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Reviews > Cook Gear > Stoves > Ultralight Outfitters Beercan Stove > Chuck Carnes > Initial ReportInitial
Report
Ultralight Outfitters "Beer Can" Cook Pot and Stove Kit by Chuck Carnes Report date: October 6, 2005
From
our
test call for the Ultralight Outfitters Beer Can Cook Pot and Stove Kit
it was stated that Ultralight Outfitters would provide the testers with
an empty beer can and
a Safe Cut can opener. When I received the Kit in a brown box I was anxious to see if UO (Ultralight Outfitters) provided me with everything that I needed. Inside the brown box was the Safe Cut Can Opener attached to a display card and a smaller box that, I assumed, just held the stove. I opened the stove box and found that UO had provided me with a beer can along with the stove. Not only did they provide me with the can, they provided me with a can that already had the lid removed and the silicone rubber lipguard in place. My first impression of the stove was "I hope this thing cooks as fast as it is light". On the side of the box that the cook pot (beer can) and stove came in, are several picture diagrams and descriptions of how to unpack the stove, light it and how to pack the stove back up. I unpacked the stove from the box and followed the directions on how to put it together to prepare to light the fuel for the stove. The required fuel for this stove is a solid fuel tablet such as Esbit fuel tabs. I purchased these prior to the arrival of the cook pot and stove. I filled the cook pot with 2 cups (.48 l) of water and placed it on the stove stand as directed. I lay the fuel tablet in the tray that is provided for the stove and lit the tablet. From this point I started my stopwatch to log the length of time that it took for the water to come to a boiling temperature. The water came to a boil at 7 min. 12 sec. and the temperature was 212 F (100 C). To extinguish the flame, one has to place a hand or on object on the top of the cook pot and with another object slide the stove tray up towards the bottom of the cook pot until they meet and the flame is smothered out. I grabbed the cook pot by the silicone lipguard and removed the cook pot from the stove stand and set aside. Now I wanted to see how long it would take to cool down to a temperature that is reasonable to handle the cook pot with bare hands. Keep in mind that the water inside the cook pot is boiling and the thickness of the side wall on the cook pot is very thin. During this time I am able to pour my dehydrated meal into the cook pot and stir. If I have to support the cook pot while I am stirring, I have to handle it at the lipguard or hold the cook pot with a towel to keep from burning my hands. At 12 min. after I removed the cook pot from the stove, the temperature of the water was 170 F (77 C) and the cook pot was cool enough to hold with bare hands. I continued to run the stopwatch to record what the temperature of the water would be after 30 min. to know how well the cook pot held the heat of the water. At the 30 min. mark, the water was 170 F (77 C). I poured the water out and within a couple of minutes the cook pot and stove was cool enough to pack up.
I plan to test
the Ultralight Beer Can
Cook Pot and Stove at these locations and under these conditions: Smokey
Mountains Conditions: The temperatures don’t get too bad until November and December but coming off the summer months the rain and humidity makes up for it in September and October. Elevation: 4500 to 5500 ft (1372 to 1676 m) Temperatures and precipitation average for this testing period: September: HI (84 F / 29 C) LO (56 F / 13 C) 7 in (17 cm) precipitation October: HI (82 F / 28 C) LO (38 F / 3 C) 7 in (17 cm) precipitation November: HI (78 F / 26 C) LO (27 F / -2 C) 5 in (12 cm) precipitation December: HI (67 F / 19 C) LO (12 F / -11 C) 2 in (5 cm) precipitation January: HI (72 F / 22 C) LO (14 F / -10 C) 1 in (2 cm) precipitation I also plan to observe the stove, cook pot and windscreen during this test period and hope to answer a few questions that I have about this product in my Field and Long Term Report. Below are just a few of these questions. The Stove: I hope to be able to test the cook pot and stove during some wind and rain to find out the extent of being able to light the stove and keep the fuel tab lit to heat the cook pot. I have never cooked with a tablet for fuel. How easy is this to cook with? How easy is it to set up? How long do I have to wait to start cooking? How easy is it to clean? How well does it fit with the cook pot when traveling in my pack. The Cook Pot (beer can): How durable is the pot/beer can? Most of them are very thin, will it constantly get dented? At what point during the test will I have to replace it? How well does it heat up my meal? How fast does it heat up my meal? Is it easy to clean? Windscreen: How flimsy is the screen? Will it stay upright during a heavy wind? Do the ends lock together to form a continuous circle? Are the edges sharp? Does it have a reflective side and non-reflective side? I know I can fold it instead of rolling it but if I fold it a lot, will the creases get weak and break?
Thank you Ultralight Outfitters and BGT for giving me this opportunity to test this kit. Read more reviews of Ultralight Outfitters gear Read more gear reviews by Chuck Carnes Reviews > Cook Gear > Stoves > Ultralight Outfitters Beercan Stove > Chuck Carnes > Initial Report | ||||||||||||||
