Mac of Simple theory gear posed this recently. Good Afternoon, I hope this finds you well. I do apologize for the inconvenience, however, we have just reinstated our international shipping option. We do ask that interested customers contact us directly so we can work with them personally to ensure that all information is exchanged correctly. Mac
Mark!! I honestly don’t know where to begin or how to properly express our deepest appreciation for your amazingly thorough and robust review. Your kind words and support have truly made this entire process so much more enjoyable. Thank you so very much. In terms of the review, you hit perfectly on the philosophy and intended purposes behind the design and modifications. As always, I absolutely appreciated the areas of concern you mentioned as it truly leads to improvements that benefit everyone. You offer such great insight and your input is invaluable! Thank you so much for your diligence and taking the time to review our stove.
Hi Mark, a very nicely done video! 🔆 And I agree completely about the pot height of 1 1/4 inches for alcohol stoves. My limited experience was when constructing a DIY stove, the best performance was from stoves close to 1 1/4 inches. All too often, when using an alcohol stove inside a metal stand and windscreen or something similar to the stove you demonstrated, the boil time would stay similar but fuel efficiency was negatively impacted. I believe that thermal feedback becomes a really important factor when using a stand or stove that increases the amount of heat retained.
Hi Mark, nice to see you again. At first thought, a pound seemed heavy until you consider the weight of Butane + stove, or alcohol + stove... then it doesn't seem bad at all using it in the woods with local scraps! Plus heavier tends to warp way less compared to thin Titanium. Good looking stove!
Exactly. This is just so simple and heavy duty you never need to worry about warping. Wood for fuel is abundant and free but I would still carry a Trangia for times when wood is too wet to get lit. Thanks for commenting
Because of the size of the zebra pot, the smoke increased. I’ve experienced that before with other stoves. The only way I can fix it is having something taller for it to sit on. The Stanley pot being narrower allows enough more exhaust and airflow that the smoke is less. The stove looks solid
Yes, you are right on. That is what I mean when I talk about exhaust area on stoves. A mismatch in intake and exhaust results in smoke. Thanks for commenting
📢 That's a really great point! 🤗 ➡I am new to wood burning portable stoves, but have often strongly believed that a narrow pot like that Stanley set, can compensate for the dampening impact of the up draft effect.🤔🤔 ➡Its great to know how you have experienced the same phenomenon and reported on it!😁 ⏫
Solid stove, I think you nailed the pros and cons. I have one of the early models and do use larger pots/kettles, it does tend to snuff the fire out a little until it is hot and burning good, but not a really big issue for me to work around. the trade off being that it is heavy duty enough for me to use my small cast iron skillet on without worry... or use it as a jack stand if I need to change the tire on my truck. One thing I noticed with the extra weight/mass of the stove is that it seems more stable at generating heat in very cold weather compared to a thinner lighter stove.
First, I enjoy watching your videos. I am a long time subscriber. Yes, the stove does need a little bit more exhaust room at the top. I did make a set of crossbars I forgot to include in the video. Mac has increased it considerably in the new XL version. Good point on the thermal mass. Makes re-lighting a nearly burnt out stove much easier as well. Thanks for commenting
I picked up one of these a few weeks ago and have used it everyday since. The air flow on this stove can be a bit of a problem. If using anything larger than the stanley pot. I place the pot a little more towards the front of the stove to increase the opening in the backside. I have found this creates a bit of a rocket stove effect. With the small burn chamber, you need to be careful not to overload the stove. So far I love the simple, rock solid feel of this stove. All the best.
I forgot to show a raised pot stand I made for use with larger pots for that very reason. I am looking forward to testing the new XL Pack Stove to see how that works. Thanks for commenting
Nice review Mark. I like the term "Puzzle Stove". I really dislike fiddling with lots of loose parts in order to prepare a meal or hot beverage especially in the winter when your fingers are cold. A very nice versatile stove with various fuel options. Thank you.
You and me both! If weight is an issue and you don't mind paying with a "puzzle stove" then there are choices but none will be as simple or heavy duty as this one. Thanks for commenting
Through much personal experimentation, I have found that, for optimal performance, packable wood stove need to have a larger burn chamber (wider or taller) than a lot of the current offerings. Many require the user to have the fire established to begin the process of cooking or boiling water, which wastes time and effort that was spent processing the wood. My personal store-bought favorite is my Toaks titanium collapsible nesting tower stove. The burn chamber is large enough that I can get the smallest of a fire going in the base, put the pot on top, and begin adding to the fire immediately. This gives the wood plenty of airflow to burn efficiently (hot). That way the heating begins immediately, and I don't beat myself up over packing the stove too tightly, smothering the flame. Of course, on secondary burning (gasification) stoves, the initial fire is a bit smoky, but, if the object is to get the most thermal efficiency, I have learned to live with it. Any wood burning stove will blacken pots, so why, I asked myself, is gasification so vital? The answer, of course, is that it isn't. It's just less smoky. Fwiw, the Toaks tower stoves gasify, but not until they get hot, which, of course, wastes wood. The smaller stove is a waste of money because it starts more slowly, doesn't burn as hot, and is easier to tip. Always, it is worth mentioning, that, aside from when one is using a pressurized gas stove, a wider pot is more efficient at capturing and transferring heat than a narrow one. I would like to see a larger version of that stove in a side-by-side test with the original, and see which one is the better cooker. Thanks for the review, as well as all the other reviews that I have enjoyed on your channel. 👍👍
You have provided much information gained through experience. My own experience is very similar to yours. Some of the goals we try and attain in stove design are not really all that important or even relevant. A smoke free wood stove is an oxymoron. We can work toward efficiency but it is still a wood stove. I agree larger stoves are usually more efficient, especially in cold weather but usually at a weight penalty. I have a Lixada version of the Toaks in stainless steel and a titanium version on order. I agree they give close to optimal performance. Mac just released a XL version of this stove with a few other changes. I will be testing it in the future and will show it with the original. Thank your for your comments
I would really love to see you, particularly, breakdown the contrasts and benefits of the Pack Stove XL vs the Firebox2 5". I can see either as a single stove, universal solution, ie. if you could only have one. Your opinion would be of great interest.
The short answer to the question "if I could have only one" would likely be the Firebox but I will do a comparison that shows the pros and cons of both. Thanks for commenting
I thought I was over my itch to collect backpacking stoves. Then this video comes up in my feed. Nice piece of kit. Excellent review. I have one ready to order as soon as I finish this comment. 🇺🇸👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks Mark, great vid. It is really nice to see a slightly heavier duty stove once in a while to go along with all the superlights and foil stoves, thats the kind if stove I’d use with my gallon enamel pot.
Hi Mark - excellent review! I'm in the UK and purchased one of the first stoves pretty much as soon as they were available. I too have tried wood pellets and had reasonable results. Like any stove, there is always some part or in some cases many parts to fiddle with but I can say I like the versatility, bombproof design, and simplicity so much I practically exclusively reach for this stove first. In fact, it's in my daysack now and I'll be making a brew with it later. I agree with all your observations and for the price, it cannot be beaten.
Mac describes on the website putting the trangia burner directly on the ground and inverting the stove placing it over the burner. That eliminates your problem with the support ring. You still have to use your pliers to remove the hot stove when you’re done. Then you can cap the burner.
Yes, that is one way of doing it; however, the stove will absorb a lot of the heat from the Trangia causing it to be slow and use a lot of fuel. Thanks for commenting
I absolutely love this stove and its desgin. Additionally, Mack is very good with suggestions and customer service. Eventually, I will get one of these because of the simple brilliance. I love the fire tin that you can get for it as well, a suggestion I made that Mack listened to. Mark, does the slightly largely Stanley Boil and Brew fit on top? I would like a show off between this lovely stove and the venerable Ikea stove. Mac's XL model intrigues me. Has the plastic weakness on the Zebra pots been fixed, yet? With the short stick problem, a thought might be to put another smaller feed port, maybe smaller on the other side that would allow one to put sticks through much like Survival Lilly did with her Ikea stove.
I agree a great design. I have the XL on the way to test soon. By plastic problem, do you mean the bail clips. They still come with them but Firebox Stove sells them with metal clips. I made my own. Thanks for commenting
Excellent review as always, Mark. Appreciate all the thought and hard work you put into your analysis and pros-and-cons with the stoves you review! I do have one question/concern about your demonstration with the ALOCS/Trangia alcohol stove. I noticed that when you put the cover of the burner down for added height, you placed it "right side up" in the chamber. My question on that is would it be better to put it in "upside-down", in order to keep the gasket in the cover as far away from the heat of the burner as possible? I've got a couple of the Trangia knock-off stoves, and whether it is a quality control issue or just bad luck, one of the gaskets has already come loose after only a few burns when using the cover to add extra height. I'm concerned that the heat from the burner may be affecting the adhesive or method they use to adhere the gasket to the cover. I'd appreciate any thoughts you might have on this.
You make a really good point. I agree it would be better to place the cap open side up before placing the burner on top. I have found the ring gasket shrinks in all my Trangia knockoffs, regardless of brand. No leakage but it is easy to loose them. I replaced a few with original Trangia rings and they shrunk also. The most current one had not been used with the cap under the burner so I am not sure of the cause. I must compare with a real Trangia to see if there is a small difference in the way they are seated. Thanks for commenting
@@MarkYoungBushcraft Great, I have my notification set ready for that. If you haven't already would you mind including a comment about its operation in windy conditions.
Hi folks. I have had more than a few comment on the number of adds in this video. I have changed the settings to fewer adds. I will be more mindful of this for future videos
Thanks Mark . I think youtube themselves have increased adds in the defaults, talked to a couple of other tubers today and they were surprised to find out some of there vids had 8, 10, or more adds in the middle of the vids. I noticed it myself just the last couple of days across a wide cross section of channels.
Was talking to a Swedish Scout Leader and found what we call a Swedish Torch, they call a Canadian Candle. He wanted to know it that was a Candle what did we call a Torch? I sent him a photo of a Venturer Bonfire . Seeing you feed in from the side reminded me of an experience one of my uncle's had, He was a OPP Officer and was checking in on an old fellow who had injurer his foot. My Uncle said they came up to the cabin in the meddle of winter to find the door wide open and the end of a log in the doorway. On looking in the other end of the log was in this old boys wood stove feed in through its door, as it burned he would drag a bit more of it into the stove.
to burn pellets in this stove may i suggest to line it with a dollar store wire mesh pencil holder with a slightly smaller diameter than the stove. that should allow airflow from the bottom to run up the sides in the same fashion of a wood gassifier. just a thought
another idea to burn pellets in this stove is to fashion some utility screen into a sleeve that fits inside the stove in such a fashion to allow airflow around the burning pellets similar to the wire mesh pencil holder.
Hi Mark, another great review & ain't it funny how a stove will smoke bad off the top, IF not enough space there. No matter, how MUCH ventilation elsewhere. Keep the videos coming. 👍🤙👌
Great job. Like always you do your homework and field work 100%. I have been looking at this stove for awhile now. Waiting on your thoughts. The only thing I don't like is the bottom burn plate can not be removed. I do understand that the plate is the core strength of the stove. I would rather have the open space to stack items in it the way I like. A drop in plate would be fine with tabs on the stove to catch the plate. Don't get me wrong! This stove is the best/simple functioning stove out there! Price well too.
Thank you for the review 👍 and the insights into the product & development process. Unfortunately simpletheorygear won't ship to Switzerland... So I'll have to admire the stove from afar 😀
Good Afternoon, I hope this finds you well. I do apologize for the inconvenience, however, we have just reinstated our international shipping option. We do ask that interested customers contact us directly so we can work with them personally to ensure that all information is exchanged correctly. Mac
Really like your videos. Honest, fairly concise and informative. Don't understand why more people view your videos. This makes me want to go and buy this stove but how does it compare to firebox or Kelly Kettle hobo stove. If all you are doing is boiling water why not just use the Kelly Kettle?
Thank you for your kind words. I think I may not be concise enough for most viewers. I will do a comparison video at some point. Problem is, This stove has gone out of production. My hope is that Mac, the owner will be able to start up again. Thanks for commenting
Any chance there's a review coming of the updated (laser cut logo) version of the pack stove or new PS XL? Just got my first G2 5" SS Firebox (loving it) and curious to see more about the STGPS and XL. Having a lot of fun with wood stoves.
Interesting stove, Mark. I note Mac has an XL version available on his website. Something to check out. I suspect the 64 oz. Kleen Kanteen may just fit inside. I also am intrigued by the notion of slipping this stove inside a larger can with appropriate ventilation in the larger can to give it a more intense, hotter gasifier function ala Bush Buddy. By the way, how much ash did either stove generally produce, and was it just fine ash, or, were there partially burnt chunks after the fire burnt out? Thank you for a tantilizing review!
Yes, hope to have the XL shortly. Interesting idea, placing a slightly larger can on the outside. I will take a look and see what I have. Thanks for commenting
Super glad you did this review. I was very interested when you introduced it before, I wrote to him too, to ask some questions, and the responses were good and helpful. It's a solid, cheap, just the right size, made in N America stove. What more can you ask? Just an FYI, CZcams has started to add adds to a lot of videos. Yours came up with 9 adds in just this video, and some are even doubles. You may want to look into that. Oh, and a question, if you have a pot actually sitting on the ring, and the pot is almost the same size, how could it act as a heat sync? It should transfer the heat directly to the pot, no? Unless your pot is bigger, and then you wouldn't need the ring. And you can blow out the alcohol stove. This is going to be my solo over nighter or day stove, and my beloved Firebox will be for longer trips or for more than one person. Thanks again for the review, I feel I can order one for an Xmas gift maybe, with some confidence.
Hey Jim. I have heard from a few people about the adds and have adjusted the timing. I was not aware that YT included that many adds. The way I understand the heat sync issue is the additional metal has to be heated up before the heat can effectively transfer to the pot and water. This takes additional time and fuel. Plus if the pot stand extends out too far it can act like radiator fins but this is not the case with this stove. Let me know what you think if you buy it. Thanks for commenting
Mark, wouldn’t a solid round plate be better for the solid fire tablets? You did that for the micro wood stove to prevent it dripping down and losing fuel. Just a thought.
mark, great video ,really nice stove. hey not to get off topic , but i have a kuksa twelve ounce cup ,i've never had a chance to use,maybe a year old. any way it's been in a sealable plastic bag ,still looks new ,no oders. but the inside bottom feels grainy, s it safe, you always offer good info. it's sorta like it wasn't seeled inside. any ideas. aso have you ever tried the kapilka cup.
So, couple of thoughts on the kuksa. Sounds like the bottom roughness might be exposed end grain, That could have happened depending on which way the block was cut from the log. As a suggestion; warm to mug up with medium temp water, then pour boiling water in and pour out. Allow to air dry. This will cause wood fibers to stand on end. Try sanding them down and repeat the process a few times. Then use a metal spoon or something round to "burnish" the bottom by rubbing hard. Then start applying multiple thin coats of whatever oil you want to use. Pure linseed or tung are food safe and will harden over time. Allow lots of time to harden then try using for coffee/tea. I have two Kupilka mugs small and large and the Kupilka bowl. Can't go wrong. Let me know how it works out
Love the videos, Mark! You have a very scientific approach. Quick question: what kind/brand of hat is that you're wearing? What material is it made of? Thanks!
@@MarkYoungBushcraft Thanks for the reply, Mark! I will check the video you recommended. I have one Tilley hat that I really like, but I like the more rugged look and brim design of the one displayed here. Additionally, one more question; if pressed, what packable, wood stove would you recommend overall? After watching many of your videos on the topic, I'm considering the Nano 2 SS ($50 on Amazon US) and perhaps the Lixada type 2 "Tower" stove ($25 on Amazon US), or is there a higher recommendation? Thanks for your content, time and attention.
@@charliebravo8036 I am sure you will love your new Tilley if you buy one. Recommending one stove is quite difficult. There are so many choices. The right stove for you depends on what you will be using it for, how much weight you are okay with and how much do you want to pay. The Firebox Nano is a great little stove but it is little and is not intended for cooking for multiple people and does not work as well in cold weather. The Lixada stove is also a good choice but has its drawbacks as well. If you can bear the weight, the full size Firebox or Bushcraft Essentials XL are hard to beat. They are available in titanium as well but cost more. I also very much like the Bushcraft Essentials LF as a near perfect size for most uses. Hope this helps
@@MarkYoungBushcraft Thanks again, Mark! You are absolutely right in your observations regarding any recommendations. Have you ever considered doing a sort of "Battle of the Blaze" style of review/contest, to categories a number of your wood burning/twig stoves - much like Chris from Preparedmind101 does for his "Battle of the Blades", on his CZcams channel? It wood be extremely interesting to see your point of view, and what categories you would come up with. Size, fuel versatility, efficiency, burn and/or boil time, weight/packability, smoke output, by use, price threshold, post modification, overall, etc. (Just to name more than a few ideas).
@@MarkYoungBushcraft Greetings, Mark! The criteria that I would be interested in are as follows: Price to value - around the $50US Price point, or less Primarily for wood/twig use. Secondary use for alcohol Size/Weight/Packability - primarily for 1person, coffee and meal/ mostly boiling water - I don't mind weight if the value is there Season/Region - 3-4 Season, SE US Cookware - Stanley Adventure Pot, Titanium 700ml & 500ml, occasionally a Stainless steel small Frying pan Fuel Maintenance - low to moderate, meaning constant feeding and having to tend to warping I hope this clarifies the topic. Thanks again, Mark!!
Kind of two different animals in a way. The Emberlit (and clones) pack flat but are examples of "puzzle stoves". They also warp over time. I will include this combo in a future video. Thanks for commenting
Looks like Simple Theory Gear went under. I'm not surprised given how things are going, but it's a crying shame. I wish I had seen this video in time to get a stove.
I wonder how well it would work with a isobutane burner? Do you ever do hot tent camping? It would be nice if someone would give you a hot tent and stove to review. How's Gina? I hope all is well.
Patricia Ribaric Pat, good idea. G-stove Canada and Bereg-Canada are in Bear River, N.S. Two brands of tents and stoves would make for an interesting comparison.
I have not tried a butane burner but will to see if it will fit. If not mac may like the idea enough to include it in a next generation. I am looking at hot tent camping this year. Gina is great. Thanks for commenting
I tried my gas stove with remote feed and it does fit but I don't see much reason to do so. It won't accept just the burner portion as it would need a hole in the center of the burn plate. Thanks for commenting
Mac of Simple theory gear posed this recently.
Good Afternoon,
I hope this finds you well. I do apologize for the inconvenience, however, we have just reinstated our international shipping option. We do ask that interested customers contact us directly so we can work with them personally to ensure that all information is exchanged correctly. Mac
Mark!! I honestly don’t know where to begin or how to properly express our deepest appreciation for your amazingly thorough and robust review. Your kind words and support have truly made this entire process so much more enjoyable. Thank you so very much. In terms of the review, you hit perfectly on the philosophy and intended purposes behind the design and modifications. As always, I absolutely appreciated the areas of concern you mentioned as it truly leads to improvements that benefit everyone. You offer such great insight and your input is invaluable! Thank you so much for your diligence and taking the time to review our stove.
I like the design, and the price is very reasonable. 👍👏👏👏👏👏
It was a pleasure to make this video Mac. I am just sorry it took so long to get it out.
📢I KNOW Mark would make a really great product ambassador should that be a wish he chooses!🤗
Redsorgum Thank you so much!
Hi Mark, a very nicely done video! 🔆 And I agree completely about the pot height of 1 1/4 inches for alcohol stoves. My limited experience was when constructing a DIY stove, the best performance was from stoves close to 1 1/4 inches. All too often, when using an alcohol stove inside a metal stand and windscreen or something similar to the stove you demonstrated, the boil time would stay similar but fuel efficiency was negatively impacted. I believe that thermal feedback becomes a really important factor when using a stand or stove that increases the amount of heat retained.
Well thought out hypothesis. Sounds good to me. Thanks for commenting
Hi Mark, nice to see you again. At first thought, a pound seemed heavy until you consider the weight of Butane + stove, or alcohol + stove... then it doesn't seem bad at all using it in the woods with local scraps! Plus heavier tends to warp way less compared to thin Titanium. Good looking stove!
Exactly. This is just so simple and heavy duty you never need to worry about warping. Wood for fuel is abundant and free but I would still carry a Trangia for times when wood is too wet to get lit. Thanks for commenting
Because of the size of the zebra pot, the smoke increased. I’ve experienced that before with other stoves. The only way I can fix it is having something taller for it to sit on. The Stanley pot being narrower allows enough more exhaust and airflow that the smoke is less. The stove looks solid
Yes, you are right on. That is what I mean when I talk about exhaust area on stoves. A mismatch in intake and exhaust results in smoke. Thanks for commenting
📢 That's a really great point! 🤗
➡I am new to wood burning portable stoves, but have often strongly believed that a narrow pot like that Stanley set, can compensate for the dampening impact of the up draft effect.🤔🤔
➡Its great to know how you have experienced the same phenomenon and reported on it!😁 ⏫
Solid stove, I think you nailed the pros and cons. I have one of the early models and do use larger pots/kettles, it does tend to snuff the fire out a little until it is hot and burning good, but not a really big issue for me to work around. the trade off being that it is heavy duty enough for me to use my small cast iron skillet on without worry... or use it as a jack stand if I need to change the tire on my truck. One thing I noticed with the extra weight/mass of the stove is that it seems more stable at generating heat in very cold weather compared to a thinner lighter stove.
First, I enjoy watching your videos. I am a long time subscriber. Yes, the stove does need a little bit more exhaust room at the top. I did make a set of crossbars I forgot to include in the video. Mac has increased it considerably in the new XL version. Good point on the thermal mass. Makes re-lighting a nearly burnt out stove much easier as well. Thanks for commenting
I picked up one of these a few weeks ago and have used it everyday since. The air flow on this stove can be a bit of a problem. If using anything larger than the stanley pot. I place the pot a little more towards the front of the stove to increase the opening in the backside. I have found this creates a bit of a rocket stove effect. With the small burn chamber, you need to be careful not to overload the stove. So far I love the simple, rock solid feel of this stove. All the best.
I forgot to show a raised pot stand I made for use with larger pots for that very reason. I am looking forward to testing the new XL Pack Stove to see how that works. Thanks for commenting
Nice review Mark. I like the term "Puzzle Stove". I really dislike fiddling with lots of loose parts in order to prepare a meal or hot beverage especially in the winter when your fingers are cold. A very nice versatile stove with various fuel options. Thank you.
You and me both! If weight is an issue and you don't mind paying with a "puzzle stove" then there are choices but none will be as simple or heavy duty as this one. Thanks for commenting
Through much personal experimentation, I have found that, for optimal performance, packable wood stove need to have a larger burn chamber (wider or taller) than a lot of the current offerings. Many require the user to have the fire established to begin the process of cooking or boiling water, which wastes time and effort that was spent processing the wood. My personal store-bought favorite is my Toaks titanium collapsible nesting tower stove. The burn chamber is large enough that I can get the smallest of a fire going in the base, put the pot on top, and begin adding to the fire immediately. This gives the wood plenty of airflow to burn efficiently (hot). That way the heating begins immediately, and I don't beat myself up over packing the stove too tightly, smothering the flame. Of course, on secondary burning (gasification) stoves, the initial fire is a bit smoky, but, if the object is to get the most thermal efficiency, I have learned to live with it. Any wood burning stove will blacken pots, so why, I asked myself, is gasification so vital? The answer, of course, is that it isn't. It's just less smoky. Fwiw, the Toaks tower stoves gasify, but not until they get hot, which, of course, wastes wood. The smaller stove is a waste of money because it starts more slowly, doesn't burn as hot, and is easier to tip.
Always, it is worth mentioning, that, aside from when one is using a pressurized gas stove, a wider pot is more efficient at capturing and transferring heat than a narrow one. I would like to see a larger version of that stove in a side-by-side test with the original, and see which one is the better cooker. Thanks for the review, as well as all the other reviews that I have enjoyed on your channel. 👍👍
You have provided much information gained through experience. My own experience is very similar to yours. Some of the goals we try and attain in stove design are not really all that important or even relevant. A smoke free wood stove is an oxymoron. We can work toward efficiency but it is still a wood stove. I agree larger stoves are usually more efficient, especially in cold weather but usually at a weight penalty. I have a Lixada version of the Toaks in stainless steel and a titanium version on order. I agree they give close to optimal performance. Mac just released a XL version of this stove with a few other changes. I will be testing it in the future and will show it with the original. Thank your for your comments
@@MarkYoungBushcraft Looking forward to the review of the larger stove. Thanks ☺
XL supposed to arrive tomorrow. Glad there's so many people with tutorials to maximize it's usage.
I hope to have my review of the XL done soon. Hope you enjoy the stove
I bought the XL. Thank you, Mark. I would buy a used car from you.
Maybe a third career for me😂. I just received my XL and am looking forward to trying it out. Thanks for commenting
I would really love to see you, particularly, breakdown the contrasts and benefits of the Pack Stove XL vs the Firebox2 5". I can see either as a single stove, universal solution, ie. if you could only have one. Your opinion would be of great interest.
The short answer to the question "if I could have only one" would likely be the Firebox but I will do a comparison that shows the pros and cons of both. Thanks for commenting
They're both great from what I've seen (seen* only. Waiting to get mine. 😃)
I thought I was over my itch to collect backpacking stoves.
Then this video comes up in my feed.
Nice piece of kit. Excellent review.
I have one ready to order as soon as I finish this comment.
🇺🇸👍🏻👍🏻
Sorry about that😇. I keep finding new and interesting stoves to try as well. Thanks for commenting
Thanks Mark, great vid. It is really nice to see a slightly heavier duty stove once in a while to go along with all the superlights and foil stoves, thats the kind if stove I’d use with my gallon enamel pot.
Right on. Simple and heavy duty is the best way to describe this stove. Thanks for commenting Randal
Hi Mark - excellent review! I'm in the UK and purchased one of the first stoves pretty much as soon as they were available. I too have tried wood pellets and had reasonable results. Like any stove, there is always some part or in some cases many parts to fiddle with but I can say I like the versatility, bombproof design, and simplicity so much I practically exclusively reach for this stove first. In fact, it's in my daysack now and I'll be making a brew with it later. I agree with all your observations and for the price, it cannot be beaten.
I could not say it better myself. Thanks for commenting
Just found out about this stove a few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised to see this video pop in my notifications. Thanks for sharing Mark
Glad my timing worked out. Thanks for commenting
Mac describes on the website putting the trangia burner directly on the ground and inverting the stove placing it over the burner. That eliminates your problem with the support ring. You still have to use your pliers to remove the hot stove when you’re done. Then you can cap the burner.
Yes, that is one way of doing it; however, the stove will absorb a lot of the heat from the Trangia causing it to be slow and use a lot of fuel. Thanks for commenting
I absolutely love this stove and its desgin. Additionally, Mack is very good with suggestions and customer service. Eventually, I will get one of these because of the simple brilliance. I love the fire tin that you can get for it as well, a suggestion I made that Mack listened to. Mark, does the slightly largely Stanley Boil and Brew fit on top? I would like a show off between this lovely stove and the venerable Ikea stove. Mac's XL model intrigues me. Has the plastic weakness on the Zebra pots been fixed, yet? With the short stick problem, a thought might be to put another smaller feed port, maybe smaller on the other side that would allow one to put sticks through much like Survival Lilly did with her Ikea stove.
I agree a great design. I have the XL on the way to test soon. By plastic problem, do you mean the bail clips. They still come with them but Firebox Stove sells them with metal clips. I made my own. Thanks for commenting
Excellent review as always, Mark. Appreciate all the thought and hard work you put into your analysis and pros-and-cons with the stoves you review!
I do have one question/concern about your demonstration with the ALOCS/Trangia alcohol stove. I noticed that when you put the cover of the burner down for added height, you placed it "right side up" in the chamber. My question on that is would it be better to put it in "upside-down", in order to keep the gasket in the cover as far away from the heat of the burner as possible? I've got a couple of the Trangia knock-off stoves, and whether it is a quality control issue or just bad luck, one of the gaskets has already come loose after only a few burns when using the cover to add extra height. I'm concerned that the heat from the burner may be affecting the adhesive or method they use to adhere the gasket to the cover. I'd appreciate any thoughts you might have on this.
I was wondering about the same thing. ☺ I guess it may also depend upon the ambient temperature and wind speeds near the surface. 🤔⁉
You make a really good point. I agree it would be better to place the cap open side up before placing the burner on top. I have found the ring gasket shrinks in all my Trangia knockoffs, regardless of brand. No leakage but it is easy to loose them. I replaced a few with original Trangia rings and they shrunk also. The most current one had not been used with the cap under the burner so I am not sure of the cause. I must compare with a real Trangia to see if there is a small difference in the way they are seated. Thanks for commenting
Nice review. As comprehensive as the design itself.
Glad you liked it. Will be reviewing the XL version soon. Thanks for commenting
@@MarkYoungBushcraft Great, I have my notification set ready for that. If you haven't already would you mind including a comment about its operation in windy conditions.
Great Review & Test, Mark, Very Well Priced Too ! Happy & Safe Thanksgiving To You & Yours, Friend !
Happy Thanks Giving to you as well
Hi folks. I have had more than a few comment on the number of adds in this video. I have changed the settings to fewer adds. I will be more mindful of this for future videos
😁😁👍👍👍✝️🇱🇷
CZcams would place an ad every 30 seconds if they could.
Thanks Mark . I think youtube themselves have increased adds in the defaults, talked to a couple of other tubers today and they were surprised to find out some of there vids had 8, 10, or more adds in the middle of the vids.
I noticed it myself just the last couple of days across a wide cross section of channels.
Was talking to a Swedish Scout Leader and found what we call a Swedish Torch, they call a Canadian Candle. He wanted to know it that was a Candle what did we call a Torch? I sent him a photo of a Venturer Bonfire . Seeing you feed in from the side reminded me of an experience one of my uncle's had, He was a OPP Officer and was checking in on an old fellow who had injurer his foot. My Uncle said they came up to the cabin in the meddle of winter to find the door wide open and the end of a log in the doorway. On looking in the other end of the log was in this old boys wood stove feed in through its door, as it burned he would drag a bit more of it into the stove.
What a great story and I can see that happening. Thanks for commenting
Super thorough review. I’m sold.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for commenting
to burn pellets in this stove may i suggest to line it with a dollar store wire mesh pencil holder with a slightly smaller diameter than the stove. that should allow airflow from the bottom to run up the sides in the same fashion of a wood gassifier. just a thought
@Chris, that's a genius idea!
Great suggestion. I will give it a try. Thanks for commenting
another idea to burn pellets in this stove is to fashion some utility screen into a sleeve that fits inside the stove in such a fashion to allow airflow around the burning pellets similar to the wire mesh pencil holder.
You are giving me food for thought. Thanks again
@@MarkYoungBushcraft hungry brain's need to eat lol
Hi Mark, another great review & ain't it funny how a stove will smoke bad off the top, IF not enough space there.
No matter, how MUCH ventilation elsewhere.
Keep the videos coming.
👍🤙👌
yes, air flow is everything in a woodstove. It needs to be balance for the intake as well as the exhaust. Thanks for commenting
Great job. Like always you do your homework and field work 100%. I have been looking at this stove for awhile now. Waiting on your thoughts. The only thing I don't like is the bottom burn plate can not be removed. I do understand that the plate is the core strength of the stove. I would rather have the open space to stack items in it the way I like. A drop in plate would be fine with tabs on the stove to catch the plate. Don't get me wrong! This stove is the best/simple functioning stove out there! Price well too.
Mac is liking reading these comments so he has heard your thoughts. Never know what the nexty generation will include. Thanks for commenting
Thank you for the review 👍 and the insights into the product & development process.
Unfortunately simpletheorygear won't ship to Switzerland...
So I'll have to admire the stove from afar 😀
Unfortunate. Maybe as Mac's business grows he will be able to ship to you. Thanks for commenting
Mark Young I'll look into it when I am next able to visit the relatives in Oregon. Hopefully next year.
I'm sure Mac has excellent reasons.
Good Afternoon,
I hope this finds you well. I do apologize for the inconvenience, however, we have just reinstated our international shipping option. We do ask that interested customers contact us directly so we can work with them personally to ensure that all information is exchanged correctly. Mac
Thanks Mark!, your honest thoughts on products is so refreshing.
Glad you like them! Thanks for commenting
Really like your videos. Honest, fairly concise and informative. Don't understand why more people view your videos. This makes me want to go and buy this stove but how does it compare to firebox or Kelly Kettle hobo stove. If all you are doing is boiling water why not just use the Kelly Kettle?
Thank you for your kind words. I think I may not be concise enough for most viewers. I will do a comparison video at some point. Problem is, This stove has gone out of production. My hope is that Mac, the owner will be able to start up again. Thanks for commenting
Mark, Great video. Thanks for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for commenting
Any chance there's a review coming of the updated (laser cut logo) version of the pack stove or new PS XL? Just got my first G2 5" SS Firebox (loving it) and curious to see more about the STGPS and XL. Having a lot of fun with wood stoves.
Yes, I started work on my review today. Be careful, wood stoves can be addictive😅. Thanks for commenting
Interesting stove, Mark. I note Mac has an XL version available on his website. Something to check out. I suspect the 64 oz. Kleen Kanteen may just fit inside.
I also am intrigued by the notion of slipping this stove inside a larger can with appropriate ventilation in the larger can to give it a more intense, hotter gasifier function ala Bush Buddy.
By the way, how much ash did either stove generally produce, and was it just fine ash, or, were there partially burnt chunks after the fire burnt out?
Thank you for a tantilizing review!
Yes, hope to have the XL shortly. Interesting idea, placing a slightly larger can on the outside. I will take a look and see what I have. Thanks for commenting
Super glad you did this review. I was very interested when you introduced it before, I wrote to him too, to ask some questions, and the responses were good and helpful. It's a solid, cheap, just the right size, made in N America stove. What more can you ask?
Just an FYI, CZcams has started to add adds to a lot of videos. Yours came up with 9 adds in just this video, and some are even doubles. You may want to look into that.
Oh, and a question, if you have a pot actually sitting on the ring, and the pot is almost the same size, how could it act as a heat sync? It should transfer the heat directly to the pot, no? Unless your pot is bigger, and then you wouldn't need the ring. And you can blow out the alcohol stove.
This is going to be my solo over nighter or day stove, and my beloved Firebox will be for longer trips or for more than one person.
Thanks again for the review, I feel I can order one for an Xmas gift maybe, with some confidence.
Hey Jim. I have heard from a few people about the adds and have adjusted the timing. I was not aware that YT included that many adds. The way I understand the heat sync issue is the additional metal has to be heated up before the heat can effectively transfer to the pot and water. This takes additional time and fuel. Plus if the pot stand extends out too far it can act like radiator fins but this is not the case with this stove. Let me know what you think if you buy it. Thanks for commenting
Mark, wouldn’t a solid round plate be better for the solid fire tablets? You did that for the micro wood stove to prevent it dripping down and losing fuel. Just a thought.
Yes, I think it would, I used a small cup formed from foil with the Esbit but the solid round plate Mac sells would be better. Thanks for commenting
Fascinating, very succinct 👍🏽🙏🏽 you have a new subscriber sir
Thank you for your kind words
mark, great video ,really nice stove. hey not to get off topic , but i have a kuksa twelve ounce cup ,i've never had a chance to use,maybe a year old. any way it's been in a sealable plastic bag ,still looks new ,no oders. but the inside bottom feels grainy, s it safe, you always offer good info. it's sorta like it wasn't seeled inside. any ideas. aso have you ever tried the kapilka cup.
So, couple of thoughts on the kuksa. Sounds like the bottom roughness might be exposed end grain, That could have happened depending on which way the block was cut from the log. As a suggestion; warm to mug up with medium temp water, then pour boiling water in and pour out. Allow to air dry. This will cause wood fibers to stand on end. Try sanding them down and repeat the process a few times. Then use a metal spoon or something round to "burnish" the bottom by rubbing hard. Then start applying multiple thin coats of whatever oil you want to use. Pure linseed or tung are food safe and will harden over time. Allow lots of time to harden then try using for coffee/tea. I have two Kupilka mugs small and large and the Kupilka bowl. Can't go wrong. Let me know how it works out
Love the videos, Mark! You have a very scientific approach. Quick question: what kind/brand of hat is that you're wearing? What material is it made of? Thanks!
Glad you like my videos. I am wearing the Tilley Outback. I have a video on Tilley hats if you are interested
@@MarkYoungBushcraft Thanks for the reply, Mark! I will check the video you recommended. I have one Tilley hat that I really like, but I like the more rugged look and brim design of the one displayed here. Additionally, one more question; if pressed, what packable, wood stove would you recommend overall? After watching many of your videos on the topic, I'm considering the Nano 2 SS ($50 on Amazon US) and perhaps the Lixada type 2 "Tower" stove ($25 on Amazon US), or is there a higher recommendation? Thanks for your content, time and attention.
@@charliebravo8036 I am sure you will love your new Tilley if you buy one. Recommending one stove is quite difficult. There are so many choices. The right stove for you depends on what you will be using it for, how much weight you are okay with and how much do you want to pay. The Firebox Nano is a great little stove but it is little and is not intended for cooking for multiple people and does not work as well in cold weather. The Lixada stove is also a good choice but has its drawbacks as well. If you can bear the weight, the full size Firebox or Bushcraft Essentials XL are hard to beat. They are available in titanium as well but cost more. I also very much like the Bushcraft Essentials LF as a near perfect size for most uses. Hope this helps
@@MarkYoungBushcraft Thanks again, Mark! You are absolutely right in your observations regarding any recommendations. Have you ever considered doing a sort of "Battle of the Blaze" style of review/contest, to categories a number of your wood burning/twig stoves - much like Chris from Preparedmind101 does for his "Battle of the Blades", on his CZcams channel? It wood be extremely interesting to see your point of view, and what categories you would come up with. Size, fuel versatility, efficiency, burn and/or boil time, weight/packability, smoke output, by use, price threshold, post modification, overall, etc. (Just to name more than a few ideas).
@@MarkYoungBushcraft Greetings, Mark! The criteria that I would be interested in are as follows:
Price to value - around the $50US Price point, or less
Primarily for wood/twig use. Secondary use for alcohol
Size/Weight/Packability - primarily for 1person, coffee and meal/ mostly boiling water - I don't mind weight if the value is there
Season/Region - 3-4 Season, SE US
Cookware - Stanley Adventure Pot, Titanium 700ml & 500ml, occasionally a Stainless steel small Frying pan
Fuel Maintenance - low to moderate, meaning constant feeding and having to tend to warping
I hope this clarifies the topic.
Thanks again, Mark!!
@Mark Young, how do you personally compare this nice stove to your Emberlit? I always enjoy your reviews, especially the stove reviews. Thanks!
Kind of two different animals in a way. The Emberlit (and clones) pack flat but are examples of "puzzle stoves". They also warp over time. I will include this combo in a future video. Thanks for commenting
Thx Mark!
Good review!
Glad you liked it! Thanks for commenting
Thank-you Mark for your informative video on the stove. How stable is the Stanley pot when on the updated (speed) burn plate?
That is the Elevated speed plate
Great. Mac designed it to work specifically with the Stanley. Thanks for commenting
Ótimo vídeo Parabéns 👍👍🇧🇷
Muito obrigado😊
No Brasil não tem como Este ai não Que Pena 👍🇧🇷
Looks like Simple Theory Gear went under. I'm not surprised given how things are going, but it's a crying shame. I wish I had seen this video in time to get a stove.
Maybe with some encouragement Mac will be able to start it up again. Thanks for commenting
I wonder how well it would work with a isobutane burner? Do you ever do hot tent camping? It would be nice if someone would give you a hot tent and stove to review. How's Gina? I hope all is well.
Patricia Ribaric Pat, good idea. G-stove Canada and Bereg-Canada are in Bear River, N.S. Two brands of tents and stoves would make for an interesting comparison.
I have not tried a butane burner but will to see if it will fit. If not mac may like the idea enough to include it in a next generation. I am looking at hot tent camping this year. Gina is great. Thanks for commenting
Ótimo diga Parabéns 👍
Que bom que gostou. Obrigado foenting
Nice Weekend my Friend, stay safe and sound
Thanks, you too!
Alcohol? Hand Sanitizer!😁👍✝️🇱🇷
Too true. Fortunate there is no COVID in the woods. Thanks for commenting
It looks like the stove can handle gas fuel with the canister outside of it. :)
I tried my gas stove with remote feed and it does fit but I don't see much reason to do so. It won't accept just the burner portion as it would need a hole in the center of the burn plate. Thanks for commenting
Good vid BUT YT ruined it. Ads every 60 to 90 seconds. Very unenjoyable to watch. I couldn’t watch to the end. I hope you were well compensated.
Yes, I have had another comment along those lines. I will check the add settings. Thanks for commenting
Mark Young the vid was good, just irritating that it was interrupted to the point I lost interest.