The FeatherFire Alcohol Stove

[hikin_jim]

There are a lot of good alcohol stoves out there. Finding ones that simmer well? Well, that's not quite so easy. Today, I'd like to look at the FeatherFire stove which not only simmers well, but does it on the fly without any change of equipment or having to take the pot off the stove.

The FeatherFire.


In order to simmer, you have to have some pretty decent flame control. The FeatherFire does. Here's the high flame:


And here's the low flame:


What's the secret? Please join me as I take a look at The FeatherFire Alcohol Stove.

HJ

[hikin_jim]

Oh, yes, and you really can cook on it.



HJ

[ninjapuppet]

Looking good Jim!

Ive got the same stove, but have been too worried about its fragility to carry it out bushwalking.
How do you pack it? just leave wrap it up in a cloth and chuck it in your pot? seems to take up a lot of space compared to other alochol stoves.

[hikin_jim]

Looking good Jim!

Ive got the same stove, but have been too worried about its fragility to carry it out bushwalking.
How do you pack it? just leave wrap it up in a cloth and chuck it in your pot? seems to take up a lot of space compared to other alochol stoves.

Overall, I think it's a good stove. The pot supports? Maybe not so good. With care, OK I think, but definitely with care. Their newer model, the XL looks like it's fixed the pot support issue.

I wrap it in a cloth and put it in my pot, yes. Like this but add a cloth:


The pot supports do take a bit of room, but I can put the stove, a sierra cup/measuring cup, a windscreen, a lighter, a spoon, and a cloth in my 1000ml pot.

HJ

[danpickard]

I've got one of the Packafeather XL stoves...can't complain.

The simmer screw is fairly good on the control (despite appearances of the flame, it does simmer down well). The XL does feel fairly stable too with the wire pot stand that slots into the top of the actual stove (I opted for the XL over the featherfire, thinking that the pot stand set up was a better arrangement) Compact, weighs nothing, and is reasonably efficient on fuel (yes, I have one of the caps for my fuel bottle to salvage what hasn't been burnt off). All packs down easily inside my Trangia cook gear, and the wind shield wraps nicely around my fuel bottle.

Probably could have manufactured one myself, but since these guys have already done the trial and error thing with the simmer ring, I thought they deserved my business (they still cheap at the end of the day).

Cheers,
Dan Pickard

[hikin_jim]

I've got one of the Packafeather XL stoves...can't complain.

The simmer screw is fairly good on the control (despite appearances of the flame, it does simmer down well). The XL does feel fairly stable too with the wire pot stand that slots into the top of the actual stove (I opted for the XL over the featherfire, thinking that the pot stand set up was a better arrangement) Compact, weighs nothing, and is reasonably efficient on fuel (yes, I have one of the caps for my fuel bottle to salvage what hasn't been burnt off). All packs down easily inside my Trangia cook gear, and the wind shield wraps nicely around my fuel bottle.

Probably could have manufactured one myself, but since these guys have already done the trial and error thing with the simmer ring, I thought they deserved my business (they still cheap at the end of the day).

Cheers,
Dan Pickard

G'day, Dan,

Do you have any photos of your set up? I take it that the XL stove fits inside the Trangia Windscreen? I tried with the FeatherFire, but the pot supports got in the way.

When used with the Trangia, does the stove sit too low? Do you put something under the stove to elevate it a bit?

I'd love to see some photos of your set up and the the stove itself if you have any.

HJ

[danpickard]

Hi Jim,
Sorry, should have been more clearer. Just using some Trangia pots/pans, not actually the stove set as such. I just use the XL stove with the Packafeather windshield (see links below), so pots are actually sitting on the XL pot support. The windshield is a totally separate piece having no direct connection to the stove/pot, just surrounding it.

http://packafeather.com/xlstove.html
http://packafeather.com/windscreen.html

The windshield is just an adjustable length of aluminium with a sliding retainer, so it can be made to a snug fit around what ever you are cooking in. I store my windshield around my fuel bottle at pictured in the Packafeather website. I also don't have any pics of my set up on hand, but could probably set some up in coming days with my various size pots on the stove. The whole stove is the size of a catfood can (thats what its made from in the first place, with stand, snuff lid, fuel dish etc all stacked inside and a plastic lid to hold the contents). The only part you need to supply is a square of alfoil for a stove footprint, which helps with the heat reflection. The instructions on the site are fairly clear and simple http://packafeather.com/intructions.html .

Cheers,
Dan Pickard

[ninjapuppet]

Might have to check out this XL version.

just realised i had a little play with this back in 2010 with the caldera cone and it worked well from memory, but havent touched the stove for over a year now.
http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=4801&p=62656&hilit=featherfire#p63252

Been too occupied with my jetboil and reactors, and forgotten about this little gem.

[hikin_jim]

Might have to check out this XL version.

just realised i had a little play with this back in 2010 with the caldera cone and it worked well from memory, but havent touched the stove for over a year now.
http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=53&t=4801&p=62656&hilit=featherfire#p63252

Been too occupied with my jetboil and reactors, and forgotten about this little gem.

Thanks for that link. Very helpful. I was wondering how it would work with a Caldera Cone. Did you every get a chance to take it into the field?

HJ

[hikin_jim]

The instructions on the site are fairly clear and simple http://packafeather.com/intructions.html.

Dan,

Thanks for those instructions. Those are the clearest photos that I've seen.

Interesting that the fuel cup and the combustion chamber are NOT permanently attached. I wonder why they did that? I rather like how the two are are permanently attached on the FeatherFire. Has this caused any trouble?

HJ

[ULWalkingPhil]

I ordered one of these Packafeather XL stoves yesterday from the states. Thanks for all the tips. I plan to use it in my Trail Designs sidewinder cooking system and a Bemco Backpacking Oven. The Bemco Backpacking oven is also on it's way from the states, It's more for car base camping or shorter overnight hikes where the weight will not be such a burden on me. I love to bake while out camping. I wonder if the adjustment can be adjusted on the stove without worrying about it turning over under the Bemco Oven?

[hikin_jim]

The Featherfire's controls turn quite easily, and I imagine her sister stove, the XL, will too. I don't think you'll have any trouble with it turning over.

HJ

[ULWalkingPhil]

The Featherfire's controls turn quite easily, and I imagine her sister stove, the XL, will too. I don't think you'll have any trouble with it turning over.

HJ

Thanks hiking_jim.

Mine should arrive within the week. Im looking forward to trying it out.

[hikin_jim]

I'll be interested in hearing your impressions if you get time to share them. The stove's fuel reservoir is not permanently attached to the upper portion of the stove if I'm understanding things correctly, a most peculiar design.

HJ

[Bluegum Mic]

I've had one for about a year now and think they're great (I've even used it in snowy conditions and it worked well. Yes the fuel reservoir is separate. It reminds me of a slightly larger metal tea candle holder. You simply put the amount of metho in that you want and then place the stove unit over the top. I even use mine in my caldera cone and it works really well. Its easy to adjust the flame with the control and I've used it to simmer and cook rissotos etc plenty of times. You can also put the snuffer on when finished and simply pour the remaining fuel back in your container. Im yet to find another metho stove that's as quick to boil water with as well (which there may be but I've tinkered with cat can, soda, penny, starlyte etc and none have come close).

[Bluegum Mic]

I'll add some pics to help show
Everything inside

White lid on bottom for storing its components inside

Contents

Put together and how the stove top sits on the fuel chamber

Everything back inside

[hikin_jim]

Nice. I love how everything stores inside the body of the stove. They even include a lid. That's pure genius.

Thanks for the photos. That made things very, very clear.

HJ

[ULWalkingPhil]

Great review. I'm really looking forward for mine to arrive. ETA is one week from today. Plans are to also use the PackaFeather XL as a heat source for a 7" Bemco Backpacking Oven.

Bluegum Mic. Have you tried using more than 2 ounces of Metho in your Stove?

[Bluegum Mic]

If you fill the fuel reservoir to the brim it holds 80mls (obviously not recommended especially if you spill it lit) but I have put 60ml (2 ounces) in there before.

[hikin_jim]

If you fill the fuel reservoir to the brim it holds 80mls (obviously not recommended especially if you spill it lit) but I have put 60ml (2 ounces) in there before.

Two ounces ought to be plenty. When on simmer, the stove is very miserly with fuel. I've done some baking before out on the trail with alcohol and with ESBIT, but nothing too complex. I have seen though that on low, fuel last a very long time. I think that 80ml ought to be enough for baking, but of course you'll have to try it.

On another note, I've seen people use tea light candles for baking out on the trail.

HJ

[ULWalkingPhil]

I've read a review on the PackaFeather XL used with a 7" Bemco Backpacking Oven.
The Bemco Oven taken two and a half minutes to reach 400F. than with the stove set to simmer maintained that temp for 33 minutes with 2 ounces of fuel, which I believe reading the stoves website is the maximum fuel volume recommended for the PackaFeather XL stove.

[Bluegum Mic]

Sounds about right. You'd get a looooong burn time on simmer with that much metho. The mechanism on the stove allows you to really turn the flame right down.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Was hoping to have put my new stove and oven to the test today, but I want to announce my highest disappointment in our postal system.

Three days from the US to Brisbane.

Four days and still waiting for Australia Post to deliver from Brisbane to Bundaberg, only 4 hours drive away and my order according to DHL was sent via Australia Post Express.

I hope it turns up tomorrow.

[Strider]

Your stove will likely arrive from the other side of the world in just over a week, and you're complaining? Seriously? I've had to wait up to 8 weeks for some online purchases to arrive!

[ULWalkingPhil]

Loving my Packafeather XL stove.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Just by the off chance, anyone tried a larger fuel reservoir in there PackaFeather XL stove?

Update: I spoken to the seller of my stove today and it is possible to use a larger fuel cup, it will burn hotter at maximum burn. I think thats a good thing, particularly those wishing to boil water. For me the quicker boil time is not a consideration, so long I can obtain a longer burn time for use on a oven.

I know some of you are in some sort of a hurry to boil your water.
I will conduct some tests, but it will be at least 5 or 6 days before I return. Im packing to leave on a hike.

[hikin_jim]

Just by the off chance, anyone tried a larger fuel reservoir in there PackaFeather XL stove?

Update: I spoken to the seller of my stove today and it is possible to use a larger fuel cup, it will burn hotter at maximum burn. I think thats a good thing, particularly those wishing to boil water. For me the quicker boil time is not a consideration, so long I can obtain a longer burn time for use on a oven.

I know some of you are in some sort of a hurry to boil your water.
I will conduct some tests, but it will be at least 5 or 6 days before I return. Im packing to leave on a hike.

Bon viaje!

Enjoy your walk. I'll look forward to hearing how the stove did in actual field conditions. Are you bringing your Bemco backpacker oven?

HJ

[ULWalkingPhil]

I have owned my Packafeather XL stove for 4 months. I must admit I did not take it with me on any of my hikes. But I have been putting the stove to the test at home.

My initial plans to use this stove as a heat source for the Bemco Backpacking Oven was a failure. For one the stove don't put out enough heat in real world environments, ie outdoors.
And it puts out to much soot, covering the interior of the oven in soot. I can't imagine how hygienic what would be.

It's spent most of it's life sitting in a cupboard with apx 10 other stoves.

I have since started looking into Lightweight Dry Baking, I thought this would make an ideal stove for dry baking, but this is not the outcome. The stove I have found when set to a heat source somewhere between the low and high heat setting on the simmer ring adjustment the stove would splatter and pop followed by a ball of flame.

My final conclusion of this stove is that I am a bit disappointed with it. I did not expect the results I had received. The stove works well when set to high for a fast boil or at it's lowest setting, but adjustments in between not so, I have no idea why, It's very strange behavior.

A friend of mine in Brisbane has the same stove and gets the same symptom as I do with the splattering and pop sound followed by fire ball.

For some reason a couple weeks ago, I ordered the FeatherFire Stove, this was before I ran the tests over the last few days for dry baking, If I had of known the results of the tests, I don't think I would have ordered the Featherfire Stove. It will be interesting to see if the Featherfire stove displays the same symptoms as the Packafeather XL stove.

My final thoughts on the Packafeather XL Stove, One word, Disappointing.