Editor's Note: This article was opened to the public on July 22, 2010. To subscribe and see Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2010 articles as they are published, click here.
We discovered two new ultralight multi-fuel (alcohol/Esbit/wood) cooking systems from Evernew and Trail Designs. The systems are quite different, as detailed below.
Evernew System
At the Evernew booth we were shown a prototype of their new titanium multi-fuel cooking system. It will be available in spring 2010 in four different configurations, as shown in the photos. Note: this system is brand new and has received very little testing. We have no information on how well it works. Following intensive testing, the final design could be significantly different and prices could change.
Titanium alcohol stove. This is the burner only (1.2 oz, $45). It looks a lot like a Trangia stove and has rather large holes. Note that there are holes at two levels; the smaller holes in the upper rim are barely visible.
Titanium stove and pot stand (left, 2.7 oz, $55); the 500 ml pot is included in the photo for scale and is not included in the price. The pot stand is constructed of titanium strips with holes in them to increase air circulation. It's cross-shaped when assembled and placed on top of the burner.
Minimalist Set (5.6 oz, $130). This is a complete system consisting of the burner, pot stand/windscreen, turbo plate, and 500 ml pot with lid. The turbo plate is for winter use; it increases pressure to create a larger flame (which also uses more fuel). The 500 ml cook pot included may be too small for many hikers; I personally prefer a cook pot around 850-900 milliliters.
Wood Burning Stove Set (3 oz, $47). The price does not include the 500 ml cook pot shown, which we included in the photo for scale. In this configuration, the turbo plate is used as a grate in the bottom to hold the wood while it burns, and a pot of any size can be placed on top of the windscreen. Because of its very small size, this wood burning stove will require tiny pieces of wood and a lot of feeding.
Trail Designs Ti-Tri Titanium Stove System
This system is essentially a Caldera Cone system made of titanium sheet so it can also burn wood. The Caldera Cone used needs to be specific to the cook pot used. For cooking with alcohol, the Trail Designs 12-10 burner is placed on the ground and the pot is supported at its top lip by the cone, so the pot is enclosed by the cone. The same configuration is used for cooking with Esbit tabs, using a simple holder included with the system. For cooking with wood, two titanium tent stakes are passed through holes near the top of the cone, and the pot is supported by these stakes.
Trail Designs Ti-Tri Titanium Stove System for a MSR 0.85 liter titanium cook pot.
The Ti-Tri system costs $80 and includes a titanium Caldera Cone for the user's cook pot, two titanium stakes, fuel bottle kit, 12-10 stove, and the Gram Cracker. Trail Designs offers an optional titanium floor (0.9 oz, $15) to place under the cone to protect the ground in wood burning mode. The Ti-Tri setup for burning wood using an MSR 0.85 liter pot weighs 5.4 ounces (Caldera Cone, titanium floor, two titanium stakes, caddy).
When using this system, wood is fed through the hole under the pot. There are vents at the bottom of the cone for combustion air to flow in and vents at the top for smoke to flow out. In my opinion, the Trail Designs Ti-Tri is a more realistic size for cooking with wood fuel; it will handle larger pieces of wood and generate more BTUs.
I have been using the Trail Designs alcohol stove since it was introduced and really love it. Trail Designs has advanced the alcohol stove to the convenience and reliability level of a canister stove; the only thing it lacks is flame control. The new Ti-Tri system seems to be the best of two worlds: cook with wood when possible, and carry an alcohol burner (0.5) and a little alcohol to use as a backup when it's raining. Some alcohol can also be used to start the fire when using it as a wood stove.
Reader Comments
You must login to post comments.
Forum Index » Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2009 » Ultralight Multi-Fuel (Alcohol/Esbit/Wood) Cooking Systems from Evernew and Trail Designs (Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2009)
(addiebedford) - BPL Staff - MLife
Locale: Montana
Companion forum thread to:
Ultralight Multi-Fuel (Alcohol/Esbit/Wood) Cooking Systems from Evernew and Trail Designs (Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2009)
(randlindsly) - MLife
Locale: Yosemite
Will:
Thanks for the kind words on the Ti-Tri. Just to refine some of the numbers in your piece, the optional titanium floor is $15, and the Caldera Caddy is not directly charged for and comes as part of the system (along with the stakes, fuel bottle kit, 12-10 stove, titanium cone and the Gram Cracker)
Thanks again!
Rand :-)
(randlindsly) - MLife
Locale: Yosemite
One more observation on your article. Not sure if you buried the lead or not, but the brighter eyed and quicker witted among us might have noticed that the pot you are using for scaling in the picture is not a released Evernew product. It has handles similar to their mugs....but without the silicone coating. It is larger than the mugs and the form factor is similar to their new Pasta Pots but without the strainer lid. I played with it at the show, and it is made of the thinner gauge titanium, and is uncoated. Can't wait to wrap a cone around it!!!
Rand :-)
(jdmitch) - F
Locale: Kansas
It's been quite a while since I've used mine (and honestly can't find it after our recent move - it's in a box somewhere) due to not camping or backpacking much anymore (two kids, job and MBA studies for me, degree / student teaching for wife = not much time).
However, as the proud owner of one of the first renditions of the Tri-Ti system (complete with Ti floor, etc) I can testify that it really is a killer system that works great.
(surnailz) - F
Locale: White Mountains
I just wanted to chime in and say that the Ti-Tri is truly a great piece of gear. I used it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on a weekend trip to Acadia a little while back and it performed flawlessly. This is my first Caldera Cone type stove, but I was impressed with how well it worked and the rapid boil times for my 1.3L pot. Even my girlfriend was quite happy with it though she was certainly skeptical at first, to say the least. I have not used the wood burning feature yet but I hope to soon. I bought it for the exact reasons as given above because versatility is important I believe. I do recommend that the floor and caddy be purchased as well since they do add to the overall value of the product and the later piece really does a great job of keeping it all together.
-jim
(djjmikie) - MLife
Locale: Ky
I must also sing the praises of the Caldera cone system. No need to carry anything extra (like an unknown wind screen for the new Evernew system). I have just purchased the Ti-Tri system with the optional titanium floor for times when I need additional fuel choices. I rely on my Caldera cone system for every meal all year long, and it has never failed me.
Mike
Edited by djjmikie on 07/29/2009 10:34:20 MDT.
(balrog) - F - M
Locale: New England
And here's yet another wood/multifuel backpacking stove already in the ring.
I've just completed a full review of the 2.3 oz titanium Bushcooker LT 1 , posted on my blog at
http://tjamrog.wordpress.com/2009/07/29/backpacking-stove-review-bushcooker-titanium-lt-1/ .
-------------
Thomas
Could you please make it very clear that you have a commercial interest in any product you mention like this. It is a BPL requirement for any one in this position.
Thanks
Roger Caffin
Online Community Monitor
BackpackingLight
Edited by rcaffin on 08/29/2009 01:36:08 MDT.
(Ramapo) - F
Jamrog, you really ought to stop pimping the Bushcooker like this. This is not your website and BPL is not here to provide free advertising for you. Enough already. We get it. Submit one for a review, pay for advertising...whatever. Just give it a rest.
(addiebedford) - BPL Staff - MLife
Locale: Montana
We've changed the Trail Designs information from the incorrect:
"The Ti-Tri system costs $80. Trail Designs offers an optional titanium floor (0.9 oz, $25) to place under the cone to protect the ground in wood burning mode. A plastic Cone Caddy case (2.6 oz, $15) is also available. The Ti-Tri setup for burning wood using an MSR 0.85 liter pot weighs 5.4 ounces (Caldera Cone, titanium floor, two titanium stakes, caddy)."
to the corrected:
"The Ti-Tri system costs $80, and includes a titanium Caldera cone for the user's cook pot, 2 titanium stakes, fuel bottle kit, 12-10 stove, and the Gram Cracker. Trail Designs offers an optional titanium floor (0.9 oz, $15) to place under the cone to protect the ground in wood burning mode. The Ti-Tri setup for burning wood using an MSR 0.85 liter pot weighs 5.4 ounces (Caldera Cone, titanium floor, two titanium stakes, caddy)."
Thanks!
Addie
Edited by addiebedford on 07/30/2009 12:10:15 MDT.
(simplespirit) - MLife
Locale: WNC
Addie, I'm pretty sure the floor is $15 and not $55. :-)
Edited by simplespirit on 07/30/2009 11:56:08 MDT.
(addiebedford) - BPL Staff - MLife
Locale: Montana
Copied direct from Will. God forbid I do my own reading. :)
Thanks Chris!
(simplespirit) - MLife
Locale: WNC
Haha. That will teach you! :-P
(halfturbo) - MLife
Locale: Northernish California
You should see the $55 floor—it's travertine :-)
(jdmitch) - F
Locale: Kansas
Balrog, Tri-Ti has been available for QUITE some time. Mine was purchased 2 years ago this august. This is just the first time it's been featured at a show of this caliber before.
(willem) - F
I am always interested in ultralight solo versions of a Trangia type stove - so the Evernew prototype appeals to me. I have one concern, however: how about frying? Unlike many ultralight backpackers, I use my gear for longer solo bike tours in Europe, where one buys fresh (and I mean fresh) food every day. So I not only need a slightly larger pot, but also a frying pan. One of the attractions of the original Trangia sets is their relatively large frying pans, and the fact that on the 25 and 27 these are higher above the flame than the cooking pot, thus producing a more evenly heated frying pan.
Finally, about the burner itself: does it have a lid and a simmering facility, as per Trangia burner (that would be very convenient to save fuel), and are the dimensions the same?
Willem