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

[Charles Doersch]

Thanks, Ned. We actually do have the MSR Reactor already -- I guess we might
get two. I'll look into those pot sizes. Thanks for the comparisons!

yay.

~Charles Doersch

On Tue, May 3, 2011 at 5:47 PM, <ned at mountaineducation.org> wrote:

> 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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