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Rs130754
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12/28/2018 01:24AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
One of the problems I ran into on last years trip was that there was very little dry wood so we used the stove more than anticipated. Not a big deal as we weren't rushed but I want to have another stove stove to speed the meal prep process along. Back on November 26th I ordered a SOTO Windmaster canister stove, still hasn't shipped.
Does anyone have either stove? I am trying to decide whether to cancel the order or just get the Amicus which is similar to the Windmaster. I won't need it until June but I like to have some time to test things out before then and I will be getting busier with teaching, coaching, and getting my masters so time will go quickly. Thoughts? Suggestions? Alternatives?
 
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Minnesotian
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12/28/2018 08:25AM  

I don't have the Windmaster, but I do own the Soto MicroRegulator. Got it the first year it came out and I wouldn't trade it for anything. It has gone on a lot of backpacking and canoe trips over the last 5 years or so that I have owned it. It also is my backup stove when I go wintercamping. Lightweight, has always lit just fine, and the microregulator is a great thing to have in colder temperatures.

The Windmaster came out after the microregulator, but if I were buying new, I would probably get the Windmaster.

Where did you order it from? I am surprised it has taken this long. I say keep it coming, you won't be disappointed in Soto.
 
12/28/2018 10:09AM  
Soto does make quality stoves, some of the best from the orient as does Kovea. But they do run more costly. The Windmaster is a canister top stove that is very common in the market with it's primary advantage, a regulator built in. Without that it's comparable to stoves costing in the high teens to 20"s like a GSI Glacier Camp, and the benefit of the regulator is debatable under any conditions. Far as efficiency of fuel use I am more skeptical. It take so many btu's to heat an item and the fuel used has a fixed btu output. So efficiency is more dependent on flame setting and heat loss prevention, the use of wind screens/reflectors, and efficient cooking pots/pans.
Personally I'd cancel the order and buy a simpler cheaper "canister top" class stove, or 2.

butthead
 
12/28/2018 10:20AM  
After 45+ years of using white gas stoves on backpacking and canoeing trips, I bought an Optimus Vega, and love it. I prefer the low-profile burner design to the canister-top mounts of many stoves, and like the ability to use the stove in gaseous-fuel or liquid-fuel mode by simply flipping the canister--no special cannister holder needed. Windscreen--not available for many cannister-top stoves--is included. Total weight, at 6.3 ounces or so, is 4 ounces heavier than the Windmaster, but the pot stability and stove flexibility are worth the extra weight. Simmer control has been great.
 
Rs130754
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12/28/2018 11:52AM  
Minnesotian: "
Where did you order it from? I am surprised it has taken this long. I say keep it coming, you won't be disappointed in Soto. "


I ordered it from c@mpsaver and by the time discounts were applied the Windmaster set me back $40 and change, which I think is a good deal. I just read that the Amicus has a smaller burner head and the pot sits further away. I use a windscreen with my Kovea spider and it works great, love that stove, but as stated earlier be nice to have an extra for other cooking tasks.

My kids bought me a whit box alcohol stove which in tinkering in the shop will boil 8 cups of cold well water with about 2 ounces of HEET. I would prefer to keep the fuel source the same though.

It isn't a huge issue but my paddling partner gets hangry and being a teacher of small humans I NEED my coffee before, during and after most meals. Thanks for the replies. I did call the and they have no idea on a ship date but did upgrade me to 2 day shipping, which doesn't mean anything if there is nothing to ship. Since I haven't been charged I may just give them a bit more time and then take Butthead's advice and look for something cheaper, I have been reading about the BTS-3000. Also my coffee water doesn't need to be a rolling boil either so that may aid efficiency. Thanks again and have a Happy New Year.
 
dsk
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12/29/2018 07:55AM  
It is a little bit risky to be a one man jury sitting in Norway and say: Hikin Jim is the gratest stove tester in the USA, but at least that is my opinion :-)

His blog: http://hikinjim.blogspot.com/

dsk
 
Rs130754
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01/10/2019 09:52PM  
Well, my Windmaster showed up yesterday. I was going to cancel the order this Friday and it showed up out of the blue with no shipment notice, perhaps because they upgraded it. It is a really nice stove and will serve me well. It came with the 4 arm support so it will easily support my fry bakes or billy pots. I was really surprised at how quiet it is too. It boiled 4 cups of water from my hydrant in about 3minutes 50 seconds. Not too bad for cold water, cold pot, and cold fuel canister. Going to have to mess with it more this weekend.
 
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