Here's a good little innovation worth a look... I think I'll pick one up, just because.
The Olicamp XTS pot is a bargain price-wise and those I've corresponded with say it gives an approx 40% fuel savings over regular pots with conventional stoves (think Pocket Rocket, Snow Peak Giga, MSR, etc).
That's very close to what the Jetboil delivers, but lets one upgrade an existing stove without the expense of jumping up to a Sol or Sol Ti. Likely not as good in wind as the full-on Jetboil, but darn close.
At 6.7 ounces, plus what a stove weighs, you're damn near to a Jetboil.
A pocket rocket weighs a hair over 3 oz. which means a pretty lightweight package overall. But for me, weight isn't the issue here. Since I already have a pocket rocket, adding this is an economical alternative to buying a whole new setup with the Jetboil.
If it gets me better gas mileage from a canister it would be worth it on longer trips IMO.
Right now I can get about 4 days from an 8oz canister of Isobutane with the PR, which allows for some simmering and some continuous burn like when making pancakes one at a time. That's without wind to contend with.
Just heating water for Mountain House or coffee isn't a big deal, especially for overnighters. I'd stick to the PR and my Snowpeak titanium cup. But for multi day trips, it could mean the difference of a cold meal being out of gas, and a hot one! Or having to take an extra canister just in case.
$26.95 on Amazon with free shipping if you're an Amazon Prime member (which I am!) It did add some tax strangely so I assume there is a NC affiliation of some type. Still under $29 total.
I have one on the way. I'll do a "test boil" with the Pocket Rocket with a regular titanium pot and this one and I'll post the results. Thanks Brad.
Here's a good little innovation worth a look... I think I'll pick one up, just because.
The Olicamp XTS pot is a bargain price-wise and those I've corresponded with say it gives an approx 40% fuel savings over regular pots with conventional stoves (think Pocket Rocket, Snow Peak Giga, MSR, etc).
That's very close to what the Jetboil delivers, but lets one upgrade an existing stove without the expense of jumping up to a Sol or Sol Ti. Likely not as good in wind as the full-on Jetboil, but darn close.
$59 and 1.9 oz's plus $29 and 6.7 oz's for the Olicamp pot and you're at 8.6 oz's and $88... that's 0.1 oz's more than the Jetboil Sol Ti, but $61 less for very close to the same performance.
If I didn't already have the Sol Ti I'd do the above.
I've got the standard Jetboil, and have NO complaints, but I'm still a sucker stoves and related shiny things, so thanks to Snubby and Amazon, I've got a pot en route for $27 shipped free.
MY plan is to test various alchy stoves under the pot. I'm thinking maybe a Trangia's flame pattern will make sweet music with the pot's heat exchanger ring and I'll yield a silent and simple (no moving parts) stove with reasonable efficiency. If not the Trangia, maybe a catfood stove, which is even lighter.
Regardless, I'll have fun screwing around with alcohol stoves.
Okay, what service. Ordered Friday, received today, woohoo, woohoo!
So I decide to do a comparison, fist inside. I used a Titanium Snow peak cup with 24 oz of cool tap water.
Boil time took 5:14
So then I use the Olicamp with 24 oz of cool tap water. Boil time was 4:12 or about 1 minute time savings.
Then I went outside. I put the stove on a non-solid table, no wind screen, and cold water. There was a small breeze that would occasionally "gust" enough to blow out a bic lighter. I used 20 oz of water. The Snow Peak boil time was 5:45 The Olicamp boil time was 4:15 or about 1:30 time savings.
At this point I'm thinking these times are unusually long. I'm on the tail end of a tank of the Coleman propane mix you can find at Wally World. I believe I wasn't getting quite as an intense flame because of dropping pressure. I wonder if the MSR IsoButane mix burns hotter? So I head back downstairs and find a new canister of MSR ISoButane. I refill the Olicamp with 20 oz of cold water and fire it up. I hear the familiar Pocket ROCKET sound. Obviously more pressure. The Olicamp boil time was 1:19 !
The Snow Peak pot boil time was 3:15 or almost 2 minutes more time. So the Olicamp reduces boil time for an average pot (20 oz.) as much as 1-2 minutes faster. So in my post-op, narcotic influenced brain, I figure I can get 12-20 minutes more boil time per 8 oz canister, based on the number of "boils" I typically get out of a canister. I realize none of this is scientific by any means, but this pot will give CONSIDERABLE more mileage out of each canister. I also believe the MSR IsoButane burns hotter than the Coleman Butane/propane blend, which is something I've suspected for some time.
Of course, shorten boil time means getting more boils per canister. Getting 15 more minutes of boil time from a canister could mean an extra day or two on a multi-day backpack trip...which in my mind is huge!
The Olicamp also has silicon handles which don't get hot like the Snow Peak or a stainless or aluminum pot.
Also a silicon lid, and a canister, lighter and a few doo-dads will fit inside the pot. The mesh bag is big enough to fit the Pocket Rocket and a spoon or two. I suspect a smaller stove would fit inside the pot along with a canister but the PR is a little too big to fit.
Cool i have one on the way.Can you fit the stove and canister in the pot?
Originally Posted by Walker6
Nice. Will those handles come off easily?
A smaller stove than the Pocket Rocket would fit inside with a canister. The PR is a hair too large, even out of its little plastic case. Maybe a MicroRocket, or another stove.
Those handles fold over to the side, like a lot of backpack pots including the Snow Peak Titanium I have. They are coated in silicon and apparently stay cool enough to handle. The will remove though I cannot imagine why one would want to remove them. The lid is a soft silicon rubber with a vent that actually snaps on.
This is one of those amazingly rare campfire threads that is useful. Thanks Brad and Snubbie, and pointer for the picture of Dan's windscreen.
Don't thank me, thank Brad. I had never heard of this until Brad posted it yesterday. And it is one of those pieces of gear that actually works and apparently well. One "weakness" I have is a fear of running out of fuel with one canister. So far, I've slipped by on one...barely at times. This will get me at least an extra day on one.
Now if I could something to do the same thing on my Tundra!
Snub love your enthusiasm! For me and my needs my Stoic Mug and Lite Max(SP) come in at 4.8oz....
The oilcamp's come in at 7.4oz.
I'm totally set the way I am but, I really like the weight and surface area of the oilcamp stove. I might buy one to see "if" it fits in my Stoic mug and compare burn times for the oilcamp with the SP.
Your Pocket Rocket is a solid stove and given conditions I'd take it anyday over the JB.
So if you get rid of your pocket rocket container will your stove fit inside your mug/pot?
My lighter,stove,Ti spork and canister all fit inside my Stoic Mug...
I know alot of guys dig the Jetboil but It's far from bomb proof and takes up twice the space for my needs.. So I tend to bash it. Especially at its price..
I agree....that setup works great. Though since I'm usually with my wife we use the Sumo now as its faster over all and we make two dinners at the same time and 230 gram canisters fit inside.
However when going solo or want a back up stove on a fly out the Soto/jetboilette still comes along.
But if you don't already have a jetboil PCS pot then this $30 pot could be a great option as well.
The main savings with the Sol TI would be cutting out the notches on it so you can run the lighter Soto Stove over the jetboil one. Likely talking 2 oz at best though.
If I were doing this to the SOL Ti obviously I wouldn't worry about cutting it shorter and just have the notches cut out 120 degrees apart.
This is one of those amazingly rare campfire threads that is useful. Thanks Brad and Snubbie, and pointer for the picture of Dan's windscreen.
Anything to help at anytime!
Now if I could just spend more time where ounces mattered...
Agreed. How about a lightweight custom-fit hiking boot thread? My VanGorkums weigh 6.5lbs! Great fit, and great construction, but those extra ounces-------or pounds in this case------------take their toll by day's end.
VanGorkums! Unless something's changed, if I could afford a pair of those I could afford more plane tickets to places where ounces matter. I'd love a pair of custom boots someday, just haven't been able to justify the cost. Someday though...
VanGorkums! Unless something's changed, if I could afford a pair of those I could afford more plane tickets to places where ounces matter. I'd love a pair of custom boots someday, just haven't been able to justify the cost. Someday though...
I bought 'em before the prices and wait times went completely insane. I'd DEARLY LOVE to have normal feet that allowed me to walk into a good shop and find boots that fit. It's just never going to happen.
[quote=snubbie] One "weakness" I have is a fear of running out of fuel [quote]
I learned the hard way that after a canister has been used, even once, it can leak and go empty. I always take an extra now, either full or partially used, depending on how many days I'll be out.
I just started weighing my gas canisters and writing the weight on the can so I know how much is left. As soon as I have an empty one I'll have a good base # to know how many oz. are left in a tank.
I've had one of those Olicamp pots for a while. You'll want a stove with a fairly small diameter burner so the flame goes inside the base of the heat transfer ring. My old stoves flame hit the bottom of the outer ring of the base and a lot of the flame went outside it and up the side of the pot If I cranked it too high.
I just started weighing my gas canisters and writing the weight on the can so I know how much is left. As soon as I have an empty one I'll have a good base # to know how many oz. are left in a tank.
That's exactly how I keep track of my gas canisters (I use Snowpeak Giga brand ProIso).
Weight Full: 7.4 oz's Weignt Empty: 2.9 oz's
I keep the two above no's written on the bottom in sharpie, and weigh and date the canister at the end of every trip.
I've always floated them in water to see how much is left. Now they print the process on the MSR cans (what I use)
I never take a half gone can on a trip unless it's an overnighter. I use my partials in the Jetboil to make coffee in the truck. I also have a lantern that burns them. It comes in real handy at bow shoots, and fishing trips around camp.
Like somebody else said, I always burn a new canister at least once.
I like the weight idea though, I'll give it a shot.
I noticed the fuel canister was cold to the touch after the two boils. Just to be fair, I waited an hour to let things cool, then repeated the test. This time Olicamp first:
Then with the Snow Peak:
If nothing else, it seems like these canisters lose oomph the longer you burn.
This test was done inside the garage, so there was no wind.
The flame from the Giga Stove shoots almost entirely up inside the little hole in the base of the Olicamp, but doesn't seem to really spread out amongst the Fins of Fury like I thought would happen.
As of now, best time vs best time, I don't see enough fuel savings to justify the weight penalty, at least not with my current stove. I may need to test it some more with different canisters...
And a third time...using an almost new fuel canister. First, the Olicamp:
And the Snow Peak:
Much bigger flame this time around with the new canister. The flame was hitting the flat ring at the base of the fins on the Oli, and was rolling up the sides of the the Snow Peak about 3/4" all the way around. (I also gave the tank a rest in between boils. )
Not much difference in boil time for me. Maybe it's the cool black stuff on the Snow Peak pot that keeps it close?
Walker6, that's really strange. When I tested I got as much as 2 minutes faster boil time with the Olicamp with a fresh MSR canister over a SnowPeak Ti pot. Using a Coleman WallyWorld canister that was more than half empty, I got 1 minute faster boil times with the Olicamp over the SnowPeak. The flame was obviously less intense with the Coleman canister than the fresh MSR canister.
I was using an MSR Pocket Rocket that quite frankly, sounds like a rocket used on high with a fresh canister. I mean it really pours out an intense hot flame.
I don't know the BTU output between the Pocket Rocket and your Snow Peak stove. I suppose that could make a difference. Like a canister that loses "oomph" the longer you burn, maybe a stove with less "oomph" would also equal out boil times. But I don't know of the "oomph" difference between the Snow Peak stove and the Pocket Rocket, or even if their is one. Maybe the Olicamp needs a stove that will really crank it out to realize the potential. Dunno.
I know, I was expecting results like yours. I wonder if the breeze when you did your test made the difference? Like maybe the fins helped? Also, on your last boil, did you do the Snow Peak right after you did the XTS?
I know, I was expecting results like yours. I wonder if the breeze when you did your test made the difference? Like maybe the fins helped? Also, on your last boil, did you do the Snow Peak right after you did the XTS?
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Iso-butane is an isomer, it has a side chain, therefore is a larger molecule and has more bonds to break when it burns, so yes, in theory it should burn hotter.
My reason for posting is that for a solo hunter whom boils only a dinner a day(2 cups) depending on elevation a person can do it for nearly half the weight and less space. If that matter's than I hope I've helped.
My SP Litemax and stoic pot get me 9 dinners(2cups)or more boiled on one 110gm SP canister no problem if i'm alone Elev from 3800ft to 6500ft.
I do it at near half the weight and less cubic inches burned up.
Aside from hot handles I see no advantage in my case. Now if I decide to up my boils to say 4 cups a day I'll be all over it as I have both the Oilcamp stove and pot on Order. As i hope my son will go with me.
Looks good miller! Now we just need a statistically valid sample size of trials. Then you have to swap the stove pot combos to make sure that's not a cause for the difference... Did GuNR help?
MT, you wouldn't by chance have a alky stove to try and see how much time is saves?
No. Only other stove is an MSR WindPro. I picked up a Micro Rocket on a whim to fill an order. I was pleasantly surprised and ended up picking up a couple more. I have one in my pickup and one in my work truck for cooking and emergency fire starter.
MT, you wouldn't by chance have a alky stove to try and see how much time is saves?
I took a 15min break at work today and gave my new pot its first test run using a supercat stove. I've got several alchy stoves but thought the supercat's wider/lower profile would provide stable support for the pot and the flame profile would match the diameter of the pot and the distance to the flux ring. Long story short, in 40degree windy weather (I used a wind screen) I heated 16oz of water to almost a boil (heavy steam and bubbles forming) in a timed ten minutes which is when the fuel also ran out.
I'll do more testing with other stoves. The supercat is dirt simple, and weighs nothing, but just isn't enough stove for real world conditions OR for the full 32oz capacity of the pot. I won't be surprised if the White Box ends up my favorite.........again. I've also got both E2E stove sizes, and the Gram Weenie might work as well as the WB stove, though it could be a little more tippy.
Thanks for the test. My Gram Weenie is the next one I'm going to test. I think the White Box flame pattern would probably shoot past the base of the pots, otherwise it's my all time favorite alchy stove.
Catfood stove w/ wind is a no-go, but it's such a simple design I expected performance only slightly better than just pouring alcohol on the ground. I wasn't disappointed.......