Best Stoves for Wild Camping | FIREMAPLE Blade 2 Titanium Vs Soto Windmaster.

Remote stove vs Canister Top - Two great camping stoves compared on an actual camping trip (I try to test my gear outdoors in a real life scenarios). The FIREMAPLE Blade 2 Titanium is up against my favourite stove of all time, the SOTO Windmaster. Which one will I be taking on my future trips ??
If you have enjoyed this video you can help my channel and support this type of content by buying me a coffee using the link below... or donating through the Thanks Icon above.. Many thanks Tom
ko-fi.com/tomh...

[@naturalflow157]

This is absolutely one of the most peaceful, relaxing, and soothing videos I have seen. Your creativity and spirit is so moving and touching for many of us. I find such inspiration in this because for a few years already I have struggled with my mental health and really slowly I am getting back to things that I used to be able to do with ease. You inspire me a lot and I want to thank you for it. Sending love and wishing you the best on your journey :)

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hello and thank you for watching and commenting on my video. The video is not supposed to be soothing or relaxing, BUT I am delighted to hear that it was of value to you.. This particular environment and location is one of my favourites and really re charges my mental energy when I visit it. Especially in winter when there is no one else there... Had a look at some of your content and me and my wife enjoyed it very much too... ATB Tom

[@drytool]

I wish Firemaple would make the hose connections swivelable like other remote canister stoves. My hose tends to flip the whole stove over when I turn the canister over, so I have to be more careful than I sometimes am after a long hiking day.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Jason, yes I had this issue too so thank you for sharing. It was a little difficult but I balanced it ok. ATB Tom

[@greenpanda7121]

Look forward to your Kaitum...I'll save my comments on it and hear what you have to say first in no doubt another stellar video

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Green Panda, thank you for watching and taking the time to comment.... It will be a while before I review the Kaitum as I need to test it on a few occasions first... ATB Tom

[@greenpanda7121]

@@TOMHEANEY100 Very thorough of you. Don't wish to influence your thoughts on it with mine, look forward to discussing it 🙂

[@outdoorsinspiration9284]

Great little stove, one of my favourite winter stoves 👌👍😊🐶

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Thank you Shamus.. Great to hear of your opinion of the stove when you have and have used so many.. ATB Tom

[@kennethkelly1371]

Another good video Tom like the look of the firemaple.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Kenneth, thank you for watching and leaving a comment. Yeah I like this stove and will definitely be using it in the future. It is very light for a remote canister stove and has lots of power especially if you invert the gas canister.. Spoke recently to another KZbinr and he loves it too. ATB Tom

[@neilmckenna236]

Great video Tom ...... interesting little stove 👍

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Neil, yeah its a great little burner.. Back in the day we had so much fun with the petrol stoves, setting tents on fire etc... Prefer gas now that technology has improved and the gas stoves can match the petrol in all but the most serious conditions... ATB Tom

[@neilmckenna236]

@@TOMHEANEY100 oh right, ok. Gas was dreadful the last time i used it. Loved my Dragon Fly 🪰.... actually think i stll have it 🤣

[@kimpriessloft371]

Another advantage of the Firemaple is, that you can use a windscreen, which reduces gasconsumption. The Windmaster is a good stove, but I don't like the potstand being loose. Nice video, thanks… 😃

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hey thank you for your comments and thoughts.. as you say I also really dont like the pot stand being loose. Its a complication which could fail over time.. All the very best Tom

[@OutdoorPrep]

I'm jealous of these locations Tom. Looking forward to your review of Kaitum GT. ATB Rob

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Rob, great to hear from you.. Yes some nice locations but not that many more options as the Mourne Mountain range is very small. Looking forward to seing some more videos from yourself...ATB Tom

[@GeekfromYorkshire]

Thanks for the comparison, I have the Alpkit Kraku and the BRS3000T and tried cooking, even with stirring I was getting a very narrow burned food area over the flame so was looking for something with a wider flame. You have the 118 model, I have the 117T (no pre-heat tube, lighter) I also used a canister stabiliser "stolen" from a Jetboil, so say the Kraku + stabiliser is 72g vs the 117T (not your model) of 106g, so 34g more for a more stable platform and wider flame.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hey Nigel, that you for your feedback regarding your stove set up.... Always great to hear from others who have used the equipment in the video.... All the very best wishes Tom

[@GeekfromYorkshire]

@@TOMHEANEY100 Cheers. But one reason I didn't get the model with pre-heat is when it's so cold I really need to rely on cooking to stay warm I stick with Trangia as less can go wrong, even more stable, and just refill the stove and keep it in bag in my jacket so warm for fuel. I use gas in summer. Also my winter trips are shorter than my summer trips so the weight advantage of gas you get for many-days doesn't apply in my case. Your video is good to show the difference, thanks for doing it. I also got the FMS-116T which is the canister-top version, same weight as the Alpkit Kraku / FMS-300T but wider flame. My issue isn't speed it's burning.

[@neemancallender9092]

Excellent review I enjoy my FireMaple Blade 2 Very stable with outstanding simmer control I use it with my 1 liter heat exchanger pot for real cooking of lentils and such I can simmer the food on ultra low with minimal use of fuel Being so low to the ground easy to wind proof it

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Thanks for sharing your experience as it's always great to hear what others think.. best wishes Tom

[@JefPersonalVideos]

Its a peaceful and refreshing place for camping enjoy and have a great day

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Jef thank you for your positive comments.. Yes one of my favourite camping locations. You can feel the benefit of the view re charging your energy.... ATB Tom

[@HUZ9k3s5w]

Interesting. But....1) Even if the concave burner-head of the Soto Windmaster is better shielded from wind than the FM Blade 2, the latter has an advantage that all remote canister stoves have over most top-mounted stoves: You can use separate windscreens around the remote canister burners. You can not use windscreens with most top mounted burners (Jetboil/MSR Reactor / MSR Windburner and similar designs are the exceptions). Well, you can of course use windscreens with any burners, but most manufactures do not recommend this - or even warn against it for top-mounted burners, as you risk overheating the canister. Not the case with remote burners since the canister will be on outside of the windscreen. 2) I agree that 20 seconds difference in it self is not very relevant when choosing between burners, but it might be if you take actual amount of fuel used for each boil time in to consideration also. Specially if the fastest of the two also use less fuel (is more fuel efficient in other words) 3) Never understood what seems to have become a fashion among many youtubers who do videos on cooking gear. They (including you here now) use a pot that is high and narrow, instead of a pot of the same volume that is lower and wider. In most cases the latter will be more efficient and have a shorter time to boil since the narrower pot will more often not capture all the heat omitted from the burner (more heat-lossed) compared to a wider pot of the same volume. The more so if the burner has a wide flame pattern and you can see the flames "licking" the outside of the pot. Well, just my two cents or pennies' worth. PS: I very much like your tent comparison videos :-)

[@HUZ9k3s5w]

@@sebastianforbes1 he he sure, your choice. But using a wider pot does not prevent me from finding good nesting options. And btw who said that stuff you carry in a cook pot needs to be relevant for cooking? I can carry anything in my cook pot ;-)

[@HUZ9k3s5w]

@@sebastianforbes1 Btw I agree that what you suggest (nesting w/Nalgene, gas canister etc) is probably the reason for many who prefer the narrow/high over the wider/low. On the other hand I don't think very many have considered the effect I was talking about.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Fjell Wood, thank you for your comments.. My two cents reply.... It is simple really. This is just a comparison like for like. It's a real world test with the equipment that I have chosen and use. The boil times are always interesting so that's why they are in the demonstration. I only camp on one night trips so efficiently is not much of an issue to me, but I understand and appreciate that I can be an issue to others. I did bring scales to measure the gas used but they would not work on soft ground and I was not going to start looking for a flat stone to set then on. The high and narrow pot is due to weight, it weighs 103g and my flat previously used pot (lower and wider) is 288g. I will always use a strong heavy tent for my trips and when this is the case, weight of other equipment needs to be a priority. I hope this doesn't come across cheeky as this is not the intention. I look at most aspects of gear selection but am still learning and actually will admit that I wasn't aware that you shouldn't use wind shields with canister tops so thank you for this... Appreciate your positive comments re the tent vids too.... ATB Tom

[@Choccytube]

Great review, I purchased the Fire Maple non titanium version, it weighs 10g more but is half the price. Works as well as my Soto Amicus, although I love the ignition on the Soto. Very stable compared to the Soto, especially as I use it on a lightweight table in the tent.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Leigh, thank you for your comments as a Fire Maple user of a similar stove. Great to hear your comparison too with the Amicus.. Always interested in how different gear performs as I cant use them all.... ATB Tom

[@stuartcowper1164]

Great vid as per tom,i have both those stoves,i use the sotto wind master 3 seasons and the fire maple winter for the very reason you said liquid flow in cold conditions.The down side ive found you have approx 40% increase in gas usage.I tend to take a 300g gas canister never a 100g.Cheers tom.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Stuart, I like your choice of kit... Thank you for sharing your experience of both stoves as I have only used the Firemaple on a couple of occasions. There is no doubt that inverting the gas makes a big difference to the output. I brought scales with me to measure the gas used but they wouldn't work on uneven or soft ground (problems with doing reviews in the field). I can understand the extra gas used though and this makes sense but maybe not so much if its not cranked up to the max.. I too usually use the 300g gas but gas is hard to come by these days so you have to take what you can get.... ATB and thank you for your continued support. Tom

[@Olan...]

Watching this for the first time in April Tom, good comparison.....whats your current preferred winter Gas stove ????

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Olan, thank you for your comments and watching my video. My stove preference is towards lightweight with good performance and it's now the Firemaple Polaris. This is pretty light, very powerful and quite small so it fits in my cook set set up. I actually prefer it over the Soto wind master which gets great reviews.. All the very best wishes Tom

[@st04bez]

Hello Tom. Thank you so much for this comparison of the two stoves. I have been considering purchasing the Soto but I’ve changed my mind after watching your video and will definitely be buying a Fire-Maple Blade 2. Some really helpful information that has changed the game for me. Thanks again. ATB Paul

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Paul, I hope that you are well and really great to hear that this video was of value to you. The Soto is hard to fault for what it is but there are practical issues with a canister top stove even if they are very straight forward. Hard to use a wind shield and hard to balance if your supporting ground is uneven. Practically this really creates issues for real world use. Canister stands for stability are just another piece of equipment that you have to remember to bring and all the little extras add up in weight and pack space.... ATB Tom

[@wildmountainman1]

Nice drone footage, Tom. Is that your tent? It looks huge. Review pending? Nice comparison of the stoves. I’m always conscious that my canister top stove might topple over and waste the contents and potentially burn someone. So those with a lower centre of gravity would be a good idea. There are really popular among mountaineers. Thanks Tom.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Barry thank you and great to hear from you. A borrowed tent for a review of course.... yeah I want to move away from having to steady my canister top when cooking so the stability here is welcome. The performance is on a par and the weight difference is not a big deal so I feel this stove is the way forwards for me... Well done on your subs once again... Tom

[@wildmountainman1]

Thanks Tom. I might hsve to add a low profile cooker to my upcoming purchases. I look forward to the next tent review. PS - great amount of comments on this video too. You’ve really sparked peoples interest. Well done. 👋🏼

[@MiriamKennedy]

Oooohhhhhhh - another Hilleberg review coming I see 😎 Two effective and efficient stoves - the added stability of the Firemaple Blade 2 makes sense....maybe I'll add it to a future shopping or gift list!! I'm still happily married to my pocket rocket - no grounds for divorce yet! 😇

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Miriam, yes another Hilleberg review soon for sure.... As you know with tents its nice to have a choice of gear to take and use.. If you have a canister top stove then definitely worth trying a remote.... Thank you for watching and commenting.. ATB Tom

[@IrelandOutdoors]

Nice review Tom, I’ve used the Optimus crux lite for years and totally agree about the stability thing, it can be quite the balancing act! I’m using the Trangia lately, it’s not certainly not gonna win any speed tests or prizes for weight, but I just love it! Nice looking tent, looking forward to the review! ATB!

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi, thank you for your positive comments and sharing of your experience with the Optimus crux lite. The stability is something you have to experience to appreciate. Canister stands help but personally I like to keep extras to a minimum as its just another thing to bring and they all add up... ATB Tom

[@evangelistcryinginthewilde6380]

I'm currently looking for an alternative to my trusty Trangia, so this is very useful Tom. Especially after my Trangia managed to slide of my table on my last camp tipping lighted meths all over the ground whilst I was flipping the steak! Thankfully disaster was averted and I managed to extinguish it quickly before it reached the Staika!! Like many of us, I'm looking forward to the Kaitum review.👍🏕

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hello I hope that you are well... Great to hear the video was of some value to you and that your stove accident got sorted before a tent fire...Accidents will always happen if you are camping a lot so its about reducing the risks as much as possible.. I am looking forward to the Kaitum review too but it will be about a month as I want to test it properly first... ATB Tom

[@JackKlumpass]

Hi Tom, great review as per usual. I’ve been using remote now for about a year and definitely prefer. It’s a GSI pinnacle 4 season stove 164g. Probably not as pro as your fire maple but just to say I’d never go back to MSR or jetboil style cookers, too bulky for my liking and cumbersome height-wise as you rightly point out. I’m sticking with remotes. I’ve even got an adapter that means I can use those cylindrical canisters as an option.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Chris, thank you for sharing your experience here... I have tried many systems and all have pros and cons.. Its the remote for now for me for sure as just so easy to use in the outdoor environment.. Used the Firemaple again a couple of nights ago and the remote setup worked great both inside and outside the tent.. Its also much easier to shelter a stove that it closer to the ground... ATB Tom

[@craig3401]

Hi Tom I've just got the Primus Vega for winter camping so I'm looking forward to using that then.as I had been using my jetboil but found it on with a full canister but would slow right down especially when it got to zero or below. I recently started using the Soto windmaster for 3 season camping now being used to my jetboil I find it all a bit more of a faff but I get the weight saving and pack space but I'm still getting used to it it's definitely lighter but not as fuel efficient so I'm still undecided about it or I might go back to my jetboil

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Craig, thank you for sharing your thoughts. The stove selection has more pros and cons than most other gear choices I think...Such a choice too which almost doesn't help.. Yes many of the stoves loss performance once pressure or temperature drops. I have been very happy with the winemaster apart from the stability issues of a canister top so for not much difference in performance and a small weight gain this Firemaple works out well for me. Great extra power when the gas runs low by inverting the canister too. ATB Tom

[@craig3401]

@@TOMHEANEY100 yes that's my thinking behind the Primus I can invert that when the temp really drops.and tbh the minute difference between boils times with various different stoves really isn't an issue like you say 10 20 seconds doesn't matter I think it comes down to personal choice and the weather conditions

[@TOMHEANEY100]

@@craig3401 yes the boil times are not the be all and end all as long as it gets there in a reasonable time... Tom

[@garynesbitt5078]

Hi Tom. Good comparison video. Those remote stoves are great as you say for lower height burner and stability. The ability to invert the gas in very cold temps is also a big plus. I have the Soto myself and think it’s the best canister top stove I’ve ever used. I always use a canister stand tho to compensate for uneven ground. That fire maple looks a great alternative tho 👍

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Gary, great to hear your comments especially as a Soto user.. I too believe its the best canister top stove on the market. I have tried the canister stands and that definitely helps even if they do weigh 30g ha ha... This little stove surprised me. Very light for that type of stove and some roar from it when you light it up. Burns at some heat too... ATB and will catch you soon. Kaitum...

[@onnonugteren2935]

Do you have there a hilleberg kaitum 2 gt? :-) Making a video about it and why the 2gt and not the 3gt? Greetings, Onno Nugteren.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Onno, I have borrowed this Kaitum 2 GT and will be reviewing it shortly on my channel. I need to take it out a few times first to really get the feel for it. I have to review tents that I can source so that's why its the 2GT and not the 3GT... Thank you for your comments.. ATB Tom

[@onnonugteren2935]

@@TOMHEANEY100 Yeah that's a good answer because why a heavy 2 instead of about the same weight 3 GT?? 🙂 I can't see any reason why this 2gt is made at all in compare with other models of Hillenberg, weight and size/comfort ratio. So tell us why then! 🙂

[@TOMHEANEY100]

@@onnonugteren2935 Hi Onno, this is for comment s on the stove not Hilleberg tents.. I gave you an initial reply and thank you for your comments as its something I can include when doing my review..ATB Tom

[@onnonugteren2935]

@@TOMHEANEY100 You are right. Greetings, Onno Nugteren. Hilleberg another time. :-)

[@drytool]

Turning the canister over allows the stove to burn hotter but it's efficiency is debatable. It will burn to the last drop but it will burn up the fuel a lot faster.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Jason, thank you for your comments. Yes once you push something to its max then efficiently is lost.. Its not really an issue for me as I only do one night camps. It was a demonstration only for a boil time comparison to see the difference. I did bring scales to measure the gas used but they would not work on soft uneven ground.. (disadvantage of doing actual tests out in the field and not a back garden review). In reality I would not invert and run at max pressure but just good to know that the reserve power is there if you need it... ATB Tom

[@northumberlandmountainhopper]

Hi Tom Nice little comparison, to be honest I just use a cheap OEX remote stove and a Vango that sits high like your wind master, never had much need to change , Be nice to know how much gas they all use !!! Cheers Keep em coming

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Mountain Hopper I hope that you are well... Always good to hear of other equipment used... I had planned to measure gas but my scales would not work on the soft ground.. I willl work a way around that for my next stove review. I also have a mango remote stove that has served me very well... ATB Tom

[@john_t_t]

I’ve been looking forward to seeing how the fire maple performed relative to the Soto . I really like the Soto, using it in preference to my msr windpro 2 for most of the last year. I have always liked the stability of remote canister stoves but love the weight, quality and performance of the Soto. Looks like the fire maple is a very capable alternative. Would be interesting to see how it compares to the msr windpro2. Thanks for another great review.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi John, I really appreciate your comments here as I know of your experience with lots of gear and equipment. Always good to hear from other users with experience of what I am reviewing or similar.. I will compare it to the windpro 2 in the not too distant future.. Thank you too for the positive comment... ATB Tom

[@my_handle....]

Hi Tom, I believe that the fuel consumption of the stoves is more of a consideration when boil times are so close. It would be interesting to see how they compare as this would affect the user more in the longer term. Thank you for the quality presentation. Kind regards T🙂

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi thank you for watching. This was the second time I did this review. On the first occasion I had 60mph winds and the audio was poor so I repeated it here. I was going to measure the gas used by each stove but my scales would not work on soft ground... that's what happens when you try to do your reviews when out actually camping as opposed to at home in the garden. I try to add something extra to my channel content by doing actual reviews in a full outdoor environment. the only reviews done at home pretty much were during lockdown... ATB Tom

[@my_handle....]

@@TOMHEANEY100 Thank you for getting back and fairplay! All the best T🙂

[@mountain_del1863]

Hi Tom, greetings from Scotland. I love your channel. I'm obsessed with tents and extreme outdoors stuff, and despite standing on a Munro summit over 700 times I've still to actually complete them all 😯. You seem to have access to tents that are frankly "tent royalty". Are you in the outdoors retail game.....and more importantly, have you climbed/walked in Scotland?

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi Mountain del, how lucky are you living in Scotland if you love the outdoors??? Thank you very much for your support and its great to hear that you like my videos... I used to work in retail but not any more. Tent wise I borrow them from other KZbin watchers like yourself. They offer them to me to support me and also because they want to see their tent reviewed I suppose so it works well and is really appreciated. I do it too because I love the opportunity to test many different tents. Yes YES I love Scotland. Have done a fair bit of camping around Glencoe and Aviemore.. Love it so much... ATB Tom

[@mountain_del1863]

@@TOMHEANEY100 The Mourne mountains look beautiful but very susceptible to the wind.....God bless the Atlantic.......and Ireland, as you lads shield us a wee bit from it's fury. All the best Tom 🙂👍👍

[@davids9549]

You're dead right to highlight the inherent instability of canister-top stoves. I'm a clumsy f****r and torched my tent in wildest Knoydart by knocking mine over. Sure you shouldn't cook inside a small tent, but when it's the only midge-free space in 100 square miles elf'n'safety falls lower down the agenda. That's what made me move to a super-stable meths/cone setup, which I'm very happy with, but sometimes gas is just better, so I also bought an Alpkit Koro remote gas stove, at 123g even lighter than your Firemaple. The general consensus is that the best in this class is the Kovea Spider, but that's 168g.

[@TOMHEANEY100]

Hi David, great to hear of your real world experiences with midges, tent fires and of course other stoves.. That KORO looks pretty much identical but with a bit more brass ha ha. No matter how careful you are accidents always happen so great to reduce the risks as much as possible. I couldn't be annoyed any more holding the pot while it boils ha ha