Reader Reviews

Rating: 4 / 5

Overall weight comparison for this review are between my current stove setups: ALL WEIGHTS ARE IN OUNCES

1) JetBoil Sol Ti Stripped Set-up w/ foil lid = 4. 09 oz. ( Pot = 3.81 + Lid = 0.28), JetBoil Sol Stove = 2.93 oz.
Full 3.5 oz. fuel canister = 7 oz.

2) MSR Titan Kettle w/ lid = 4.55 oz. (Pot = 3.28 + Lid = 1.27) , White Box Stove = 1.09 oz.

3) Snow Peak Ti Mini Solo Pot w/ lid = 4.02 oz. (Pot = 3.25 + Lid = 0.74 ) , Packafeather XL Stove = 1.16 oz. (cap,stove,fuel pan)



I used 2 cups of tap water of moderate temperature (also thought of as "Just right porridge") neither hot nor cold.


1) Jetboil = 2 min 12 sec to rolling boil

2) MSR Titan Kettle w/ Whitebox = 6 min 10 sec to rolling boil

3) SnowPeak Ti Mini Solo w/ Packafeather XL = 8 min 20 sec to rolling boil


I took the Ti Mini Solo and Packafeather XL for my March 29th start at Amicalola Falls State Park in GA, and dropped the stove in Damascus, VA during Trail Days when I bought my MLD Burn pack to replace my MLD Exodus Pack (to much volume for my gear). Originally hiked past Damascus since I arrived on May 3rd and decided to hitch back for trail days. Ended up getting picked up in Bland, VA on May 10 to hitch back to see relatives and enjoy Trail Days. 584.3 miles from March 29th to May 10th. But I digress.
I did find that I really used my wind screen everytime while cooking, and looking back, think that I should have experimented with using the XL under the Caldera Cone for my Ti Mini Solo (left the cone at home). With the pot support taken off it should fit under the pot while in the cone just about the same as the stock CC stove.
See photo below for the CC stove (Left) and XL stove (center) and the Mini Solo in the Caldera Cone (right):


My burn times on the trail seemed to be around 8 min during the weeks that I used it. Not like the jetboil, but I only had to carry 4 oz. of fuel in a 1 oz. soda bottle, and it wasn't like I was in a rush to get somewhere - so the few minutes longer to boil never seemed to be too much of a hassle. (But I do like my Sol Ti)

Don't know where I got my RC gas line tubing to put on the handles of the Ti Solo and MSR Titan, but here is a link to something like what I used on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Raider-716B-5-Roll-Fuel-Line/dp/B002ZTGLFC/ref=pd_sim_indust_1

SUMMARY:

OVERALL FEELINGS ABOUT THE PACKAFEATHER XL STOVE / TI MINI SOLO POT COMBO:

LIKES: Light, packs into the pot to be self contained, VERY sturdy pot platform - feels the same as the WhiteBox - like a rock.
Very easy to use set-up and AMAZINGLY fuel efficient - using the little sucker top for the soda bottle I was able to reuse the remaining fuel from every burn. I'd estimate less than a 1/2 oz. per 8 min. burn for boiling 2 cups of water. Can reliably simmer or flamethrower depending on your needs. Still looks and works fine after consistant 2 x day use for almost 600 miles of hiking with it. LOVE the little snuffer cap that allows you to put out the stove and reuse the fuel. Allow the fuel to fully cool and ensure its out before sucking into the fuel bottle.

DISLIKES: Takes a little bit of learning curve to figure out just how small the adjustments need to be - and to allow 20-30 seconds between adjustments for it to shift flame patterns. In a big breeze you really need to watch it - it's so light I took the pot off and almost had it blow away while still lit. Almost wish the max flame power was like the Whitebox - but its efficiency versus flamethrower option still makes it a win in my book.

DO I STILL USE IT? Yes - I find its best for SUL trips during the warmer months. Great fuel efficiency and flame control put it into its own niche that it fills when I may want to slow cook or simply fully boil regular pasta (20 min slow boil is easy for this thing).

COMMENTS: The MSR Titan Kettle seems to be the largest base size pot that I'd use with this stove. The narrower taller pots seem to work well with this stove. Boil times may be slower if the pot size gets huge (with larger amounts of water to boil)