TESTER INFORMATION
NAME: David Wilkes
EMAIL: amatbrewer_AT_yahoo_DOT_com
AGE: 42
LOCATION: Yakima Washington USA
GENDER: M |
Biography:
I
started backpacking in 1995 when I moved to Washington
State. Since then, I have backpacked in all seasons and conditions. I
have usually only managed time for 1-3 trips a year averaging 2-5 days,
and as many day hikes as I can. I am currently getting into condition
to summit some of the higher peaks in Washington, Oregon, and
California. I
prefer trips on rugged trails with plenty of elevation gain. While I
continuously strive to lighten my load, comfort and safety are most
important to me. My current pack is around 30 lbs (14 kg), not
including consumables. |
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Brasslite,
LLC
Year of Manufacture:
2008
Manufacturer’s Website: www.brasslite.com
MSRP: US$30.00
(stove) +
US$20.00 (stand extension upgrade)
[From the manufacturer’s web site]
Specifications
for the Turbo I-D:
Width of chamber and stand: 2
in. (50mm)
Width of Preheat
Pan: 2.5 in. (65 mm)
Overall Height: 2.5 in.(64 mm)
Weight: 1.8 US oz.
(51 gm) +
Fuel capacity: 1
US fluid oz.
(30 ml)
|
The Brasslite
Turbo I-D Alcohol stove is a lightweight backpacking stove made
primarily of brass and based upon the open top “Cat can” or chimney
stove design (open top and side vents). Based upon my research into
alcohol stoves for backpacking, I have found there are two primary
styles of alcohol stoves; ones that use an open flame and ones that
utilize Jets (low or high pressure). The Turbo I-D is a variation of
the open flame design.
Measured Weight (including extensions) : 2.2 oz (63 g) [measured on an
digital Escali scale]
All other measurements matched manufacturer's specifications.
INITIAL
REPORT
This test has had a bit of a rocky start; due to a mistake on my
part the post office delivered the package to the wrong address, but
told me it could not be delivered so it should be on its way back to
the manufacturer, however they could not confirm this. Aaron at
Brasslite worked with me and offered a replacement stove at wholesale
cost and not charge me for shipping, and stated that they would refund
my money if the original package made it back to them. I
ended up
tracking down the original package and Brasslite is going to refund me
what I sent them for the replacement kit.
 The stove I am
testing includes the optional “custom stand extensions” to improve its
stability when used with larger diameter pots (more on that later). The
web site indicates that ordering the stove with the extensions may
increase the delivery time due to the additional shop time necessary to
attach them.
My stove arrived along with a wind screen and fuel
bottle. According to the Brasslite web page the wind screen and fuel
bottle are not standard with the stoves but can be included as
separate-order items. The web site also offers various combination sets
that include a stove, pot or cup/mug, wind screen, fuel bottle and
storage bag.
A description of
the stove
from the bottom up:
The
preheat pan is attached to the bottom of the stove. It is a crimped
circular brass plate (similar to a small partially flattened pie pan)
attached to the bottom of a brass can (kind of like a cat food can)
with 6 round holes (vents) around the bottom and a larger opening in
the top (chimney). The ‘can’ makes up the main body of the stove and is
constructed with a secondary inner wall to improve its performance.
NOTE: the “D” in the nomenclature of this series of stoves annotates
this double wall construction.
Wrapped around the can portion of the
stove is a brass sleeve with notches on the bottom (matching the holes
in the can) and a flat tab that extends out. This sleeve acts as a
simmer adjustment. It can be rotated around to cover the
vent holes in the sides of the stove and reduce the source of air,
thereby
reducing the heat of the stove.
Attached
to the top of the can is a ring of stainless steel wire mesh to support
the pot above the stove. The stand is comprised of three ‘Z’
shaped stainless steel rods slightly larger in diameter than that of
the wire mesh. Each extension piece is soldered (by hand according to
the manufacturer’s web page) to the bottom of the stove and the top of
the wire pot stand. With the addition of these extensions, the overall
diameter of the stove becomes 5 in (13 cm). The manufacturer recommends
not using the Turbo I-D with pots that have a diameter larger than 5 in
(13 cm) without the stand extensions. The manufacturer’s web site
provides some very useful information regarding matching up the correct
stove and pot size. After reading that the extensions are attached by
hand I wondered if they might be uneven. However, after close
inspection, I was impressed at how precise the extensions are.
All
three legs sit flat and my pot sits firmly upon it with no rocking or
movement despite the bottom of the pot not being entirely flat (it is a
bit misshapen from melting snow).
The
stove is clearly well made and appears quite durable. Having only a
single moving part, that is not only very simple but also not vital to
the basic operation of the stove, suggests to me that short of being
crushed there is little that can fail.
The
instructions mention possibly needing to adjust the simmer sleeve if it
does not rotate easily, and clearly explains how to accomplish this.
The simmer sleeve of the stove I received worked fine and did not
require any adjustment.
Brasslite
offers a 30 day no explanation needed return policy, as well as a
warranty against “structural defects” as long as the original owner
owns the stove.
The
manufacturer’s web page contains quite a bit of useful information
ranging from selecting the right stove for the customers' needs, pot
size recommendations, instructions on making pot cozies, as well as
other products and links to other sites and DIY instructions (including
instructions to make some of the discontinued models of Brasslite
stoves). The web site, along with having a link to obtain a copy of the
operating instructions, also contains a very descriptive set of images
(see animation to left) showing the II-D model (larger version of the
I-D that I am testing) in action along with warm and cold weather
priming options.
Documentation
and
Instructions:
The
documentation includes the reasonable warnings about how you
are
playing with fire and should take appropriate precautions, with
specific instructions not to over fill the stove or use it with fuels
other than what is recommended. Basically the all too
necessary “look I told
you to be careful & most of this is common sense, so please
don’t try to sue me if you do something foolish” sort of
stuff. It also strongly recommends not attempting to refill the stove
while lit.
The
documentation covers information on the use, construction and
modification of windscreens, acceptable fuels, as well as stove tips
and cleaning instructions. The documentation I received with the stove
is the same as what I found available on the Brasslite web site.
The
lighting and usage instructions, while mostly obvious, are well worded
and easy to follow. They however do include some information on the
operation of the simmering sleeve (see below) that unlike most of the
other instructions and warnings was not immediately obvious to me, and
may have prevented me from accidentally dumping over a burning stove
and pot of boiling water. I normally only read the instructions as a
last resort, so this is something that I think should be made to stand
out more from the other instructions.
To paraphrase the lighting and operating instructions:
1) Put stove on a flat
non-flammable
surface
2) Add fuel
3) Light
4) Cook
To simmer, after the stove has burned long enough to fully heat
up, simply turn the simmering ring so it covers the holes as necessary
to set the desired flame height (stove will be hot, so use a tool, or
stick, not bare fingers!). The instructions state that the weight of
the stove alone may not be enough to easily turn the simmer ring
without tipping it over, so it is suggested this be done with the pot
held firmly in place on top of the stove. This suggestion about
adjusting the simmer ring while using the pot to hold the stove seems
like a good safety tip that I am not sure I would have thought of
myself.
Fuel
Since
I am new to alcohol stoves, I have done a bit of research in
preparation for this test. Along with the documentation provided by the
manufacturer (with the stove and on their web page) there is quite a
bit of information available online. From my research I concluded that
I will initially try two sources of fuel for the stove due to their
availability in my area and burning properties (little to no soot and
high energy to weight ratio). Denatured alcohol (ethanol with a
denaturing agent & other chemicals added) and Methyl alcohol
(in
the form of “HEET” gas
line antifreeze).
First use
I had every intention to hold off lighting the stove until I had taken
photos of the stove and accessories, but my wife had the camera and I
simply could not resist. I put ½ oz of denatured alcohol in the main
chamber of the stove and lit it. I saw a bit of flame and then nothing.
After a few seconds, I passed my hand over the stove and felt
a
bit of heat so I placed my 900 ml (30 oz) titanium pot containing 600
ml
(20 oz) of water on the stove. After about 20 seconds, I assumed the
stove had gone out due to me not priming the stove per the
instructions, but when I placed my hand next to it I could
tell it was getting hot. In my excitement I forgot to start my timer so
I do not know how long it burned, but by the time the stove ran out of
fuel the water had gone from 77 F (25 C) to 175 F (79 C). Something
immediately obvious is that the Brasslite stove with the
extensions is very stable even with a pot full of water. This cannot be
said of my homemade stove, and it seems more stable than my canister
stove.
I also placed 1/2 oz (15 ml) of the same fuel in my homemade
"Pepsi" stove (low-pressure jet style) and repeated the test.
What
was plain from this, and some subsequent tries, was that the homemade
stove heated the water faster but also used up its fuel faster and
required more fuel to bring the same volume of water to a boil.
Preliminary test plan:
Phase I – Controlled
Environment Tests
Try
out the stove under controlled conditions. Test and document setup
&
usage and note significant milestones in learning to use the
Turbo I-D. Measure boil times in comparison to a White Gas stove and a
pressurized canister stove. Evaluate fuel usage and estimate volumes
necessary for actual field tests (since I have never used a alcohol
stove in the field I want to get an idea of how much fuel I should have
with me). Experiment with various cooking methods.
An important part
of this phase would be to estimate the safety of using this stove in
the field especially when in close quarters with flammable materials. I
once came close to having a very bad experience while lighting a white
gas stove on a pine needle covered forest floor. Since I try to
practice “Leave No Trace”, not burning down the forest is kind of
important to me.
Phase II –
Initial Field Tests
Use
the stove in actual field conditions but with minimal risk. Since I
have not utilized this type of stove and expect to be trying new
methods of back country cooking I will start by using it for low risk
situations such as day hikes and short backpacking trips where a
failure of this stove to perform would not be a major problem (such as
having an alternate food source or a backup stove). During this phase I
would like to compare the performance of this stove against my other
stoves is actual field conditions. I will also be looking into packing
and transport methods needed to adequately protect the stove when not
in use.
Phase III –
Field Usage
I will use the stove as my
primary (if not only) stove for backcountry cooking. I will be looking
for answers to questions such as how well does it perform (in different
weather conditions: wind, cold, altitude, etc) and how well it stands
up to normal usage/storage, how much fuel does it use, does it soot up
the bottoms of my pot, etc.
Finally, the most important question; am
I willing to give up my old stoves for this one; in all conditions, or
just some? If some, which?
FIELD
REPORT
Field usage:
- Two-day
trip to climb Mt Adams Washington (camped at 9000 ft / 2700 m) where I
cooked one dinner and one breakfast using rocks in place of the
windscreen. I forgot to pack the windscreen! The weather was ideal,
sunny, warm and calm.
- Three-day trip in the Cascade Mountains
(5000 ft / 1500 m), where I cooked two dinners & two breakfasts
for
two people plus hot drinks. Weather was warm with only a slight breeze
reaching us through the heavy wood and undergrowth.
- Two-day
solo trip in the Cascade Mountains (6500 ft / 2000 m), where I cooked
one dinner, one breakfast and two drinks. Weather was cold (near
freezing) with light rain and snow with light swirling winds where I
camped.
- In addition the above, I used aproximately 12 oz (355
ml) of alcohol, trying different lighting and cooking methods, as well
as just getting comfortable with the stove. I used denatured alcohol as
well as “HEET” fuel line cleaner (methyl alcohol) interchangeably and
saw no significant difference in these fuels.
Field report
I
have to start out this report by mentioning that I have never
eaten so well while backpacking as I have during the field tests of
this stove. I normally stick to commercially prepared dehydrated
backpacker meals, instant oatmeal (and similar items for breakfast),
and hot tea & cocoa. I have been known to simply skip cooking
and eat
energy bars and fruit for an entire (short) trip. During these tests, I
have discovered the joy of eating REAL oatmeal (more on that later)
along with pasta, soup, and my favorite, cheese & spinach
tortellini with parmesan cheese sauce! I had no idea what I was missing.
After
using the Brasslite stove a few times at home, it was clear that my
original plan of comparing the boil times for the various stoves I own
would be of no value. This is not a stove I would use if I wanted to
boil water quickly. The 15min or so it takes to boil 500 ml (17oz) of
water is about double what it takes for my white gas stove, and far
longer than the 2min it takes with my pressurized canister stove.
However, while doing some research into alcohol stoves, I found some
material on the relative energy density of various fuels. According to
what I have been able to find, of the three types of fuel used by my
stoves, the alcohol has the lowest energy density by weight. So my
question became at what point would the weight reduction achieved by
the Brasslite be offset by the weight of having to carry more fuel?
To
answer this question, I boiled 500 ml (16 oz) of water with each stove,
and calculated the weight of fuel expended. To keep things simple I
used an assumption of each meal requiring the boiling of 500 ml (16oz)
of water. Throughout this report I will use 500 ml (16 oz) of water as
a standard serving size when calculating fuel usage. I was
able
to calculate that it would take approximately 50 meals before the fuel
efficiency of the pressurized canister stove is able to offset the
weight savings of the Brasslite. It was obvious from the 1 g (0.04 oz)
difference
between the fuel used by the Brasslite and my white gas stove that it
would take around 100 meals to offset the 100g (3.5 oz) difference
between the two stoves. Since there are options available regarding the
container for each of the fuels, I did not include weight of the
container needed for the fuel in my calculations. There are simply too
many variables involved and I did not have any empty canisters at the
time. However, I could conclude that the weight of the pressurized
canisters needed for 50 meals would likely be greater than what would
be needed to carry the alcohol for the same meals.
It was obvious
from this test that even on a two-week trip, cooking an average of
three servings a day, I would still be carrying less weight with the
Brasslite than with any of my other stoves.
During one trip, I
realized I miscalculated the number of servings I would be making. I
factored in four hot meals a day (cooking for my daughter and myself)
but forgot about the hot drinks we brought (tea & cocoa). This
mistake helped me realize an advantage of the Brasslite fuel dispenser
I received with the stove. Being able to see exactly how much fuel was
in the container allowed me to (with surprising accuracy) determine how
much I would need to alter our menu (skip hot drinks for two meals) in
order to ensure we would have enough fuel for the duration of the trip.
 Lighting the stove
I
tried lighting the stove with and without priming. I found that while I
was able to reliably light the stove at home using a long kitchen type
of lighter, and some success with a wooden match, it was very difficult
to impossible to do it with a standard lighter or flint/steel. During
my field use I found lighting it with a standard lighter or flint was
not reliable without some sort of priming even in warm weather. I found
it to be most effective when I used the Cold Weather priming method
described in the instructions. However, I did come up with one trick
while trying to avoid priming. After filling the stove, I dipped a
short stick into the fuel, lit the end of the stick and used it to
light the stove. This worked well in warm weather (I have not tried it
in
cold weather). I found lighting the stove in cold weather (near
freezing) to be a bit more challenging. The cold greatly reduced the
flame of my lighter and made it hard to keep lit, as a result it took a
few tries to get the fuel in the priming dish lit. This surprised me,
given how flammable alcohol is at room temperature.
I also found it
took a few tries to get used to how long to let the stove warm up
before placing the pot on it. I found placing the pot on the stove too
soon could cause the stove to go out, and since the stove is so quiet,
with the windscreen in place it can be difficult to tell if it is lit
or not. I find myself removing the pot from the stove after a minute or
so to make sure it is still lit.
While
trying out the stove at home
it was quite clear that it took a bit of practice to be able to fill
the stove from the fuel dispenser without spilling some of it on the
stove. While this works nicely for priming, at least once I spilled
some of the fuel on the counter I was working on. Since I do most of my
hiking in forested areas, where it is not reasonable to rely upon
finding a suitable non-flammable surface, this presented a definite
concern. I purchased a disposable aluminum pie pan, and cut out a
circle of the aluminum slightly larger than the bottom of my pot. I
placed this in my cook pot and formed it into a shallow pan matching
the contours of my pot, and placed this under the stove before filling.
Along with reducing the risk of igniting any flammable materials that
may be in the dirt under the stove, this might also provide a slight
improvement in fuel efficiency by reflecting heat back up to the pot.
The Windscreen
I
pondered long and hard about the windscreen. I ended up wrapping the
windscreen around the pot per the instructions, and then by placing two
small cuts in the top and bottom edges, formed small tabs that I folded
to hold the ends together[see image above]. I cut a larger notch out to
accommodate the pot handle [see image of stove in use above], and
folded over the corners to avoid leaving any sharp edges. Finally, per
the instructions, I punched holes along the bottom of the windscreen on
the side opposite the opening for the pot handle. I was not sure how
many holes to use so I started with six. So far, this seems to work
well. For storage, I fold the windscreen flat and store it with my
plate/bowl (which also folds flat).
Simmering
Testing
the Brasslite inspired me to experiment. I decided to see if I could
take my favorite oatmeal backpacking. I absolutely love good oatmeal.
While I can eat the instant stuff, I greatly prefer “real” oatmeal and
have a particular favorite that requires (according to the
instructions) 10min of simmering to prepare. My first attempt at
cooking my favorite oats, while it came out a bit mushy, was promising.
I added the oats to the water in my titanium pot, and after it started
boiling, allowed the fuel to run out (about 3 minutes), I then wrapped
the pot in a towel to sit for 15min. Attempts to simmer the oats in my
Titanium pot were a complete failure. Even when I completely closed the
vents as soon as the stove heated up, only used 1/4oz (7 ml) of fuel,
and stirred the pot a few times, it burnt the oats in the center of the
pot every time. The results tasted terrible and I cannot imagine being
able to clean that out while in the field. I strongly suspect the
combination of the very thin bottom of the pot combined with the very
viscous nature of oatmeal is primarily at fault.
Aside from some
slight discoloration of the metal from heat, I have found no
indications of wear. So far, the stove appears quite durable.
Summary
Overall,
I love the stove, and look forward to the next two months of use where
I will attempt to expand my backcountry-cooking repertoire. I already
wonder why it has taken me so long to discover alcohol stoves, and I am
considering purchasing a larger version (Turbo II?) for when I am
cooking for more than just one person.
The only down sides I have
been able to identify so far are the difficulty in lighting the stove
without priming, even in warm weather, and a slightly elevated fire
risk due to spilling the fuel while filling, or tipping the stove over.
There is also the minor issue of wondering if the stove went out after
placing the pot on it due to the almost invisible flame and very quite
operation. However, for me these are far outweighed by the advantages
this stove offers over my other stoves for most of my backcountry
cooking.
LONG
TERM REPORT
Continued Use
- Day hike up Mt Clemons (Central Washington) – 1 lunch
- Night hike at Chinook Pass in the Washington Cascades – Hot
chocolate for two
- Night work in Central Oregon (two trips) – dinner for 1 on
each trip
 Since
the Field report, I have not been able to get in any backpacking.
Therefore, the only use the stove has seen was to make lunch on a day
hike, hot drinks for my daughter and me during a night hike, and twice
to make dinner (outside of my vehicle) while working nights in central
Oregon. I also took the stove on two other day hikes but did not use it. On
one of my trips to Oregon, I forgot to bring the windscreen but the
dehydrated refried beans I was making did not necessarily need to be
cooked, so I was not overly concerned. The weather was warm with a
slight breeze and the only thing I had to block the wind was my
vehicle. I ended up filling the stove with fuel 3 times, and still
never got the 16 oz (500 ml) of water to boil. On my night hike, we
ended up making hot chocolate around midnight. It was quite foggy with
very light snow, but no wind. The stove was easy to light (I used my
flint fire starter) and worked perfectly. When I made lunch during
my hike up Mt Clemons the weather was rather unpleasant – windy and
cold. I found a bit of relief from the elements by moving to the
leeward side of a small hill and found a relatively level piece of
ground that I could clear of flammable materials. I made what has
become my ‘go to’ meal, Cheese Tortellini Soup. The windscreen did an
excellent job of protecting the stove from much of the wind, and I
really enjoyed the hot lunch. I have never carried a stove during
day hikes before. However, the Turbo I-D combined with my Ti pot is so
light that I expect to continue bringing it along for some of my spring
and fall hikes. I am planning to pick up a small container that I can
use to hold enough fuel for 1-2 meals for these short trips. While
compiling this report I examined the stove to see how well it is
holding up. The stove shows the discoloration from heat that I expect
from brass, as well as a small amount of a white powdery corrosion in a
few places on the stove. I was able to wipe most of the corrosion away
with my fingers, but there are a few small spots of it inside the stove
that I could not reach (if I really wanted to I could probably reach it
with a cotton swab or something similar). This small amount of
corrosion is normal for brass and does not seem to affect the operation
of the stove. When I was in the Navy, I spent far more hours than I
care to remember cleaning brass, but this was mostly for aesthetic
reasons or for brass that was exposed to salt water. Since I do not
really care to make my stove shiny, and I do not expect to expose it to
salt water, this small amount of corrosion is of no concern to me. I
suspect the primary cause for this corrosion is that I have at times
packed the stove back into my pot while the pot was still slightly wet.
In the future, I will take more care to avoid exposing the stove to
unnecessary moisture. The
simmer sleeve has been difficult to move sometimes. The instructions
that come with the stove (and are available on their website) explain
how to adjust the simmer ring if necessary. I have not found it
necessary to make these adjustments. All I have had to do to get it to
move smoothly again is simply work it back and forth a few times. While
examining the stove for this report I noticed a small dent in the pot
that I have been using (and storing the stove in). The dent is from the
inside of the pot and exactly matches the extensions attached to the
stove. For the majority of this test I have stored the stove in the pot
wrapped in a cotton bandanna. On my trip to Mt Adams, we encountered a
hiker suffering from dehydration and heat exhaustion. To help cool her
down I donated the cloth my stove was wrapped in (the only cotton cloth
I had) and so the stove made the rest of the trip down the mountain and
all the way home rattling around loose in my pot. I expect this was
most likely when the dent occurred. The dent is too small to have any
effect on the operation of the pot, but it made me wonder how much
damage could the stove have done to a pot with a non-stick lining?
After the completion of this test I am considering bending the tip of
the extensions back on themselves so that the pointy part of the wires
can no longer strike or rub against the inside of my pot. To be
perfectly honest, this has more to do with my innate desire to tinker
than any real concern about the stove damaging my pot. It might
actually make a lot more sense to simply use a strip of something like
cardboard or thin foam to protect the pot and stove if I really cared
that much. Maybe even something that could have double duty to protect
the pot/stove and could be used as a pot cozy.
SummaryFor
several years I have used a white gas stove that has never let me down,
and over the last two years I have been spoiled by a incredibly fast
and simple (but relatively heavy) pressurized gas stove. So when I
started this test I was unsure if something as simple and light as the
Turbo I-D could possibly have a permanent place in my pack. One of the
questions I wanted to answer was if this stove could replace one or
both of the ones I already use, and if so under what conditions. What I
have concluded is that for my warm weather trips where I will be
cooking for 1-2 people, the Brasslite Turbo I-D will be my first
choice. For solo trips when I want to go as light as possible, I feel
the Brassslite is ideal. When I first started investigating alcohol
stoves, I was unsure if one could be as reliable as the stoves I had
become used to. While it is true that only time will tell, I am very
confident that this stove will not let me down. Finally, the most
important question: Would I recommend this stove to friends or family?
The answer: I already have, and fully intend to continue to do so. I
think the Brasslite is a first rate product.
This concludes my testing
of the Brasslite Turbo I-D. I want to thank
BackpackGearTest.org and Brasslite’s founder Aaron Rosenbloom for the
opportunity to test this fine product, and exposing me to the joy of
alcohol stoves.
Read more reviews of Brasslite gear
Read more gear reviews by David Wilkes
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