As others have stated, ditch the isopropyl alcohol. It burns dirty, produces a lot of soot and has a cooler flame. Most people use Yellow Heet or Denatured Alcohol (aka Methylated Alcohol aka Marine Alcohol). Much hotter flame and subsequently faster boil. Less soot. I use 190 proof Everclear, which is almost as good as Yellow Heet but is multiuse (can use to disinfect wounds, imbibe, sanitize, etc.).
Although not ultra light, I love my trangia with titanium triangle pot support, and with bio-ethanol here in Ireland it lights in all weathers. Has the bonus of being able to store fuel in the stove itself. It's quieter and somehow feels more satisfying in use compared to iso-butane for me. Thanks for the review Eric!
Hi Eric ... idea/something you might look into...many of us don't use rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol ... while cheap, it is inefficient and messy (when burned) compared to denatured alcohols (ethyl): like appliance and marine stove fuel (which is more costly, but more efficient -- and I'd recommend not using "Heat" vehicle fuel treatments (methyl) because of their increased burn fume toxicity. I have one of the Decagon stoves...agree with you on the wind factor...and while it's not my preferred stove, I find that if filled to only just below the bottom of the fill hole it primes faster...in cold weather I've set it in a small flat circular metal lid/tray and added a few drops of alcohol to the lid/tray...it heats the stove bottom and the stove primes faster. If you want to look into a small stove that will fit into most any pot, take a peek at the Toaks Titanium Siphon stove (my preferred) ... smaller than the Decagon, I find it more efficient in boiling, and it too is bullet proof simple. I can boil water in my pot (Evernew 600ml) with only 1/2 oz (15 ml) in less than 5 minutes (pot 1" above stove). Obviously slower than my canister setup, but quiet, small, and delighfully straight forward--primes fast as well. Thanks for the work you put into your videos. Doug
Hi Doug, What do you mean increased burn fume toxicity with HEAT? I've used the yellow bottle for years and from all the tests and different comparison videos I've watched it tested to be the best. Not the red bottle, just the yellow.
@@alexwbanks70 Hi Alex... For a time I worked in an automotive testing Lab. One of the things we dealt with was the use of the Heat formulas (red and yellow). Red was worse, but yellow also had methyl and additional compounds that are toxic when burned/inhaled. To be fair, denatured ethyl alcohol (drink alcohol infused with substances that "poison" it) also has additives that are unhealthy to breathe post combustion. However, the ethyl fuels designed for stove use were generally less toxic when combusted. That was my gist.
I should clarify something...I mistated part of the "gist". In the testing lab we sometimes combined agents into the red/yellow HEET solutions and that produced combusted toxicity. "Pure" red Heet is primarily isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol while the yellow is methanol. Methanol (wood alcohols) and Ethanol (grain alcohols), when pure, produce primarily water and carbon dioxide when burned. The caution needed when handling methanol is absorbtion: via contact and inhalation--it IS then toxic. One of the reasons isopropyl has such mixed reviews is that typical "rubbing" alcohols are labeled with percentages (50%, 70%, etc). The non-alcohol percentage is water...not the greatest fuel source for combustion. The incomplete combustion of isopropyl alcohol, even when 99%, is where the carbon and soot originate in spite of a potential high BTU rating. BTU/unit finds ethanol about 25% more efficient than methanol. I also mentioned denatured alcohol. Typically that is ethyl alcohol "poisoned" with methyl alcohol in about a 50/50 mix with the percentages varying about 25% either way depending on the propietary blend of the manufacturer. I'll stop here ... don't want to turn Eric's channel into a distillary. 🙂
They don't seem any more dangerous than any other type of stove for forest fires, at least to me. Far more likely to start a forest fire with a camp fire though.
great video! A trick I have learned is to place a small rolled piece of tissue in the alcohol and let the tissue soak up the alcohol, then you can light the alcohol on the tissue which acts as a wick.
@Predbeau101 it is the best way without a doubt! I do this all the time, however some people only carry lighters so I thought I would share this trick 👍
bought my first alcohol stove (Trangia) in 93. i now own several alcohol stoves. i just love their simplicity. i've used them in winter time without issues except this one time where the methanol wouldn't light in -23c.
Good to see you experimenting with alcohol. I love the fuel control and peacefulness compared to canisters. Trail designs sidewinder with a 700ml evernew is compact and boils water at near the speed of a canister regardless of wind. The wide pot bottom helps catch a lot more heat. With just the screen, pot, homemade stove, towel, empty fuel bottle, and lighter it's only 7oz. You'd have to try to knock it over, very stable. Use yellow heat or denatured alcohol from a hardware store to keep your kit clean. The red heat makes a mess!
@Predbeau101 that’s good to know , I’m taking about 7 men up blood mountain in May and I’m going to teach them how to make their own . Thanks for the heads up
Great video. Thank you for your honesty in your reviews, both the positives and the negatives , i also have switched to titanium for my cook kit to save ounces.
The stove went the first 300 miles of appalachian trail with me. Other systems were certainly faster and yes, high mountain snows can kinda put a kink inbyour game but you can still boil etc. However I could always find fuel and 20oz was more than enough between resupplies. Still have it today. I use the bot 900 as an everyday water jug so of course it joins me on adventures.
I like my alcohol cat can stove. But as a long distance A.T. hiker it's hard out there to find denatured alcohol when you need it. Just going for a few days to a week, alcohol is ok.. Mailing to yourself is a nice concept, like the earth is flat. Watered down alcohol at stores is virtually useless. I'm not getting paid to say but, I'd rather use a fuel source that is available and not have to visit post office on my journey
PRO TIP: (I have this stove) It works great IF THE ACTUAL BURNER is heated up. Use a lighter to heat the SIDE OF THE BURNER or spill a bit of fuel around the edge/base to assist. Then it blooms immediately! THATS the TRICK to this stove. PLUS REMEMBER this has a very WIDE FLAME PATTERN instead of the typical “center focused” flame alcohol stove… so this is more for cooking with wider pans/pots. Not to just boil water. Yes use it with a wind guard if outside.
Nice review. I have a tokes 700 and alcohol stove that nests inside along with a Bic Lighter. I’m a Mountain House fan what do you think of that new to me brand compared to Mountain House ?
I have the Vargo 700 and what I like is it holds a 4 oz tank of propane and a pocket rocket (MSR) and they stay in once screwed down and I don't need a bag for the cook system.
"Finicky to light", isn't a good thing after a long hiking day and you want to make your food/beverage. I have the Evernew titanium alcohol stove which is a fuel hog, but that thing always lights and I get a blue flame quick, with or without a pot support it works well enough for me. Different strokes for different folks I suppose.
Is it still a fuel hog if you set the pot directly on top? The top rim burners are essentially snuffed and only the bottom ring heats I assume? I'm sure that takes a lot longer to boil but does it use noticably less fuel?
One thing you didn’t mention with the Vargo Bot series of pots is that the lid can be used to drink & eat from as well. People use main part for meal, and lid for their drink. It’s a great series. Decagon Stove on the other hand… I’d recommend a lot of other stoves before that one. Good review though!
@@BackpackingTV Watch PaleohikerMD’s review of the Decagon. It can even be dangerous, it seems. But mainly just really slow to prime and makes you use too much fuel. I recommend Trangia, or Evernew’s DX Stand/Alcohol Stove.
Ide be interested in seeing a manufactured Fancy feast style alcohol stove . The one I made works great . Boils 2 cups of water in around 4 min . But if there is a more durable option I would be interested in it
@@BackpackingTV one benefit that I like with the Cat Food can versions is that it has minimal priming time in harsh conditions . It is still effected by wind . But in cold temps the priming isn’t effected . The vargo style system has to heat up within the outer chamber and vaporize to prime and can sometimes have trouble doing so in cold conditions .
Hello! I was wondering if you could please make a video about how you brush your teeth while backpacking? Do you have to get a special kind of toothpaste? Do you have to dig a hole for it? Do you do it a certain distance from camp? I feel like I never got these questions properly answered before, and I’m pretty sure I know some people who just go without brushing at all and it’s disgusting 😂.
haha, yeah we can still brush our teeth in the backcountry! I can do a video addressing this. I the meantime, I use regular tooth paste but do something called an "eco-spray", in which I spit the toothpaste into a mist, rather than just have it glob out and stick to stuff. It basically minimizes the impact.
I like the pot, but would hesitate to get the stove. I think that one of the things I would do with the pot is steam rice or couscous and wrap the pot in a sleeping bag to save fuel.
I like the idea of the alcohol stove with its simplicity but it seems like a lot of fuel consumption and time. While the alcohol gets lighter the more you use it, 16oz , it used 2oz of alcohol so you get what, 8 uses out of a bottle? Vs 7oz and 12+ uses from a fuel canister. And while you mentioned you don't have to use all the fuel you can snuff it out,how easy is it to pour back into the bottle without spilling? It seems like a lot of work to boil some water
I have been hesitant to use alcohol stoves for exactly those reasons. But some people swear by them. I'm trying to learn and see why! Also, it's not that hard to pour the unused alcohol back into the bottle.
My fuel efficiency wasn't very good but I've learned I wasn't using the best fuel options. However I hear the Trangia is better than the Decagon. Other Vargo alcohol stoves perform better than this one I believe.
I’m sorry, this is a ridiculous video and to disseminate bad information the TH-cam community is irresponsible. For experienced backpackers, the Vargo Decon is probably the worst stove out the. Yes, it is made of titanium and can be bought at REI, however; it is a poorly designed stove. Let’s put this in perspective. A good alcohol stove can boil 2 cups of water using about ½ oz of water and do so in about 7-9 minutes. Second, no one uses isopropyl in an alcohol stove. Inefficient flame generates soot and smells bad. Do your homework before posting a video like this. It is embarrassing.
I've used several alcohol stoves over the years and have researched what's the best and that is one of the worst! Also the yellow bottle of HEAT alcohol that you can buy at any convenient store or gas station is what I use because it burns efficient and clean. Do not use the red bottle of HEAT! I really do enjoy your channel and your TV show. I'm sorry but this video just doesn't have a lot of good advice.
No worries, I say up front that using alcohol stoves is new to me. I still have lots to learn about them and I want to try other stoves for sure. Thanks for the recommendation on HEET!
Sorry bro but you’re reaching on this one… those stoves are garbage. There are much better and lighter options… Hell, a cat can stove beats this and it’ll fit in that overpriced pot…
Sadly, this has got to be the worst alcohol stove, ever. Over 5 minutes to bloom, then by only drenching the whole stove in alcohol to create heat, and then extinguishing twice, and then taking so long to boil only 2 cups - some time beyond 15 minutes (in addition to the initial 5 minutes to bloom and relighting twice), I lost patience. I would hate to take this anywhere there was any wind. Had to send it back. Totally useless.
As others have stated, ditch the isopropyl alcohol. It burns dirty, produces a lot of soot and has a cooler flame.
Most people use Yellow Heet or Denatured Alcohol (aka Methylated Alcohol aka Marine Alcohol). Much hotter flame and subsequently faster boil. Less soot.
I use 190 proof Everclear, which is almost as good as Yellow Heet but is multiuse (can use to disinfect wounds, imbibe, sanitize, etc.).
As a new person to alcohol stoves, that is great advice! Thanks!
I use Everclear also. It’s the best!
Although not ultra light, I love my trangia with titanium triangle pot support, and with bio-ethanol here in Ireland it lights in all weathers. Has the bonus of being able to store fuel in the stove itself. It's quieter and somehow feels more satisfying in use compared to iso-butane for me. Thanks for the review Eric!
Thanks! Yeah so many people love their Trangia. I gotta try one out!
Hi Eric ... idea/something you might look into...many of us don't use rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol ... while cheap, it is inefficient and messy (when burned) compared to denatured alcohols (ethyl): like appliance and marine stove fuel (which is more costly, but more efficient -- and I'd recommend not using "Heat" vehicle fuel treatments (methyl) because of their increased burn fume toxicity. I have one of the Decagon stoves...agree with you on the wind factor...and while it's not my preferred stove, I find that if filled to only just below the bottom of the fill hole it primes faster...in cold weather I've set it in a small flat circular metal lid/tray and added a few drops of alcohol to the lid/tray...it heats the stove bottom and the stove primes faster. If you want to look into a small stove that will fit into most any pot, take a peek at the Toaks Titanium Siphon stove (my preferred) ... smaller than the Decagon, I find it more efficient in boiling, and it too is bullet proof simple. I can boil water in my pot (Evernew 600ml) with only 1/2 oz (15 ml) in less than 5 minutes (pot 1" above stove). Obviously slower than my canister setup, but quiet, small, and delighfully straight forward--primes fast as well. Thanks for the work you put into your videos. Doug
Hi Doug, What do you mean increased burn fume toxicity with HEAT? I've used the yellow bottle for years and from all the tests and different comparison videos I've watched it tested to be the best. Not the red bottle, just the yellow.
@@alexwbanks70 Hi Alex... For a time I worked in an automotive testing Lab. One of the things we dealt with was the use of the Heat formulas (red and yellow). Red was worse, but yellow also had methyl and additional compounds that are toxic when burned/inhaled. To be fair, denatured ethyl alcohol (drink alcohol infused with substances that "poison" it) also has additives that are unhealthy to breathe post combustion. However, the ethyl fuels designed for stove use were generally less toxic when combusted. That was my gist.
I should clarify something...I mistated part of the "gist". In the testing lab we sometimes combined agents into the red/yellow HEET solutions and that produced combusted toxicity. "Pure" red Heet is primarily isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol while the yellow is methanol. Methanol (wood alcohols) and Ethanol (grain alcohols), when pure, produce primarily water and carbon dioxide when burned. The caution needed when handling methanol is absorbtion: via contact and inhalation--it IS then toxic. One of the reasons isopropyl has such mixed reviews is that typical "rubbing" alcohols are labeled with percentages (50%, 70%, etc). The non-alcohol percentage is water...not the greatest fuel source for combustion. The incomplete combustion of isopropyl alcohol, even when 99%, is where the carbon and soot originate in spite of a potential high BTU rating. BTU/unit finds ethanol about 25% more efficient than methanol. I also mentioned denatured alcohol. Typically that is ethyl alcohol "poisoned" with methyl alcohol in about a 50/50 mix with the percentages varying about 25% either way depending on the propietary blend of the manufacturer. I'll stop here ... don't want to turn Eric's channel into a distillary. 🙂
I appreciate your experience here Doug, so much good information! I appreciate the opportunity to learn from you.
I'd be scared of stuff catching fire (creating a wildifire I mean), specially in summer.
@Predbeau101 I rather use a gas stove than common sense tbh
They don't seem any more dangerous than any other type of stove for forest fires, at least to me. Far more likely to start a forest fire with a camp fire though.
great video! A trick I have learned is to place a small rolled piece of tissue in the alcohol and let the tissue soak up the alcohol, then you can light the alcohol on the tissue which acts as a wick.
@Predbeau101 it is the best way without a doubt! I do this all the time, however some people only carry lighters so I thought I would share this trick 👍
Nice. Great tip!
bought my first alcohol stove (Trangia) in 93. i now own several alcohol stoves. i just love their simplicity. i've used them in winter time without issues except this one time where the methanol wouldn't light in -23c.
Well that's really cold! I need to try the Trangia stoves to compare.
Good to see you experimenting with alcohol. I love the fuel control and peacefulness compared to canisters.
Trail designs sidewinder with a 700ml evernew is compact and boils water at near the speed of a canister regardless of wind. The wide pot bottom helps catch a lot more heat. With just the screen, pot, homemade stove, towel, empty fuel bottle, and lighter it's only 7oz. You'd have to try to knock it over, very stable.
Use yellow heat or denatured alcohol from a hardware store to keep your kit clean. The red heat makes a mess!
I prefer to use HEET (yellow bottle) it burns a lot cleaner and leaves almost no carbon residue .
@Predbeau101 that’s good to know , I’m taking about 7 men up blood mountain in May and I’m going to teach them how to make their own . Thanks for the heads up
@Predbeau101 lol not until October - jk .
Seeing a lot of Yellow HEET comments here and I'm gonna try it out!
My cat food can alcohol stove is 0.2 ounces and cost 50 cents
@Predbeau101 it’s aluminum, bend it back into shape
Yep, lots of people will prefer the homemade options. Nothing wrong with that!
Great video. Thank you for your honesty in your reviews, both the positives and the negatives , i also have switched to titanium for my cook kit to save ounces.
Glad I could help!
The stove went the first 300 miles of appalachian trail with me. Other systems were certainly faster and yes, high mountain snows can kinda put a kink inbyour game but you can still boil etc. However I could always find fuel and 20oz was more than enough between resupplies. Still have it today. I use the bot 900 as an everyday water jug so of course it joins me on adventures.
I'm in Oregon. Sadly we almost always have a fire ban. I can't even do esbit cubes. 😞😞
Same here in BC 🇨🇦 ,can't remember the last time I had a camp fire 😠at least in summer time
Yep, we have lots of fire bans in the southwest for most of the summer too.
@predbeau101 Easy there bud. It's okay! We're all here to have a good time and to learn something. Cheers!
I like my alcohol cat can stove. But as a long distance A.T. hiker it's hard out there to find denatured alcohol when you need it. Just going for a few days to a week, alcohol is ok.. Mailing to yourself is a nice concept, like the earth is flat. Watered down alcohol at stores is virtually useless. I'm not getting paid to say but, I'd rather use a fuel source that is available and not have to visit post office on my journey
Fair enough! Glad to hear from you!
the Decagon fits perfectly inside the Vargo Hexagon folding wood stove for a windproof option..I carry both
Nice! Good to know!
Thank you, very helpful 😎👍
Glad to see you switch to the Lighter side. Me too :)
This ol' dog is still learning!
The bots lid doubles as a bowl and alcohol stoves aren't loud and obnoxious like some of those canister stoves.
True on both points!
PRO TIP: (I have this stove)
It works great IF THE ACTUAL BURNER is heated up. Use a lighter to heat the SIDE OF THE BURNER or spill a bit of fuel around the edge/base to assist. Then it blooms immediately! THATS the TRICK to this stove. PLUS REMEMBER this has a very WIDE FLAME PATTERN instead of the typical “center focused” flame alcohol stove… so this is more for cooking with wider pans/pots. Not to just boil water.
Yes use it with a wind guard if outside.
Nice review. I have a tokes 700 and alcohol stove that nests inside along with a Bic Lighter. I’m a Mountain House fan what do you think of that new to me brand compared to Mountain House ?
I have the Vargo 700 and what I like is it holds a 4 oz tank of propane and a pocket rocket (MSR) and they stay in once screwed down and I don't need a bag for the cook system.
Yes that's very handy!
"Finicky to light", isn't a good thing after a long hiking day and you want to make your food/beverage. I have the Evernew titanium alcohol stove which is a fuel hog, but that thing always lights and I get a blue flame quick, with or without a pot support it works well enough for me. Different strokes for different folks I suppose.
Is it still a fuel hog if you set the pot directly on top? The top rim burners are essentially snuffed and only the bottom ring heats I assume? I'm sure that takes a lot longer to boil but does it use noticably less fuel?
I'm gonna try some other options to compare my tests with the Decagon. Thanks for your input!
One thing you didn’t mention with the Vargo Bot series of pots is that the lid can be used to drink & eat from as well. People use main part for meal, and lid for their drink. It’s a great series.
Decagon Stove on the other hand… I’d recommend a lot of other stoves before that one. Good review though!
This seems to be the consensus. Bot is real nice, but the Decagon has better alternatives.
@@BackpackingTV Watch PaleohikerMD’s review of the Decagon. It can even be dangerous, it seems. But mainly just really slow to prime and makes you use too much fuel. I recommend Trangia, or Evernew’s DX Stand/Alcohol Stove.
Ide be interested in seeing a manufactured Fancy feast style alcohol stove . The one I made works great . Boils 2 cups of water in around 4 min . But if there is a more durable option I would be interested in it
If a manufacturer version was available it would be heavier to carry, but it would certainly lighten the wallet 🤪
Cat food canisters seem to be quite popular!
@@BackpackingTV one benefit that I like with the Cat Food can versions is that it has minimal priming time in harsh conditions . It is still effected by wind . But in cold temps the priming isn’t effected .
The vargo style system has to heat up within the outer chamber and vaporize to prime and can sometimes have trouble doing so in cold conditions .
I really like the vargo pots too but they are very expensive. Check out the Evernew stove with pot stand. Very nice
True, they're quite pricey! Thanks for the rec.
are you in video in nevada or Arizona? beautiful view, slidy rocks. i m from comifornia.
Hello! I was wondering if you could please make a video about how you brush your teeth while backpacking? Do you have to get a special kind of toothpaste? Do you have to dig a hole for it? Do you do it a certain distance from camp? I feel like I never got these questions properly answered before, and I’m pretty sure I know some people who just go without brushing at all and it’s disgusting 😂.
haha, yeah we can still brush our teeth in the backcountry! I can do a video addressing this. I the meantime, I use regular tooth paste but do something called an "eco-spray", in which I spit the toothpaste into a mist, rather than just have it glob out and stick to stuff. It basically minimizes the impact.
7:20 it was a bit disappointing and humorous that the camera just looked at the pot instead of inside the pot.
I like the pot, but would hesitate to get the stove. I think that one of the things I would do with the pot is steam rice or couscous and wrap the pot in a sleeping bag to save fuel.
I like the idea of the alcohol stove with its simplicity but it seems like a lot of fuel consumption and time. While the alcohol gets lighter the more you use it, 16oz , it used 2oz of alcohol so you get what, 8 uses out of a bottle? Vs 7oz and 12+ uses from a fuel canister. And while you mentioned you don't have to use all the fuel you can snuff it out,how easy is it to pour back into the bottle without spilling? It seems like a lot of work to boil some water
I have been hesitant to use alcohol stoves for exactly those reasons. But some people swear by them. I'm trying to learn and see why! Also, it's not that hard to pour the unused alcohol back into the bottle.
How is the fuel efficiency compared to the standard trangia alcohol stove?
My fuel efficiency wasn't very good but I've learned I wasn't using the best fuel options. However I hear the Trangia is better than the Decagon. Other Vargo alcohol stoves perform better than this one I believe.
Thanks for the video. What was the music you used?
im looking at the new goshawk alchol stove, they claim 3 to 4 min boil times.
Is the stove 3d printed?
I’m sorry, this is a ridiculous video and to disseminate bad information the TH-cam community is irresponsible. For experienced backpackers, the Vargo Decon is probably the worst stove out the. Yes, it is made of titanium and can be bought at REI, however; it is a poorly designed stove.
Let’s put this in perspective. A good alcohol stove can boil 2 cups of water using about ½ oz of water and do so in about 7-9 minutes. Second, no one uses isopropyl in an alcohol stove. Inefficient flame generates soot and smells bad. Do your homework before posting a video like this. It is embarrassing.
How do you boil water with water? Research before you post... Embarrassing.
@@R0M4Nlegions My bad, alcohol not water. It doesn't change the fact that this is a terrible video.
I've used several alcohol stoves over the years and have researched what's the best and that is one of the worst! Also the yellow bottle of HEAT alcohol that you can buy at any convenient store or gas station is what I use because it burns efficient and clean. Do not use the red bottle of HEAT! I really do enjoy your channel and your TV show. I'm sorry but this video just doesn't have a lot of good advice.
No worries, I say up front that using alcohol stoves is new to me. I still have lots to learn about them and I want to try other stoves for sure. Thanks for the recommendation on HEET!
Sorry bro but you’re reaching on this one… those stoves are garbage. There are much better and lighter options… Hell, a cat can stove beats this and it’ll fit in that overpriced pot…
Reaching? I try out something new and give it my review. I offer plenty of critiques. That said, I do need to try other alcohol options.
Get a trangia or the aluminum knockoff
I think I will!
How much alcohol would you need per day ?
2oz per meal is a good rule of thumb.
@@benjamintrivett3675 copy . Thank you .
Do not like the stove.
Trangia burner much better.
The pot is awesome though.
you forgot one of the nicest things of a alcohol stove, they are quiet. I hate the sounds of a pocket rocket.
mmm. That's true. They are essentially silent!
Sadly, this has got to be the worst alcohol stove, ever.
Over 5 minutes to bloom, then by only drenching the whole stove in alcohol to create heat, and then extinguishing twice, and then taking so long to boil only 2 cups - some time beyond 15 minutes (in addition to the initial 5 minutes to bloom and relighting twice), I lost patience. I would hate to take this anywhere there was any wind. Had to send it back. Totally useless.