2) Brasslite Turbo II-F Usage and Field Observations Stove Usage and Background I have used and taken apart and tested and modified dozens of backpacking stoves. I have tried wood stoves, Esbit stoves, and all kinds of liquid gas and gas cartridge stoves. I have studied them and spent waaaay too much of my life thinking about them. I've even written two stove reviews for BackpackGearTest.org, one of which includes extensive testing that has since been duplicated in a variety of ways and validated by numerous other sources. But through it all, I've avoided alcohol stoves. The more I read and the more I learned, I somehow convinced myself that they can be a fun hobby stove, but not cut out for the backcountry. Sure, they worked, but they need 4 times the fuel and 3 times as long to do the job. The lightweight stoves and lack of cartridge weight savings were quickly lost to increased fuel consumption. Then 2 years ago I became a parent. Suddenly my 5 day trips turned into quick weekends or overnighters. I began to use stoves for one or two quick boils on an entire trip. All of the sudden the heavier fuel didn't matter because I needed so little of it. I still clung to my gas cartridge stoves for speed and convenience, but the lure of alcohol stoves has become stronger and stronger. So, here I am now with one of the lightest alcohol stoves on the market - the Brasslite Turbo II-F. Not only have I never tested a Brasslite stove before (one of the requirements of this test), I've never used a real alcohol stove before. I plan to bring an alcohol stove "newbie" experience to this test, but from a backpacking stove veteran perspective. Field Observations My first use of the Brasslite Turbo II-F came in early November during a typical rainy Northwest afternoon. I grabbed my cook set and headed down a trail that leads from my house through forest to a small lake. There are a couple of shelters around the lake, and I figured they would make a great place to try the Turbo II-F out. I unpacked my set, only to discover that I'd left the instructions at home. I remembered them being quite detailed - especially for such a seemingly simple stove - and noted this in my Initial Report. No big deal - this was testing after all. It sure looked straightforward enough, so I gave it a go. I poured an ounce (29.6 ml) of HEET into the big opening on the stove, lit a match, and ignited the fuel. It lit right up, sputtered and hissed for a few seconds, shot a little flame out the side holes, then turned into a beautiful tall cone-shaped flame that climbed straight up out of the main center hole. There was a gentle hissing sound - I'd expected it to burn silently - but certainly not the roar of a gas-cartridge or white gas stove. The temperature was in the mid 40s F (single digits C) and the water was about the same. I placed the pot on the stove, wrapped a windscreen around the whole setup, and waited. After 9 minutes, the stove let out a soft "pop" and suddenly stopped. I checked the water - it wasn't boiling. I had figured that an ounce (29.6 ml) should do the job, so I was a little disappointed. I had just scooped water from the lake, dumped in the fuel, and lit it. It was close to 16 ounces (0.47L) of water and very close to 1 ounce (29.6 ml) of fuel, so I had expected it to work. I decided to be a little more accurate in my measurements for a second run. This time, I measured out exactly 16 ounces (0.47L) of water, exactly 1 ounce (29.6 ml) of fuel, and basically repeated the same process as before. I dumped the fuel in and lit it. Right at 8 minutes and 50 seconds, a full rolling boil was achieved. I let it continue to boil, which it did until 10 minutes and 50 seconds, when the now-familiar "pop" occurred and the flame disappeared. I've used the stove in the woods two times since that test, and had very similar results, give or take a few seconds. Given that the conditions were almost identical all three times, I'm now pretty confident that an ounce (29.6 ml) of fuel and a pint (0.47L) of water work well together, with a minute or two of room for error. Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the Brasslite Turbo II-F is the effect it has on my total kitchen weight for a short trip that included two boils. Here is a comparison of my typical kitchen setup compared to the Turbo II-F setup:

`Components`	`MSR Pocket Rocket Setup`	`Brasslite Turbo II-F Setup`
`Stove`	`3.5oz (99gm) ¹`	`1.4oz (40gm)`
`Fuel Container`	`2.7 oz (77gm)`	`0.6 oz (17gm)`
`Fuel`	`1 oz (29ml) ²`	`2 oz (75ml)`
`Pot`	`3.4oz (98gm)`	`3.4oz (98gm)`
`Foil Lid`	`0.1oz (4gm)`	`0.1oz (4gm)`
`Windscreen`	`1.3oz (39gm)`	`1.3oz (39gm)`
*`Total Setup`*	`12oz (340gm)`	`8.8oz (249gm)`

¹ includes piezo igniter add-on ²Best case scenario. Requires a partially used fuel canister.

Even more interesting is the "take home" weight. While the Pocket Rocket setup would only lose 1/2 ounce (14 gm) from the beginning of the trip, the Turbo II-F setup would lose about 2 ounces (57 gm), or almost 25% of the already low starting weight! This is also an absolute best case scenario with the Pocket Rocket, assuming that there was a fuel canister with just 1oz (29ml) of fuel remaining to take on the trip. If the canister was new at the outset of the trip, an additional 2.4oz (68gm) would be added to the Pocket Rocket setup, essentially DOUBLING the take home weight of the Brasslite setup. Here is a photo of my entire kitchen setup from the chart above. I don't usually carry a Nalgene bottle, but have included it as a size reference in the photo.

This kitchen setup could be even lower with a lighter mug/pot and a thinner windscreen, potentially getting under 6 ounces (170gm ) for an entire kitchen!

Based on the three field uses to date, here are my observations:

Conditions: In miserable cold and wet conditions, the Brasslite Turbo-II F seems to work just fine. I wouldn't want to melt snow with it all day, but for a quick pot of boiling water - exactly what it was designed for - it does the job reliably and consistently.

Burn Characteristics: The flame is quiet, hot, and perfectly covers the entire bottom of my GSI Hard Anodized pot. The first couple of times I lit the stove I had to lay down low and make sure it was centered on the stove itself, but after a few uses this becomes apparent by observing the flame pattern as it works up the sides of the pot.

Vulnerabilities: The flame is extremely influenced by wind. Even body movement can cause the flame to dance. The manufacturer recommendation to always use a windscreen should be taken seriously. Any weight savings by leaving it behind would likely quickly be lost by increased fuel consumption.

Durability: So far, I have no concerns about the durability of the Brasslite Turbo II-F. The supports are at least as strong as my MSR Pocket Rocket, and I imagine this stove would survive most accidents barring a full-blown crushing.

Highlights of the Brasslite Turbo II-F so far:

Stove itself is incredibly light!
Using HEET fuel, there is zero soot or residue on the bottom of my pot. I even wiped the bottom of my pot on a white bandana after one use, and nothing but a little moisture was present. The stove itself stays just as clean.
Very small stove unit. The stove is even smaller than the website pictures make it appear. This allows it to easily fit inside even small pots with room or fuel and windscreen.
Sturdy. So far this stove is as sturdy as any cartridge stove I've used, and more so that some other ultralight options (Esbit Wing Stove).
Only have to bring the fuel that will actually be consumed. Further, the fuel can be transported in bottles with virtually no weight of their own, allowing an almost 100% loss of fuel-related weight over a trip.
So far, 100% reliability of lighting. No finicky igniters, no blown-out matches. Each use has been a one match effort.
Cools surprisingly quick. Granted, I've used it in cold temperatures, but each time I've been able to handle the stove within just a minute or two after the flame goes out.

Concerns with the Brasslite Turbo II-F So Far:

Fuel Consumption: This is dramatic on a use-by-use basis. So far, the Turbo II-F is using almost 4 times the fuel of a cartridge stove. This is mitigated to a large degree by the difference in fuel containers, but could still be a major consideration depending on the length of trip and how much cooking is to be done.
Messiness: Liquid fuel that is poured into the stove is inherently messier than a solid fuel or a contained fuel like a cartridge. The potential for a spill is always a reality, which could leave one completely without fuel.
Lack of Shut Off: No simple way to shut off the stove after a boil is achieved. Careful measuring of fuel can take care of this to some degree, but it's still a bit of a guessing game each time. My inclination is to always error a little on the side of too much to make sure it gets the job done, which means most of the time I'm burning just a little more fuel than needed. This is a particular concern because of the tiny amounts of fuel I'm carrying to begin with.
Centering: I'm finding this is less of a concern each time I use it, but the stove is so small that getting it centered on the stove usually involves me getting my head on the ground to check.

Overall, I'm quite impressed with the Brasslite Turbo II-F so far. If it's used for what the manufacturer intended - a quick and simple solo boiler - it absolutely delivers as promised. For me, using it to replace a cartridge stove for a small group or for demanding applications like snow melting is likely to be an exercise in frustration. For quick overnights or a cup of hot tea or cider on the summit of a dayhike, this stove is almost ideal. The prospect of having my entire kitchen setup weigh less than my lightweight cartridge stove and fuel canister alone has definitely earned the Turbo II-F a spot on my permanent gear list.

3) Test Plan and Location I will continue to use this stove primarily in the cold and wet conditions that persist from December to spring here in the Northwest. I will undoubtedly use it in snowy conditions a bit, but most use will be in old growth forest valleys around Western Washington and the cold and dry Steppe of Central Washington. I am using the two pots that are part of the GSI Hard Anodized Aluminum Cook Set (reviewed by me here at BGT). Both pots measure between 4.5 and 5.0 inches (11.4 and 12.7 cm) across. This is about the minimum measurement for this test, but according to the Brasslite website it should work. Most of the use will be to do one thing: boil water. I don't have plans to do extensive simmering and delicate cooking, but may try work up a couple of gourmet dishes just to push the limits of the stove. I will continue to test the stove in various conditions for:

Boiling times: So far they are quite reasonable. Will they hold up in colder conditions?
Fuel consumption: Will even colder temperatures or colder water significantly increase fuel usage?
Wet weather effects: Is stove performance affected by rainy and drizzly weather? So far this has been a minimal factor, but what about heavy downpours?
Snow effects: Does this Brasslite stove perform in the snow? Can it melt snow to any usable degree? While not claimed or really expected to do this, can it be used beyond its apparent cold-weather limits?
Fuel spill issues: Is spilling fuel a problem? Does spilled fuel readily evaporate? Does fuel get into other packed items?
Simmering ability: The Turbo II-F is equipped with a simmer slider ring. Is it effective? Can food that needs a lower temperature cook be successfully done on this stove?
Impact on total kitchen weight: Using the same pot and windscreen components from my gas stove setup, what are the realized weight savings of using an alcohol stove? With all things equal except the stove, fuel, and fuel container, what's the real difference in pack weight for a given trip?
Weight over various length trips: Assuming there are weight savings, at what point are they realized, maximized, and minimal?
Suitability for couple stove: Does this stove make sense and function for two people?

4) Contact and Background Information Name: Curt Peterson Age: 33 Gender: Male Height: 6'3" (1.91 m) Weight: 270 lbs. (122 kg) Email address: curt <at> boopants <dot> com Location: North Bend, Washington, USA

I live in the Cascade foothills, just 20 miles (32 km) from the PCT via footpaths leading right from my backyard. Most of my outdoor time here in Washington is spent on dayhikes, backpacking journeys, climbs, and ski trips everywhere from the Wilderness coast to the rainforest to the massive volcanoes to steppe.

I played football in college and often evaluate products from a big guy perspective. I tested gear forSeattle's biggest gear retailer in the mid-90s, then guided backpacking tours in Olympic National Park for a few summers. My typical pack load ranges from 12 to 19 lbs (5.4 to 8.6 kgs) and usually includes a tent to keep dry in the Pacific Northwest’s incessant dampness.Thanks to BackpackGearTest.org and Brasslite for the opportunity to test the Turbo II-F!

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