[pct-l] Esbit Stoves

[wandering_bob at comcast.net (Bob Bankhead)]

I've used one of the original folding Esbit stoves for years. A good 
windscreen is absolutely essential for this stove. Don't leave home without 
it - or be prepared to construct same each time you need the stove. I had to 
replace my old Esbit stove this year as it finally rusted up too badly. I 
bought another standard folding model plus one of the new 13 gram titanium 
models from BackpackingLite. - see 
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/titanium-esbit-wing-stove.html

LIKES:
1. Weight
2. Tiny footprint fits inside my cup
3. Fuel requires direct flame application in order to ignite. No spill or 
explosion hazards.
4. Minimal packaging to carry out - no bottles or cannisters

DISLIKES:
1. Tablets can be slow to light in a wind until you learn to use the 
windscreen properly.
2. Got to take your gloves off to light them.
3. Not a good choice for winter camping due to lower heat output

SUPPLY:
I just put the fuel tablets in a ziplock or other odor-proof bag and added 
them to my supply boxes. No declaration; no nothing. I never unwrap the 
tablets until they are needed because of the odor potential.

At only half an ounce each, you can easily carry a huge supply in your pack 
if need be. I only use half a tablet per day to heat water for my dinner. If 
there are two of us, I'll need one tablet per heated meal. I allow one spare 
tablet for every 4 days I'm on the trail, just in case; 1 per 3 days if 
there are two of us.

I carry one Esbit tablet as part of my sealed, emergency fire starter kit, 
no matter what type of stove I carry.

Wandering Bob


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jim Keener" <jlkeener@yahoo.com>
To: "PCT-L" <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 2:01 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Esbit Stoves


> Greetings:
>
> If you have used an Esbit stove on a long distance
> hike, would you do it again? How long did you use the
> stove? What did you dislike about it? Like? How did
> you resupply youself with the tablets?
>
> Thanks,
> J J