Why would one choose the Backcountry Boiler over the Bush Buddy Ultra? The latter can support any pot and is lighter by about 4oz. Curious.

I own both.

You will get DRAMATICALLY better results in poor and especially windy weather with the backcountry boiler. A bit easier to use also with poor (wet) fuel sources. They don't call this type of boiler a "storm kettle" for nothing.

Also the bushbuddy can theoretically support any pot but in practice it requires protection for storage so you are limited to using a pot that the bushbuddy can be stored in.

Also, when you compare weight don't forget you need to compare weight of bushbuddy + pot to the backcountry boiler, which of course does not need a pot.

Edited by dag4643 on 05/13/2011 09:37:23 MDT.

Because, in a nationwide survey of those with the inclination to backpack, chicks really dig it. They've never really taken to the name of the Ultra.......

LOL!

New Dating classifieds acronym: looking for single BBU

Ultra? I used "Bush Buddy" for years with some success.

(my bad)

Daniel,
I am curious about what you meant by the boiler doing a lot better with poor weather? I have been looking at both but can not really decide. Probably the bush buddy will do better for 2 people though since the boiler is only limited to 18ounces.

Bushbuddy does not do too well in the wind (just like alcohol or even canister stoves) without some wind protection. In bad weather you might have wind plus poor/wet fuel, and all of that combined makes it a bit more difficult to use. It will work fine but there is some skill involved in getting a fire going etc.

The backcountry boiler is really easy to use and get a fire going, I think it is because of the chimney affect, and burns like a little furnace. And if it is windy it works even better because you point the intake into the wind and it's like you are blowing into a fire. I would say there is less skill involved in using it.

Edited by dag4643 on 05/13/2011 13:59:34 MDT.

Done. Ordered one based on Daniel's recommendation. If I don't like it, Doug is going to buy it.

I'd take the Ti Caldera Cone Sidewinder W/Inferno woodburner option over both. In fact I have and love its versatility and light weight.

P.S. In windy conditions the Caldera Cones does much better than other woodburning stoves when it comes to conserving heat and focusing it on the pot. It's just a great design for several fuel types. And the Sidewinder version is very compact, fitting inside its pot.

Edited by Danepacker on 05/13/2011 13:07:29 MDT.

Both have their pros and cons. I like them both and use both. If I'm only going to burn wood, I'll take BCB. When I'm burning esbit, I take my Caldera Cone.

Edited by idester on 05/13/2011 13:11:39 MDT.

Eric, You certainly are a pimp for those cones. Love it! Totally shameless!

Although I don't own a "Back Country Boiler". I used to use and became quite fond of the "Kelly Kettle" it's heavier predecessor.

The design seems to thrive on wind and wet wood. I have never found a stove that seemed to work better in nasty conditions than the KK. So I'm assuming the BCB will will as well.

I don't own one yet as I am trying to fight off my gear weenie compulsions.

I've used a kelly kettle for about 5 years now so have some experience with it. I found the backcountry boiler to work even better than the kelly kettle, which surprised me because it has a much smaller "fire box". Less water capacity probably has something to do with it but with the KK it takes me a little bit longer to get a boil. With the BCB it's an easy 4-5 minutes and it uses much less fuel than the KK. I believe the small KK water capacity is about 24 oz or so.

Kevin,

I'll admit it, I am shamelessly plugging CC stoves B/C they are so light yet so efficient. What sold me was using my Sidewinder with the woodburning Inferno insert in winter camping. It was amazing to see how fast I could cook with just a little fuel.

Also I plug ESBIT/FireLite fuel tab cooking like others plug alky stoves. And the Sidewinder amazingly uses less fuel for the same heat as my old ESBIT setup (Vargo Triad base W/ MSR foil windscreen). I used to have to use 2 fuel tabs at once to get enough heat. Rand from Trail Designs told me the CC only needed one tab and he was correct.

If the BushBuddy stove could have a clip-on Ti windscreen that fit a certain size pot it would be even more efficient due to its somewhat better combustion chamber. I don't know why someone hasn't tinkered with at least stainless steel to make a
trial BushBuddy windscreen.

A windscreen like the one shown in this video could be modified slightly to fit a bushbuddy type stove...it weighs 1 oz with stainless bike spokes, I have one that is about a half oz made from titanium welding wire. The stove, windscreen, and stainless mesh potstand weigh a total of 3oz.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNoHIXSe19I

Edited by cadyak on 05/14/2011 18:54:05 MDT.

I had no idea this BCB existed. I think I'm going to have to pull the trigger on it. Just trying to decide between the raw and the supreme. I'm thinking I'd just use my gloves to pick it up, but that stopper does seem like it'd come in handy.