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Hi again,
Here is another owner review that I have had in progress for quite a while and it is about time to get it out. I meant to submit it last month for the open owner review call, but alas that plan did not work out. Here it is anyways!
Thanks in advance for your edits and comments!
Best,
Katie
Esbit Alcohol Stove
html: http://tinyurl.com/p48wf3q http://tinyurl.com/p48wf3q
Owner Review by Kathryn Montovan
August 24, 2015
Tester Information
Name: Kathryn Montovan
Biography:
I have been backpacking, climbing, kayaking, canoeing and winter
camping for over 15 years. My excursions are mostly weekend and
occasionally weeklong backpacking and kayaking trips in the wooded
and often wet, mountainous terrain of eastern New York, and western
Vermont. I usually tent camp with my family and love to cook fun and
delicious foods on my trips. In general, I strive for a compact and
light pack and value well-made and durable gear.
E-Mail: sull0294(at)gmail(dot)com
Age: 32
Location: Bennington, Vermont USA
Gender: F
Height: 5' 5" (1.65 m)
Weight: 150 lb (68 kg)
Product Information
Product Information and Specifications:
Manufacturer: Esbit
Year of Manufacture: 2012
Manufacturer's Website: http://www.esbit.de/en
MSRP NA
Model AB300BR
Listed Weight: NA
Measured Weight: 3.4 oz (97.4 g)
Body Material: Brass
Measured Height: 1.75" (4.4 cm)
Measured Diameter: 3" (7.6 cm)
Included Pieces: Burner, flame regulator, and screw cap
Esbit Alcohol Burner
The Esbit Alcohol Burner with the flame regulator partially open.
Product Description
The Esbit Alcohol Burner is a simple little stove that burns alcohol. It has a
brass body, an adjustable flame regulator, and a screw cap with a rubber
seal. The main body of the stove is constructed from 3 pieces pieces of
metal with seams a little below the threads on the outside and just
inside the burner holes on the inside. There is a bit of a gap at the
bottom of the stove on the inside between the inner wall and outer wall
of the stove. I can't tell for sure, but there are three small holes at
the bottom of the inner wall and it looks like there might be threads of
something in the space between the inner and outer walls.
Alcohol is poured into a large opening in the center of the stove and
the fuel vapors are lit on fire. This heats the stove walls and the fuel
and causes more fuel to vaporize. Before long vapor pressure builds up
in the outer chamber and the pressurized fuel vapor shoots out of the
jets and burns. The flames of burning alcohol are generally not visible
during the day.
Owner Review:
I have been using this stove for about 3 years and have used it on
dozens of backpacking, canoe camping, kayak camping and car camping
trips to cook for myself and up to 3 other people. I have used it in
temperatures ranging from 40 F to 100 F (5 C to 38 C), weather that
included both rain and sunshine, and elevations ranging from sea level
to 2000 ft (610 m).
How to use the stove:
The following are the directions from the packaging I received with my
stove.
[Photo of Directions for Esbit Alcohol Burner packaging]
I typically use denatured alcohol from the paint store as my fuel and
bring it along in a small well-marked plastic bottle. As noted in the
directions, 2.5 oz is typically enough to cook for about 30 minutes and
we bring an appropriate amount for the cooking we plan to do. To use the
burner, I take off both the flame regulator and the storage cap, fill
the stove about 2/3 full, place it within the framework I use as a pot
stand and use a steal flint striker to light the stove. I am very
careful to pay attention when lighting the stove as the flames of
alcohol are not visible and it is easy to not notice/forget the it is
burning. I often hold a blade of grass over the stove to see if it is
lit. If the grass burns then the burner is lit.
Pot Stand:
When I heard about alcohol stoves I loved the idea of a simple stove
that you could even make yourself if you wanted to. I made several
versions of alcohol stoves and loved the way they burned but didn't love
how fragile they were and I could not find or make a sturdy and
transportable pot-stand. Then I tested a wood burning stove (the solo
stove) which worked beautifully as a pot stand and I discovered the
Esbit Alcohol Burner which is much sturdier than all of my homemade
alcohol stoves. It was the perfect combination that allowed me to
switch over to mostly using an alcohol stove. I love this stove and I am
willing to carry the extra weight of the wood stove to have a reliable
and sturdy stand and a backup option of cooking with wood if necessary.
Using the Flame Regulator:
I frequently use the flame regulator to lower the cooking temperature. I
have found that it is very difficult to adjust once it is on the burner,
but that I can use my pot grip to get it off the stove, let it cool for
a few seconds, adjust it with my hands, and use the pot grip to put it
back on the burner. The folding handle makes it easy to grab off the
stove and to replace without burning myself. It can be adjusted to a
wide range of temperatures and has made the alcohol burner my chosen
stove for cooking pancakes. When cooking is done, I take the regulator
off, close it all the way and put it back on the stove to snuff out the
flame. I then let it cool for a minute and screw on the storage cap to
save the left-over fuel for later. I have had no problems with leaks
from the screw-on cap with the rubber gasket, but have started to have
some problems with the rubber gasket falling out of the cap and getting
lost.
Field Use:
I have used this burner in a range of conditions and have not run into
any problems with it. In the rain it is nice that it is so easy and
quick to start. Also, since you can mix water in the with alcohol
according to the directions there is no harm if a little rain makes it
into the stove before the pot is there to shield it. I have not noticed
any affect of heat, humidity, or elevation on the performance of this
burner in the conditions I have used it in. I have not used it in
below-freezing temperatures or above 2000 ft (610 m) so I cannot comment
on the performance under these somewhat more challenging conditions. I
have used it to boil water in my small titanium cup as well as a large
pot. It takes longer to boil a large pot of water, but quickly boils a
titanium mug full of water (approximately 400 mL). I have also used this
burner to cook all sort of things including pancakes, cinnamon rolls,
pizza, pasta, couscous and soup and have always been pleased by it's
performance.
What I like:
* Small Size
* Easy to start and use
* Adjustable cooking heat
* Clean burning
* Fuss-free
* Simple design
* Sturdy construction
What I didn't like:
* Didn't come with a pot stand and sturdy pot stands are somewhat
hard to purchase separately or make.
* Invisible flame
Summary:
During my extended use of this stove I have found that the Esbit Alcohol
Burner is reliable, adjustable, and easy to use. It has become my
favorite stove over many of the fancier options in my camping bin. It is
sturdier, burns for longer, is hotter, and generally less fussy than the
pop-can alcohol stove I made years ago. It is easier to use than my
white-gas stove, and I don't miss any of the pumping. It is cleaner and
much easier than my wood stove. It takes longer than the jet boil, but
can be used with any pan I want, is smaller, and doesn't require the
bulky and pricey fuel canisters. Overall I would say that it compares
most closely to our jet boil in that it is a stove that I can set up and
light it effortlessly, and when heating water I can leave it for several
minutes while I prepare other things, and when I come back the water is
boiling. Also, after having a student get burned severely by a
malfunctioning pressurized white gas stove, I really appreciate the
simplicity and predictable nature of this burner. It has become my stove
of choice and I rarely use another stove from our collection unless I
have run out of denatured alcohol.