Same set up I have been using. Two stoves in one outfit. Use wood when it is available and dry , rain comes along then use the alcohol burner in the solo stove to cook with. Or if you just get lazy then use the alcohol burner , like for the morning coffee. I got a cough syrup bottle ( 6 oz ) from my pharmacists to carry the alcohol in for the alcohol burner. It's plenty for a weekend or 3 day trip. 1 oz per meal is the norm for me plus you can always use dried wood from around the campsite and save the alcohol. One word of warning ... DO NOT place the rubber gasket on the burner when it is hot or use it to put the flame out , you will ruin it. Use the simmering / extinguishing lid instead. For a good simmer I open mine about 1/4 to 3/8's of an inch. The yellow bottle of HEET from the auto supply place works as good as the denatured alcohol.
Very nice presentation..... and I also use the same setup with the yellow HEET. The bottle of HEET is nicely sealed and I have no worries of it leaking. Great setup for any outdoor activity where you need to make a hot beverage or cook.
I know this video was done 6 years ago but I had to comment about how much I love that SOLO Stove trio, it really does make it a complete cookset for about any time. I also carry a small round cast iron trivet for use with the wood stove & smaller/larger pots or for use with the trio and smaller/larger pots of choice. The addition of the trivet also allows for more even heating when cooking more delicate foods. I wouldn't take the trivet in a backpack for a long trip but it works for day hikes and most any other outings (boating, fishing, motorcycle rides, picnics, etc.). So I wanted to pass that info along as well. It's a great little extra tip.
I have this exact kit with an aluminum alcohol bottle and roll up wind screen to carry to the field. I have used this now for two years and couldn't be more impressed with any set up. All Conditions it has never let me down. in rainy or winter weather, you can always find enough fuel for this stove and cook a good meal.
The Solo Stove spirit burner leaks around the crimp, just like, or worse than the Trangia. It has to be soldered to prevent it from leaking all over your kit. But the handle on the snuffing lid is a nice touch. The trangia hole pattern does make it more fuel efficient. I found the gaskets on the Solo to degrade much faster than the Trangia, but luckily the Trangia gaskets fit the Solo. I would get whatever is cheaper and solder it.
I've owned 2 trangia's for 23 years taking them on countless trips and recently bought a new one for placement in a get home pack for the truck. Never once had even a molecule of leaking....neither around the O-ring nor around the crimp.
@@neologian1783 I wonder why Firebox Stoves sells a a factory Trangia stove for 18.95 and a Soldered Trangia stove for 23.95 ? I, too, have owned Trangia stoves for decades, but unluckily I have had a couple of leakers. And the Solo leaked out of the box.
Solo has this set for sale for about $130.00. Years ago I did the same thing, a small twig burner stove, an alcohol stove, and a few Esbits, a nice pot, all fit together as a kit, nicely in a small bag, for less than $130.00. You can too. Texas
Great review Bryan! I think alcohol stoves are great to use. One strike of a faro rod and it’s burning that’s cool! And easy to put out, odorless, and no annoying smoke. $15-$20 is a great deal for a solo.
My favorite thing is that with the alcohol burner you can cook and boil water inside. I pull my stove out when we lose power during storms. No one wants to cook outside when the storm is still wet and windy.
@@flasheart3817 I only get a few minutes until the alcohol runs out and our house at the time was large with vaulted ceilings. That being said it is highly recommended to have a carbon monoxide detector in the area to monitor concentrations.
Solo is a great stove ... I use it for backpacking and road trips. Lately been trying a folding wood stove where all the pieces fold flat and that also comes with a place to put an alcohol stove ... not sure how well that will work but it’s very space saving ... The Solo stove is awesome works every time ! thanks for a great review !
Solo Stoves manufactures and markets good products but not very creative designing them. I own the Bush Buddy Wood Stove and the Trangia Alcohol Stove which have been around years before Solo came around.Both of these unique products provided the template for the Solo products reviewed here.
I have the other brands, this one has the same design as those, so you know it will work. Like the bundling of the wood burner and cup with it and the pot stand is perfect if you want to use a different pot other than the cup. good vid
I would say they did a Hat trick on this product.... Nice set up great product. another wonderfull review. hope you didn't burn yourself on the alcohol burner. good job 25 days 5 to go or so.
Now this is what I am looking for. The added ability to burn slower/simmer with lower heat. Although likely this will be one of the last items I will get for my supplies. I would be trying to use it with a Pathfinder canteen cook set. If the combination will work well. We did make tea several times in Scouts with what we could find in PA woods. Boiling leaves down to the veins but that took a long time. I think that takes too long for using this unless one has a lot of fuel on hand.
As far as fixed space is concerned, yes, the pressure would increase by applying heat. But this is because the molecules speed up, not because of expansion. There can be no expansion in a fixed space because there is no place to expand into. But the stove's chamber is not a fixed space. That's the whole idea. As the vapor heats up, it is forced out of the holes, so pressure never builds up. Pressure is the result of inward-directed force (compression), not expansion. That's why it's called PRESSure, because you're pressing in on it. Think of a propane tank. The propane is normally in a gaseous form. Under pressure it is compressed into a liquid. When the pressure is removed, it expands back to a gas. Another example would be heating water to a boil. The water expands to its gaseous form of steam. You can pressurize steam in a chamber but when you release the pressure, the steam expands. With the stove, the alcohol evaporates even when not burning. When you light it, you are lighting the vapor, not the liquid. The liquid itself does not burn. (It's like gasoline in your car engine, which is ignited by compressing the vapor to high pressure and then applying a spark.) As the vapor heats up, it escapes through the burner holes, where it comes into contact with the flame and ignites. Eventually, the process reaches equilibrium as the heated vapor moves rapidly though the pre-heating chamber to ignite into a bloom. So the best stove is the one that most efficiently performs the process of heating the vapor to the optimal temperature while allowing it to move at optimal speed through the chamber. The debate is over the definition of optimal. Some stoves burn hotter but quickly consume their fuel and perhaps burn the food. Others burn a long time at the cost of lower heat. That's why an effective simmer control is preferred. It lowers the heat, which lowers the pressure, which slows down the rate of escaping vapor. So there is no such thing as the "best" alcohol stove. Rather it is a question of which one is best for your needs.
Going on a hike in the San Jacinto Mts here in California. Was going to bring my Solo Stove. After reading the permit requirements, I am not allowed to burn wood, but can use a chemical heat source. Thanks for the review. Going to order the alcohol burner so I can still use the Solo.
I haven't tried this yet but I know that Windshield washer solvent is very very flammable. But I don't have any laying around to try in an alcohol stove, all the reservoirs are full so I haven't bought any in a while. Maybe if you have some in the garage you could give it a try. don't worry about how I know its extremely flammable. Other than it's made of Methanol.
Been a wood cooker/stove, person till now. Just got one of these ,"A burners",today. I have watched a lot of videos and there seems to be a range of fuel that you can use in them. What have you found works best? If it helps, this one came from, Pathfinders.
Honestly, I don't really use them. I have a couple of commercial ones and the ones I made but I use canister stoves when I am camping or backpacking. Just faster and easier.
I don;t know...they might be a good long term option because you can carry extra fuel and they will use a variety of fuel. Maybe the only better choice is a wood burning stove.
Here's a great site that answers that question along with a brief excerp from that site: thru-hiker.com/articles/fuel_alcohol_choices.php Here's a quick list of the most common stove fuels and where you'll most likely find them: denatured alcohol (hardware store, paint department) pure methanol from hardware store (paint department) pure ethanol (Everclear, liquor store) fuel line antifreeze (gas station or convenience store). rubbing alcohol (drug store).
'morning, Bryan; Have that stove & has worked without a flaw so far. "Caution" Xtreamly-Hot ! LOL. Thanks 4 another great review & video,Brother Happy Trails From The Maritimes In Canada ATB Terry " GOD BLESS "
Esbit has a similar set to this that I have. The Actual burners Re identical to each other, it wonder if one of them is rebranded for the other company?
I love alcohol stoves. I just don't like Trangia's, and clones thereof. The only brass alcohol stove I like is the Brasslite. It will boil, and simmer, and only weighs half as much as the Trangia, and has an inteegrated pot stand. My favorite alcohol stoves are my MAHALO, and Ultimate stoves
I have to tell you I never even think about alcohol stoves without thinking of you. I did a little session for the Boy Scouts last week on how to make an alcohol stove. Mine turned out pretty rough because I was really pushed for time, but they all thought the ones you sent me were really cool. By the way, I can't remember if I told you. We have 30 boys in the Troop
@@SurvivalOnPurpose it helped a little, but still not rolling, maybe the fuel, or stove, i got the solo alchohol burner in a tomshoo wood burning stove. in thinking about using aluminum and replicating the solo light stove cus its to expensive for mento purchase
@@SurvivalOnPurpose I recently tested this out Infact yesterday and used a Evernew Titanium pot and it sooted up fairly bad....fuel,flame will create soot although in the U.K we only seem to get meths
When I first read your comment I wasn't sure what to say, since I didn't even know who Jena Marbles was (apparently I lead a sheltered life). After looking her up I REALLY don't know what to say Mooky. There are just so many ways you could go with this I'll just leave it alone ;-) All I'll say is I'm honored to be one of your top 3. And I didn't even have to make any videos of me in underwear. Woah! Sorry for THAT mental image. Thanks for watching, tell Jena I said hi
Finally, a well presented, thorough review and tutorial explaining the Solo stove and alcohol burner. Thank you, sir!
I own this very setup, I add a small frying pan and I'm off. This has worked for me now for over two years. I love the flexibility and reliability.
Same set up I have been using. Two stoves in one outfit. Use wood when it is available and dry , rain comes along then use the alcohol burner in the solo stove to cook with. Or if you just get lazy then use the alcohol burner , like for the morning coffee.
I got a cough syrup bottle ( 6 oz ) from my pharmacists to carry the alcohol in for the alcohol burner. It's plenty for a weekend or 3 day trip. 1 oz per meal is the norm for me plus you can always use dried wood from around the campsite and save the alcohol.
One word of warning ... DO NOT place the rubber gasket on the burner when it is hot or use it to put the flame out , you will ruin it. Use the simmering / extinguishing lid instead.
For a good simmer I open mine about 1/4 to 3/8's of an inch.
The yellow bottle of HEET from the auto supply place works as good as the denatured alcohol.
Chuck Littleton great tips Chuck. I'll have to check on the cough syrup bottle.
Thanks for the tips Chuck!!
Very nice presentation..... and I also use the same setup with the yellow HEET. The bottle of HEET is nicely sealed and I have no worries of it leaking. Great setup for any outdoor activity where you need to make a hot beverage or cook.
Will the heat burn as clean as the denatured alcohol!?
I know this video was done 6 years ago but I had to comment about how much I love that SOLO Stove trio, it really does make it a complete cookset for about any time. I also carry a small round cast iron trivet for use with the wood stove & smaller/larger pots or for use with the trio and smaller/larger pots of choice. The addition of the trivet also allows for more even heating when cooking more delicate foods. I wouldn't take the trivet in a backpack for a long trip but it works for day hikes and most any other outings (boating, fishing, motorcycle rides, picnics, etc.). So I wanted to pass that info along as well. It's a great little extra tip.
thanks for the info Pamela
I have this exact kit with an aluminum alcohol bottle and roll up wind screen to carry to the field. I have used this now for two years and couldn't be more impressed with any set up. All Conditions it has never let me down. in rainy or winter weather, you can always find enough fuel for this stove and cook a good meal.
I've got this set-up. A nice versatility in the event of NO dry wood. A winner.
I agree
The Solo Stove spirit burner leaks around the crimp, just like, or worse than the Trangia. It has to be soldered to prevent it from leaking all over your kit. But the handle on the snuffing lid is a nice touch. The trangia hole pattern does make it more fuel efficient. I found the gaskets on the Solo to degrade much faster than the Trangia, but luckily the Trangia gaskets fit the Solo. I would get whatever is cheaper and solder it.
I've owned 2 trangia's for 23 years taking them on countless trips and recently bought a new one for placement in a get home pack for the truck. Never once had even a molecule of leaking....neither around the O-ring nor around the crimp.
@@neologian1783 I wonder why Firebox Stoves sells a a factory Trangia stove for 18.95 and a Soldered Trangia stove for 23.95 ? I, too, have owned Trangia stoves for decades, but unluckily I have had a couple of leakers. And the Solo leaked out of the box.
Terrific presentation. I didn't fully understand how to use until you explained it. Thank you very much.
Solo has this set for sale for about $130.00. Years ago I did the same thing, a small twig burner stove, an alcohol stove, and a few Esbits, a nice pot, all fit together as a kit, nicely in a small bag, for less than $130.00. You can too. Texas
Cool
Great review Bryan! I think alcohol stoves are great to use. One strike of a faro rod and it’s burning that’s cool! And easy to put out, odorless, and no annoying smoke. $15-$20 is a great deal for a solo.
My favorite thing is that with the alcohol burner you can cook and boil water inside. I pull my stove out when we lose power during storms. No one wants to cook outside when the storm is still wet and windy.
Do you have to crack a window for ventilation?
@@flasheart3817 I only get a few minutes until the alcohol runs out and our house at the time was large with vaulted ceilings. That being said it is highly recommended to have a carbon monoxide detector in the area to monitor concentrations.
Solo is a great stove ... I use it for backpacking and road trips. Lately been trying a folding wood stove where all the pieces fold flat and that also comes with a place to put an alcohol stove ... not sure how well that will work but it’s very space saving ... The Solo stove is awesome works every time ! thanks for a great review !
I agree
Solo Stoves manufactures and markets good products but not very creative designing them. I own the Bush Buddy Wood Stove and the Trangia Alcohol Stove which have been around years before Solo came around.Both of these unique products provided the template for the Solo products reviewed here.
Hmm
I have the other brands, this one has the same design as those, so you know it will work. Like the bundling of the wood burner and cup with it and the pot stand is perfect if you want to use a different pot other than the cup. good vid
Thanks Michael. Yes, it is a really cool kit.
Good review. Thanks. It seems to me the alcohol burner is a must-have accessory to the Solo Stove.
It definitely expands your options
Have used Tinny's alcohol stoves, but this makes the Solo stove more versatile. Thanks for the review.
Thanks for watching.
thank you for a good review. I was wondering if the three nest together. thanks again for answers my question I didn't have to ask.
Thanks for watching.
I would say they did a Hat trick on this product.... Nice set up great product. another wonderfull review. hope you didn't burn yourself on the alcohol burner. good job 25 days 5 to go or so.
Lt Survival I think I got through this one uninjured ;-) Thanks Louis. Yep, I'm in the home stretch now.
They have updated it a bit, now the regulator will click into place on the lid, so you don’t loose it in your bag
Now this is what I am looking for. The added ability to burn slower/simmer with lower heat. Although likely this will be one of the last items I will get for my supplies. I would be trying to use it with a Pathfinder canteen cook set. If the combination will work well. We did make tea several times in Scouts with what we could find in PA woods. Boiling leaves down to the veins but that took a long time. I think that takes too long for using this unless one has a lot of fuel on hand.
I just don't have the patience for an alcohol stove
Actually, the outer chamber does'nt pressurize the alcohol (1:20). It pre-heats the vapor (pretty much the opposite of pressurizing).
Doesn't vapor expand when heated? And doesn't expansion within a fixed space increase the pressure?
As far as fixed space is concerned, yes, the pressure would increase by applying heat. But this is because the molecules speed up, not because of expansion. There can be no expansion in a fixed space because there is no place to expand into.
But the stove's chamber is not a fixed space. That's the whole idea. As the vapor heats up, it is forced out of the holes, so pressure never builds up.
Pressure is the result of inward-directed force (compression), not expansion. That's why it's called PRESSure, because you're pressing in on it. Think of a propane tank. The propane is normally in a gaseous form. Under pressure it is compressed into a liquid. When the pressure is removed, it expands back to a gas.
Another example would be heating water to a boil. The water expands to its gaseous form of steam. You can pressurize steam in a chamber but when you release the pressure, the steam expands.
With the stove, the alcohol evaporates even when not burning. When you light it, you are lighting the vapor, not the liquid. The liquid itself does not burn. (It's like gasoline in your car engine, which is ignited by compressing the vapor to high pressure and then applying a spark.)
As the vapor heats up, it escapes through the burner holes, where it comes into contact with the flame and ignites. Eventually, the process reaches equilibrium as the heated vapor moves rapidly though the pre-heating chamber to ignite into a bloom.
So the best stove is the one that most efficiently performs the process of heating the vapor to the optimal temperature while allowing it to move at optimal speed through the chamber. The debate is over the definition of optimal. Some stoves burn hotter but quickly consume their fuel and perhaps burn the food. Others burn a long time at the cost of lower heat. That's why an effective simmer control is preferred. It lowers the heat, which lowers the pressure, which slows down the rate of escaping vapor.
So there is no such thing as the "best" alcohol stove. Rather it is a question of which one is best for your needs.
Thank you!!
Thanks for sharing brother!
***** Thanks for watching Wingman.
I had too laugh Bryan... The pot stand is almost a spittin image of my Blue Hill UL stove rings... I better send you some REALLY soon..:)
Going on a hike in the San Jacinto Mts here in California. Was going to bring my Solo Stove. After reading the permit requirements, I am not allowed to burn wood, but can use a chemical heat source. Thanks for the review. Going to order the alcohol burner so I can still use the Solo.
art takeda It works great.
That's mroe than the ideal 1 inch spacing between burner and pot. Do you think it'd work nicely in less than ideal conditions?
I don’t know. I am not really an alcohol stove guy.
Nice set-up! Not real bulky either. Appears to be extremely versatile.
It is pretty slick for sure.
Very neat cooking combination. Thanks for sharing!
Gullrica Yes it is a really good design.
Wow 😃👍 good job I will get one, can you use a regular cooking pan to make some pancakes in the morning? # camping
Yes, but it may take a while
I haven't tried this yet but I know that Windshield washer solvent is very very flammable. But I don't have any laying around to try in an alcohol stove, all the reservoirs are full so I haven't bought any in a while. Maybe if you have some in the garage you could give it a try. don't worry about how I know its extremely flammable. Other than it's made of Methanol.
I never even knew that Jake. Is that all windshield washer solvent? Sounds like it might work.
Yes it is any non pre mix washer solvent. You can also use it to cool a supercharger. Ad the base fluid for water methanol injection.
Been a wood cooker/stove, person till now. Just got one of these ,"A burners",today. I have watched a lot of videos and there seems to be a range of fuel that you can use in them. What have you found works best? If it helps, this one came from, Pathfinders.
Honestly, I don't really use them. I have a couple of commercial ones and the ones I made but I use canister stoves when I am camping or backpacking. Just faster and easier.
Great review. Very clear. Thank you very much.
Thank you for watching.
Question::: Around how long would it take this burner's full-flame to burn up a whole quart/liter of alcohol ???
I have no idea. Too many variables
Good review. Would this burner work with the larger Solo Campfire stove?
I don't see why not
great review, do you think you could do the same test with the toaks wood stove and alcohol stove?
I don't have a TOAKS.
BTW 91% rubbing alcohol works just fine. Buy at pharmacy.
Thanks!
MOVE THE CAN OF ALCOHOL AWAY FROM THE STOVE BEFORE LIGHTING.
;-)
How many minutes will the fire last if filled with alcohol?
I have no idea. I would guess plenty long enough to cook a standard backpacking meal and then some.
Survival On Purpose
Yea, I kinda thought alcohol burners are more for camping then long term INCH bags like the one I am building.
I don;t know...they might be a good long term option because you can carry extra fuel and they will use a variety of fuel. Maybe the only better choice is a wood burning stove.
Survival On Purpose What variety of fuel can they use?
Here's a great site that answers that question along with a brief excerp from that site:
thru-hiker.com/articles/fuel_alcohol_choices.php
Here's a quick list of the most common stove fuels and where you'll most likely find them:
denatured alcohol (hardware store, paint department)
pure methanol from hardware store (paint department)
pure ethanol (Everclear, liquor store)
fuel line antifreeze (gas station or convenience store).
rubbing alcohol (drug store).
'morning, Bryan; Have that stove & has worked without a flaw so far. "Caution"
Xtreamly-Hot ! LOL. Thanks 4 another great review & video,Brother
Happy Trails From The Maritimes In Canada ATB Terry
" GOD BLESS "
Esbit has a similar set to this that I have. The Actual burners Re identical to each other, it wonder if one of them is rebranded for the other company?
I don't know, but I have seen several brands that look the same.
Anyone know if the Solo has an internal wick?
I love alcohol stoves. I just don't like Trangia's, and clones thereof.
The only brass alcohol stove I like is the Brasslite. It will boil, and simmer, and only weighs half as much as the Trangia, and has an inteegrated pot stand.
My favorite alcohol stoves are my MAHALO, and Ultimate stoves
I have to tell you I never even think about alcohol stoves without thinking of you. I did a little session for the Boy Scouts last week on how to make an alcohol stove. Mine turned out pretty rough because I was really pushed for time, but they all thought the ones you sent me were really cool.
By the way, I can't remember if I told you. We have 30 boys in the Troop
i cant get a rolling boil, im using rei stove fuel. Do u think its the fuel, or can it be too close, i put mine a lot closer to pot?
I don't know. Try raising the pot and see if it helps.
@@SurvivalOnPurpose it helped a little, but still not rolling, maybe the fuel, or stove, i got the solo alchohol burner in a tomshoo wood burning stove. in thinking about using aluminum and replicating the solo light stove cus its to expensive for mento purchase
You state no soot etc....the bottom of the pan still soots up.....as it's a flame and fuel
Maybe a little
@@SurvivalOnPurpose I recently tested this out Infact yesterday and used a Evernew Titanium pot and it sooted up fairly bad....fuel,flame will create soot although in the U.K we only seem to get meths
can you use 100 proof vodka or everclear as a fuel?
I don't know
Yes-- I know someone who only uses golden-grain in his stove.
@@meeper77 If you can use booze then you can have cocktails as well boiled water!
Thumbs Up, Nice system
+PaPa's Page I think it is also
I was gone say don remember this part of breaking bad
move the can dude!
You and Chris have bumped Jena Marbles to third place. Somthin must be terribly wrong with me. I need HELP I tell ya!
When I first read your comment I wasn't sure what to say, since I didn't even know who Jena Marbles was (apparently I lead a sheltered life). After looking her up I REALLY don't know what to say Mooky. There are just so many ways you could go with this I'll just leave it alone ;-) All I'll say is I'm honored to be one of your top 3. And I didn't even have to make any videos of me in underwear. Woah! Sorry for THAT mental image. Thanks for watching, tell Jena I said hi
I had too laugh Bryan... The pot stand is almost a spittin image of my Blue Hill UL stove rings... I better send you some REALLY soon..:)
Yeah, I can see the resemblance. This one has a flange on bottom to rest on top of the Solo wood stove.