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.