Is the Ti-Tri Caldera Cone the ultimate ultralight stove system?


Hyperbole? Am I being a little "over the top?" Maybe. But maybe not.


When it comes to stoves, there's usually a reason behind what I say.


So, come along and let's have a look at the ultimate ultralight stove system, the Ti-Tri Caldera Cone


HJ

Worthwhile post, as always, but you are going to have a serious impact on my finances - so many nice options out there...

Ain't that the truth?

The big advantage of this system is for those who travel both above and below elevations where fires are permitted on their trips.

HJ

Jim,

I have been looking at this since I first tried the Cone. I spent 40 plus years making my noon tea over a double handful of pine squaw wood. I think you have hooked me again :-) like Hikermor.

There was a thread a while ago that someone asked "why a wood stove" You have answered it in your typical style - completely.

Thanks,

Jerry

But Jim - you've taken most of the financial work on yourself and giving everyone else the benefit of your research. I've never seen anyone with the number of stoves you have in your arsenal. What you need to do is find a way to get some royalties from all your reviews!

Cool - I want one

Would it work to shoehorn a remote canister gas burner in there? That way it would be the ti-quad cone stove. (Perhaps not the ultralight)... Or ti-quint or ti-sixt fuel if you're into multi-fuel stoves.

I'm of course thinking of letting the caldera cone do double duty as the ultimate wind screen for your favourite gas or multi-fuel burner...

Hi, Jerry,

Thanks very much.

I "cut my teeth" on wood cooking back in the day (60's & 70's), so I have some idea as to the drill. I've got to say, it's really nice to have this little wood burner along compare to just an open fire.

First, heating is a lot faster. The heat is concentrated. When we (dad and I) used to cook, we'd drop a coffee can in the fire. Was the heat concentrated? No. Sometimes things would heat quickly and some times not.

Second, it's really easy to have a stable pot. We never dumped our dinner, but with just rocks as your pot support, it certainly could happen.

Third, it's really easy to get the pot on and off. We used to use a long loop of wire attached to the coffee pot and a stick. A bit clumsy. With a Caldera Cone, it's easy on and easy off.

Fourth, it's easy to get the fire going. The stove provides a lot of ventilation. There's not a lot of blowing into the fire (and smoke inhalation!).

Fifth, you don't have to gather as much wood. Fill the little bowl, and that's plenty for a couple of cups of water, probably more.

Sixth, there's little impact. Just some white ash after you're done that can be buried or wind dispersed.

Seventh, the fire is relatively well contained. Especially if you keep the fire down in size, there's very little in the way of escaping embers. I'd say this is a much safer way to burn wood than an open fire.

Eighth, the combustion is very thorough. What's probably the biggest danger from a campfire? The campfire not being completely out and the flames spring back to life later on, sparking a wildfire. When I've used the Ti-Tri with Inferno option, I've been very impressed with how little smoldering is left. There ain't much left after the Ti-Tri is done with it.

Ninth, it's easier to get a good set of coals for lower heat cooking. I haven't tried it yet, but I'm going to have to try eggs or pancakes or something on this stove.

Tenth, in a way, you don't even have to carry a full stove in order to have a first rate wood burner. What do I mean by that? The Caldera Cone is a first class alcohol or hexamine (e.g. ESBIT) stove system. Because on most of my trips I can't burn wood every meal, I'm going to be carrying the Cone anyway. In a pinch, I can burn wood with just the cone, but for an additional 81g, I can get a full blown, efficient wood burner with all the benefits noted above. 81g? What is that? Well, that's about the weight of a PocketRocket. Without fuel. So, in other words, you can have a full blown wood burner for about the weight of a PocketRocket. I'd say that's not too shabby.

HJ

Yeah, maybe someday people will pay me for my writing. Until then, I've at least made something of a name for myself.

It was kind of fun recently. I was talking to a ranger at a ranger station. I forget how it came up exactly, but he asked if I posted online. I said something like, "yes, under the name hikin_jim." He looked at me kind of funny and said "you're hiking Jim?" He was kind of impressed based on his tone of voice (I had also just showed him on a topo map all of the errors in his area; he knew enough about his area that he knew I was right). At least somebody thinks I know something. lol.

HJ

You definitely could not have a typical upright canister stove in there. First, it wouldn't fit and second the fuel would get too hot and it might explode.

But what if you had a low-slung remote canister like maybe a Primus Express Spider? Now, that's an interesting question, one that I hadn't considered. If it would work, you'd have a good winter snow melter. You'd have to modify the windscreen to allow for a hose to pass through (although I guess you could run it underneath as well), and I'd worry a little about damaging the hose from the heat. You don't want to damage a fuel hose in an environment with a flame! You'd probably have to rig up a heat shield for the gas line.

I suspect it wouldn't work because the Cone restricts air flow too much. Gas burners need a fair amount of oxygen. Insufficient oxygen would result in an inefficient flame and a lot of carbon monoxide emission. Interesting thought, though. I'm going to have to think about that one.

HJ

What do mean someday???? Haven't you ever applied to be a tester with http://www.backpackgeartest.org/ You should be able to get some camping equipment for free, and with your experience as a tester they should be lining up to get you to work for them.

Click here to apply:
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/lesson.php?lesson=BecomeTester&page=1

Good thought, and I really like that website (great reviews), but it's an unpaid gig is it not?

HJ

Aside from the equipment being supplied, they don't pay you for the review unfortunately. And after the review is posted it becomes their property which means if you have a separate blog with an expanded review you could keep that and you keep the copyright on your pictures.

Looking deeper into their reviews it seems like it is largely the mainstream equipment suppliers -- I don't see many reviews of the smaller mom & pop stores. That's something that really needs to be corrected because the smaller shops often produce better qualtiy stuff than the mainstream and more often are able to customize to the users needs -- JMHO.

Now you've got me thinking: You could probably leave the wind screen partial open, giving more oxygen and preventing overheating of the hose. Not as efficient as the closed unit, but still way beyond most other crummy half-baked wind screen design.

I guess what I really want I is a wind screen for my gas burner that can do double duty as a Caldera cone wood stove.

I went and did some searching. I've found reports where people talk about using an MSR WindPro with a Ti-Tri cone (DO NOT do this with an aluminum cone; you'll ruin the cone). Apparently, there were no problems.

Now that's fascinating. Just plain fascinating. A little wood stove that will burn gas too. Whether finesse cooking (those crepes you've been wanting to make) or just a wood fire to warm up to, this set up can do it all. FASCINATING.

HJ

Another very cool review. Great product and even I can figure this one out. Thanks a bunch.

Blake

www.outdoorquest.blogspot.com

It's a really nice one. Nice big fire box. Integrated wind screen. Stable. You can feed in more wood without taking the pot off the stove. Very little ash left behind. Let me put it to you this way: NICE.

HJ

Jim,

Your explaination of why a wood stove is, as usual, was my explaination - plus, but much more eloquent. Thanks.

How do you compare the sidewinder with the conventional cone? I was just about convinced to buy a Ti-Tri with an inferno, now I am sure, as soon as I pay for my HugeCanine silent burner for my XGK-EX. I just have to decide on the conventional design or the sidewinder. I would expect the conventional design to be more efficient but not as easily carried. What say you? Anything I have missed?

Thanks again,

Jerry

The smell of wood smoke & Slab bacon,Corn mush & Maple syrup,orWood smoke & Chorizo con huevos w/ semi- burnt tortillas is Just Un-Equalled, on a Cold winter day in the boonies! That multi-use stove is just Too Cool!Jim,Thanx for The XLNT photo-zen/review!

Jim,

I am beginning my thought process on buying a Ti-Tri. One of the first decisions is between the Sidewinder and the conventional cone. I would think the conventional design more efficient. True - or not? The sidewinder might be easier to feed. I don't know.

Now about the pot size? Mostly I would use it for the noon tea, but it would be nice to have one that could really cook as well. Do you expect the larger pots to be significantly less efficient for boiling a few cups of water (I use a BIG mug)?

Thanks for your time,

Jerry