I was able to pick up a new Soto for $48.00 total. Still more than I wanted to pay, but I'm curious about the stove. I need to run a series of comparative tests on it.

I suspect that at 5C above the vaporization point of a given fuel, both a conventional needle valved stove and a regulated stove (i.e. the Soto) will run equally well.

It's the range between about 1C to 2C above the vaporization point of the fuel up to 5C above vaporization where I think the regulated burner will have an advantage.

Now is the ability to operate in temperatures that are only 2 or 3 degrees C lower than what a conventional stove can operate a meaningful advantage, and does that ability justify the Soto's high price? Well, that's mostly a judgment call, but for me, I don't think 2 to 3 degrees C difference justifies paying $30.00 more than something like a Pocket Rocket.

To me fuel selection (propane and isobutane only, no n-butane) and putting the canister in a pan of (liquid) water are better, cheaper options. As long as a canister of propane-isobutane is kept in liquid water, a needle valved stove will continue to operate. Isobutane boils (vaporizes) at -12C/11F. Liquid water has to be above 0C/32F. At 12C/21F above the vaporization temperature, you should have plenty of gas pressure.

But, that's just what I think based on the chemistry and technology involved. I won't know for sure without some testing.

HJ

Okay this is the final iteration of this set up. The additional shielding is stored on the pot itself and only installed when necessary. I would like to seal the gap between it and windscreen but see no easy/compact way of doing it. Still I think this is about as windproof as it gets and still fit everything inside the pot.

Looking good! Have you tested it at all?

HJ

P.S. Nice adapter.

Still too cold outside for a canister stove to work properly, going to set up a fan indoors to try it tonight.

Haha, thanks for telling me about the pick up tube, otherwise there's no way I'd known about it!

Yeah, in order to use that adapter, you have to orient it correctly. If not, you've got a liquid feed which is a problem if you're stove doesn't have a pre-heat loop. Actually, any adapter that uses the 100% butane bayonet connector type canisters needs to be oriented notch up.

HJ

Oh boy, this is not good, my new discovery just put a big kink in this setup I just completed.

Primus express spider plus a fuel canister will fit inside the pot! So for no size increase and minimum weight addition I can have a remote canister stove with pre-heat loop. So now I'm thinking revamp the setup to around that stove instead, but that would mean my current windshield and butane adapter would be useless.

Urg, I need to learn to be happy with what I have...

The butane adapter will still work with the Primus Express Spider remove stove (although I doubt the butane adapter will fit into the Eta pot with the rest of the gear) and you can make your own custom wind shield and bottom heat reflector using titanium foil available from;

http://www.titaniumgoat.com/windscreens.html

You can also peg out the wind shield using a couple of titanium tent stakes to keep everything in place for the new stove.

It would work but there are much smaller ones without the legs and plate from Kovea.

I'll see, going to wait till the store have one of their regular sales to get one.

Having a remote canister stove with a pre-heat loop doesn't buy you all that much in warm weather. An upright canister set up is pretty quick and easy and is the most popular configuration.

For windy or cold weather, though, the remote canister set up sure is nice.

HJ

You might hold off on getting the Kovea adapter for a remote canister set up, at least for cold weather. The remote set up in cold weather really needs a propane-isobutane gas mix to work well. The adapter is for just 100% butane which is a poor cold weather fuel. For temps under 5C/40F, I'd stay away from the adapter and 100% butane.

HJ