Solo Stove recently sent me their Solo Stove Lite and Pot 900 to try out. We have been looking for a smaller camping stove, so I decided to try it out.
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During the warmer months, our family enjoys camping and we go as often as we can. With three kids, it seems that we normally take everything but the kitchen sink when we go. Last fall we started to try to lighten our gear load by minimizing what we took camping. Instead of bringing a camping stove, we opted for cooking over the camp fire on an iron rack. It gave the food a great smoky flavor, but that smell was in everything and smoke was constantly in my eyes while cooking. So I am thrilled that we have a new option in this Solo Stove.
The Solo Stove Lite’s compact design make it ideal for anyone wanting to reduce the amount of gear they take to a campsite or bring backpacking. This stove measures 5.7 inches high and 4.25inches wide. It’s made out of stainless steel and is very lightweight.
I really like that it fits inside the Solo Stove Pot 900 for easier storage. Both the stove and the pot come in a handy carrying pouch. Together they take up less room than a 32ounce water bottle.
The Solo Stove is a “natural convection inverted downgas gasifer stove” or what I’ve always called a rocket stove. Unlike other rocket stoves that I have seen, this one produces less smoke. That’s because the design bring air into the fire box from the bottom and at the top for a more efficient fire. So once the fire is going, smoke is at a minimum; A BIG PLUS for me!
Unlike a campfire, this stove was easy to start and get going. A handful of pencil wide twigs, some leaves, and a lighter was all it took to light this fire. Within just a few minutes, the fire was ready for the cooking pot. The enclosed cooking ring on top of the stove served as both a windshield and pot stand.
The Solo Stove’s design directs heat directly to the pot’s cooking surface. That results in shorter cooking times and a more efficient cooking fire. I was able to boil 32 ounces of water in 11 minutes (in 35 degree weather with a breeze). I could easy cook with a small frying pan or cast iron skillet and create meals with this stove with similar results. For its size, it is a great additional to our camping gear.
The thing that I like the best about the Solo Stove is the clean-up. Unlike traditional campfires, the Solo Stove uses a lot less wood and the wood it does use burns completely. We produced a very small amount of ash heating up the water in our pot. Within 20 minutes of the fire going out, we could handle the stove and dump or bury the ash as needed. With this stove, I will no longer have to worry about leaving our cooking fire unattended for fire that there are still hot embers.
All in all I really like the Solo Stove Lite and Pot 900. Its small size is great for backpacking or camping. The size accommodates 1-2 people easily. Solo Stove makes 2 larger versions; the Titan and the Campfire that accommodate more people. You can see their full line of products at SoloStove.com and you can also find it at retailers like Amazon. The stove retails for $69.99 and the cooking pot for $34.99.
How do you like to cook while camping or backpacking? Share with us below.
I was provided a Solo Stove Lite and Pot 900 for the purposes of this review. All opinions are 100% mine.
I never really thought of a solo stove till reading this. I am totally going to speak to my husband about looking into one. Thanks for your honest review and product knowledge!