So, last night a buddy asked me for the info to buy this same kit, after checking out the set up. This morning, I pulled up my order for $59.80, hit the links to get a direct address to paste and... the prices are up about $20 for the set.

Hmmm, so do a search for Olicamp on eBay and the same set (but in blue trim) is about this price at its lowest (and up to $20 more at the highest). Search Fire Maple and the 117t is a hundred bucks. So, was this a monetary conversion on the Ali-Express site, or did those burgeoning capitalists just adjust upward to what the gringo market will bear?

Fire Maple has supposedly posted here on BPL. Perhaps they're anticipating an uptick in orders based on your post? :)

HJ
Adventures in Stoving

I think that might count as a heat deflector:

trapped gases around burn may cause more heat to to travel down column:

see this tread where the OP melted their lindal valve
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=65243&skip_to_post=560783#560783

If you're referring to the shield on the canister-top stove, I understand your concern but suggest that might best be discussed in thread(s) about canister stoves and/or the Optimus Crux. However, that additional heat shield you might see above the lindal...never even got warm.

Eric,

The Fire Maple 117T and canister (220 gram I think) easily fit in my Evernew 1.3L titanium pot, as the photo below shows. They did not fit in my 0.9L Evernew Titanium pot. Interestingly enough, switching from the 0.9L pot (3.4 oz) to the 1.3L pot (3.6 oz) will end up saving me 0.8 oz since I'll use an Aluminum pie pan lid (0.2 oz) instead of a titanium one (1.2 oz).

Casey, that is really cool. So that setup, with the foil lid but still with handles, is over three ounces lighter than mine, and has more capacity.

This is worth hunting one down, at least for my version, but it looks like everyone's sold out right now. Waiting can be a good thing...

I thought I'd update regarding ongoing "trials" with this rig and how the set is working out. I've boiled about ten liters and several more small volumes with it, now and have revised my windscreen to allow more air draft from the bottom edge (and less weight).

The stove burns powerfully, and I am getting very good boil times in temperate weather. For example, this past weekend, I brought 900ml of "cool water" to boil in 1:45, with the windscreen in place and stove nearly on full high. Most of my boils have been slower, at lower burn rates, but still notably quick. It also simmers pretty well, as long as the windscreen is there. The titanium has lightly discolored, which looks cool anyway.

The pot is certainly part of the "fast boil" equation and I've been very happy with the handles, pouring ability and shrouding of the heat exchanger fins, but the Achilles heel to the pot remains that lid: it does not like the heat from boiling water below it and the hot air rising up the sides -- the tab on the side of the lid gets mushy and has further deformed. Now, this is a problem: the lid is designed with a nacelle in the center that fits a fuel canister and a flat lid replacement won't fit over the top for a "self contained" rig, as I want for the Scouts that will use this.

I have written to the manufacturer, seeking help and suggesting they take a look at the material used. This coming week, the stove swaps over to use/review by nearly 20 Scouts, so we'll see what their feedback is after using it.

So, no response from the manufacturer, which I contacted via their "contact me" link on the Fire Maple site.

However, Backpacking Light's team has just issued their review of the stove(s):

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/olicamp_xcelerator_review.html

I got a good deal on a Primus Packlite setup which is sturdy, has a preheat tube, and generally meets my cooler weather/larger group needs but for the typical primus blowtorch head. Simmering is not great and one reason I wanted a more stable remote cannister stove was to be able to do some more robust cooking on quick overnights and drive up camping where I can bring a bit more gear and perishable food.

this setup looks stable and the larger head and apparently good valve control are appealing although i don't think it will replace the packlite which can be operated in inverted cannister mode...

FYI Update: I just bought four of the Olicamp-branded combo sets like that described here, for under 90 each, shipped via eBay. These are now our Patrol Stoves for the Troop.

Erik,

What did you finally decide to do with respect to the lids? Just live with the meltyness?

HJ
Adventures In Stoving

Yeah, I never heard back from Fire Maple, and we're gonna deal with the lids until we have to swap in aluminum pan lids.