conditions, take measures to block the wind from your flame or you may end up munching on crunchy noodles. 


FYI - Always store extra fuel tablets inside of the Esbit mini-stove. That way you will always have them on hand if needed and it also conserves packing space. The Esbit brand of fuel tabs can be on the expensive side (I've seen them anywhere from $6 - $8 per 12 pack, but you can use any type of Hexamine type fuel tablets with this stove). Almost two years ago, I found a website selling the Coghlan's brand of fuel tablets for $2 a pack (24 tabs) and I stocked up with a vengeance. Lastly, I always carry a small "tin knife" in my Esbit stove. That way I have a cutting tool in case I need it for any chore/task associated with getting a small fire started with the stove.

Specs:  Weight - 3.25 ounces.  Size - 4" x 3" x 0.75" 
(Other equipment in Esbit pictures: GSI "Glasier" stainless steel cup, Backwoods Custom Knives "Battle Axe" tin knife - maker Bill Akers, "Light My Fire" Swedish Fire Steel.)




2. MSR Pocket Rocket (approx. $35)
This small stove is used with a fuel canister. The beauty of this stove is its simplicity. There's no priming, no preheating, and no pressurizing required with the Pocket Rocket. You just simply screw on the fuel canister, spread the 3 holding arms, twist the fuel valve, light it, and start cooking.

This system does not have an automatic igniter, so the use of a match or lighter is necessary.   If your matches are wet or your lighter is inoperable, you can still light the stove with a spark. I carry a Fire Steel in all my backpacks and vehicle bags just in case my other means of making a fire don't work. To light the Pocket Rocket with a Fire Steel rod, just take the spine of your knife (not the sharpened edge) and quickly scrape the rod while directing the sparks on top of the stove. I've done this numerous times and it works fine. On a side note, if your knife has a rounded spine, or you have no other means of creating a spark or flame, then you may have to resort to snacking on uncooked dehydrated food and crunchy coffee grounds.

This stove will boil a liter of water (just over 4 cups) in less than 4 minutes. The three arms of the stove have serrated supports which help prevent pots/cups from shifting. The fuel used with this stove is called "Iso Pro" and is an 80/20 blend of Isobutane and Propane which burns very clean and virtually eliminates clogging. The self-sealing valve allows the canister to be safely removed from the stove burner. For this review, I poured two cups of water, a small dehydrated vegetable pack, and a few pinches of ham base into a cooking pot and ignited the stove. I kept it on a medium burn (not at full heat blast), and the water began to boil in a little over 3 minutes.   The wings, or arms, of the Pocket Rocket are very sturdy and will hold most cups/pots with no problems.

I've used several different canister brands (Coleman, MSR, and Jet Boil) and they've all performed flawlessly. You can purchase these canisters in the camping/sports section of most stores (brand of canister will vary). The 4 oz. canisters are around $4 and the 8 oz. canister usually runs between $5 and $6. As a general rule, one 8 oz. canister of Iso-Pro fuel will be sufficient to boil water for two people over a 4 day period (morning, noon, and night). For reference purposes, one 4 oz. fuel canister will generally boil about 28 cups of water. Of course, these statistics will vary. 


FYI - In extremely cold temps, try to keep the fuel canisters warm so they will work properly.   Again, this is a fire making alternative in case you are hiking/hunting in an area with an "open fire" ban. 


Specs: Weight - MSR Pocket Rocket - 3.0 oz (3.9 oz. with travel case). Size - 4.1" x 2.1" x 2" 
(Other equipment in Pocket Rocket pictures: GSI "Dualist" cooking pot, ML Knives "Short Kephart" knife - maker Matt Lesniewski, "Light My Fire" Swedish fire steel.) 




3. Emberlit (wood stove)
There is a stainless steel version ($35) and a titanium version ($55). My review is on the titanium version. This is a wood burning stove that is extremely light, sturdy, easy to assemble, and can easily be placed in a backpack or vehicle bag (it's completely flat when disassembled). It has 5 separate panels that quickly and easily fit together.

Once the stove is assembled, you just gather up twigs the size of a pencil and place them down into stove. Once the fire is started, you can feed sticks and branches into the front panel opening. Place as many sticks that will fit in the feed port and then just let the excess lengths hang out of the stove. As the sticks burn inside the stove, continue to push the sticks into the feed port as long as your cooking or boiling. I really love the front panel port feature of this stove because it allows my food and water to continue cooking or boiling without me having to constantly take the pot/cup off the top of the stove and shove sticks down into the stove.

The design of this stove blocks the wind and allows the heat to be directed straight out the top which results in faster cooking/boiling time. In addition, there is very minimal smoke when using this wood stove. For this review, I put 2 cups of water in a titanium pot and in less than 5 minutes had a rolling boil which was used to make instant potatoes. If you don't want to fool with cleaning the pot, just pour the water straight into the instant potatoe pouch and stir (just be careful because the bag will be hot on bare fingers).

  
FYI - I have my Emberlit stove stored in a fishing tackle organizer along with various instant coffee, tea, cocoa, instant potatoes, and noodles. Also, if needed, it could be used as a wind block while using another mini stove (Esbit or Pocket Rocket).

Specs: Weight - Stainless version (11.25 ounces). Titanium version (5.45 ounces).  Size: 6" tall and 4 1/2" wide at bottom (narrower at the top).  
(Other equipment in Emberlit pictures: Evernew titanium 1.3L pot, ML Knives "standard Kephart" - maker Matt Lesniewski.) 




4. Jet Boil Flash (approx. $85)
This is an "all-in-one-design" which combines the burner and cooking cup into a fairly compact stove unit. This unit also uses the "Iso-Propane" canisters. I've used several different brands (Coleman, MSR, and Jet Boil) and each one works fine. The Jet Boil fuel canister is made to fit inside the cooking cup which makes it very convenient.

The Jet Boil system is incredibly easy to use. You basically take the cup off the bottom, attach the burning unit, screw on the fuel canister, and push the automotic igniter button. You have a sipping lid that can be placed on top of the cooking cup which also contributes to a faster boil.   The main cooking vessel is wrapped with an insulated cozy so it can be picked up and held while eating or drinking out of the vessel. There is also a tripod base included which gives the unit more stability when in the woods. If using the unit on a flat surface, there isn't any need to use the tripod. Two cups of water can easily be boiled in 2 minutes with this cooking system.

For this particular model, the side of the cup will change color when the water begins boiling.  This feature is called the "Flash" color change heat indicator. The indicator is a clear color and, as the water begins to heat, the clear color gradually begins turning an orange/yellow color. Once the water reaches a rolling boil, the color of the indicator is completely full blown yellow (other models may vary in the color). I personally don't need a special feature to indicate or inform me when the water is boiling, but the advantage to this feature is that you can leave the lid on the cooking vessel without continually checking the water.

I recently took my daughter Caitlyn squirrel hunting, and while in the woods, I enthusiastically showed her how this stove operates. Honestly, she was more excited about drinking hot chocolate than learning about the working physics of the Jet Boil.

FYI - There are other Jet Boil systems that cost about $60 (which doesn't include the tripod or "Flash" color change heat indicator)  and other models exceeding $100. This is a great stove to use during power outages in your home. I stocked up on the larger Coleman fuel canisters (8 ounce) and keep them stored in my home to use for that very reason. I also stocked up on the Jet Boil canisters to use while camping, hunting, and hiking since they were made to fit perfectly inside the Jet Boil unit.  


Specs: Weight - 14 oz. without fuel canister.  Size - 4.1" x 7.1" 
(Other equipment in Jet Boil pictures: Backwoods Custom Knives "BSK" (Backwoods Survival Kephart) - maker Bill Akers.) 


Conclusion
The above mentioned stoves are not the "Be All, End All" for every outdoor situation or natural disaster that we may encounter in our daily lives. In addition, you can come up with home made coffee can, soup can, or 55 gallon garbage can stoves in order to save money. But my backpacks are not equipped to haul around a 55 gallon stove, so for now, these mini stoves will work just fine for my outdoor adventures and also serve as a means of back up food prep and water boiling in case of any type of power outages at my house.


I'm probably preaching to the choir, but hopefully this article will be a spark that ignites some thought into survival/emergency items for your vehicle, home, or backpacks. Not to mention, these little stoves are a ton of fun to play with on the back porch. In fact, my wife and kids think I'm crazy when I go out on the porch and brew up my morning java...mini stove style!


Lastly, I want to extend a very sincere "Thank You" to Brian for allowing me the opportunity to share this article with his readers.

The Becker BK2 Review

The Becker BK2 (aka - "Campanion") is part of a knife line designed by Ethan Becker (Becker Knife & Tool) and originally produced by Camillus Cutlery. When Camillus closed its doors for good in 2007, Ethan Becker searched for another company to produce his knives and finally hooked up with KA-BAR in Olean, New York. You will sometimes see the BK2 incorrectly referred to as the "Companion" in various reviews.

Becker BK2 "Campanion"

The knife has an overall length of 10.5", a blade length of 5.5" made from 1095 Cro Van steel, Grivory handles, and it weighs in at one pound. The BK2 has a drop point and an extended tang (the extended tang is on second generation knives). The blade itself is a full quarter inch thick all the way through. 


The BK2 is intended for camp, bush craft, and survival use. It's built like a tank! One survival instructor referred to it as "the Becker train wrecker". I've had my BK2 since early last fall and have thoroughly enjoyed using it! It stays in my B.O.B. (Bug Out Bag) normally and in my hunting pack when I'm in the woods. 

I have found the Grivory handles to be very comfortable. There are after market Micarta scales made specifically for the BK2 and many folks use those. The width of the blade combined with the full belly and overall weight of the knife make chores like chopping rather easy. The BK2 can also be used to baton wood for fires. When performing tasks like chopping, I would recommend using a lanyard. A lanyard will keep the knife from flying out of your hand should you lose your grip and will also allow you to move your hand farther back on the handle giving you greater leverage for chopping.


The drop point of the blade allows for finer knife work and would also work for field dressing game. Would I use this knife to field dress my deer under normal circumstances? No. I have knives specifically designed for that purpose. However, in a true survival situation, the BK2 could handle that chore if necessary.


Second generation BK2's have an extended tang which can be used for a couple of things. First, if you needed to drive the knife point into something, the extended tang gives you a striking surface so you aren't hitting the handle ends. Second, the extended tang could be used as a hammer or glass breaker itself. 

You can see the width of the blade here - 1/4 inch...about the length of a fly.

The knife is made of carbon steel which means it will eventually rust if it's not properly maintained. The BK2 does have a black epoxy coating on the steel which helps to protect it. I take care of my gear regardless of what it's made of so the whole thing is a moot point to me. Carbon steel is well liked and popular in the knife community for outdoor blades because it is easy to sharpen in the field and retains a good edge. Knives are made from many different steels and it's important when selecting a knife to be familiar with the advantages and limitations of the various steels so you can make the correct choice. Don't assume just because a blade says "stainless" that it's the right knife for the job.

Extended tang on the BK2

I've used my BK2 for chopping down small trees, clearing limbs, and hacking on larger logs. It is very comfortable in the hand and feels well balanced. Even though it weighs in at a full 16 ounces, it doesn't feel that heavy. When I pick this knife up, I just get the urge to destroy something! The BK2 is built for work and begs to be used! It's a good thing, too, because it wouldn't win any beauty contests, although its simple design is appealing to me.


Let's be honest about something for a second. The majority of us will never find ourselves in a real life or death survival situation. That stuff is all over TV with the various survival shows, but the odds of that being a reality for most people are pretty low. Do I prepare for a situation like that? Yes. I have certain items on hand at all times and I've had a lifetime of training that keeps me in that mindset, but realistically I'll probably never find myself alone with just my knife in a do-or-die situation.

I said that to say this...while the BK2 is part of my preparedness gear, I don't just leave it in a bag waiting for the day when I'll need it to survive. I take that sucker out and play around with it! One day at the cabin between hunts, I sat next to the fire pit and carved out a hiking stick. I didn't need a hiking stick, but I enjoyed using the knife and working with my hands. My gear gets far more use just for fun than it will for real survival. The majority of people who buy "survival" gear will never need it for survival. That doesn't mean you can't use it, anyway. And the BK2 is not just a survival knife. It makes a great camp blade or work knife on the ranch or farm. As I've said, it's built for that stuff.


Is the knife perfect? No. If you're looking for the one knife that will do everything well, keep looking. You're not going to find it. Knives are built with specific tasks in mind (at least the good ones are) and there are too many variables for one knife to excel at everything.


The fit and finish on my BK2 is excellent. The only issue I've had is with the handle screws coming loose. When I first got the knife, I was able to tighten the screws and I hadn't even used it yet. After using the knife for a few months, I had to tighten the screws again. I'm not sure why they won't stay tight, but it's a fairly common issue with the Becker knives and many people use Loctite to solve the problem.


My only other issue, and it's a personal preference thing, is with the sheath. Actually, not the sheath itself, but the belt loop. The sheath is a hard plastic or Kydex type material, but the belt loop is made from webbing (see the top photo). The belt loop is secured to a flat plate which is secured to the sheath with four screws. The loop can be attached to either side of the sheath or removed completely. I don't like the webbing material because it allows the knife to flop around on my side. I prefer a hard loop made of the same material as the sheath which would keep the knife still. Again, it's personal preference thing and there are after market sheaths available. I'm looking at a Kydex sheath made for the BK2 with a hard loop and will likely replace the factory sheath.


The BK2 has been around for a long time and is well liked and respected in the knife community as is the designer, Ethan Becker. I did not perform torture tests or purposely abuse my knife for this review. I don't abuse my gear unless it's actually necessary. There are tons of reviews, both written and video, on the BK2. You can watch people doing all kinds of things from chopping to batoning and everything in between. The various knife forums and blogs are full of information. I chose the BK2 after doing a lot of research and coming to the conclusion that it was a good choice based on its track record.

Let me talk price here before I wrap this up. I've seen this knife go for over $100 on the Internet. If you pay anywhere near that much for a stock BK2, you've paid too much. Custom models are more expensive, but the standard knife goes for much less. I paid $58.99 for mine at Chestnut Ridge Knife Shop. You can get them on Amazon and other online knife retailers. Cabela's had them the last time I checked, but they were asking $90 for the knife. Shop around and check prices. I will say the BK2 is worth every penny I paid for it!


As I mentioned before, Ethan Becker has a line of knives all of which are very popular. One of those is the BK11 or "Becker Necker". It is the smallest knife in the Becker line. My good buddy, Dennis, over at Family Time, recently wrote a review on the BK11 which you can read here:


The Becker Necker


I understand that Dennis also owns a BK2 and I'm looking forward to his thoughts on the knife. Perhaps he will do his own review and offer a different perspective.


Well, that's it, my two cents worth on the Becker BK2. It really is a nice blade and I would not recommend it if I thought it wouldn't stand up to some heavy use. If this is the kind of knife you are in the market for, it is definitely worth being on your short list.