Esbit Solid Fuel Stove and Lightweight Cook Set Review

Posted in Solid Fuel Stoves

Esbit have been producing camp products that use solid state fuel for around 80 years. The Esbit Solid Fuel Stove and Solid state fuel tablets are easily ignited with a match, and can reach extremely high temperatures.

They have been used by backpackers for many years, often favored because they don’t degrade over time like other forms of fuel.

This makes the use of solid fuel a very reliable form of heat, although not as prevalent nowadays with the wide range of reliable gas and liquid stoves.

This Esbit 3-Piece Lightweight Camping Cook Set is an interesting piece of camping accessory, as we will delve into in more detail.

Setup and Design Features

The Esbit Solid State Stove is constructed from hardened anodized aluminum, and weighs only 7 oz. In the kit you get a 585 ml pot, a lid, pot stand, windshield, and a mesh bag for storing.

There are volume indicators marked on the side of pot showing liters, and ounze measurements. There are two steel hinged grips that fold out to make a handle, and it sits on a base that holds the solid fuel. As you can see from the pictures, it has a clean and ergonomic look.

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You can buy the fuel cubes here. Each cube typically burns for around 10-15 minutes. The pros to the fuel cubes being; they are easy to carry, there is no risk of leaking, and they do not degrade when in storage.

The cons being; once lit you cannot control the strength of the flame as you would a gas burner, and you need to be careful when putting the flame out. These aren’t massive cons, and most people can look past them.

There is no visible smoke so it’s a clean burn, and there is almost no ash left behind after burning out. It’s easy to clean up after using solid fuel, and having a pack of these cubes on you can prove handy in other situations.

Comparison Information

When comparing this stove to the gas or alcohol stoves like the MSR Pocket Rocket or Trangia Spirit Burner respectively, there are some obvious differences, most of which have already been discussed. If you’re boiling a liter of water you will get it done in around 8-10 minutes, so one fuel cube should suffice.

It comes in around the $20 price point, which is incredibly good value. Considering the fuel is not expensive either, this is hard to resist buying even just as a backup. Prices range from $20 to $30.

Pros

Lightweight and solid construction, only weighs 7 oz
Pot includes measurement markings to aid cooking measurements
Makes for an excellent backup stove in an emergency
It’s a fun, no fuss little stove

Cons

You don’t have control over the strength of solid fuel
It’s a small pot and will not be suitable for everyone

Insider Tips

There are a couple of things you can do to take care and make the most out of the Esbit Camping Cook Set. Firstly, line the bottom of the stove with foil. This will help the stove heat up quicker, and make cleaning up a lot easier.

Secondly, use plastic cutlery when cooking in the pot. The finish of the anodized aluminum is prone to scratching with metal.

Esbit Solid Fuel Stove Summary

This stove is ideal for backpackers and camper who put travelling light near the top of their priorities. You can do quite a lot with the 585 milliliter pot if you’re resourceful. Esbit have a long and trusted reputation with solid fuel stoves, so reliability isn’t in question.

Conclusion

This stove is well worth taking up a small spot in your backpack as an emergency stove. It carries that boy scout feel too, lighting those cubes and being resourceful. At this low price point, can you afford not to carry one? Would love to hear any feedback below.