My current setup for longer trips is the snow peak litemax stove with an evernew .75 liter pasta pot on top.
Light, works great, and guzzles massive amounts of fuel.

My solution was to get a jetboil sol ti, however I'm now afraid to trust it given that they apparently explode on occasion. I'm very close to returning the thing.

So that would put me back at square one where efficiency is my problem.
Is it my stove? Is it my pot?
Does anyone make titanium pots with a fluxing type efficiency thingy on the bottom that's under 6 or 7 ounces?

MSR Reactor baby!!!

Oh, oh, wait... that's a bit over 7 ounces... ok, my bad...


lolol

But yep too heavy.

Is the efficiency all from the flux ring? Does anyone make an aftermarket one you can just sit the pot on top of? Would that even work?

I saw MSR has something kind of like that but it's huge.

In the case of the MSR Reactor its efficiency I believe comes from its stove top. Its pots do have a 'flux-ring' of sort, but not really true flux rings like JetBoil has, because JetBoil owns the patent on that - which they acquired from a buyout IIRC.

The stove head on the Reactor is downright awesome. The first time I saw one fire up I almost fall on my butt because I was not expecting its heat output (note: the pot was not on it lol)

My problem with the MSR Reactor is that beyond stupid handle/lid holder thingie. It just seems to be flopping all around, its ugly, its way over engineered and so forth. Almost like the guys who designed it just were not sure what to do about that so went as physco as possible in designing it. But, complaining about that is about as stupid as complaining about the jetboil cup weighing too much, huh. lol

I've been using the litemax for the past two seasons, and my experience has been its one of the most efficient fuel users out there? I used LESS! than one 4oz can for my 8 day trip on the SHR. I think that fuel use has more to do with your menu and components than with the stove itself... What are your habits and menus like?

How many cases of melted pots with the JetBoil? 1? 2?

Of course how much fuel you use depends more on your cooking style than the stove. On solo summer trips I generally heat 0.5 liters of water from 40f/5c to 190f/90c three times a day, plus simmering 15 minutes a day. Jetboil using 110 gram fuel can gives 7 days use. Mild breezes don't significantly reduce efficiency. I admit to heating a lot of water. If you heat less, or from a higher starting temp, you may use much less fuel even with a less efficient stove.

Fear? I can think of three possible mechanisms for Redwood John's Sol Ti to have flared up:
-Pressure regulator failed allowing excess fuel to flow, overheating and melting heat exchanger fins.
-Boil over superheated canister, dramatically increasing pressure which then overwhelmed pressure regulator, etc.
- Heat exchanger fin bond to pot failed, normal stove heat melted aluminum fins, hot metal dripped onto canister, overheating it and causing flare up as above.

Edited by jimqpublic on 02/25/2012 08:08:59 MST.

This has certainly perked my ears about the Jetboil Sol Ti system...not sure if I want to keep mine anymore either...and heck, I don't even use it...

As far as another system, how about using the aluminum version and stripping it down? I don't think that I have heard anything bad about the al version...yet...

http://www.optimusstoves.com/seen/optimus-products/products/katadynshopconnect/optimus-kochgeschirr-und-besteck/optimus-terra-weekend-he-kochset/

the set weighs 9oz, not sure what the weight of just the pot would be, but should be close to 7oz.

Note that optimus states a disclaimer about heating the pot dry causing the fins to become damaged and potentially causing fires or injury.

you could always trade in your Sol Ti for a Sol Al, or even a zip

Q:
"Most efficient stove/pot combo that doesn't explode"


A:
Caldera cone, cheaper than a jetboi, lighter than a jetboil, crazy efficient, great customer service, will NOT explode, ever, under any conditions, ever, ever.

Just ordered another cone set for myself this morning. The ease of use with the Jetboil is pretty sweet though. They'll get it right eventually. Hopefully before some incident.

Question for the. OP Do you use any type of windscreen with your Litemax setup?

Edited by kthompson on 02/25/2012 10:40:31 MST.

I've used my Jet Boil Ti is sub freezing conditions and am most impressed with the efficiency and speed of boiling.

The Caldera Cone won't work in the conditions that I am currently trekking in.

How fast is it? What source of fuel are you using?

If you're that worried about it, just pick up the aluminum jetboil sol. Works great and adds 1 oz, which is negligible.

To answer the question earlier, I only boil water. If the Snowpeak Litemax is really efficient, then perhaps it's my Evernew .75 liter pasta pot? It is a bit narrow, so perhaps the heat is escaping up the sides? Any suggestions for a replacement? Would it make a big difference to get a wider one?

I'm considering the route of getting the jetboil sol aluminum cup as well. Does that one come with a thicker cozy? The one on the sol ti is so thin I burned my self just testing it at home boiling tap water.
While this may solve he melting fluxring problem, it does still leave the 3 foot flame overheating risk...
I've only found a few cases so far online...maybe those were just flukes?

dave,

I have no hard numbers as I am way too lazy. The cone isn't as fast as the jetboil, but it is efficient as the design keeps so much heat in contact with the pot. I have used a couple of my cones with alcohol below freezing and didn't have any problems other than time. I am not too concerned with speed, but like efficiency.

of course for snow melting and the like alcohol or esbit is not a good choice. For me and most 3 season users, the caldera cone is efficient, easy, safe, relatively cheap, and will work well.

I am sure if you look into numbers you;d find the caldera a very efficient setup against other alcohol or esbit stoves.

Under what conditions would the Caldera Cone not work?

@OP,

Your SP Litemax "guzzled" tremendous amounts of fuel? You may check to see if your stove is faulty or reexamine how you're using the stove- there are adoptable techniques that aid in minimizing fuel use. I've owned my Litemax for 3 years now and the times where I've used it have not noticed any unusual amounts of fuel consumption, even in relatively windy conditions using a foam pad as a windscreen. What are you're cooking habits? Are you boiling large quantities of water without a windscreen? Are you using a narrow pot?

I found that I get best results using the Litemax by not cranking the valve fully open. I currently have an Evernew 1.3L pot that works well with the Litemax and have used an MSR Titan Kettle with the Litemax and had very good boil results as well. A 4oz. canister can easily last me a 3 day trip doing a boil in the evening for supper and coffee and once in the morning for oatmeal and coffee.

Edited by Eugeneius on 02/25/2012 11:39:49 MST.

Thanks Ben. I may have to look into that for 3 season treks and keep the JB for sub freezing....?

I thought I wasn't supposed to buy any new gear in 2012.

Eugene,

probably would "work" just about anywhere. but if you wanted to melt snow in deep and cold winter it would be a bad choice as alcohol/esbit doesn't really put out the BTUs of white gas or canister gas.

Dave,
Just "trade" something. That way it doesn't count, right?

Edited by benwood on 02/25/2012 11:42:03 MST.

Canister fuel has not worked for me in single digit (F) temps without sleeping with the canister whereas alcohol, although difficult to light, seems to burn unaffected. Is this just the accepted procedure for you who use canister stoves in seriously crappy conditions with zero degree temps? I usually don't go out in these conditions on purpose but have experienced them when an unexpected front moves through and my fuel has been left outside the shelter. It has been futile to try to warm the canister up once I have gotten dressed and discovered that it is too cold to start the stove. My question is for you who leave alcohol at home because you expect it to be too cold have taken a canister stove. What are you doing to light the stove in the morning?

"What are you doing to light the stove in the morning?"

Light one tiny birthday cake candle and hold it next to the large round bottom surface of the canister for a minute or two. Don't burn it next to the canister seam. If the canister metal gets too warm for you to touch, then you've overdone it.

--B.G.--