#228844 - 07/31/11 05:40 AM
Snow Peak Giga Power Stove
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Old Hand
Registered: 11/16/05
Posts: 1059
Loc: Hawaii, USA
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A most excellent canister stove. Perfect for a quick boil. This morning, I timed it using an old Primus Litech Kettle (aluminum) and a GSI Glacier Cup (stainless steel). Both had 16 ounces of water even though that is more than the safe amount to boil in the cup since the water level is only about 1/2 inch from the top. The Primus kettle boiled in 2 minutes 45 seconds and the cup took 4 minutes. For both of them, I did not run the stove full throttle, but just enough to have the bottoms covered with the flames. So since the kettle has a larger footprint, it had a bigger flame.   On a side note, for those who use the GSI cup, the Primus lid fits perfectly as an improvised lid that requires zero effort. If I don't pack my kettle, I use the lid as part of my nested water/cooking solution.  And when my tea is ready, the stove is cool enough to handle and put away. Verdict: Great stove! Small, light, not too expensive, and boils up very fast, and it can simmer if needed. The down side is the simmer isn't that great as I can't get it very low without putting it out. Maybe if I tighten the valve?
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#228871 - 07/31/11 09:36 PM
Re: Snow Peak Giga Power Stove
[Re: aloha]
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Sheriff
Pooh-Bah
Registered: 10/12/07
Posts: 1804
Loc: Southern California
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The GS-100 is definitely a very nice little stove. Very solid. It's not the best at simmering, though, is it?
Interesting that the kettle lid fits the GSI cup. Generally, in terms of efficiency, you're going to be better off with a wide, short pot than a narrow, tall pot. If you see the flame going up the sides of the pot, that's wasted heat.
The basics of stove fuel efficiency:
1. Turn it down! A low flame is much more efficient. Avoid flame "spillage" where the flames go up the side of a pot. For this reason, a wide, short pot is generally better than a narrow, tall pot.
2. Use a lid. Escaping steam = escaping heat = wasted fuel.
3. Use a windscreen. Not using a windscreen can result in up to a 300% increase in fuel use -- or your pot never coming to a boil.
You can also use things like post cooking pot-cozies where you turn off the flame, take the pot off the stove, and put the pot into a cozy to keep it warm. The contents of the pot will continue to cook, but without using any fuel. A heat exchanger also adds to efficiency, but a heat exchanger is sort of the "icing on the cake." Use the basic three above first.
HJ
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#228873 - 07/31/11 10:12 PM
Re: Snow Peak Giga Power Stove
[Re: Hikin_Jim]
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Geezer
Registered: 06/02/06
Posts: 5357
Loc: SOCAL
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I have an old all copper Revere Ware kettle I keep for car/truck camping. Best I've got to bring water to a boil.
_________________________
Better is the Enemy of Good Enough.
Okay, what’s your point??
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#228942 - 08/01/11 10:37 PM
Re: Snow Peak Giga Power Stove
[Re: Hikin_Jim]
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Old Hand
Registered: 11/16/05
Posts: 1059
Loc: Hawaii, USA
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The GS-100 is definitely a very nice little stove. Very solid. It's not the best at simmering, though, is it?
Interesting that the kettle lid fits the GSI cup. Generally, in terms of efficiency, you're going to be better off with a wide, short pot than a narrow, tall pot. If you see the flame going up the sides of the pot, that's wasted heat.
The basics of stove fuel efficiency:
1. Turn it down! A low flame is much more efficient. Avoid flame "spillage" where the flames go up the side of a pot. For this reason, a wide, short pot is generally better than a narrow, tall pot.
2. Use a lid. Escaping steam = escaping heat = wasted fuel.
3. Use a windscreen. Not using a windscreen can result in up to a 300% increase in fuel use -- or your pot never coming to a boil.
You can also use things like post cooking pot-cozies where you turn off the flame, take the pot off the stove, and put the pot into a cozy to keep it warm. The contents of the pot will continue to cook, but without using any fuel. A heat exchanger also adds to efficiency, but a heat exchanger is sort of the "icing on the cake." Use the basic three above first.
HJ Mahalo Jim. Yeah, I agree with you. I try to get the flames to just reach the edge of the bottom of whatever I am cooking in. Much easier to do with an adjustable stove! Less fiddling with height. And I like the wider base too. If the GigaPower had a good simmer adjustment, and could be turned way down, it would be a perfect stove IMHO. For now, it has to settle for pretty freakin' good. The kettle is old. The newer ones probably have wider openings on top. But the lid fitting the GSI cup is a nice bonus.
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#229192 - 08/05/11 01:11 AM
Re: Snow Peak Giga Power Stove
[Re: aloha]
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Addict
Registered: 07/06/03
Posts: 550
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I always use my Giga Power with Snow Peak fuel canisters. don't know if that makes a lot of difference but I never have any issues with the Giga Power. I use the Snow Peak windscreen and a fold up aluminum one. I can adjust the flame at will. Easy to use stove!
_________________________
No, I am not Bear Grylls, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night and Bear was there too!
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#229201 - 08/05/11 01:54 AM
Re: Snow Peak Giga Power Stove
[Re: widget]
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Sheriff
Pooh-Bah
Registered: 10/12/07
Posts: 1804
Loc: Southern California
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I always use my Giga Power with Snow Peak fuel canisters. don't know if that makes a lot of difference but I never have any issues with the Giga Power. I use the Snow Peak windscreen and a fold up aluminum one. I can adjust the flame at will. Easy to use stove! The brand of fuel generally shouldn't make any difference unless you start getting into colder weather. If the temperature of the fuel (not the air temperature) falls below about 40F/5C, then the brand of fuel starts to matter. For temperatures where your fuel is going to get colder than about 40F/5C, pick a brand that is isobutane and propane only (no "regular" butane). In other words, don't get Coleman, Primus, Optimus, or Glowmaster brands. Instead get MSR, Brunton, Jetboil, or Snow Peak which do not contain "regular" butane. HJ
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#229211 - 08/05/11 03:10 AM
Re: Snow Peak Giga Power Stove
[Re: Hikin_Jim]
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Old Hand
Registered: 11/16/05
Posts: 1059
Loc: Hawaii, USA
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