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Reviews > Cook and Food Storage Gear > Stoves > GSI Halulite Minimalist Complete stove > Test Report by Gail StaisilGSI OutdoorsHalulite Minimalist Complete  Test Series by: Gail Staisil, Marquette, Michigan Initial Report - May 18, 2016
Initial Report:
May 18, 2016 Tester Information Name: Gail Staisil Age: 63 Gender: Female Height: 5' 9" (1.75 m) Weight: 160 lb (73 kg) Location: Marquette, Michigan USA Email: woodswoman 2001 AT yahoo DOT com Product Information
Initial Impressions and Product Description  The GSI Halulite Minimalist Complete provides almost everything that is needed to cook a simple meal in the backcountry. The only necessary addition would be a canister of fuel and food of course. The set includes the following: canister top stove, windscreen, 0.6 L pot/mug, sip-it top for pot, insulated sleeve for pot, silicone gripper, and telescoping foon (combination fork and spoon). Set Features The canister top stove is called the Pinnacle Canister Stove and is touted to be high efficiency and light weight by the manufacture. The stove burner is rated at 8,768 BTU/h (2210 kcal/h). A tag was attached to the stove that indicated it was to be used in the outdoors only because of the carbon monoxide threat if used indoors. It also suggests that it only be used with GSI Outdoors isobutane and propane mix fuel cartridges. These are not available in the remote area where I live so I will be using other types as available. It also indicates that clearance to combustibles must be 4 ft (1.22 m) away from top and sides. The stove features three wing-like pot supports that can be easily turned and flipped into place. A long flame adjustment handle or valve can be used to control the fuel usage. A small black storage bag is included for the stove. The set also features a windscreen for the stove. It so reminds me of one that I fabricated eons ago, in that it is made of aluminum with a row of air holes around the perimeter. The closure is the same as well with bent over ends so that the ends can be slid together. Three notches are also cut along the lower edge for the windscreen to set properly on the pot supports. A silicone gripper is included for handling the pot. This grip has an integrated magnet so that it can be stored attached to the side of the food canister. This keeps it handy and not lost, although the bright orange color would also help if it was misplaced. The cook pot is made for solo backpackers in that it is only 0.6 L. Of course that is not a problem if I do cook for another person as I can just heat another pot of water for them. The hard anodized alloy pot has a sleeve over it that has to be removed while cooking. Then it is placed back on to serve as a cozy after removing the pot from the stove. Both the pot and cover are the same color so I have to be careful to makes sure the cozy is removed before cooking. The pot has a lid which functions also as a sip-it lid when placed right side up. For cooking purposes the lid is inverted and the mouth spout serves as a vent. Both the pot and cozy have a diagram screened on the side of each that shows the nesting order to store all the parts of the set. Only the smaller size (4 oz/110 g) fuel canister would fit inside the pot. I fit all the parts in the pot but it is an extremely tight fit. The windscreen and fuel canister are hard to get out after they are forced in. I also have concerns that the windscreen will repeatedly scratch the inside of the pot as the edges of it are sharp. The lid has a slight overhang on one side so that when it is used as a sip-it lid it can be removed easier when done. The last component of the set is a telescoping foon that collapses to approximately 3.8 in (9.6 cm) long. A foon is a combination of a fork and spoon. There is a warning sticker on the foon to keep my fingers clear when collapsing the handle. It seems rather delicate but time will tell if it is durable. I took the set outside to the back patio and fired up the stove to make sure all was well. It lit easily and in a few minutes I had a cup of hot water. I did not time it but I will do so in field testing conditions. Summary The Halulite Minimalist Complete appears to be a well designed integrated cooking system for a solo camper. It is relatively lightweight and doesn't take up much space in a backpack. I am looking forward to much backcounty travel in the next few months. Top of Page Field Report: August 2, 2016 USA Locations and Conditions During the testing period I have spent twelve days backpacking on four different trips and three days rustic cabin camping. I have also brought it along on some day hikes and road trips where it was used some. Trip locations included lakeshore to boreal forest. Elevation ranged from above 600 ft (183 m) to almost 2,000 ft (610 m). Location of Trip #1: Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore  Length of Trip: 2 days, 1 night (May 27-28) Pack Weight: 23 lb (10.4 kg) Distance: 22 mi (35.4 km) Sky and Air Conditions: Cloudy, rain Precipitation: Approx: 1 in (2.5 cm) Temperature Range: 56 F to 76 F (13 C to 24 C) Location of Trip #2: Isle Royale National Park, Michigan Length of Solo Trip: 4 days, 4 nights (June 7-11) Pack Weight: Approx 28 lb (12.7 kg) Distance: 35 mi (56 km) Sky and Air Conditions: Cloudy, sunny and rain Precipitation: Rain, approx 0.25 in (0.64 cm) Temperature Range: 43 F to 67 F (6 to 19 C) Location of Trip #3: Grand Island National Recreation Area Length of Solo Trip: 3 days, 2 nights (July 10-12) Pack Weight: 23 lb (10.4 kg) Distances: 10 mi (16 km) Sky and Air Conditions: Sun, clouds and rain Precipitation: Approx 0.5 in (1.27 cm)  Temperature Range: 50 F to 82 F (10 C to 28 C) Location of Trip #4: Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park Length of Solo Trip: 3 days, 2 nights (July 20-22) Pack Weight: 26 lb (11.8 kg) Distance: 11 mi (17.7 km) Sky and Air Conditions: Sun, clouds and rainstorms Precipitation: approx 2+ in (5 cm) Temperature Range: 62 F to 90 F (17 C to 32 C) Location of Trip #5: Hiawatha National Forest Length of Hike/Canoe-In Rustic Cabin Trip: 3 days, 2 nights (July 29-31) Pack Weight: 35 lb (15.9 kg) everything but the kitchen sink Distance: Unknown, it was a combination of canoeing and hiking (maybe 5-6 mi/8-9.7 km for the latter) Sky and Air Conditions: Partly sunny and sunny Precipitation: None Temperature Range: 51 F to 76 F (11 C to 24 C) ------------------------------------------------------ Trip Talk I love everything about the GSI Halulite Minimalist Complete. The stove itself is so powerful that it boils water in a short amount of time...usually about 2.5 min to a rocking boil for a pint (0.47 L) of water in most summertime weather conditions.  I love the convenience of putting everything in the cook pot for storage. Normally I have had a bigger canister with me so it doesn't fit in the pot but that doesn't matter. The cozy doesn't always come off easy. I usually kind of pinch the outer covering and then stick a finger between pot and cover to start pulling it off. Because the windscreen is stored inside the pot, it needs to unfurl so that the ends can be slid together. I normally have to bend the windscreen a bit the opposite way for that to happen. I just hold each end of the windscreen and bend the opposite way it was curled. Since the windscreen is stored in the pot, I thought there would be more damage to the pot but the hard edges haven't impacted the inner surface as far as I can see.  I have also taken along a small fry pan on many of my trips so that I could make bread and scrambled egg-type dishes. Usually these require more cook time and I have been so happy with the simmer mode on the stove. It really works well for cooking when turned way down. Of course I can't use the windscreen in that scenario but it is not necessary as I am constantly turning the food in the pan while holding on to the edge with the silicone gripper. On those trips I just used the regular pot to boil water for other food to re-hydrate. I have used the silicone pot gripper before in another set I have. I love the convenience of it and its bright orange color but usually have to be quick to pour hot liquid out into a bag/bowl of freeze-dried food as it doesn't give much protection from the hot steam. Since it is summer time and I am not prone to drinking a lot of hot liquids (not a coffee drinker) I have only used the cozy with pot a few times in combination with the sip-it lid. It works well enough and protects my hands from the hot pot. I have actually used this cozy more often to put my freezer zip bag of food in to re-hydrate and stay warm. With a single serving it works great for that! The foon has been a pleasant surprise. It stays open when locked in place but is easy to close. I thought I would miss my long handle titanium spoon but it has been a great substitute. Top of Page Long Term Report: September 24, 2016 USA Locations and Conditions During the long term testing period I have spent an additional eleven days backpacking. All trips were in Michigan and Minnesota. Trip locations included lakeshore to boreal forest. Elevation ranged from above 600 ft (183 m) to almost 2,000 ft (610 m). Location of Trip #6: Grand Island National Recreation Area Length of Solo Trip: 4 days, 3 nights (August 21-24) Pack Weight: Approx 28 lb (12.7 kg) Distance: 25 mi (40 km) Sky and Air Conditions: Sunny, cloudy and rain  Precipitation: Rain Temperature Range: 50 F to 81 F (10 C to 27 C) Location of Trip #7: Porcupine Mts Wilderness State Park Length of Trip: 3 days, 2 nights (August 28-30) Pack Weight: 23 lb (10.4 kg) Distances: 10 mi (16 km) Sky and Air Conditions: Warm, sunny and cloudy Precipitation: None Temperature Range: 46 F to 84 F (8 C to 29 C) Location of Trip #8: Isle Royale National Park Length of Trip: 4 days, 3 nights backpacking (Sept 10-13), plus 8 more days of dayhikes and adventures in Minnesota) Pack Weight: 26 lb (11.8 kg) Distance: 31 mi (50 km) Sky and Air Conditions: Sun, clouds and rainstorms Precipitation: Rain (probably 2+ in/5+ cm) Temperature Range: 42 F to 77 F (6 C to 25 C) ------------------------------------------------------ Trip Talk I have continued to enjoy using this stove set. Quite frankly there is much to love. Between the great power source and the nesting set, it is a backpacker's dream. The water boils so fast and although I can't quantify it I don't seem to use much fuel at all. I keep on carrying some of the same canisters from trip to trip. In fact one of my small canisters was rather low so I took another fresh one with me on the Grand Island trip and didn't even need to use the new one after three nights of backpacking. Granted most of my meals were to only boil water but I also made some pan bread with a long simmering time as well as some dried soups which required simmering time as well. I love that I can adjust the flame so low and it keeps a steady burn without "burning"  my food!When pouring steaming hot water out of the pot I often worry that my hand will become steam burned with the tiny silicone gripper but it hasn't happened yet. I guess I wish it was a bit bigger but it does seem to do the trick.  The cozy still is a bit hard to remove from the pot. It doesn't always come off easy. I often use the cozy to re-hydrate my hot dinner as most of the time I don't need it for hot drinks in summer weather (I am not a coffee drinker so I can live without hot drinks in the summer weather). All components of the set have continued to perform well. The foon really has been a surprise as its slight appearance kind of suggested it might not be that sturdy. Happy to report that I have had zero issues with it. The handle always stays locked in place too. Summary Overall I continue to really like this set. It packs so well in a backpack and I like the fact that once I take it out I know everything is there to make a meal. Pros
Tester Remarks Thanks to GSI Outdoors, Inc and BackpackGearTest.org for this opportunity to test the Halulite Minimalist Complete. This concludes my Long Term Report and the test series. Top of Page Read more reviews of GSI Outdoors gear Read more gear reviews by Gail Staisil Reviews > Cook and Food Storage Gear > Stoves > GSI Halulite Minimalist Complete stove > Test Report by Gail Staisil | ||||||||||||||||||