THIS BURNED for 36 MINUTES! - INSANE RESULTS - 27g Esbit VS 27g FireDragon Fuel Tablets
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 26 сен 2024
- The Differences between these two Fuels is INSANE!
This is an Episode of VS and today we have Esbit (Hexamine) going up against the FireDragon Tablet. Both of these are fuel tablets that have been adopted by military forces all around the world; they are used to heating up meals, boiling water and to get fires going.
When comparing these fuels to each other, my MIND WAS BLOWN! I never expected such performance.....from one of them!
...
100% Agenda Free :
This channel is Agenda Free and is fully supported by the viewers.
Support TOGR through Patreon : / togr
or
Support TOGR through RUclips : / @theoutdoorgearreview
...
FireDragon Vs Esbit Fuel Tablets
What they are : Both of these are fuel tablets that have been adopted by military forces all around the world. They are used to heating up meals, boiling water and to get fires going.
Agenda Free Link FireDragon 27g Fuel : www.amazon.com...
Agenda Free Link Esbit 27g Fuel : www.amazon.com...
FireDragon 27g Tablets Price :
At the time of filming, $8.55 for 6 Tablets
Esbit 27g Tablets Price :
$12.99 for 8 Tablets
Claimed Heat FireDragon : I wasn’t able to find that information
Claimed Heat Esbit : 1300F at peak
Claimed Burn Time FireDragon : 7-8 Minutes
Actual Burn Time FireDragon :
Claimed Burn Time Esbit : 12 Minutes
Actual Burn Time Esbit :
……………………………
: Notable Differences :
Esbit has a very strong odor; smells like shrimp and is so strong that you can smell it through the packaging.
FireDragon has a smell as well but it is more like an ethanol Alcohol smell.
FireDragon is non-toxic to burn and can be used inside of an enclosed space.
Hexamine is TOXIC and releases Cyanide.
FireDragon can be used as hand sanitizer
Fire Dragon is easy to ignite.
Hexamine takes more time to ignite.
FireDragon melts when ignited and fills the fuel chamber of stove being used.
Hexamine stays solid.
The flame to the FireDragon is extremely chaotic and can be rather dangerous; you really have to be careful using this product as it can shoot flames everywhere.
Hexamine is much more controlled when burning.
……..
To get best performance from your stove and fuel :
Use a lid - When you heat water in an open pot, some of the energy that could be raising the temperature of the liquid escapes with the vapor. But as long as more energy is being added to the water than is being lost with the vapor, the temperature will continue to rise until the water boils. Covering the pot prevents water vapor from escaping, enabling the temperature to rise more quickly.
Set your stove up off of the ground as the surface that you place your stove on will pull a fair amount of heat away from the pot or cup that you are heating.
...
Web Site : www.theoutdoorg...
Come Join Us on Facebook, Twitter Instagram :
Facebook: / 281509538652229
Twitter: / outdoorgearrev
Instagram : / theoutdoorgearreview
Great video! FireDragon and liquid ethanol releases it's energy very quickly so you may see shorter overall burn times, but it reaches temperature quickly which is great for a quick brew or cooking ration packs. Our tests aim for boiling point at 6-7 minutes and total burn time of 8-9 minutes. Thanks for the video and test Luke - I'll pass the feedback to the rest of the team so we can work on improving FireDragon.
Great to see a company stand behind the product. Fair play to you FireDragon.
are you the maker of these fuel? why don't you make the container for the fuel blocks from a material who can be burnt too ? maybe something like hardened, impregnated paper or carton what can hold the melting fuel in place? i think this can work much better.
If the product could be burnt in the packaging, then I find it would be much more controllable, and give a much better burntime.
If a big burn surface (and much shorter burntime) is needed, it can just be removed from the packaging.
@@iberiksoderblom yes, that's what i thought
IMO this was a very bad comparison test. First was used in a stove that really isn't meant for this type of fuel. Second, test was in a pan for boiling which I would never use. Third, no lid was used so burn times will be off dramatically. Fourth, while the esbit may have "burned" little heat was put off. Lastly, the whole Cyanide thing is a definite draw back for the esbit.
Greetings from Norway. I mentioned this in another post before, but I used the Firedragon tablets and the bottle on my three weeks hike in the north of Norway this summer. It performed great. The greatest plus for me, and totally necessary, I can use it inside the tent as well. Another plus is that if it gets wet, it still light up perfect. Lastly, it's more environment friendly. A lid will also make the water boil a bit faster. Esbit? No thanks, the smell, and it's dangerous to inhale, and, am not in a hurry.
I totally agree with you. It is sensible to be cooking nontoxic in a snowy shelter.
I really wish people would stop using the term "military grade." I served in the military and our gear sucked.
I can sort of agree. I was in a couple of units where we got some of the best toys ever to play with. In other units the gear we got was what I thought of as hand-me-downs.
Way back when in the military in Alaska we used our fold out stove on top of our snow shovel blade helps get it off snow and makes a platform
I like both but tend to use Dragon fuel more these days. As you say, if you contain it in a smaller receptacle, it burns for longer and you will get a boil if you use a lid on your pot. And getting the optimum position in relation to the pot is crucial as with most stoves/fuels. It's far easier to light, a lot less toxic, better for the environment and nicer to pack in. Bit expensive though. They are both good in different ways. As always, a great honest review. All the best from the UK for the festive season, Andy
I recently switched from hexamine to the fire dragon, mostly because of the smell. Fortunately I'm in the UK and fire dragon products are much better value. Thanks Luke 👍
It would have been interesting to have a thermometer to see just how far off boiling the first firedragon test was.
I was thinking a laser thermometer would be a goid addition for this test, to measure water temp and fire chamber temp at different points.
Yes.
I get better results in a simple folding stove that has a well that contains the gel. As you demonstrated, but both take ages compared to alcohol or gas. The blocks are better, but for safety and no fumes I prefer the Fire Dragon product. I like to be able to heat water in my closed tent porch without worrying. You need to use two and pop another one on before it runs out. They are very expensive though as a result. I prefer alcohol or gas in most situations but it was fun to experiment.
Thanks for that very interesting test mate...I have an Esbit stove and have never used the FireDragon (though seen them for sale) but now I know I made the right choice. That said, I used to use a Trangia more than anything until I started using Primus Winter Gas with my MSR Pocket Rocket (I cooked up my porrdge at minus 19C last Tuesday morning) and they work great, better than great actually. That Winter Gas has been a complete game changer for me as I have to camp between school days in the city, year round.
Thank you again for all your cool and honest testing mate. Respect.
Thank you Luke, another year of really useful (,and entertaining) reviews. I'm sure its been mentioned, but the best way I've found to clean up firedragon fuel residue is to add water. This works really well in the bcb stove, fill the tray with water, and you soon get a syrupy goop that's easy to remove. Just pour it out, and even a leaf will ease out the remaining goop.
Happy Christmas everyone!
My main use for the solid fuel tabs I keep in my pack is for getting campfires started when all I have is damp wood. Put a fuel tab at the base of the wood pile, and just about anything will catch.
I have some round tabs similar to hexy but the thing I like with solid blocks is if you powder a small bit, it will light off a ferro instead of a flame.
I think the FD residue is Calcium from the Calcium Acetate used to gel the alcohol.
I love this channel......he covers just about everything from harsh weather conditions on the wild camps, to survival tips and reviews. ...a nice guy too ...this channel (although has big sub numbers ) should have way more subs imo...all the best from the UK ✌
First, let me say that this type of stove (Both Esbit and BCB) is not my go-to emergency preparedness solution.
That said, I have tested both but I used 1 cup of water. I want 1 cup of hot water quickly in a dire situation. Although the BCB fuel is more expensive I have chosen the Fire Dragon as my shirt pocket tertiary backup solution. I like the idea of non-toxicity and the fact that Fire Dragon can be used as a hand sanitizer. My preferred method is a canister stove but I always have a Trangia in my bag.
As someone else mentioned, we were never issued these types of stoves. However, way back in the day we did receive a canteen and cup along with a stove stand that was part of the nesting configuration. We were issued triox tabs. But, that was back in the day of C-Rats. I was in long enough to see the transition from C-Rats to, and through, a couple of versions of MRE's. When the transition happened the canteen cup stove stand and triox tabs began to disappear from the supply rooms and issue points.
THANK YOU! I've been wanting to see someone do this. The 27g Esbit (which is based on hexamine, not trioxaine- very, very different) is hard to find, but with the melt and spread of the Fire Dragon I think it is worth the effort. And I'd rather have to ventilate a shelter for hexi than risk everything burning down as Fire Dragon's goo runs. If you're using these without a stove, just on a rock, or a piece of flat metal, or a hole in the ground, the goo is going to spread. I literally put Esbits on what used to be the end of a can. And my German military surplus pocket cooker will hold a pair of 27g Esbits rather than 4 14g tablets or none of the goo packs, plus a ferro rod, scraper, a foil wind screen, and it all fits in a coat pocket or under a GI canteen. The smell is easily dealt with by using two freezer bags or one alkosak. So not a big deal.
Since it an jelled alchohol, I'd like to see Dragon Fire vs an equal mass of Sterno. I really do wonder if Dragon Fire just using ethanol rather than methanol, which Sterno uses.
Boiled water multiple times and yet never made coffee. 🤔 Who are you and what have you done with the real Luke?
Which one would I get? The 14g Esbit tabs cause they can often be had waaaayyyy cheaper per gram than the 27s. It is often cheaper to use two 14s than one 27 and there is more versatility since the 27 is usually too much and you gotta save it. The 14s are often just right and you can just let the last bit burn out without waste!
Like you said, circumstances would determine what was appropriate. If you're in a situation where outdoor cooking is not possible with limited access to fresh air, it would be a no brainer to use Fire Dragon. I think I'm going to get some of each and for my, JIC supplies. Great video Luke!
Thanks for this comparison. Nice job. I've been using Esbit stoves and fuel for years and they've always worked well for me. I'm glad that you mentioned using a lid because they make a big difference, even if improvised from some heavy duty aluminum foil.
Thanks for taking teh time to always put out great videos like this! Its crazy how well the esbit did
I wonder how the Dragon would've done if you'd dropped it into an old tuna can first. Any time the flames come out from under a pan, their heat is wasted.
I was going to say the same thing.
i was wondering about dropping it in a spirit burner..??..
I never could convince myself to carry these types of fuels. A small canister of gas and an MSR pocket rocket ( I can't be the only one that thinks that sounds naughty lol) stove is my go to for something quick and easy. But after this video, I'm tempted to try them just for giggles.
My 'go to' is also gas. I have several: 1 alpine stove for more than 1-2 people, my original PCS Jetboil (which I love - so quick and easy) and a 40g burner which I just on most trips. In all cases I also carry a titanium Esbit stand and some cubes. These are great for backup and light. If I drop my gear down to the stand, some cubes, steel cup, spare lighter/matches (I always carry other fire lighters in pockets and other gear - just like compasses and lamps :) ) and some BBQ aluminium foil as a wind shield, the whole set weighs just under 200g. That is
On short weekend trips, I carry hexamine fuel or liquid alcohol to save the bulk, weight and cost of cannisters. My liquid alcohol stove weighs less than an ounce, and the weight of fuel is very low for a weekend backpacking trip.
I will never try anything liquid inside the home. Outside I love alcohol. Fast, hot and really cheap
You can light a normal fire in these stoves or top up your fuel tablets with little twigs when needed. Gast stoves are COMPLETELY useless when you have no gas.
@@SidneyTurnerOfficial you don't need the stove to light a fire which in reality makes your argument close to redundant anyway. There are also many circumstances where wood burning is not possible, safe or legal.
The wise thing is not to take a 'this is thw best attitude' but more 'this suits this circumstance' and opt appropriately.
If you scrape the top of an Esbit cube (any size), with the tip of a knife and create a very small pile of Esbit dust it becomes easy to light with either a match or ferro rod. No need to complain about it being hard to light. If you store it in a double ziplock the smell is insignicant to none. Try it! You’ll like it.
Looks like you'd need a small metal container, maybe 2 x 1 x 0.5 inches, to prevent the fire dragon 'tablet' from melting into a big burning puddle!
But once you carry that, you might as well bring some fuel gel in a small plastic bottle. Fuel Gel costs ~5$ for 1Liter here in Switzerland . At a weight of 850 grams per liter that is the equivalent of 30 tablets!
I will not buy esbit since I can't use it in a tent, and knowing myself, I will forget!
People have been using Esbit in tents, in bunkers, in caves and in houses since WW2 and I doubt that anyone died from inhaling the fumes.
I'm not saying you should do it, but I think people often prioritize the wrong threats to their health. I know people who are paranoid about "dangerous chemicals" and passive smoking, but at the same time eat themselves into an early grave with processed junk food.
When I studied chemical process engineering, a buddy of mine got a "between semesters" job with a company that produced paint, mostly for painting walls and rooms.
The EU had just implemented new guidelines for how much toluol/toluene (a hydrocarbon that can cause cancer, nerve- and liver damage when inhaled at high concentrations) was allowed in room paints and that company had to change the recipes for their paints, which was a huge hassle and investment and everybody who knew a thing or two about industrial chemistry was rolling their eyes, because the new limit was ridiculously low.
Of course, you could say "Why not make the limit for how much of a carcinogen and nerve damaging agent is allowed in household items very low?" and out of context that would seem reasonable.
The problem is toluene is everywhere because trees produce it.
Yes, our dear friends the trees are pumping a cancerous nerve gas into the air.
Especially freshly cut wood extrudes large amounts of toluene.
Hardly anyone knows that, but people who work with freshly cut wood, like lumberjacks, carpenters, people who work in saw mills or woodworking shops, people selling Christmas trees and so on, have a very high likelyhood to develop cancer or neural disabilities like Parkinson's disease.
Most people who hear of that are totally baffled, because we think the air in forests is pretty much the healthiest thing in existence, but that really isn't the case.
It just never mattered, because nothing that lives in a forest gets old enough to have the time to develop cancer or Parkinson's. We humans are the first ones and only so in the last 100 to 200 years.
What made the EU guidelines and limits for toluene in paint so ridiculous was that they were like 1000 times lower than the levels you get just from putting a new piece of wooden furniture into your room, let alone the amounts of it you inhale when taking a stroll through a forest or burning a log in a fire place.
You can basically sniff a can of paint for hours and don't get as much toluene as when you take a stroll in a forest. So you can imagine how annoyed everyone in the paint business was about having to spend millions on getting the toluene levels that low.
My point being that it is usually pointless to get worked up about every bit of "dangerous chemical".
I use the bottom of a tin can sawn off about 1/2 inch. Gives plenty of room for pooling, light as anything and costs pretty much nothing.
@@TrangleC And also, do you really want something in a tent that spreads out as easily as the fire dragon?
@@linedwell Just pour it into an Altoids tin.
Trangia makes a small round covered aluminum container , a Gel Burner for that. I have forgotten it a few times and just made a container out of aluminum foil. Alexander, what do you use in Switzerland? Take care, would really like to correspond with you if you don’t mind talking to someone probably old enough to be your father! (LOL)
I'm addicted to these videos. I don't even like camping. What's happening to me?! 😭😭
Yes, mind blowing! Wow, what a great demonstration you did for us. Very interesting! Thanks 🙂
I typically use the Coghlan’s hexamine tabs when I use fuel tabs, but lately use my Pathfinder alcohol stove. Coghlan’s tabs are inexpensive at local store, and two tabs are usually enough to heat water for a meal.
I like them too,very neat size and inexpensive.
Informative video. Thanks. For myself the MSR Pocket Rocket and a can of fuel are golden. Boils a quart while prepping the coffee, shuts off instantly, totally controllable. It just works! I use the same kind of shield you had there, so if we run out of fuel we just use that as a twig fire enclosure. Can't beat it. Boils a quart of water in 7 or 8 minutes at 10,000+ feet. Haven't tried it in winter.
Being in the UK, as a military cadet as a teen we always used hexamine military stoves. Which were essentially a firedragon stove that used a esbit fuel tab. They worked great but as you said they absolutely stink. As an adult I have the firedargon version now. They are not as effective and are really only good for boiling water for a cup of tea in a british army crusader cup. As most of the time army rations are self heating or eaten cold. But the firedragon is multipurpose as you can use as handsanitiser (useful in today's world). You can also light it while it's still in its plastic packet. Just remove the film lid and light. Burns slightly longer then. And not much more residue.
My stove has been and will always be my Colman one burner. Running on (get it anywhere) unleaded gas it will boil my canteen cup of water in no time. Yes, its weight is a little high, but the usages are immense. Still have the first one and it is now 40 yr's old and works great.
Interesting test, never had an issue boiling water with FireDragon in the Crusader stove. It boils within 6 or 7 mins which is significantly faster than the Esbitt fuel. Horses for courses of course and thanks for the content
I was sceptical when the fire dragon was marked "green". Usually means poorer performance. Esbit is a tried and true product.
I like and use both. I use the Dragon in the summer because the stove loses too much heat through the bottom in the winter since it is flat and in direct contact with the frozen ground (design flaw compared to esbit stoves). But I like Dragon because it’s non toxic, and better packaged and better shelf life because of the packaging. I carry it all year long in my “just in case” kit as a fire-starter since it takes only a spark to ignite, and as hand sanitizer. But it’s performance is more comparable to a 17g esbit cube. I would cook real meals on sn esbit but not on Dragon.
I used hexamine "hexy" stoves for a few years but switched to alcohol stoves because the latter were easier to light and the water had better flavour. The trick with hexamine with ferro rods is to use a cotton wool ball to catch the spark, and the flame lights the block.
This video shows these are back up fuels, not primary fuels. A burner and fuel tank are far superior methods for backpacking.
It was obvious that the Fire Dragon needed a very different type of stove than the Esbit. It didn't even like the second stove. It wants a narrow and tall chamber to burn from, something I've never seen from a camp stove. I think that makes it a hard fail. It works great as a campfire starter, and I wouldn't think twice about using it for that purpose on a car camping trip, but for that same purpose, I can use 100 other things that are at least as good, and aren't as much of a pain to use.
The second style stove was the firedragon branded stove, or folding cooker as they call it.
I have both, and like both, obviously for different situations. Thanks for the great review! I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!! :-)
I use Utility Flame gel in my emergency kit with the small Esbit cookset.
I put it into a tea light cup to focus the flame to the pot.
Hot, safe and when it is done burning silica is the only remaining residue.
Great comparison video. I have the Fire Dragon fuel because it doesn't smell or is as toxic as the hexamin tablet. I carry it with a BCB stove when out hiking. But I will get some Hexamine just to try it out.
The Fire Dragon on it's designated stove would have boiled if a lid was on the pot. Always use a lid Thanks for the comparison. Love the content.
I'd carry both. The Fire Dragon wins for me because it can be used in the tent and because it's so easy to ignite. The Esbit would be great for getting an outdoor fire started with wood that's not optimally dry.
Or if I'm being honest, I'd probably just stay home and judge everyone else from the comfort of my couch.
Dutch army here, we had esbit stoves that looked a lot like that firedragon stove. To warm up a mri which was like a brick shaped can with a dinner. To warm the meal up, you had to remove the lid and keep stirring to not burn the food at the bottom. After warming it up, dinner tasted like how these esbit cubes smelled. Very toxic. 25 years ago I bought a campinggaz stove at an outdoor store with a gas can, quite similar to a pocketrocket and never used esbit again. Nor will I ever use solid fuel tabs to cook on.
I have a msr pocketrocket 2, msr windburner 1L, msr whisperlite and a toaks small woodburning stove so 3 types of fuel to choose for cooking. No solid fuel cubes for me. 👍
The 4 types of burners I got have their own limitations. Windburner is for boiling water really fast with the least amount of fuel. Whisperlite basically same, hard to simmer, more to boil water really fast. Toaks is hard to control the heat and simmer. Maintaining a constant woodflame is hard. Great for grilling a burger but you need a grill like a Pathfinder Ti grill. Most versatile is the pocketrocket 2 but it uses 2 times more fuel in about the same time, the pr2 being like 10 seconds slower to boil 0.5 liter of water compared to the windburner.(in windless conditions) Winderburner 1L boils water very fast and efficient but you can't bake pancakes in it or make pasta. You will ruin the pot. Or you will have to buy the 2 person windburner system and a extra skillet for 80 euro's. 250 Euro's for the whole system.The windburner wipes the floor with these jetboils. Around 50% faster boil times, around 2 :30min in stead of 4 :30min and of course less fuel consumption. Cheapest stove of the lot is the pr2 but also the most versatile because the flame can be controlled very well.
And a comment on types of fuel. The msr whisperlite runs on coleman fuel, E95, E10 nowadays and performs the same at elevations and in very cold conditions. Gas cans like msr isopro is mixed isobutane/propane mix. At low temps like around 0c freezing temps, warm up your isopro gas can in your jacket. Your fuel consumption will be a lot lower if the can is warm. If you are looking for a burner that always performs at high elevations and real lows temps, buy a msr whisperlite. So there's a time and place for different stoves and they all have their pro's and con's.
Personally I do not like solid fuel tabs.
One easy cheat to save clean up on the residue, pop a bit of foil underneath it, job done. Can build a small chamber for it too. Got loads of the firedragon cubes but you can get 12 for about £3 here in the UK. On the Crusader cook kit system and a lid on I've never had a problem getting that volume of water to boil with one cube. With two you can heat up an MRE and have the water for tea. They even do a mini firedragon fuel cube now and a really tiny stove to use, one cube of that is good for 200ml of water so perfect for a brew kit.
Hi Luke.
I think you missed a quality of the Fire Dragon. We were taught to use it as a hand sanitiser before lighting it to cook food.
Gotta love this content
Good test, and thank-you for not driving to the highest elevation you could find to decrease the boiling point of the water to make the products seem more dramatic.
👍.. I still have my Esbit Folder, issued to me in the SADF (South African Defence Force) in 1968. Now living in Switzerland, my fuel choice is 'Sicherheitsbrennpaste' in the 850g plastic bottles. Esbit Tablets are not an option as they are quite expensive here and unlike the Fuel Gel, are not freely available at almost any Grocery and Convenience Store.
Good choice your Plans A and B .. and the Trangia Stove 😊.
I am fortunate to still have an Optimus 8R Hunter (bought new in the mid-70's) and still in regular use.
We always used Hexamine in the Australian Army, in a very similar stove to the firedragon stove. In all the years I used them, I never used the whole thing before either my water, or food was ready. And we would have broken that in half and only used one portion. Dixie pan over the top of the cup to boil (to use as a lid), only took 3 or 4 minutes to boil water. Never had 36 minutes to spare for that sort of thing.
Great video. I was in the British Army who went from Hexamine to Fire Dragon.
Thanks for the review! I'm researching these emergency stoves and can get a firedragon stove for $3.30 and 6pack of the 27g fuels for $2.50. The esbit 8 pack of fuel is $16 so I think i'll go with the firedragons and just pop another one in if I need more cook time. Its good to know that using their folding stove extends the duration of the burn time by nearly 3 times also.
We used Esbit quite often in the German Bundeswehr in the eighties. It was standard equipment in the backpack with a little folding stove. Nobody told us the fumes were dangerous back then.
Great Review Luke,,,,
That’s why, if I didn’t want to use a canister or wood stove,, I’ld bring my Trangia,,,,
I’ve put Sterno Gel in a Trangia solid fuel burner(to the top). It’s lasted 45min, and I’ve gotten 2 , four cup pots to a rolling boil,,,,
Agreed about the major differences between the two fuels. Fire Dragon does make small "burner cookers" and a very small burner as well. Both are way smaller than the stove you have which is basically a slightly modified Esbit folding stove. Personally, I'd rather use Esbit. The Fire Dragon is much better as a fire starter than a cooking fuel.
Is that the difference between military and civilian use?
@@novoscotia Not really. Although the German military encloses one of the burner-cookers and Fire Dragon fuel in each 24 hour ration pack. Primarily, in a military situation, you'd want to heat your ration as quickly as possible with as little waste as possible. But, effectively there is no real difference between uses.
First, just to say it: Concerning energy, both fuels are more or less same, hexamine has 31.3 MJ/kg and Ethanol 29,7 MJ/kg, means the firedragon fuel contains slightly less but still very comparable amounts of energy seen per weight.
The burning time or how long it takes to boil water depends simply on how you burn that fuel, means whether stove and pot and air supply and so on fit perfectly. That is for each fuel different. So the first test was kinda useless since Firedragon 'tablets' are simply alcohol gel (a hard one but still a gel) which liquifies if it turns hot and so the whole thing melted simply on that stove plate, everything went up in flames in a short time and half of the energy went out sideways and didn't heat up the pot. The second test was a little bit more useful since it was the original firedragon setup but that is unluckily not optimized for the esbit tablets since they didn't get enough oxygen in that firedragon stove, that's also the reason why they burned so long. If you would have placed the esbit tablets not horizonally but somehow vertical, or at least set them on the smaller side instead on the fat side, they would have burned hotter and faster even in that stove, but usually they should not be placed in a can or so.
About the pros and cons, well, especially that thing with the poisonous fumes is from my POV just a marketing argument of Firedragon and doesn't really matter. I do not understand how they could convince the UK military to abandon their decades old hexamine systems and go for these things since the new stove is more heavy and the new fuel is much more voluminous than the old hexamine tablets they used. Yes hexamine or Esbit produces also traces of cyanide gas as everybody knows but You should also not use any whatever other gas or alcohol stoves or even wood stoves in a closed tent, since all kind of open flames require constant and sufficient ventilation due to their CO and CO2 emissions which can also kill you. Means you can also pass away from an extensive firedragon use in a close tent which has maybe snow on top or is due to other reasons not well ventilated. If you burn whatever open flame fire in your tent you have to keep it open and ventilated, but if you do so, it doesn't matter what fuel you use, also Esbit is absolutely fine. So that poison argument of the Firedragon marketing department is not really a valid argument against Esbit.
About smell and stink etc. - yes, hexamine smells like fish or shrimps or so. Ugly smell. Also burning it gives a characteristical smell, but that is the case with almost everything except maybe gas. Usually, I put my hexamine tablets in zip pouches and place those again in other zip pouches, so that setup keeps the stink inside and is relatively bearable.
But as you said, there are a lot of pros for Esbit - you don't even have to carry a stove, just put three tent pegs or sticks in the ground or use three stones as a pot stand and put the esbit on plain sand, it burns and works fine. You can use your knife and scratch the tablets to get some powder which is a perfect tinder powder, and even if you let your esbit tablet fall in water and remove it again, it burns. Esbit doesn't spill around like alcohol, you don't need special bottles or bottles at all, it doesn't explode, you can store it for years without any problem, and compared to the firedragon solution you produce less waste.
That said, second point - what do I prefer, Esbit or Firedragon? Well, I use hexamine/esbit since almost 6 decades and tried also the firedragon, of course. I prefer Esbit/Hexamine. If I can get, I use the original hexamine tablets of the UK military, sometimes such stuff is available in any UK military surplus stores on eBay or so at almost half rates of Esbit if you buy it in large quantity. But these gel tablets are not my thing. They are bulky and that way to pack them produces lot of useless waste, and in handling or making fire I do not see any benefit over Esbit or any alcohol or gel stove. If I want to use ethanol gel I use mostly my good old Swiss Notkocher M71, which is in my opinion a much better option compared to the Firedragon system and works with gel as well as with pure alcohol, medical spirit, Isopropanol and what not ....
Well, and if you have read this whole bunch of a comment text until here, sorry, thanks, congratulations and a happy 2022! ;-)
Issue is evaporation, unburned Ethanol. Not all of the Ethanol will burn off as some will evaporate. I don't believe that is the case with Hexamine.
@@guytech7310 yes that's another issue.
I like alcohol as fuel since it is everywhere easily available, also in countries where you won't get hexamine or gas canisters you can always go to the next pharmacy and ask for medical spirit. And if you didn't bring a stove with you you can make in a couple of minutes a very well working beer can stove or simply use a tuna can as alcohol stove.
But in comparision between the new UK alcohol gel block stove and an Esbit stove I definitely prefer the original Esbit system.
Btw there is one more advantage I forgot to tell: the gel tablets have to burn out, or at least I didn't find so far a way to kill the flame and keep the remaining gel. But the original Esbit stove can be easily folded after use what suffocates the flame, and the remaining rests of the tablet can be kept and later reused.
Great Video! Merry Christmas.
Greetings …this was great as I have been wavering on what to get for cooking light/quick meals. Between your review of alcohol stoves and this one it will be an Esbit. Many thanks.
I hate the smell of esbit and the fact that it gives off a toxic fume, but in a survival situation esbit wins the day as long as you use the proper precautions so that is what I use as one of my ready stoves for packing and day trips. Thanks for the video and keep on trekking.
Thanks for the comparison.
Besides what everyone else has said… my main problem with Esbit isn’t so much the smell, or toxic nature, but the soot! It’s why it is - and wood fire - my last choice for outdoor cooking.
Fire dragon was made to be used in t crusader cooking system, for British armed forces. This contains a smaller holder for the fuel that keeps it burning linger and more intense heat. As ex infantry i can assure you that it heats rations and water mire than enough
Hexy Pro Tip: Give the water a gentle stir every couple of minutes and it boils faster. Been using these for years.
Coghlan solid fuel tablets.
136 tablets $30 on Amazon.
Great value.
I’ve seen people use something similar to the fire dragon, but they light the wrapper too. Esbit is the more reliable, I would use that over the other.
3:30
If you felt a lot of heat from the stove, that was _waste_ heat, not being used to heat the water.
I'm thinking you could use a juice or soda can bottom as a fire dragon burner.
9:15 Probably the water's not as hot because the surface area is not as great. Previously you had a very wide-spread flame under a wide, shallow pot. Now you have a medium-spread flame under a deep pot.
11:45 Surprisingly, a lid generally makes less than 10% difference in boil times.
I am amazed the Esbit burned that long. Generally the more common 14 gram tablets won't boil 2 cups of water.
I'm not surprised the Fire Dragon is so "chaotic." It melts. Once lit, it's like pouring out 26 grams of alcohol fuel. If it's not contained, it spreads. It needs a container like a juice can bottom for best results.
I keep several boxes of hexamine tablets small medium and large because I've found that they're the best quick and easy fuel source to save time and trouble on the trail or at the camp sites.
Controlled consistent and dependable.
And you can buy the smaller generic tablets for dirt cheap and really stretch your supply budget.
How you have your stove or cooking device setup really does make a difference but with hexamine it's not as crucial as other types of ready to use fuels...
Fire dragon ,tables or jell
Can also be used as a
Hand sanitizer.
Love Esbit fuel. I recently used a 14g tablet to bake a large cornbread muffin. I placed the batter in a 3x3-inch Fat Daddio aluminum pot/pan and placed that in a 750 Snow Peak titanium pot. I used the Brien Green Esbit fuel tray to slow the burn. I cooked the muffin on the Bushcraft Essentials Outdoor Micro Pocket Stove. I used the stove's crossbar as a spacer between the titanium pot and the aluminum pot to prevent burning. I got an 18-minute burn time and a large perfectly cooked muffin.
Thanks for testing them
Squirt a few drops of hand sanitiser onto the esbit and it will light from a firestick. If it is windy it works a little better if you put the stuff on a piece of cloth, paper or dry leaves.
Esbit always! The idea of a non toxic cube is great but the crazy flames doesn't seem like the safest option if you're using it in a particularly dry area like southern Arizona. Great video!
MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone
Can't believe I watched 15mins of a "pot boiling" lmao 🤣 much love though great experiment
I agree with Josh Lloyd. The useful burn time is more significant than the total burn time (for any fuel). When the heat loss from the ensemble exceeds the heat input from the fuel, clearly better to remove the pot and use the liquid, else you are losing ground (heat). I use Esbit regularly, and if it is burning well (most times, shielded from the wind) I find little residue on the pot, which easily wipes off with a wet wipe. Solid fuels also have the considerable advantage of low need for care - low hassle.
No point in being “non toxic” if it’s wrapped in plastic
In Admiral Byrd's book, "Alone"- a must-read btw- he mentions using "meta" alcohol tabs for this sort of thing. Have to wonder what was in them...
I used an Esbit stove and fuel in military exercises in Germany. It is my fuel of choice.
GREAT REVIEW! I will not be buying the fire dragon! In an emergency situation you want a fire! Thank you again for the time and effort you put in your reviews, it is GREATLY APPRECIATED! Hey Susie!🥰
Hello everybody, just an info: you can use Fire Dragon as an emergency hand desinfection. It is pure alcohol.
I mean before burning.
the fire dragon is made of an alcohol-diatomite-mix, which turns it into jelly. When burnt, the diatomite forms residue, interesting to see it's paper-shape. I never used the fire dragon, but chafing dish fuel, it's much cheaper and leaves much less residue, but always has to be kept contained. Even in the dragon stove the flames went quite strong, so I would suggest to put it into something fireproof with a smaller opening, e.g. a stainless shot glass. If one is not enough for boiling water, you can prepare a second one and switch them (with pliers!).
I used Esbit too, but find the residue very annoying - removing it is not possible without scratching the surface, and it will start to rust immediately in coastal areas where I live.
In any wooded area my go-to is a hobo-stove and the small Esbit-blocks come in handy when starting an upside-down fire in it, lit with a torch lighter.
Merry X-mas and stay safe.
I use Esbit. I cooked indoor with it from my hospital bed at home. I do not have to worry of weather for butane. I usually cooked most meals with 2 fuel round bits. In stove I carry a package of bits and lighter. Price has gone way up. Used to buy a box for $3 now $17. bought bunch for prepping, going to have to make diy ones. Wife makes cookies with the girls. I make fuel tablets with the boys. Coghland tablets and Esbit stove are my choice. Esbit folding stoves were $2 when I got mine. Feel sorry for people just getting started.
Cool video, only a little shudder when you cleaned the bottom of the stove with the knife 😂
The British army uses dragon fuel and it takes 4 minutes to allow you the time to wash, shave, clean your weapon and polish your boots
Which as every UK veteran knows from phase 1 training, is more than enough time!
The fire dragon stove was a replacement to the old standard issue hexy stove they're issued to every soldier and as result only really designed to heat enough water for one individual
FireDragon fuel is very cheap and readily available in the U.K. but it does need to be confined in order to make the most of it. Burning it in its plastic pot sort of works but smells. I get the best results from pressing tinfoil around an unopened plastic pod to make a bath and then burning a gel inside the bath in a Crusader MK2 stove. This way, I get 500ml of water (with a lid on) boiled in 6:30mins and a continuous boil until the fuel runs out after 13mins. If you just plop a gel into the bottom without doing this, the whole stove is engulfed in flames until the gel burns off in a few minutes.
I have some Fire Dragon cubes I ordered a few months ago, so figured I'd try one. I have a little burner I made using a juice can top and bottom. I cut a 1" hole in the top, then fit it over the bottom. I had to cut up the cube to fit it all inside the 1-1/4" tall burner. The pot stand held the pot about 3/8" above the burner. My 2 cups H2O boiled in 14:27, and kept it boiling until 26:43, then burned out at 27:22.
Unfortunately, now the bottom of my little burner has this waxy residue about 1mm deep.
*EDIT:* I redid this test with another cube and a taller pot stand - 7/8" above burner. The 2 cups H20 boiled in 8:22, burned for another 6:27, (total 14:49) keeping the water boiling right up until burn out.
Fire dragon in the UK are around £6 for 12 x 27g tablets which is pretty cheap. They boil a large cup of water nicely when the lid is on, and they say you can use them in a tent which is good for terrible rainy conditions, but you best have everything well out the way and no groundsheet! Otherwise it will melt it. The fire dragon stove is £1.99 here too. Great for emergency quick lighting and boiling a little water for a hot drink but that’s it.
Personally I would never use the rabbit tablets due to the chemicals in it, but that’s just my personal reasons. They do look very good for a steady burn though
Ernie at Palio Hiker MD gave you a shout out on your reviews on military surplus gear.
I run Esbit all the time. I actually use an Emberlit titanium fireant as my main stove. I burn wood most of the time, but I always carry the included esbit tray with the stove, along with 3 esbit cubes as my backup cooking fuel.
To me the biggest issue is flame control, which decides safe use under tent vestibule. Burning time is not the main factor because all I need is boiling water, any time within reason is acceptable. Even with my gas stove I rarely run it continuously more than 10 minutes. So my choice would be Esbit. However, I can't help to think if a taller container is used to restrict the flow, FireDragon may work better as it may melt slower and not spreading all over. The closest match I can think of is a whisky glass made by steel.
I love using these tabs for my camp fires. After 10 miles of hiking, I'm exhausted after setting up my tent. I pop 2 of these on the ground and throw all my wood on top.
Thanks Luke. Was just thinking about trying out the Fire Dragon. Have an Esbit now that I carry on my small day hikes, and plan to carry on an upcoming overnighter in the national forest. Now I know I need not bother buying the Fire Dragon. Thanks again, and Merry Christmas!
I really enjoy your videos and how honest you are. Thanks!
Keep up these great reviews Luke as they are very appreciated!
Boiling water: If you wanted it, you should've put a lid on it.
Great review. I agree, both have their strengths. In general I will go with the esbit but might have spare dragon for use in a snow cave…
Thanks, Luke
I have some Esbit since over 30 years ... still working ....and in germany they are also cheaper than in the US ....
Esbit or similar. I have several folding surplus stoves salted in through various gear/packs.
Plus the Trangia 4 of them in my gear and one in my truck with 2gallons of fuel.
I put my tabs in a tuna can (small) to contain and concentrate the heat . Very light addition to my kit .
I've used esbit for years try true tested outstanding review. Thanks Luke marry Christmas.