Reader Reviews

Rating: 5 / 5

The guys at Trail Designs have built a reputation for themselves by providing innovative products and excellent customer service. Their Caldera Cone system was a revolution in UL wind screen/pot holder design, and since my first purchase (for my MSR Titan kettle), I've been a fan.

Building on a great idea, they created the Ti-Tri, the titanium version of the Caldera Cone which is capable of using three types of fuel (alcohol, esbit, or wood). A while back I purchased one of these Ti-Tri system from their partners at Titanium Goat, along with an 1100ml pot and lid combo. With a total weight of 7.55oz for the cone/floor/pot/lid combo, this quickly became my favorite stove system. Not only was it light and large enough for two, in wood burning mode it boiled 2 cups of water in an incredible 5 min 15 sec...and I no longer had to carry fuel!

I recently learned that they have been working with a prototype of an inverted downdraft gasifier version of the Ti-Tri, which is the same double walled technology used in the popular Bush Buddy stove. While I do not own a BB, I have experimented with many different MYOG BB designs, and this TD version peaked (no pun intended) my interest. I contacted Rand via email, and within one day he and Russ had made the Inferno insert and had it in the mail to me so I could use/test it on a trip I had planned to Charleston Peak, high above Las Vegas (approx 10,500') that weekend.

The workmanship of this piece is excellent, as I have come to expect of any Trail Designs product. Here are some photos from my trip:


Inferno insert ready to be lit


Inferno with outer cone in place


Ready for pot in approx 1 min


Heating 2 cups water


2 cups water boiling - just over 5 min


Ti-Tri Inferno in camp fire mode...I loaded this thing up to the top with wood and pine cones, and it never smoked!


What's left after about an hour of burn time


Weights:
Ti-Tri Caldera Cone = 1.75oz
Ti floor = .60oz
Inferno insert = 1.25oz
Total stove = 3.60oz
Note: I didn't count the ti stakes because I use two from my tarp set up.

Comparing the Ti-Tri to the Ti-Tri Inferno:
Both systems boiled 2 cups of water in approximately the same time - 5min, 15 sec. The advantages of the additional 1.25oz of the Inferno are as follows:
- Easier to light
- Less smoke
- Re-lights easier if you let it go out
- Burns wood fuel down to ashes

The bottom line is, both systems work well, but the Inferno just works better. If you don't like fussing with lighting and tending to the fire, want a cleaner burn (i.e. less smoke in your face), and want the left-over wood fuel to burn all the way down to ashes, then the Ti-Tri Inferno may be the right stove for you.

Trail Designs has made a great system even better. Because the Inferno enhanced my back country experience, to me as least, the additional 1.25oz is worth its weight, which is why I gave it a rating of 5.

It would be interesting to see this system tested side by side with the Bush Buddy stove. :~)>

Edited by JRoan on 08/21/2009 20:33:34 MDT.

Rating: 4 / 5

The Inferno stove is 4 separate pieces.
An inverted ti cone, a ti floor, a grate support and a grate insert:





The advantages Ive found with the Inferno stove:
- it burns a lot hotter
- it burns faster because it burns hotter ( it goes through wood fast)
- it can use slightly smaller amounts of fuel because it brings the fire closer to the pot and burns more efficiently.
because of the above it may be an advantage in areas where wood is more scarce.
I didn't give a five for these reasons:
- it adds more weight and complexity to what is a very simple system(Ti-Tri).
- Doesn't seem to have a big advantage where fuel is plentiful like in my local.
- One of the advantages of wood stoves for me is the ability to simmer long cooking foods. The Inferno would be better for those who want to boil lots of water quickly and are not concerned with simmering.
- Wood will usually burn to ashes without this stove it just may take a little longer so I didn't see a big advantage there.
Over all its another great product from Trail Designs. I just couldn't give it a 5 for the reasons above but Im glad I have it for when I need it.

Edited by MAYNARD76 on 09/18/2009 13:34:47 MDT.

Rating: 5 / 5

By me.

Bailey

Edited by pugslie on 07/04/2010 17:29:55 MDT.