Reviews > Cook Gear > Stoves > Brasslite Turbo II-D Alcohol Stove > Will Rietveld > Initial Report

Initial Report: Brasslite Turbo II-D Alcohol Stove

Date: October 13, 2003
Item Tested: Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove and 8 oz (227 ml) dispensing fuel bottle.

TESTER INFORMATION
Tester Name: Will Rietveld
E-mail: mailto:willjanet@sisna.com
Gender: M
Age: 60
Height: 6' (183 cm)
Weight: 170 (77.3 kg)
Location: Durango, Colorado, USA
Backpacking Background: 46 years of hiking and backpacking in the mountains and deserts of southwest Colorado, southeast Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona. I have also made numerous trips in Wyoming, Montana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and upper Michigan. I have been a lightweight backpacker for many years, and an ultralight backpacker for 4 years. I have been retired for 6 years and backpack frequently. My wife and I present workshops on ultralight backpacking in the local area and have developed a website called “Southwest Ultralight Backpacking.” The URL is: http://users.sisna.com/swultralight/.

MANUFACTURER INFORMATION
Name: Brasslite Backpacking Stove
Website: http://www.brasslite.com/

PRODUCT INFORMATION
Product Tested: Brasslite Turbo II-D alcohol stove
Year of Manufacture: 2003
Color: Brass (bare metal)
Materials: The stove body is 30 ga (0.0102 in/0.305 mm) brass shim; the simmer sleeve is 32 ga (0.008 in/0.203 mm) brass shim; and the pot holder is 0.5 in (1.3 cm) stainless steel wire cloth.
Weight Listed on Website: 2.5 oz (71 g) in one location and 2.6 oz (74 g) in another location
Weight as Delivered: 2.7 oz (76.5 g)

Product Tested: Brasslite custom dispenser bottle.
Color: Translucent white
Materials: Polyethylene
Capacity: 8 fl oz (227 ml)
Weight Listed on Website: 1.5 oz (42.5 g)
Weight as Delivered: 1.5 oz (42.5 g)

PRODUCT FEATURES
According to the Brasslite website and product literature, the Turbo II-D is the improved version of the Turbo II (now discontinued). The Turbo II-D has a double wall (the reason for the "D" in the name), which increases the weight by 0.4 oz (11.3 g) but creates significantly improved flame control. The Turbo II-D is for use by one to two people. It has a fuel capacity of 2 fl oz (57 ml) and will burn for a maximum time of 20 minutes on a full load of fuel (longer if simmering). In general it's recommended that the Turbo II-D be used with a cook pot having a minimum capacity of 33 fl oz (1 liter), but the base size of the pot is more important to prevent flame spillage and wasted fuel. The minimum recommended pot base size is 5 inches (13 cm). Flame size can be reduced by partially closing the ports (air intakes) to compensate for pots that are slightly less than 5 inches (13 cm) in diameter and 33 fl oz (1 liter) capacity.

PRODUCT ARRIVAL AND CONDITION
The Turbo II-D arrived in perfect condition via Priority Mail on September 25, 2003. Inside the 6 in x 6 in (15.2 cm x 15.2 cm) cardboard shipping box were the dispensing fuel bottle, the stove packaged inside a 4 in x 4 in (10.2 cm x 10.2 cm) white cardstock box, and instructions specific to the Turbo II-D stove. The box containing the stove has attractive stick-on labels with the Brasslite logo and model. The packaging was very professional and made a good initial impression. I weighed the stove and dispensing fuel bottle separately on a postage scale to compare the delivered weight with the weight listed on the Brasslite website.

The 4-page instructions contain safety warnings, a disclaimer, warranty information, return policy, instructions for making a lightweight heat reflector and windscreen, stove tips and maintenance, filling and lighting instructions, and instructions for making a pot cozy.

I submitted some suggestions via e-mail to the manufacturer to clarify the stove ignition instructions. The suggestions were well received and the manufacturer made several revisions to the instruction sheet to make it more clear for the user. We also interacted via e-mail regarding the correct use of the simmer sleeve for flame control.

Overall, the product was what I expected and made a good first impression.

INITIAL IMPRESSIONS AND COMMENTS
I like how Aaron presents his business, his products, and himself. No pretentiousness. It is clear that he is honestly striving to provide a high quality product, and is actively working with the user community to evaluate it and incorporate improvements.

First Use of the Stove at Home
Following the instructions provided, I made a heat reflector to place under the stove and a windscreen to go around the stove. The instructions for this were clear, and the products were well designed and lightweight. 

I took the stove outside and made several test burns using 1 cup (8 oz/240 ml) of water in a 5.5 in (14 cm) aluminum pot with lid (WalMart grease strainer). I used 0.25 oz (7 ml) of fuel each time (less than the recommended amount) because my purpose was to get some practice lighting the stove and adjusting it. Some comments based on this first experience are:

• The simmer sleeve was initially too tight to adjust easily, so I loosened it by spreading the leaves of the handle, as per the instructions. After the simmer sleeve was loosened, the ports (air intakes) no longer are equally covered by the sleeve. Thus, one port will be used to judge air intake adjustments (the one to the left of the handle).
  
  
• The instructions state that the ports must be fully open when the stove is lit. I found that they must also remain open while the stove is reaching operating temperature.
  
  
• Unlike a canister or white gas stove, there is no “instant” flame adjustment. When the stove reached operating temperature I slid the simmer sleeve to reduce the air intake, then it took 2-3 minutes for the stove to slow down to a more efficient level with minimum flame spillage around the pot. But if I restricted the air intake too much, the flame went down to a simmer level that was too low. Then if I opened it up again it took 2-3 minutes for the flame level to increase. Adjusting the flame level requires proper timing, and then patience to wait for the effect to occur. It takes some practice to get the hang of it.
  
  
• The stove has no direct way to turn it off. The process is to estimate the correct amount of fuel for the amount of water being heated and its initial temperature, then light it and let it burn out.
  
  
• The dispenser fuel bottle is a perfect accessory for the Turbo II-D. It does not leak and is ideal for repeatedly measuring the desired amount of fuel.
  
  

First Use of the Stove in the Backcountry
The test burns at home gave me sufficient experience and confidence with the stove to do a field test. I went on a 3-day backpacking trip in the Weminuche Wilderness in Southwest Colorado, USA. My first camp was at 11,900 ft (3627 m) elevation. I used the stove to cook dinner and breakfast. The evening air temperature was 56 F (13 C) and initial water temperature was 62 F (16 C), warm because I carried it in my pack for several hours. The morning air temperature was 45 F (7 C) and initial water temperature was 40 F (4 C). There was a light breeze. For both meals I used 1 oz. (28 ml) of fuel (.25 oz/7 ml more than the recommended amount) to boil 2 cups (16 oz/450 ml) of water. The evening boil time was 7 min. 45 sec. and the morning boil time was 11 min. 30 sec., longer because of the colder air and water temperatures. At my second camp (at 8,200 ft./2500 m) I used .75 oz (22 ml) of alcohol to boil 2 cups (16 oz/450 ml) of water, which appears to be closer to the right amount of fuel unless the water and air are real cold. This agrees with a chart in the stove’s instruction sheet. My findings on this first field test were as follows:

• The alcohol stove worked just fine at high altitude. In past experiences with alcohol stoves, I tried a Trangia stove and a homemade Pepsi can stove to cook meals at high elevations and they did not work very well. My wife was unhappy (for some reason) about eating cold meals for three days. I had read comments from others reporting no problems using an alcohol stove at high elevations, so this confirms that they were right and that I was doing something wrong.
  
  

• The first time I cooked with the stove I waited for boiling before adjusting the sleeve. There was still quite a bit of flame spillage when I emptied my dinner into the cook pot and I singed the hair on my hand. I theorized that I needed to reduce the air intake the right amount (to be determined) just as the stove reaches operating temperature, so it will burn at an optimum level with minimal flame spillage.
  
  

• The second and third times I used the stove in the field, I tried to optimize the flame level as described above. I found that it was very difficult to exert much control over the flame level to "optimize" it for maximum efficiency. Rather, as per the instructions, it is best to keep the ports fully open while the water is heated to boiling, then slide the simmer screen to restrict air intake and shift the stove to simmer mode.
  
  

• I tried to apply light pressure to the top of the pot to adjust the sleeve while there was still quite a bit of flame spillage. It was simply too hot and I feared singeing my hand or clothing, so instead I tapped the adjustment sleeve with a stick without placing downward pressure. This worked just fine.
  
  

• My boil times were significantly longer than the average 5 min. boil time stated on the Brasslite website. This was probably due to my adjustments of the simmer sleeve prior to boiling. I assume that my boil times will be reduced as I develop more skill with using the stove.
  
  

• Overall, I came back from my trip feeling positive about my first field experience with the Turbo II-D. There were no problems lighting it, and no problems with it going out. It seems to be quite predictable, and with experience I can carry the exact amount of fuel I will need for a particular trip. This is more than I can say for my canister stove that quit working on a trip with my wife a week earlier, and we ate cold meals the last day!
  
  

• Postscript: I consulted with Brasslite after my trip, and confirmed that the stove works best if I leave the ports fully open until the water reaches boiling, then slide the simmer sleeve to put it into simmer mode. It is not practical to use the simmer sleeve for flame control while boiling; the alcohol stove is not that controllable.
  
  

TEST PLAN
Test Locations and Conditions
The stove will be evaluated in the mountains and deserts of Southwest Colorado, Southeast Utah, Northern Arizona, and Northern New Mexico. Given the timing of the test, only my initial trips in October will be in the Southwest Colorado Mountains, weather willing. The stove will primarily be used in the canyon and desert country of Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. I will do a number of backpacks ranging from 2 to 5 days to test the stove under a wide variety of conditions. Because of the long cold nights in the wintertime I tend to car camp and day hike in the desert and canyon country, rather than backpack. To give the stove as much testing as I can, I will take it along on car camping trips and use it under a variety of wintertime conditions.

Weather and climate in the Southwest are highly variable and depend a lot on elevation. Precipitation is unpredictable. Fall weather can be very pleasant in the Southwest mountain and canyon country. Winter frontal storms produce rain, snow, and wind in the desert and canyon country. Periods between storms are usually very pleasant, and I target these times for outings.

Data Collection and Recording
On outings for the next six months, I will be using the Turbo II-D for cooking for either myself or my wife and me. I/We normally heat water four times a day: for coffee and cereal in the morning, and for soup and main dish in the evening. The stove will be tested in a wide variety of situations (altitude, temperature, humidity, wind). The following form will be used to collect data for each use of the stove.

• I have purchased a new watch with a good stopwatch function, as well as a lightweight immersion thermometer, so I can take accurate time and temperature measurements.
  
  

• I will experiment with the simmer sleeve to determine how well it adjusts the flame level.
  
  

• I will compare how the stove works with different fuels (methanol versus ethanol).
  
  

• I will determine if there is a water temperature, air temperature, or wind velocity where using the stove is not practical.
  
  

• I will evaluate how well the stove performs over time.
  
  

• On some occasions (e.g., car camping) I will take a canister stove along so I can compare it with the alcohol stove under the same conditions. I will do an efficacy analysis of the Turbo II-D alcohol stove compared to using a lightweight canister stove. The analysis will compare cost, weight of stove plus fuel, boiling time, durability and reliability, convenience, efficiency, and ethics. Much of this analysis will be subjective, but I would like to determine how the “latest and greatest” alcohol stove stacks up against a canister stove.
  
  

• As I use the Turbo II-D, I will evaluate it from the perspective of a lightweight backpacker and comment on its ultralight utility from that standpoint. The bottom line is: “is the Turbo II-D alcohol stove a good ultralight alternative to a canister stove that provides comparable performance? If there are tradeoffs, are the tradeoffs worth the weight savings?”
  

EXPECTATIONS FOR THE TURBO II-D
By the end of the test, I should be able to support or refute the following expectations (stated as hypotheses):

• The Turbo II-D will be dependable and reliable and require little or no maintenance under a variety of backpacking conditions.
  
  

• The weight of the Turbo II-D stove and fuel will be significantly lighter than a canister stove and fuel for the same number of meals.
  
  

• Boil times will be reduced as I develop more skill with using the Turbo II-D.
  
  

• The Turbo II-D will be slower to boil water than a canister stove, but the difference will be small and the weight savings will justify the additional boiling time.
  
  

• The Turbo II-D will boil cold water in cold weather in an acceptable amount of time.
  
  

• The Turbo II-D will boil water for 2 people in a reasonable amount of time.
  
  

• Turbo II-D will perform as well under windy conditions as a canister stove, assuming an adequate windscreen is used.
  
  

• A windscreen will significantly increase the efficiency of the stove.
  
  

• By calculating the amount of fuel needed, accurately measuring the amount of fuel used, and adjusting the simmer sleeve, the Turbo II-D will use fuel efficiently.
  
  

• The Turbo II-D is sufficiently rugged for backpacking conditions.
  
  

• Since the Turbo II-D costs about the same as a canister stove, there will be compelling reasons (e.g. lightweight, simplicity, reliability) to recommend it over a canister stove.
  
  

• It will take some practice to master the flame control of the Turbo II-D, but it will eventually become second nature.
  

I will evaluate the Turbo II-D with the above expectations in mind, over a wide range of terrain and weather conditions. During each trip I will record data and notes and after each trip I will document how well the Turbo II-D met my expectations and needs. After six months of use I expect to have plenty of documentation and clear opinions on how well the Turbo II-D met the above expectations. Based on the data, the above hypotheses will be either accepted or rejected in my Long-Term Report.

I would like to thank Aaron Rosenbloom at Brasslite and the BackpackGearTest group for selecting me to participate in this test.

Will Rietveld

Reviews > Cook Gear > Stoves > Brasslite Turbo II-D Alcohol Stove > Will Rietveld > Initial Report