Esbit or pocket rocket?

“I don't have any espit stove experience.
Want to pack as light as possible for my JMT thru-hike. A Espit stove seems to be the way to go...

Here is what I am looking at:
http://www.rei.com/product/653343/esbit-pocket-stove

I mainly need to boil water for coffee, maybe oatmeal in the morning. Same at night, my dinner won't need to cook longer then 5 or 10 minutes at the most.”

“you probably can't fly with the fuel tabs.”

“i can't fly with the canister fuel either. I'll have to buy it over there... no big deal. I am more concerned if it worth it to use esbit instead of canister...
I want to save weight, but I don't want to regret it later...”

“What's wrong with alcohol? Caldera cone is the way I would go..”

“Esbit. Much easier to carry than canisters or alcohol. 21 days of alcohol is a lot!

I'm a fan of the titanium Jetboil because it uses less fuel than the Pocket Rocket. But if you want to go light and just boil water, Esbit is the way to go.”

“Here is a comparison on some stoves by SGT Rock of Whteblaze fame: http://hikinghq.net/stoves/stove_compare.html

And here is an Esbit fuel comparison info: http://hikinghq.net/stoves/esbit.html
I know some of this info is dated now and there is also a titanium esbit stove available at REI:http://www.rei.com/product/830143/esbit-titanium-folding-stove
I do have an old original Esbit stove but want to keep it or I would send it to ya. Afraid shipping would cost more than a new stove. BTW Happy Birthday!”

“Also try to keep the esbit fuel tabs in a ziplock as they stink.”

“Gem another option is to take your favorite soda can stove and a few esbit tabs. After you burn up any alcohol you have, turn the pepsi/soda stove upside down and use the concave bottom to burn esbit on. This way you can still have the same setup for both fuel types.”

“get a wood stove. No fuel to carry unless you want to take some esbit for those just in case situations

http://www.emberlit.com/default.php”

“i agree with toejam, ive got a jetboil, had it for some time now, its fairly effective.”

“woah...the titanium jetboil is awesome, but the fuel will still be more then I would like. Ewker, I'll look into the emberlit...sounds awesome, and I've heard of them. Been a while since I bought gear, so I am not really up to date with all the new crap that's on the market....
I might go with esbit tho... seams like it's most cost effective, plus is weight barely anything...which is a big help

next on...water filters... I ordered the Sawyer 3-Way Inline Water Filter, hope that was a good choice...”

“karo...I did order the epsit stove. didn't know you can use the pepsi can stove upside down. I still have my first one, that stovy made for me :)”

“an esbit burner you may be interested in: http://jjmatheshikes.blogspot.com/2011/09/myog-solid-fuel-stove.html”

“watched the emberlit video. Love that stove, not sure if it's okay for the JMT. what about above treeline? Is that considered a open fire? very cool...”

“I used an esbit stove when I hiked the JMT, and it worked just fine. If you have not used the esbit fuel tabs before, make sure to practice before going, but here are some things to consider:

1. Just as it is with alcohol, your windscreen is the most important accessory. Make sure it is fairly tight fitting to your pot with a gap of 1/4" to not more than 1/2" all the way around the pot.

2. Don't use too small a diameter of a pot. I used the MSR Titan Kettle with mine and wouldn't go any smaller because you would lose too much flame up around the side of the pot.

3. You are going to get a residue on the bottom of the pot and on the esbit burner. So make sure you have something to store them in. I usually just scrubbed the bottom of the pot with some leaves or grass to get most of the residue off after each use. I stored the esbit stove and fuel tabs together in a separate bag and carried it in the outside pocket of my pack. (didn't want them inside my pack)

4. After your water comes to a boil blow out any fuel tab that remains and use it, along with some new fuel, the next time you boil water. I think I used a half of fuel tab at a time. Some times it would take more than that, depending on how cold/windy it was. Also, have your water measured out before you light the fuel tab.

5. When you plan how many fuel tabs to bring, plan a little extra. I've found some of the fuel tabs turn out to be duds and don't burn very long. I think this happened to me 2 or three times on my trip.

Maybe more than you wanted to know, but these are some of the things I learned in using an esbit stove.”

“gforce. thanks, that was great info. I really don't know anything about esbit, so def not too much info.”

“I have a pocket rocket and love it. Small and the cans are sold everywhere.
last edited: 6/03/12 9:31:18 AM”

“I have that water filter, I think you'll like it. I bought another one that I have yet to try. Still like the cone, its easy on fuel and you can always carry some esbit tabs to use if/when you run out of fuel.

I'll bet you could pack esbit tabs in your lugagge with your food, but it might not be worth the chance if its against the rules.”

“I also have the pocket rocket,it's really small and convenient. But I haven't used it on a long hike as of yet, I'm sure it will do fine. It's just what you prefer I guess, whether you want to gather fire wood or just light it with a match and be done.”

“Pocket rocket stoves are nice, and that's what I am usually using, but the fuel tanks are heavy. I'm also on a budget, so I don't want to spend a huge amount on a new stove. (I do like that wood burning stove a lot, but don't want to spend $50 right now)
$10 on a esbit stove isnt too bad... Reading all the comments, I think it might be my best choice.”

“If you practice on the Esbit before you come out and don't like it I have a pocket rocket or snow peak giga stove you can borrow. I also have canisters.”

“Thanks Sandy... I think I still have enough time to figure out if I like it or not.

on another note, my pack weight the last time was never more then 36lbs, that included water, I carried all my own gear, etc.
Hoping to keep it around the same this time. My tent is a bit heavier, but everything else should be lighter.
ugh... you believe me when I tell you that I have butterflies in my tummy? I am so excited... I feel like a teenager in love. yup, I am a weirdo.”

“Love the looks of this with an esbit stove:

http://www.traildesigns.com/stoves/caldera-cone-system


I'll be camping at Shepherd Pass at the end of the month with my new 1.5 lb. tent (just bragging):

http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/tents.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage_smd.tpl&product_id=55&category_id=7”

“Lol nice tent... Still not sure if I should take my cloudburst or my lighthouse... I do like the thought of free standing... Especially near guitar lake...”

“Good luck on your hike! It'll be beauuuutiful...”

“Thanks roseymonster :) super excited... Hoping to get to see a buncha Cali TTers while I'm over there.”

“I used Esbit almost exclusively, and GForce gave pretty good advice that I can't really add anything to, except to make sure you have bear spray, so you can punish people who complain about the smell. It does stink.”

“Yo G!

I believe Tarabull used Esbit exclusively on an 11 day Isle Royale trip and if I remember correctly it's what we used on a 5 day Isle trip too.

After enough days without bathing no one will care about the Esbit smell.”

“Gem, you can get smaller canisters for the pocket rocket. Just a thought.”

“Lol bitpusher... I'll test at home and see how bad the smell really is. I really like the. Es bit idea, and the cone stove. Ugh... $$$$...but if I starve my kid for a week, I might am able to afford it.

I know about the small canisters, those are the ones I use. I guess now that SnowNymph and maybe sandyann will resupply me, I don't have the shipping concerns. Es it is still sooooo much lighter.

Waving at nonconformist..... :-D”

“It's not the smell of Esbit burning that bothered me. The problem is that the stuff stinks when it's the hard form and gets EVERYTHING in your pack permanently stinky . Trust me on this. I learned this the hard way :)

So if you use this method, try to find an air tight way to carry it in your pack. Or carry it on the outside of your pack. I found that a couple of zip lock bags were not enough.”

“Thanks CD... I can see testing the esbit option is really needed. REI is taking forever to send me my stuff...

I would have enough outside pockets to carry it on the outside...

Lighter stove, thermarest, and water filter should take care of my tent weight. {almost 1lb more then last time] At least that's what I am hoping at the moment.”

“Check out this site for lite www.zpacks.com yo bear!
last edited: 6/04/12 3:50:05 PM”

“I have a cone you could borrow Gem, its a kinda big 1.3 ltr wide titanium pot. I think two 20oz bottles would last 21 days based on how you said you would use it, take some esbit just in case and burn it on the underside of the can as was suggested. Just a thought. I carry a six liter platypus on most longer hikes. I can shower pretty well that bag and the cone.

There's no freekin way I'm going 21 days without a shower even if I had to carry 3 bottles of fuel.”

“1camper you damn wuss... that's what the cold lakes and creeks are for.. ;)

I think your stove will be too large, thanks for the offer tho :)

I still have to check my total pack weight. Last time I had 3 small canisters with me, this time I would only need to carry one at a time... so I might get away with my other stove. [If I hate the esbit option]

so far: http://www.geargrams.com/list?id=8263
I know I am underestimating clothing and toiletries..., prob forgot something too...

not counting camera, trekking poles...”

“Esbit stinks, ZPacks gear is expensive but would so love to get a few pieces.
A woodstove may not be good here in Cali later and depending on your elevation too, whether you can burn wood legally.
Duane”

“Duane, that was one of my concerns. I really like the wood burning stove, but i Don think it will work for this trip.”

“My esbit stove will be here tomorrow. Gonna take it with me on the upcoming weekend trip to carpers gap...

Going to try the water filter as well...”

“It's not so much being a wus, I just don't wanna risk the shrinkage ...”

“They have a pill for that”

“Duane is right. No wood fires above 9600ft.”

“Thanks... I figured.

Btw...kersage lake be another resupply option. Sacco and randall resupplied us there last time.”

“as far as weight, have you tried Aqua-Mari instead of the water filter”

“Sierra water is safe, may have to pick and choose now and then. I have not brought a filter for some years now, in SEKI and other parts of the Sierra, etc.
Duane”

“... It's the gravity filter. It weighs a little over 2oz, I think. 1camper had it on one of the trips I went on. Was pretty damn great. I might take some Katathyn (sp) tablets, just in case.

Set up my trail journal... Figured I needed one. Don't know the URL right now... Will post later. Would be nice if you all could follow me. Ugh... Not now... Only prep info on it...”

“got my stove today... hmm..not sure what to think. Can not wait to try it this weekend. Got a feeling I am gonna hate it.

I am really excited about my water filter tho... and my headlamp...

that is it...that is all the gear I will have to buy. Everything else should work just fine.


50 more days.. Thats a looooonnnggg time...
last edited: 6/06/12 3:13:07 PM”

“It's nice to have a platypus bag to go with that filter. I like the stability of the low profile bag, but if you really have to scrounge water from little trickles in a hillside, I like the tall bag. Sawyer makes a top that fits a water bottle. It doesn't come with the kit you bought, I bought the same one. I had one from somewhere.. It connects a water bottle to a hose. This gives you the ability to backflush that filter in the field. Platypus sells one, shouldn't cost much. It's a nice feature to have if you run into some dirty water.”

“For the most part, once you are past Sunrise, the water should be good until you hit the Whitney Zone.

Let me know how that Esbit works for you. You are just planning on boiling water to add to dehydrated foods and drinks right? No actual cooking? Sounds interesting enough that I might want to try it out on the Sierrapalooza in July.”

“1camper, I didn't order the bags with the filter. I will be using playpus. forgot to order the the $5 kit. will get them local. I don't think REI sells the water bottle adapter. All this will add up to a lot of weight tho. I might just use my playpus, with those 2 small adapaters. Don't think I'll need an adapter to fill up my bottle. actually I'll probably use a regular water bottle...it's lighter then the nalgene.

SandyAnn...I basically want to heat up water...might need to cook the couscous for 5 minutes or so, but that's about it. I'll try it this weekend, and will let you know. My main concern is packing light, but still stay comfortable...

ugh...walking slowly to the fridge to get the last bottle of southern tier. still didn't drink it yet...it's a big bottle.. lol”

“Couldnt wait...had to test the stove.
I filled up my small pot almost to the top. it took about 10 minutes to come to a boil, one whole esbit cube.

That would mean I would need at least 1 1/2 cubes per day, plus some extra ones in case.
Smell during cooking wasnt so bad, not sure what the pot looks like, didnt check yet. not sure what stove and pots smells afterwards...



What to do, what to do...
last edited: 6/06/12 6:07:52 PM”