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Yes. That was the only time I did the XTS first. Every other time I did the XTS last...with a cold canister.

I'm going to do some more experimenting this weekend.

I think the biggest tip in all these test is the grey Coleman canisters are not nearly as good as the MSR ones. Something I've noticed for years without actually putting a stop watch to them.

Curious stuff... I'll be interested to see more testing.

This is one of the cool threads.

Thanks, Brad.

IB, it definitely is a good thread.

Wondering out loud... I wonder if Snubbies Pocket Rocket isn't a better stove for the Olicamp Pot... looking at Walker's Giga pics makes me wonder whether the burner is too far from the base of the pot. Hit Ti pot is right up against the burner. The Rocket's folding arms can be fitted to the Olicamp's inner ring... again, just wondering out loud.

Using rigorous methods, it would be great info and publishable, IMO.

Snubbie?

Hang on, give me two more minutes...

Ain't surgery great?!

Okay, I realized I have to go to Raleigh this weekend so decided I needed to do my test tonight to satisfy my curiosity.
So I found a new Coleman Canister and the MSR IsoPro I used for two boils.



What I found was there is no difference in boil times between the two fuels. I've wondered for some time if the butane-propane blend (Coleman) burned as hot as the Iso/Butane-Propane blend (MSR) and thus burn hotter. The answer is no, not according to the test tonight.

I used 20oz of cold tap water in each test.

I started with a Snow Peak 900 Ti pot. Each time I dumped water, changed canister and boiled again with everything cooled down. Then used the Olicamp XTS after allowing both canisters to warm back to room temp.
SP Ti w/Coleman = 2:46
SP Ti w/ MSR = 2:48
XTS w/Coleman = 1:34
XTS w/MSR = 1:41

The few seconds of difference between the fuels tells me the type canister is irrelevant. However, both times I got over 1 minute faster boil times with the XTS.
So as far as I'm concerned, the XTS is a big score for me.

Now, Brad mentioned above the Pocket Rocket. It has a very intense flame and it funnels it right up into the "sweet spot" of the XTS. Brad, if you fold the PR pot supports inward to fit inside the ring, they actually will raise the pot slightly higher. It also decreases stability obviously, so their is no gain in doing that. In this photo, you can see the flame is totally utilized, nothing even showing coming outside of the convection fins, or up the sides. Walker6's similar photo shows a flame that is a little more spread, and perhaps a little farther from the bottom of the pot.

I thought the same thing but not according to this test. However....

The pressure seems to really drop in the Coleman canisters after a few uses. I've never noticed the MSR pressure dropping noticeably until it was almost empty (of course, taking out cold temperature issues). THAT could be why it seems the Coleman doesn't seem as fast or hot. It could be the pressure drops and you actually have a smaller flame but you don't really notice that the flame is smaller.

Just a hunch.

But I would have bet the farm a Coleman just doesn't give the same performance of an MSR canister, and if the pressure drops as it approaches half empty, then I guess it doesn't.

Looks like you've got a good combo there, Snubbie. It seems the burners with the holes facing up work better with the Olicamp than my side hole Giga stove burner does. (Makes sense if you look at the burner on a Jet Boil).

Just for kicks, I tested some MSR fuel against the Giga fuel. Same-same, in the 4oz size (new cans), and they each used about .4oz of fuel per burn.

Darn I missed the obvious. Those ARE side burner holes on your stove rather than top.

I still don't understand why it wouldn't boil faster with the XTS unless it just doesn't use the flame any more efficiently for some reason...but that's a "duh". Obviously there is no gain for you...I'm still scratching my head on that one.

I think you've got the answer! Good stuff.

This is actually what I've noticed to a T.

I thought your first test was done on used containers?

It just seems the PR doesn't roar on the Coleman older canisters, even though they still have fuel in them.

Yeah, we're on the same page here. The first test was done on used Coleman canisters. I wrongly assumed the extended boil times was because of IsoPro burning hotter than the Coleman canister. But with a new canister, the boil times were the same. So the pressure drop of the Coleman is the reason for the extended boil times. I have not noticed that pressure drop in the MSR IsoPro canisters.

Some of you other guys that have ordered one of these XTS pots, I'll be curious to see what results you get with it.

IIRC, those I corresponded with regarding the XTS pot and its excellent results were all using Pocket Rockets... makes sense in light of this thread.

Maybe I'm having a brainfart, but what is the reason for butane or isobutane mixed with propane?

Does it produce a hotter flame?

Propane boils at a colder temp than isobutane or butane.

Never mind.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/canister_stove_faq#.UxDlsoUXdRI

This could also be what I've noticed:

Another tip is to choose the right canister fuel blend for cold weather. Fuel that is a mix of iso-butane (boiling point 12 �F) and propane, works better in below freezing temperatures than fuel containing butane (boiling point 31 �F), because the fuel in the canister will continue to vaporize (albeit more sluggishly) at cold temperatures. For cold temperature performance (below freezing), the propane is the basic driving force (because of its low boiling point) that makes the stove work; iso-butane will volatilize and burn along with the propane (but in decreasing amounts) down to its boiling point of 12 �F, while the n-butane will just sit there. Warming the canister will enable it to perform at even lower temperatures. Examples of cold weather fuels are: MSR IsoPro fuel - 80% iso-butane and 20% propane; Snow Peak GigaPower fuel - 85% iso-butane and 15% propane; and Jetboil JetPower fuel which is 20-30% propane with the remainder iso-butane.

Coleman label says butane