Caldera Cone for 2 weeks

[geoffmallo]

Like many of you each bit of gear really has to earn it's place in my pack and so I'm looking to loose some weight with my stove. Specifically I'm exploring whether a caldera cone would be the right choice for me with 3 people for 14 days. We'd just be boiling water (cuppa's and rehydrate dinner) - so 1.5L per day.

I've build a few different versions of the alcohol stoves from the Zen stoves site and while I do like them I found their fuel usage was quite high and even more troubling variable. With the MSR reactor (one choice I stove we could take) I know exactly how much fuel I need and exactly how it will perform over a longer trip.

Anyone with a caldera cone used it on a longer trip? I'd love to hear your experiences and if you'd use that stove system in those conditions.

[ninjapuppet]

Hi Geoff

Ive love the calderas for solo use and ive got 5 caldera systems :
msr 850 titan kettle + caldera (aluminum)
MLD 850 pot + caldera ti tri ULC
caldera Keg setup with fosters beer can
evernew 1.3L + caldera ti tri
evernew 1.9L + caldera ti tri
and an msr reactor.

For my solo use, i would recommend the mountain laurel designs 850 pot with the caldera ULC ti tri. It's the one i turn to all the time because 850ml is just about right for a freeze dried meal + coffee.
Plus you got the wood burner backup. I would definitly recommend going the titanium over the aluminium for ths
if there is a chance i'll grill fish, then the bigger caldera for the 1.9L evernew would be recommended.

however for a group for 2 weeks like you mentioned, your reactor would be much more convenient. the increased weight would not matter if you take turns carrying it

[geoffmallo]

Thanks ninjapuppet for your comments. I've been considering the reactor. I do like the stove a lot and think it would be a valuable item. But as I'll be carrying food for 2 people (I'm taking my 7 yo son) my pack weight has gone a bit crazy. I've got family coming over from the US so will probably pick up a cone but may not use it on this trip?

How much fuel do you use to boil 1L of water in the evernew 1.3L configuration?

[Franco]

I'm with Ninja on this one.
I use and LOVE my TiTri 550ml (...) Caldera Cone because it does exactly what I want for my style of ...boiling water, however as efficient as it is providing that you do not use your Reactor at full blast , (IE use it at about half throttle) you should consume in weight about half of what a CC system will.
So for a few days it will do , over 5-7 days (I would need to do the math but can't be bothered) a Reactor will be lighter.
Not sure how you get 1.5L for 3 people per day (?)
BTW, I have a cone for a 1.3 L pot but it is a shorter version and slightly less efficient than the 550ml.
(that was testing the two side by side with 500ml of water)
Franco

[geoffmallo]

Thanks Franco. I was suspecting the reactor was the way to go. One the last long walk I took the reactor on it we took one medium size canister (227g fuel/344g total) and it worked well for 12 days for the two us (Western Arthurs).

1.5L = 400ml x 3 for dinner rehydrating (our own dehydrated meals). Plus one person will have a cuppa in the morning (300ml - which won't need to boil, just warm).

However if we take this stove I may have a cuppa occasionally and we'd take a second smaller canister. Though I haven't done the figures yet on it yet.

I think I'll have to get a cone while the opportunity exists and save that for shorter trips as you've suggested.

[ninjapuppet]

If didnt already have a reactor, i'd suggest one of these babies comming out later this year:

http://www.jetboil.com/files/Jetboil%20Fall%202011%20workbook.pdf

The sol is 270g (compared to 425g jetboil)
and it can boil 12 litres with a 100g cannister.

thats pretty impressive!

[geoffmallo]

Sounds pretty nice. A bit late for my next trip, but hey you can never have enough stoves or tents!