Long Term Report:  Ultralight Outfitters Beercan Cook Pot & Stove Kit

Tester:  Rosaleen Sullivan
Age:  55 years
Gender:  Female
Height:  5' 9'' (1.75 m)
Weight:  180 lb (82 kg)
E-mail:  rosaleen43 (at) aol (dot) com
Home:  Eastern Massachusetts, USA
Date:  February 6, 2006

Reviewer Background:
I've been backpacking off and on for about 20 years.  I'm still in the process of "lightening up."  Normal gear includes a hammock, down bag and jacket, hiking poles, and an alcohol or fuel tablet stove, retooling gear for each trip.  I also make some gear, and often nudge myself out of a design daydream on the trail.  Most trips last 3 days, but I have backpacked 10 days straight.  While most of my journeys are within New England, I've hiked the length of the Smoky Mountains, the Grand Canyon, and other trails far from home.
Manufacturer:  Ultralight Outfitters
URL:  http://www.ultralightoutfitters.com
Year of Manufacture:  2005
MSRP:  $14 US
Product Specifications: (from the website):

o  Silicon Rubber Lipguard
o  Stainless Steel Tray for solid fuel
o  Stainless Steel Stand
o  Stainless Steel No-fold Windscreen
o  Lexan Spoon

Weight: 4.4 oz (125 g) with customer-provided empty beer can
My Measured Weight: 3.6 oz (104 g) (stand, pot, Lipguard, no spoon or lid)

General Description: (Abbreviated from Initial Report)
The "Beer Can" Cook Pot & Stove Kit is comprised of bent and welded wires that are about the diameter of a jumbo paper clip; plus a small dish-like "pan" to hold the fuel; an open cylindrical-shaped wind screen that fits around the stand; and a white "silicon Lipguard."  The Lexan spoon appears as shown on the website, and I would call it "soup spoon" size.  The purchaser is responsible for procuring and preparing a 25 oz (~.75 L), approximately, straight-sided beer can for the pot, and aluminum foil (recommended) or another cover for the pot lid.  

Test Experiences and Locations:
Since the Field report, I used the stove on two additional local backpacks in Eastern Massachusetts.  One good thing about solo short hikes and “stealth camping” is the ability to pick overnights that are mild.  If I take off with a friend on a long weekend or a school break, I’m committed and have to put up with whatever weather nature throws during that time. Since I had a choice, I didn’t step below my last reported lowest temperature of about 22 F (~-6 C).  I used the stove in windless conditions to mild breezy conditions in sheltered areas.  (I don’t need to go out of my way to be miserable.)  Indulging my lazy side, I stayed with “boil and dump foods” except when I tested the stove at home. 
Before my last report, I made the serendipitous discovery that a small yogurt plastic lid fits over the LipGuard and forms a good seal for the pot.  This is convenient for keeping debris out of the pot as it is carried.  I still prefer my reflector wrapped Gatorade bottle for hot beverages, but slipping the parts together so that the windscreen forms a second wall around the pot did hold in heat as foods rehydrated and “coasted” to “doneness.”

Test points studied

o  Ease of packing:  Good and smoother with experience
o  Stand/pot stability:  Still “wobbly,” yet still no mishaps.-The part of the stand that holds the fuel tray does fit the can bottom snugly, so I never felt that the pot would slip off the stand.  My discomfort lies with the assembly being able to wobble and sit at an angle to the cooking platform.
o  Functionality: how stove works (with Esbit, or other fuels as backup): Great!-Esbit/ Coghlan’s both work.  A small amount of alcohol in a tea candle foil cup also works.
o  Functionality as insulated drinking, cup/food bowl (insulated cup suggested on site):  Works “OK.”  I’m spoiled by some of the pot cozies that I’ve made and found to keep food hot for at least 30 minutes.
o  Ease of unit assembly/disassembly:  Very easy and quick
o  Durability/signs of wear over test period:  The kit has held up and shows no appreciable wear, other than expected heat discoloration.
o  Heat transfer to stand/damage to undersurface:  No problems, so far.
o  Time to cool down for handling after use:  Quick-The empty parts cool down before I’m ready to repack them.

Likes:

o  The stand has a snug fit around my beer can pot.
o  The distance between the fuel tray and pot bottom seem ideal.
o  The stand and windscreen pack around the pot compactly for carrying.
o  A yogurt lid can “seal” the pot top.
o  The stand can work with Frito-Lay dip cans or Goya Vienna sausage cans
o  The fuel tray is elevated enough above the cooking surface that no insulation is needed.

Dislikes:

     o  The box directions are unclear.
     o  The stand appears not to sit flat, causing some wobbling of the set up.  In spite of my misgivings, no spills.

Additional Information:
For this test, each tester was given one of the Good Cook Safecut Can Openers.  For more information, see my Initial Report.  The can opener continues to function perfectly.

Lexan Spoon:  Again, see my Initial Report for more information.   The spoon is still in great condition.

Conclusions:
I found the Ultralight Outfitter’s Beercan Stove Kit to be an intriguing and handy piece of backpacking gear.   I have been using various recycled cans as solo cooking pots for years.  This includes large beer cans.  I have also made my own stands and used some other cottage industry stands with beer can pots.  I have to take off my hat to the designers of this stove kit.  The stand eliminates the need for a protective barrier between the stove and table top by suspending the fuel tray.  I usually carry a foil wrapped piece of cardboard both as a table protector and a heat reflector.  I didn’t need it with this set up.  Most of my other contraptions allowed the pot to be knocked off the stand easily.  This one does grip the beer can well, so bumping the pot causing it to slip off the stand was never an issue.  My favorite discovery was that a yogurt lid makes a nice seal over the Lipguard.  Prior to this discovery, I sometimes left the Lipguard home.  I can say that the Ultralight Outfitters Beercan Stove Kit design beats my stove systems creations of the past several years in elegance, durability, and functionality.

 

Respectfully submitted,
Rosaleen Sullivan