[pct-l] IDEAS on what stove to use when cooking for 4

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

We product-tested the Jetboil Helios and the MSR XGK-EX and Reactor 
(individual and 2.5L pots) group cooking stoves last Spring for two months 
for a party of three.

In a nutshell, the Reactor won hands-down on speed and efficient use of fuel 
with both sizes of pots. The Reactor with the 1.7L pot served the volumes 
needed by 1-3 people just like the Jetboil Flash. The main important 
differences between the two (Jetboil and Reactor) were size of burner and 
windscreen. The Reactor's burner is huge and flameless (don't know how they 
do it!) and has its own built-in windscreen.

Both take the same fuel.

Don't know anything about weights or costs...



"Just remember, Be Careful out there!"

Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education
1106A Ski Run Blvd
South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
    P: 888-996-8333
    F: 530-541-1456
    C: 530-721-1551
    http://www.mountaineducation.org
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eric Lee" <saintgimp at hotmail.com>
To: "'Charles Doersch'" <charles.doersch at gmail.com>; <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2011 4:12 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] IDEAS on what stove to use when cooking for 4


> Charles wrote:
>>
> Since there's four of us in my group next year, we've presumed the MSR
> canister would be our quickest, hottest, most efficient way to heat water.
>
> I've read some advice that alcohol-burning stoves might not work
> particularly well for four guys together (quantity of water being heated,
> etc.)-- but I'm wondering what your experience has been.
>>
>
> If you're cooking for four people all at once (i.e. one large pot with 
> four
> servings) then yes, an alcohol stove isn't going to be real great for that
> because it just doesn't put out the quantity of heat you'll need.  A more
> powerful stove (canister, white gas, etc.) would be a good choice.
> (Disclaimer, I haven't actually tried cooking for four on an alcohol stove
> so this advice is just what I've heard.)
>
> However . . . you might consider how tightly you want to tie your group
> together.  If you're sharing gear among four people, like one stove for 
> the
> group, then you have few options if one person wants to go ahead of the
> group, or another person wants to lag behind, or a person or two has to
> leave the trail.  Carrying one stove for four people is probably the most
> efficient in terms of weight but it's not efficient in terms of your range
> of choices.  You might consider equipping each person so that he or she 
> can
> be self-sufficient if desired.  Not saying that you have to go that route,
> but it's something to think about.
>
> Eric
>
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