2) Brasslite Turbo II-F Usage and Long Term Observations For a brief overview on my backpacking stove use history, please see my Initial or Field Reports. Long Term Observations I have used the Brasslite Turbo II-F exclusively during the testing period. The majority of usage has been on the Western slope of the Washington Cascades. I have used it primarily on morning hikes (sometimes breakfast, sometimes lunch) and a couple of times for all of my day's meals. Conditions have been record-setting strange for a Pacific Northwest winter. Our snowpack during the testing period was about 13% of normal, temperatures significantly warmer than usual, and adverse weather conditions were rare. Temperatures ranged from the high 20s F(-3 to -1 C) to the low 50s F(10-12C). Elevations ranged from 1100 to about 3700 feet (335 to 1130 meters). Water used for boiling ranged from 32F(0C) to about 50F(10C). I used HEET fuel almost every time. I experimented around the house with 90% and 93% alcohol, but the flame was not nearly as clean and efficient. The manufacturer recommendation to use 100% alcohol blends is best taken seriously. I used a well-fitting windscreen every time I used the stove. On the whole, the Brasslite Turbo II-F performed well. After using it routinely, there are aspects about it I have come to really appreciate, and others that left me a bit frustrated. I believe most of my original test plan questions have been answered now, so I'll discuss my Long Term Observations based on them:

Boiling Times and Fuel Consumption:

Boiling times were one of the more frustrating aspects of the Turbo II-F. They ranged considerably depending on exact amount of fuel used, wind conditions, and the physical setup of the stove. I found there's a significant difference between relatively minor fluctuations in windscreen wrapping. A super-tight wrap gets the stove pretty hot, but rather than boil the water faster, it seems to burn fuel faster near the stove itself. For example, the heat that generated at the base of the stove (evidenced by a definite hotspot on a log) was pretty intense and the fuel burned off quicker than normal. A too-loose wrap that allowed even a gentle breeze to cut efficiency in a big way. Brasslite notes that a close wrap can cut burn time, and my usage definitely verified this. Of course, my usage also showed the opposite to be true, too, so getting it just right is important. Compared with pressurized fuels, much more monitoring and less room for error should be expected. Finally, my Field Test times of around 8 or 9 minutes to boil on an ounce (30 ml) of fuel held up as the average time needed to boil a pint ((0.47L).

Brasslite claims that "The Turbo I and Turbo F are designed to boil 16-20 US fluid ounces (appx. 475-600 ml) of water using 0.75 oz (22 ml) or less of alcohol fuel." I never came even close to the 4:30 to 5:30 that Brasslite indicates is possible in perfect conditions. I also never came close to getting 20 ounces (600 ml) of water to boil with just .75 ounces (22 ml) of fuel that Brasslite indicates as potentially possible. For me, a tad under 1 ounce (30 ml) of fuel could consistently get a pint (.47 L) to boil in 8 to 9 minutes. None of these factors is a show stopper for me - the stove works just fine - they are simply aspects that need to be considered carefully when using the Turbo II-F.

Weather effects:

With the exception of wind, the Turbo II-F did not seem affected much by weather. It didn't care how cold it was or how wet it was. The boiling times and fuel consumption I indicated above were true on sunny dry days and wet cold days. There may have been slight impacts in boil times and fuel usage due to the weather, but the range of boil times was broad enough that this was undetectable. I wouldn't hesitate to continue to use the Turbo II-F in wet wintry conditions. The only exception to this would be in melting snow for water, as the amount of fuel required to do this would quickly negate any weight savings achieved by using a lightweight alcohol stove. I plunked a couple handfuls of snow into the pot at one point just to verify this, and it was obvious to me that melting stove on an alcohol stove would quickly become an exercise in frustration and patience. It's certainly not what this stove is intended to do, so this is hardly a criticism on the typical usefulness of the Turbo II-F

Fuel spill issues:

While fuel spills were not a big issue for me during this test (a few drops were lost now and then when pouring from the fuel bottle to the stove - mostly when fuel clung to and ran down the side of the bottle), the stress of a spill is very real. This, of course, is completely subjective and each user will have their own level of worry, but for me, the amount of fuel carried cuts it so close that a spill almost certainly would mean the end of stove use for a trip. For example, I carried a 2 ounce (75 ml) mini-bottle of fuel with me. This allowed me two good boils with a little bit to spare as a backup in case of strong winds or some other factor. With such a small amount of fuel, a partial spill is unlikely - it's probably all or nothing. As a backpacker who is used to having the fuel safely stored in a cartridge with plenty of backup fuel, this was an adjustment for me. The fuel bottle available from Brasslite goes a long way in mitigating this stress, but it's ridiculously large relative to the rest of the kitchen setup I used, so I often chose the mini-bottle over it for trips. Again, the stove worked well and definitely has a place in the backcountry kitchen, but close monitoring, more care, and less room for error are to be expected.

Simmering ability:

I used the Brasslite Turbo II-F almost exclusively to boil water. I did tinker with the simmering sleeve (never use your bare fingers!!) and it definitely increased stove burn time. Since cooking multi-course gourmet meals routinely during my guiding days (and washing all of the subsequent dirty dishes), I have gone almost completely to boil-water-only food. The ease, simplicity, and cleanliness is a high priority for me now, so the limits of the simmering capabilities of the Turbo II-F were not pushed by me during this test. I will certainly add future addendums to this report if I decide to try out any simmer-mandatory dishes.

Impact on Total Kitchen Weight and Weight Over Various Length Trips:

For me,it is in the category of weight that alcohol stoves shine. They are light - incredibly light. This is what compensates for higher fuel consumption and longer boil times. After 6 months of testing, I have decided that a small alcohol stove setup is definitely the way to go for solo short trips. For this end use, this long-time cartridge stove fan has become an alcohol stove convert. Where the decision on which stove to use gets interesting, however, is in trip length and the amount of water that needs to be boiled. For my setup, here is the breakdown of a typical setup I use:

`Components`	`Brasslite Turbo II-F Setup`
*Fixed Items*
`Stove`	`1.4oz (40gm)`
`Empty Fuel Container`	`1.2 oz (34 gm)`
`Windscreen`	`1.3oz (39gm)`
`Pot`	`3.4oz (98gm)`
`Foil Lid`	`0.1oz (4gm)`
*Fixed Item Total*	7.4 oz (215 gm)

*Fuel Per Day*`¹`	*~2.25 oz (67ml)*
*`Total Setups`*
`Fuel x 1 Days + Fixed Items`	9.65`oz (274 gm)`
`Fuel x 2 Days + Fixed Items`	11.90`oz (337 gm)`
`Fuel x 3 Days + Fixed Items`	14.15 oz (401 `gm`)

¹ Includes 16 ounces (.47L) for coffee at breakfast and ~24 ounces (.71L) for a boiled water dinner and a hot drink after dinner.

So, according to my personal fuel schedule, for 3 days I can keep my entire kitchen under 1 pound (454 gms)! For quick overnighters the alcohol stove is definitely my choice. I usually will forgo a hot breakfast when I take the alcohol setup as well, as my goal on these trips are to cover ground relatively quickly in the short time I have. A couple protein bars can get me by for the morning allowing me to carry half of the fuel (and a smaller fuel container) that I would for 2 meals. This gets my entire kitchen down to about 8 ounces (227 gms), offering even more weight savings. It's important to note here that the table above is for the starting weight of the setups at a trip's outset. By the end of a trip the loss of food and water weight are many times any weight savings in my kitchen setup, so take-home kitchen weight is less important to me.

Suitability for couple stove:

For me, the Brasslite Turbo II-F is not a good choice - nor is it claimed to be - for more than solo backpackers. Brasslite makes the Turbo II-D for this use. According to my use and cooking patterns, the weight savings of an alcohol stove would quickly be eliminated by forcing it into two-person duty.

Durability:

The Brasslite Turbo II-F is a durable stove. In my experience, it's at least as durable as its cartridge stove counterparts, and much more durable than many of the homemade alcohol stove that I have seen. Unless a backpacker decides to jump up and down on the stove, it should hold just fine to the rigors of backpacking use. Long Term Highlights of the Brasslite Turbo II-F:

Stove itself is incredibly light - especially considering its toughness.
Using HEET fuel, there is absolutely no soot or residue on the bottom of my pot.
Very small stove unit. This allows it to easily fit inside even small pots with room or fuel and windscreen.
Sturdy and durable.
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.
100% reliability of lighting. No finicky igniters, no blown-out matches. During testing, every use was a one match effort!
Cools very quickly.

Long Term Concerns with the Brasslite Turbo II-F:

Fuel Consumption: This is dramatic on a use-by-use basis, using almost 4 times the fuel of a cartridge stove.
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. I tend 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.

Final Notes:

Overall, I'm impressed with the Brasslite Turbo II-F. It's very well-built - the quality and craftsmanship are top notch. It does exactly what it's intended to do - boil water for a solo backpacker. This stove has caused me to re-think the way I cook in the backcountry. While it requires more attention to setup and conditions and the fuel has much less room for error than a cartridge stove, the weight savings and tiny setup afforded by the Turbo II-F make these compromises worthwhile considerations. Another advantage is in fuel cost - alcohol is much cheaper than fuel cartridges and even solid fuel. This is a small consideration for me in the big picture, however, as any backcountry fuel cost is a comparatively small. For thru-hikers, this matters. For most recreational backpackers, more money will likely be spent and fuel used in their automobile for a single dayhike than all backpacking trip stove fuel for many years.

If I could make changes or had to come up with a wish list for the perfect alcohol stove, it would keep many of the characteristics of the Brasslite Turbo II-F. I like the material, the easy "pour in and light" simplicity, and the option to simmer. If I could add two features, they would be:

1) A fold-up broad pot support. Brasslite offers permanent pot support "wings" for a more sturdy pot holder, but something that could be folded up to maintain the small package would be nice. There a number of potential designs already on the market that do this in a variety of stove types, and undoubtedly as the alcohol stove market continues to evolve and individuals tinker and modify their stoves, the chance of a Brasslite stove with this capability seems possible.

2) Some sort of on-board fuel storage. As far as I know, the comparatively heavy and less efficient Trangia alcohol stove is still the only stove that does this, but the capacity to store a few ounces (~100ml) of fuel in the stove, light it, cook with it, and then snuff it out and cap it is a very attractive idea. No fuel pouring on the trail, no separate fuel storage bottle to carry, and the ability to use exactly what is needed for a cooking session - no more, no less. This "wish" poses more of a challenge for stove makers and modifiers, but there are a lot of smart folks out there that play with stoves, so I'm hopeful we'll see more of this design in the future.

The Turbo II-F offers a small form, reliable performance, incredibly-light weight, and a quality build in an attractive-looking package. It works well, stands up to the abuse of the backcountry, and has a manufacturer committed to his products. The Brasslite stoves have been evolving and improving for a few years now, and this has culminated in the current version of the Turbo II-F. Undoubtedly there will be new versions to come, but for the current alcohol stoves on the market, Brasslite gives a solid choice in the Turbo II-F.

Thanks to BackpackGearTest.org and Brasslite for the opportunity to test the Turbo II-F!

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 for Seattle'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.

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