FAKE Windmaster vs. The REAL Soto Windmaster!

[@wordwalker3]

I purchased this stove from Ali Express. I also ordered a Windmaster Triflex replacement part from a different supplier for around $10.00 plus shipping. What do ya know, it fits! I'm not going to face any extreme backpacking situations. It's more just to have back up cooking methods available. I live in NC near the Raleigh/Durham area . The devastation in western NC and eastern TN have been sobering, to say the least. Lots of folks in my area are rethinking their preparedness on many levels because the hurricane could just as easily hit us here in this area. To lose all communications except Ham Radio has been quite a sobering thought! I got the Triflex in order to use this stove with the The Fire Maple Petrel G3 UL Pot! Here is another pot for you to try with one of the gasifier stoves. The Silverfire mini Dragonfire stainless steel pot.

[@alexk1486]

I have this stove, it's more Pocket Rocket Deluxe with the Soto arms than a copy of the Windmaster. My own testing (I can only speak for my experience) puts it around 4g/min full blast in ideal conditions. I expect that out of almost all compact backpacking stoves. In actual usage, way more reliable than the BRS - very little sputtering in wind

[@JRoss707]

I’d agree. His testing is very flawed testing them both at full throttle open, which is far from the optimal valve setting to achieve minimum boil time and maximum fuel efficiency. Just check virtually any other comparison reviews and they will say the same thing, minimum boil time and maximum fuel efficiency on the Campingmoon XE2 is about no more than two full rotations, which has demonstrated a boil time of less than two minutes and a fuel consumption of 7 grams. In fact, learning the correct valve setting to maximize efficiency, the Campingmoon if more efficient. I get it though, he skewed his results so the copycat or clone would look bad.

[@echobenav8]

Thanks for continuing to find stoves interesting enough to review. Appreciate all the work that goes into these. I think it's worthwhile to review these 'copycats'. Quality is worth paying for but backpacking gear can be very expensive and inaccessible if you only go with name brands. Your reviews are helpful because they show what's worth paying for and what to avoid.

[@thomasmusso1147]

True. There are Brand Names out there who appear at times, to rely on 'The Brand' to justify Cost. A case of 'what the market is prepared to tolerate'. In this case, similar / copy cat products are perhaps worthy of consideration.

[@martenthornberg275]

Big name brands also do copycat stoves. The MSR PocketRocket (made in China no doubt) is also a copy of the Soto Windmaster and people don't mind reviews of that. It's good that he mentions it's a copy so the innovator gets credit, but it's also nice to know if this is a decent option for those who can't afford the real stove. As the test showed they do not perform the same after all, so the comparison might actually help the original sell more than the copycat! And the Windmaster has been around for over ten years now, at some point it will be fair for others to copy the design.

[@brian1674]

Yup!! Just bought this stove off AliExpress and love it!!! Awesome!! Glad ya got it Ernie! I suggested it few weeks ago to ya,not sure if ya saw the comment or not..I’ve only ever used the quad sided stand instead of the tri stand anyway…I’ve read that this stove is the exact top to the windmaster and the bottom half of the pocket rocket

[@michaelsigala8275]

Keep doing what you're doing. The info you supply has value.

[@33sosa85]

Just going to point out, the Soto Windmaster weighs 3.1 oz with the 4flex, only when you attach the 3flex does it become 2.3 oz. So the Campingmoon Xd-2f weighs 3.2 oz and they are about the same. Also, how much gas control were you doing for both? it would be very hard to gauge any meaningful comparisons without knowing the gas settings. I have the MSR PR Delux but im going to switch to the Xd-2f because its like a Windmaster Top and Pocket Rocket bottom. Also since it has 1 silicone ring it can accept adaptors, which I don't know if Windmaster can do. I did see on other sites that the 4flex and 3flex are interchangeable with the Xd-2f.

[@a.b.4824]

I agree with the doc. Support the original, it's the best gas can stove I have. Keep on the awesome work Ernie as long as YOU want to do it. No pressure.

[@williameddy7217]

Thanks for your time making these videos about outdoor and survival equipment. I don't buy copycat products but it's still cool to see the difference between them. Health and Happiness to You and yours.

[@duncdunc76]

Another great video as always👍 My personal philosophy is to always buy the original maker equipment if I can afford it and it's fairly priced for what it is. I also completely stay away from patent infringment/stealing if it's possible to find that info out. I personally believe in rewarding innovation. And completely copying is not innovating imo, and if done during patent protection, it is a form of stealing imo. However after patent protection has run its corse its fair to say that many copied products can serve a beneficial purpose in many use cases especially In the realm of affordability.

[@loripage5477]

Many thanks for this. Is really interesting. Looking at where the burners screw onto the gas canister, it looks as though the Windmaster has two sealing points, whereas the copycat has only one?

[@msongy4947]

Just received the Camping Moon stove the other day. Test run this morning. 2 cups 74 degree water. Less than2 min to rolling boil, 7 grams of fuel. Valve 1/4-1/2 turn open. I am impressed! With this being an occasional use item it’s way more than adequate for my purposes. Enjoy your videos. I’m a Louisiana boy as well. But waaay south of you. Just got run slap over by Francine!

[@kir11]

Nice compare! Keep doing it! The results is very interesting!

[@Doc_Watson]

Keep doing these videos. It's good to know that it's not as light or as fuel efficient. That's a deal breaker sometimes and could out weigh the cost benefit.

[@thomasmusso1147]

Yep, if one is prepared to use and keep the stove indefinitely, the benefits will absolutely outweigh the the original cost.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

I believe further testing with some better fuel control would reveal the two stoves the same on fuel efficiency. Also, the stoves weigh nearly identical when both are sporting the 4-plex configuration.

[@robertmaxwell3220]

Your integrity is always appreciated.

[@Hockeyfan9884]

It took me months and months to get my Soto Windmaster. I just tried it tonight, as to compared my many other " knockoff " crapola stoves. I love that stove, and I am glad to have found your awesome and informative channel. Thank You.

[@DL-ij7tf]

Why did it take you months to get a Windmaster?

[@kengarland2181]

Keep up the great work! Please don't stop !

[@rodoutdoors]

Appreciate all the details like fuel consumption. Thanks!

[@larryborn1082]

Just got the campingmoon off Ali for $18!!! should be here this week. I am NOT an UL backpacker and will use this as a back/survival piece in my kit. Seems like great value.

[@larryborn1082]

I received it.....and am very happy. Boils water crazy fast. This is all I will probably use it for and can't wait to take it camping.

[@millsmarkchris]

Great site. One question I have is why you don't like the little baggies that come with some of the stoves. Don't you store your stoves in your pots? As long as the stove nor the pot get scratched, what more are you looking for?

[@jlhgrace8284]

I've been using the Soto Windmaster, after trying many others, and I like it the most of all the stoves out there. Been using it for many years.

[@trentwalters]

Always love your channel keep them coming

[@MrTomasekk]

I ordered this stove (Campingmoon XD-2F) a week ago and still waiting for it. Initially I wanted to buy Soto Windmaster, but here, where I live, I was able to buy it for 80 USD or more. So I was looking If there are some other options (with built-in "windscreen", pressure regulated valve), I found this XD-2F stove for 30 USD on Aliexpress. Saw it in different review and knew it will consume a little bit more fuel than Soto. I was really struggling, because I would rather support Japanese company than a Chinese rip-off... But the difference in price "made me" to buy XD-2F stove as I know that I will use it occasionally. If I would use it really often, I would go with Soto...

[@cvkealey]

Regarding the pot supports, the SOTO ones (4-flex and tri-flex) will fit on the CampingMoon stove, but the one that comes with the CM stove will NOT fit the Windmaster. I haven't got the calipers out to measure them, but there's just a slight difference in the height/shape of the windguard around the burner between the two. There's also a difference in the overall height, with the Soto being a bit (~1/4"?) taller, but also about 0.4 oz lighter. So, the CM is just a bit more compact, but heavier (if that matters). Personally, I bought it because as a scout leader, I like having extra stoves to lend out and this seemed a step above the dirt-cheap Amazon stoves.

[@fatmanfaffing4116]

Mate! You're the 'Stove Man'! It is your duty to keep us in the loop and keep the stove makers honest. Period.

[@per-ake]

It's like a combination of two stoves. the top being the Windmaster and the bottom half of the PR Deluxe as on the position of the piezo ignition.

[@ОлегСурженко-с7ж]

So it is !

[@clintknight8307]

THANK YOU. Just about lost it when I seen this today.

[@FlatCatGear]

Copycats are a difficult topic. You could say that the MSR pocket Rocket copied the Soto WindMaster. A lot of people love the Solo wood stove stove even though they copied the Bshbuddy stove. To me, I will stick with the Soto WindMaster: it exudes quality, has great performance and there has been a lot of miles on that design. My 2 cents.

[@geraldhenrickson7472]

Copy a product and we benefit by having more choices. More choices gives rise to more review videos. Its a win-win.

[@randallchapman7797]

I think that you should continue. The one thing that you didn't mention was that the Camping Moon stove can use propane and butane as well as iso-butane. The Soto can only use iso-butane. I think that this makes enough difference to say that the Camping Moon stove is not a complete knockoff of the Soto stove.

[@melchurch3019]

I enjoy the comparisons so I can make an informed decision when looking at backpacking stoves. I've always used alcohol stoves but recently bought a MSR Pocket Rocket on sale from REI. Convenient and very fast. Your videos have been helpful and fun, thanks.

[@brianfarr706]

Good information, I appreciate everything you do. I will stick with my soto. 😂 And yes I remove the 4 flex and /or tri-flex every single time in order to nest it perfectly wi th my other stuff in my pot set up of choice...🎉

[@fanliqu872]

Thank you for making this video, really helped me!

[@danieljones2183]

Love the comparison tests. Keep it up.

[@PoleTooke]

Could you test the Coleman Powerpack so I can know how much better all these other stoves that you review are against mine?

[@BeSeeP]

Long term performance is key with copycats. They typically fail sooner because they cut corners.

[@lamarregister3518]

I enjoy your reviews. Seeing how the Stoves compare. I make Stoves and it gives me different ideas. Thank You.

[@BillBranscome]

I would probably buy the knock off simply for the price, but I also don’t use canister stoves to much. I have one made by Olicamp I really like and use as a backup. I prefer my alcohol stove and wood stove when I’m camping, and my alcohol stove I use every day in my rig to cook breakfast and lunch.

[@that_which_is_not]

Interesting, I think you’re justifying the reasoning for waiting a little, saving up and buying the Soto. I’d have to agree as a Windmaster owner here, I expected nothing less than a flawless victory from the trusted beauty! ✌️

[@ewengillies9826]

And I'm sure the quality of the Soto would be far superior. I love mine. Still it's good to have comparisons. Bushyboy Oz.

[@jplamb77]

Hey Ernie,,,, Excellent choice of music 👍,, and another Great video. I honestly have no problem with copycat videos or products. Iam thankful that you call them what they are,,, and we all want; enjoy a Free and Open marketplace. But I Always like to acknowledge and Honor the Original/ Creator. Solo stove took the Bush Buddy design to a higher level,,,one that BBuddy probably would not of gone too. Great Video Ernie,,, You are the Stove Man,,,!!!! Blessings to You and Your Family,, Joshua

[@starlingblack814]

Thanks Doc for the review. I enjoy the comparison videos and think you should keep doing them. I do love it when the original outperforms the knockoff.

[@andrewdouglas5020]

Just came across your video , hi from the uk👍as I’m looking at getting Soto windmaster tomorrow. Still am. It’s the best in my view and if I don’t get on with it, which is unlikely, it has a resale value where any knockoffs simply don’t. Keep reviewing you’re doing a good job. Rule Britannia😀

[@a.ramosakadrumgrl6677]

I would rather have the Soto Windmaster because it saves alone in fuel. Less cost over the lifetime of the stove! Thanks for this Ernie!!

[@michaelthomson5101]

Love it, keep em coming.

[@garryjohnhall]

Own the soto windmaster...thinking obout getting this clone as a backup..great review..pouch and case lover here too

[@db6283]

Keep doing comparison s. Thank you for your videos

[@jtucker4201]

When buying things that can go boom and lead to a very bad day, I tend to stick with the original since their quality control and testing is (usually) more thorough.

[@americafirst5453]

I'm a carpenter and weekend hiker I cook lunch on my wind master every day love it.

[@UniversalFriend1752]

Have you reviewed the Soto Muka? It looks EPIC for a liquid fuel stove.

[@fuffydingo]

I have both too. They look similar but the Soto boils faster and has better flame control IMHO.

[@markall8641]

Besides the pot stand part reminded me of a MSR pocket rocket deluxe. Wonder how that would compare

[@kenrobertson7053]

Hi Ernie. I enjoy your review videos. I have both Soto and Kovea brand canister stoves - top quality, and sure, more expensive than anything copied from China. I always have one or two with me depending on the trip and the time of season. My favourite stove though is an alcohol stove and it is a Trangia - all the way, with a (UK) Honey Stove wood burner, or canister stove as back-up. I would rather pay more money to the company that continues to invest in product development than those that simply steal someone else’s designs. Reason two is that I don’t want to be out in the wilds thinking “geeze I wish I had bought the real deal then some cheap clone that has just failed on me”. The Canadian outdoors can be no less forgiving that those of our southern neighbor. Best regards. Ken

[@andymytys]

I am not a fan of Chinese knock-offs. Having said that, many people do not know they are knock-offs. Personally, I like the fact that you review these stoves head-to-head against the real thing, make it known that they’re a stolen design from another company, and show how inferior they are. I would suggest that when a stove burns more fuel, you mention how many two-cup boils it would take for the cost savings to disappear due to increased fuel needs. At $7-8 for an 8 oz fuel canister, the savings go away quickly, esp. with something like the BRS 3000T.

[@chazphot]

Anyone know if the the TriFlex from SOTO will fit onto the Campingmoon stove? It seems it would be a little more forgiving than the 4Flex and might work.

[@carmenmartinez2882]

Yes it does, I just got mine and fits perfectly.

[@MikesFitnessGoals]

My Soto Windmaster leaks gas when the stove is stored (like in your pack or on a shelf). I’ve read of others having the same problem. The two o-ring gaskets sealing the stove to the gas canister are sized for cans from Japan apparently. I’ve lost one Coleman 8 oz. can ($6 usd) and one 16 oz. MSR canister ($11 usd). After that I stopped using it. $65 + $17.. so mine cost $82 plus the cost of the UL pot stand and it still leaks. I’d love to know the fix for this as I like the stove in use. I also own a Primus, MSR Pocket Rocket, MSR Windburner, BSR-3000, an Evernew Ti DX Stove and my 48 year old SVEA 123. I have yet to measure the o-rings and experiment with larger sizes and I haven’t found a solution online. The 16 oz. MSR can was empty after one use and 2 or 3 days on the shelf.

[@halvors1]

You should do a bracket tournament of gas stoves. First to boil wins etc.

[@9abe9]

Did yours smell of burnt plastic when you started using it? Mine arrived a few days ago, and now it smells after being used. I saw some smoke coming from the burner (copycat one)

[@carmenmartinez2882]

I’ve had mine for about a year + and used it many times, no smell on mine but I’ve used it camping thus outdoors.

[@Jimmymag909]

Will any of these tiny stoves fit in a firebox? Need something other than my trangia as back up burner

[@carmenmartinez2882]

No they don’t, I have this and also 3 different Firebox, 6”, nano, and scout. Firebox sells one on their website and comes with a titanium heat diffuser plate that can be hooked on top making real cooking lots easier, not just boiling water. That’s another company that I absolutely love.

[@jetodeocampo9072]

There is another stove that uses a triflex stand and fits this campingmoon stove...there is also another version of this campingmoon that has no piezo igniter

[@Isheian]

I’ve got the copycat. Can’t afford the soto. Budget is a really concern for some people.

[@jplamb77]

I definitely like these videos,,,👍👍👍

[@mattmahood6739]

That stove is an MSR pocket rocket deluxe bottom with a SOTO windmaster style top.Put all 3 stoves beside each other and compare.

[@MichaelR58]

Good video , thanks for sharing , God bless !

[@thomasmusso1147]

👍👍👍 Quality has a 'value for money' of it's own as your test showed. Yes, please .. keep with the 'copy cat' reviews. This will give watchers of your channel the ability to make informed decisions based on objective comparisons. It appears that the Soto has 'under the skin engineering' that the copier has been unable / unwilling to emulate. Me? I'm inclined to go with the 'real McCoy'. Unless though, the so-called copy cat is such an improvement over the original with design improvements that it becomes a no-brainer. A good one .. thanks for sharing. Take care ..

[@bigstick5278]

I bought two of the Campingmoon Xd-2f for the price of the SOTO.. It works and has never failed. It's also shorter than the SOTO not as top heavy.

[@Kado244]

I saw this on amazon today haha

[@SnowyAspenHills]

Soto for me. I have quite a few SOTO stoves and they have all been brilliant. Not a fan of “facsimile” gear, no R&D costs and then undercut with the price. Interesting to see these products tested though.

[@Tfaonc]

That's a lot more fuel consumption. Very good to know

[@rone7927]

That is a lot of difference between the amount of fuel used. I would buy the soto based on this alone!

[@jaspurr6173]

It looks good so far, hey! Leave the the case at home, just put it all in a Ziploc and you are done.

[@browsman2328]

Keep doing the knock-off vids Ernie, you like stoves, we all like stoves, we are a brotherhood of stove nuts,

[@fookingsog]

Just got the Soto (authentic!) off Amazon. And the case? PSH! Just 3D Printed a custom sized screw together cylinder hard case with a built-in carry loop, which I can put a piece of paranoid through and clip it on to a pack!!!

[@Yirgamalabar]

Sounds interesting. Is the design available to download?

[@fookingsog]

@OB It's a design which I originally downloaded from Thingiverse, but then imported to Tinkercad, added a circular SVG text to the top cap--"SOTO WINDMASTER". I then re-downloaded as an STL filetype into SuperSlicer and figured out what the custom scale size should be to perfectly fit the stove and printed it!!! Do you do 3D design and printing???

[@Yirgamalabar]

@@fookingsog I print, but don't have modeling skills. I only do minimal scaling and slicing modifications. Maybe add it back to thingiverse as a remix?

[@ipedros7]

I think you ought to continue such reviews. If the copycat product is not good enough, people get the chance to know in advance. If the copycat is remarkably similar in all areas, then the question is how much extra is justifiable for the original research and design before they ought to slash prices down (or just not increase them and let natural inflation bring the real terms price down). If the copycat is better, then does it mean it employed its own research and justifies its place totally? (albeit perhaps ought to pay its dues to the original design in any licenses)

[@IAMSatisfied]

The longer I live, the more I appreciate quality design & construction... something that is 10% better is worth 50% more in cost. If a product has some fiddly flaws that bug you, you'll be regretting your decision each time you use it... how much is that worth to you?

[@cncbotts]

How different does a stove have to be to not be considered a knockoff? How truly different is any portable stove now from those made over the last 80 years? Design in something so simple is niggled bit by bit. Also, Campingmoon is its own "name brand." They have their own spin on things, a developed business, and in my experience, great customer service.

[@Lucitt13]

I was looking at that copycat stove. After your video, I'll pass and drop the extra money on the real windmaster. Thank you for the time and money spent on this video.

[@kevinb3812]

It seem to me that compromises in quality in this department, something that could badly injure you if it fails, is not where I want to go. If it was a pair of pants there's a lot less to lose if things go bad. I'll stick with the Soto and MSR stoves we already have.

[@benterwellen]

I like the lower cost of the copycat stove, not concerned about weight….

[@GilbertJagot]

I'm not an IP lawyer but the copycat companies might have some kind of licensing agreement where they can legally do this. Of course that's probably not true but you never know.

[@Ciptakarya172]

Its Campingmoon XD-2F vs Soto WindMaster

[@kenneth6731]

Thank you again. If you have the opportunity, check out the vintage "Taykit Pocket Stove" I just found one. It's mind blowing. I hope you get the opportunity to check one out and enjoy it as I have.

[@awatt]

It looks frightening! I want one

[@residentweavil233]

uk pricing is weird almost the inverse ---- legit soto 4flex 49.99 copycat is 71.56

[@richardzak2140]

Hello Ernie. This is another video of you get what you pay for. If you think about it, the cheaper stove is going to cost you more in the long run. Don't be fooled. Quality comes at a price and in most instances is worth paying.

[@brndumsvandrehistorier3486]

I wonder why you use the words fake and copycat on this stove. I dont recal you doing that when you testet the MSR pocket rocket deluxe. I think the the Campingmoon is a rip-off of both the above mentioned, and yes, probably not performing as good as the original. But compared with other burners it actually outperformes a lot of them. Although i not agree with all your opinions i always enjoy your videos 😊 Keep up the good work

[@markperry222]

If Amazon is selling them, and lot of people are buying them, I don't think you are giving them more oxygen. In some cases you may actually be taking oxygen from them with an honest but not so good review. I would also argue that cheap copy cats will drive Soto to raise their game, and release a new product sooner than they might have done.I have seen this happen with other products before.There is one more arguement, If Soto is a $60-70 stove, a $35 dollar stove will not be taking away sales for Soto, a $35 dollar stove will be taking away sales from other similarly priced stoves.

[@skylerphoenix8880]

Earnie - if you already know the copycats aren’t going to be as good, don’t give them a platform.

[@BMacW650]

Pocket Rocket Delux is a true rip off of Soto Windmaster. This burner itself is a copy of the MSR, and the pot stand copied from Windmaster. I have all three, I prefer this one for the pot stand, and how it's shorter than the windmaster, so it fits in more pots.

[@nycbike73]

I will stick with the Soto

[@steverusso177]

I will get the real deal Soto.

[@silvermeng1701]

i like copycat

[@brian1674]

Always gonna be another company to make something….my opinion if buying from sources that are made in other countries which most stoves are might as well get one that costs less than half the price of name brand KZbin pushed items if basically the same anyway….even if couple oz heavier,doubt the weight difference will drag your arm off! Lol