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?

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

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.

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.

I took my Giga Power (GST-100) stove out last night. I was actually able to get a pretty low flame.

I wonder if you got an oddball? What conditions are you using yours in? I was in about 90F weather with light wind (I was using a windscreen). I had not problem getting what I would call a simmering flame.

The only real problem I've had with the GST-100 is that it has such a small flame that my pot often gets a hot spot right under the flame. For real simmering, I prefer a wider burner head. But as for the flame adjustment itself, my GST-100 turns down pretty low and still maintains a stable flame.

HJ

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

Jim, I think my thick and clumsy fingers just crank it too much one way or the other since simmering isn't usually required when boiling water. I probably don't take the time and care to adjust it properly. Will try to adjust delicately next time I use it. Unless I am just in a hurry to pour coffee in me.

Let me know how it goes...

HJ

ok

Results?

HJ

Sorry HJ. August has been and continues to be super busy. No play.

Boy do I understand that.

HJ

I did not want to create a new thread about this excellent portable stove, so I've decided to resurrect the most relevant one.

Here is the story of my failure. Perhaps somebody can learn from my mistakes.

I have been camping with this stove for more than 2 years, and the only problem I had is the obvious lack of wind protection. So, I have finally tired of makeshift windscreens made with rocks and debris and decided to make a permanent one.

The large beer cans (Asahi) provide me with enough lightweight thin aluminum to start with, so I ended up making a two pieces cylindrical design screen with an opening for the gas valve. Two halves are freely nested in each other, so they can be moved relatively, making that opening larger or smaller for the air intake control. It looked simple and ingenious, and also stored around my mug/stove/canisters bundle in the mesh bag, also perfectly accepting both canister sizes I'm using.

During my regular new moon trip to the dark sites of Shasta forests (I'm amateur astronomer), on a late morning I have started the stove up and installed the screen, opening it wide enough just to deflect the breeze from the lake. I've stretched in my hammock nearby then, after setting the timer on my watch for 5 minutes.

When the timer went off, I took a look at the stove from the hammock and found it in high flames and thick black smoke! Canister explosion - was my first thought. But there were no any bang sounds and the mug was looking stable on it still. So I took the necessary precautions (put on my wraparound glasses, rolled my heavy fleece balaclava over the face, put on thick leather gloves, and took my leather jacket in front of me as a shield), and approached the mini-fire with a bottle of water. The canister looked fine, so I quickly took off the mug, closed the valve and poured some water over the stove. The flame went out with the hissing vapor sound. I have waited for it to cool down enough and started the investigation.

The cause was obvious - due to the severe overheating all of the rubber gaskets of the stove, as well as the plastic piezoelectric igniter, were completely disintegrated. So the gas started to come out of every hole in the mechanism, and sure thing it has eventually ignited. Later I've found that the canister itself started leaking a little too (disposed it).

Just as an experiment I have tried to fix the problem in the field with the pine bark. And I have succeeded with 2 gaskets going in contact with the canister. However 2 gaskets over the regulator valve pin must be more stretchable in order to fit in place. So, I ended up cooking on an open fire that day. However, I think I could have them fixed too with more efforts if necessary.

A week later I have contacted Ross Halbach of Snow Peak, and after listening to my story he has kindly offered all of the necessary gaskets I need to replace (4) and the instructions pdf how to install the igniter module for free! (the igniter itself is available on the market for $12.50). That's the really outstanding customer service!

My lessons:

• A canister may withstand a lot of heat before exploding.
• I need a field repair/maintenance kit for the stove.
• The windscreen for this stove must be made differently.

Be safe.

Have you considered the Snow Peak windscreen? It is a small disc like affair that goes around the burner and keeps a lot of wind off the actual burner area. They cost less than $10 and are a good investment. A field maintenance kit is a good item to carry with any stove.

I'm kinda surprised the stove parts melted, was the screen too tight and not enough air flow to cool it down?

Thanks for sharing the story Alex!

I'm glad to hear that you emerged without any new scars or hospital stories.

Thanks for sharing the experience with Snow Peak customer service too. I keep a mental checklist of companies that operate like that & I try to send my business their way.

Glad you're ok Alex. Good to know it takes a good amount of heat to make a canister explode.

Hello Widget, how is that windscreen?
I really like my Gigapower and was looking at picking one up.
Do you notice a difference with / without using it?
Thanks

Hey QL, I must admit I have never used the Snow Peak without the little windscreen. Not that I recall. I also have a folding aluminum windscreen that I somwtimes carry and use with the Snow Peak. That one makes a difference on a windy day. Most times I just try to position the stove out of the wind. I like the stove for ease of use and lightweight. It works good for my normal cooking needs on a backpack trip. I have some other stoves, white gas and multi-fuels but none are a small, light and convenient as the Snow Peak. I tend to take a white gas stove on longer trips and colder weather trips.

THANKS Widget