The FeatherFire Alcohol Stove

[hikin_jim]

There are a lot of good alcohol stoves out there. Finding ones that simmer well? Well, that's not quite so easy. Today, I'd like to look at the FeatherFire stove which not only simmers well, but does it on the fly without any change of equipment or having to take the pot off the stove.

The FeatherFire.


In order to simmer, you have to have some pretty decent flame control. The FeatherFire does. Here's the high flame:


And here's the low flame:


What's the secret? Please join me as I take a look at The FeatherFire Alcohol Stove.

HJ
Adventures In Stoving

[hikin_jim]

Oh, yes, and you really can cook on it.



HJ

[Chaco Taco]

HJ that is a fine looking stove.

My biggest issue with my stoves that I use, wasted fuel and having to burn off whats left! The flames get so high that I can't put it out. I have an MSR Titan Kettle. I will probably never have to get another pot, ever. Its the best most durable pot. Over 3000 miles on it and I can tell the pot stand will be perfect. The simmer feature is huge for me. Im sold. Thanks HJ for listing this one!

[Chaco Taco]

That XL looks sweet as well and answers the pot stand issue with the Feather

[Rocketman]

The whole thing is so light that setting it up and getting it lit in a wind can be a problem.

I put a small rock inside under those conditions to keep it from being blown over while getting it set up.

[hikin_jim]

HJ that is a fine looking stove.

My biggest issue with my stoves that I use, wasted fuel and having to burn off whats left! The flames get so high that I can't put it out. I have an MSR Titan Kettle. I will probably never have to get another pot, ever. Its the best most durable pot. Over 3000 miles on it and I can tell the pot stand will be perfect. The simmer feature is huge for me. Im sold. Thanks HJ for listing this one!

No wasted fuel on this one. Just close the vents and pop on the little snuffer cap. When I say little, I mean little: 2g.

I cooked pancakes with it the other day. I filled it with about 2oz HEET. I ran it for at least 45 minutes. I still had about 0.75oz left, maybe more. I snuffed it, and then I vacuumed it all up with the PackaFeather cap, right back into the bottle. No wasted fuel.

I haven't used it, but check out their XL stove too. Looks like roughly the same stove but with better pot supports.

HJ

[handlebar]

I've been using mine since my 2008 PCT thru. Great stove.

[hikin_jim]

I've been using mine since my 2008 PCT thru. Great stove.

Nice. How have the pot supports held up? Any problems?

HJ

[handlebar]

Nice. How have the pot supports held up? Any problems?

HJ

The pot supports have held out fine. The only problem I've had is when I've set up the stove on uneven ground and one of the pot supports slides out of position. The pots was a little unstable, but I never spilled dinner. There's a loop in the wire that of the pot support that fits against the bottom of the stove when in operating position and holds in place via friction. I suppose I could tighten it up with a needle nose pliers. In the meantime, I'm just a little careful about having a firm, flat surface to set the stove on. BTW, I use mine with a 1.3L Evernew TI pot.

[hikin_jim]

The pot supports have held out fine. The only problem I've had is when I've set up the stove on uneven ground and one of the pot supports slides out of position. The pots was a little unstable, but I never spilled dinner. There's a loop in the wire that of the pot support that fits against the bottom of the stove when in operating position and holds in place via friction. I suppose I could tighten it up with a needle nose pliers. In the meantime, I'm just a little careful about having a firm, flat surface to set the stove on. BTW, I use mine with a 1.3L Evernew TI pot.

Yeah, the pot supports are only held by friction. On uneven ground, if the pressure comes from the wrong angle, they can pop out. I know one other guy who has had the same problem.

But no problems with bending?

HJ

[msupple]

I have the XL and especially like the fact that you can snuff it out and reuse any left over fuel. I believe it's also the most efficient of all my alkys. Oh yeah...you can also use Esbit type tabs with it. It's pretty sweet.

[hikin_jim]

I have the XL and especially like the fact that you can snuff it out and reuse any left over fuel. I believe it's also the most efficient of all my alkys. Oh yeah...you can also use Esbit type tabs with it. It's pretty sweet.

Do you have any pics of the XL you can post? I've seen some pics here on Whiteblaze, but I'm looking for more.

And how does the top stay on the fuel bowl? Just gravity?

HJ

[msupple]

Feather Stove XL 002.jpgFeather Stove XL 003.jpgFeather Stove XL 005.jpg

1. All parts 2/3. Adjustable wind screen and snuffer

Everything except the windscreen packs into one part of the stove with the plastic lid sealing all contents. The little wire coming off the side adjusts the air flow via a worm screw.

Do you have any pics of the XL you can post? I've seen some pics here on Whiteblaze, but I'm looking for more.

And how does the top stay on the fuel bowl? Just gravity?

HJ

[hikin_jim]

Everything except the windscreen packs into one part of the stove with the plastic lid sealing all contents. The little wire coming off the side adjusts the air flow via a worm screw.

Nice. Thanks for posting those.

OK, maybe that's why the fuel bowl and the combustion chamber aren't permanently affixed -- so the other parts can fit inside. That's pretty nice that the pot support fits inside the body of the stove. Hmm. Yep, I need to get one of these.

Thanks again,

HJ

[Tinker]

Feather Stove XL 002.jpgFeather Stove XL 003.jpgFeather Stove XL 005.jpg

1. All parts 2/3. Adjustable wind screen and snuffer

Everything except the windscreen packs into one part of the stove with the plastic lid sealing all contents. The little wire coming off the side adjusts the air flow via a worm screw.

Looks familiar: http://royrobinson.homestead.com/Cat_Stove.html

A definite improvement, but the basic idea is the same.

I made one back in 2001, with the simmer ring, and actually baked a brownie in a metal cup.

[Chaco Taco]

Wow, love the simplicity.

[Loneoak]

Would love to see a review on the XL if you get the chance, and a comparison on some different diameter pots.

[Megapixel]

I use this stove too. Highly recommended. And great customer service too!

[Megapixel]

I use this stove too. Highly recommended. And great customer service too!

that is, the XL version.

[hikin_jim]

Would love to see a review on the XL if you get the chance, and a comparison on some different diameter pots.

I think that's an excellent idea. I'm going to try to arrange that.

HJ