Is the Pill Bottle Stove Any Good?

#alcoholstove #etsy
Look what I found on Etsy: www.etsy.com/listing/99155149...
The maker has some great pictures and videos on how to use this on his etsy page. I encourage you to give it a solid look and consider purchasing one for you or as a gift for a friend.
Cheers!

[@QuantumMechanic_88]

I bought this "stove" and keep it in a tin can / Dinty Moore beef stew can. The can holds pots far better and has multiple holes in it for adequate oxygen consumption and is a better wind screen . Thanks for your excellent video and all the best in all future endeavors.

[@NCMTNBOY]

I bought one to keep in my search pack. Love the simplicity and size. Thanks for the video.

[@margaretadler6162]

I purchased one of these and I’m very happy with it! I really like its compactness and ease of use! I enjoyed the video it was very informative and was the reason why I bought this stove. I just subscribed. ATB, Sam from Vietnam

[@TrailandBackAgain]

That’s wonderful that you are happy with it! Welcome to the channel and thank you for the kind words about the video. Cheers!

[@BackcountryPilgrim]

What a cool idea! Thanks for testing this out for us Mark!

[@TrailandBackAgain]

It’s a pretty cool stove idea for sure!

[@markthiel2953]

I purchased one early this spring. I haven't had much time to use it, but it is easy to use. Thanks for the review. Glad to see you back.

[@TrailandBackAgain]

Thanks Mark! I appreciate it!

[@mary-ruthflores4107]

Depending on the plastic of the container, your fuel can degrade the plastic over time. I’m not sure what plastic the container is made of but I have had yellow heat degrade plastic with a recycling code of 5.

[@chipkormas2840]

Neat to see your review and experience. I picked this up awhile back and was impressed with the simplicity and the availability to blow it out when not in use. I did use it with a Toaks stand and after watching your video it is clear that their windscreen offers better reduction of wind. I do add the fuel about 30 min before using but never did a second fill, so something to play around with. These are about as simple as it gets, add fuel, stack, light, and wait. I did find that the first few times using these that dust from the cutting was present but went away after some use. Curious if you had the same experience?

[@TrailandBackAgain]

Nice! I did not have any residual dust that I can think of. Thanks for the view and great comment! Cheers!

[@awatt]

I think you are missing a trick here. It would make a great backup to a canister stove on a long trip. Personally i am considering making esbit sized tablets out of puzza stone (like these are made from) to use in esbit stoves. Cant stand the smell of esbit so this may do.

[@ScrabblerVid]

So are sticks on the ground. And I don't have to plan for it. In most "Forest Service" eyes, there's no difference between an open fire and an alcohol or Esbit type stove.

[@SimplyLesa]

Love this idea! 😉

[@CheerfulPessimist686]

@@ScrabblerVidSure is nice when there are sticks. Nicer still when there are sticks and they're dry and not rotten.

[@Alastair510]

Try the dragon fuel tabs. It's a type of jellied alcohol, burns with similar smell. None of the stink of esbit.

[@rudyjouannic741]

Hey ! first of all, really cool video, i liked the presentation, very clear ! If you could help me, i would like to know how long you can use this compare to a classic canister stove ? i'm willing to lighten my bagpack and this look like a very cool and polyvalente option, but i'm worried than the amount of alcohol you'd have to take with you for any multiple days trip would be heavier than a classic propane/isobutane stove, do you think this could be a good option to make food on a thru hike for exemple ? Thanks in advance !!

[@TrailandBackAgain]

The pills will last years so no worry about longevity (from the owner when I inquired about that). I use under an ounce per 10oz of water to boil. I use a 450ml pot. I like it better than a iso stove, but for weight it depends on how often you need to boil water and how long you would be out. For a longer hike or thru hike. The yellow HEAT bottles are at most gas stations so fuel would be easy to come by. But, iso cans would last a good while, and are pretty available, but not as easy as the HEAT. Hope that helps

[@markcummings6856]

Some times me not understand!? How is that anymore stable when two stones are just about the same height and width of almost all alcohol stoves going.

[@TrailandBackAgain]

More stable than the gram weenie. Not a trangia style. I should have been more clear on that. I think just because they are solid they don’t tip as easily.

[@utubestalkerdotcom]

can you please test using just isopropyl alcohol, since manufacturer says any alcohol/fuel works

[@oinc7320]

What this is a replacement for is esbit, solid fuel cubes, I'm no fan of a can of burning alcohol, but to each his own. Also, in a pinch, you probably could light a twig, wood fire with these?

[@oinc7320]

PS, I believe this works best with a cup, pan on top, touching the stone. This removes the top as a burning surface.

[@Plain-Ole-Chuck]

I like the idea but would like to see some reviews on how long they last before putting out that kind of money.. Then again I didn't know the windscreen and such came with ot

[@TrailandBackAgain]

I will revisit next summer with a year in review. I use this a lot and have not noticed any change. I will likely do the follow up in June. Merry Christmas 🎄

[@e.k.4508]

You can also DIY by sawing a brick or plate of vermiculite - that's the actual material of the stones. Use a PET can (polyethylene terephthalate) for storage and soaking

[@denisehorton8468]

Did you punch the holes in the wind screen? If so, what tool did you use?

[@TrailandBackAgain]

The holes were there, but I would use an old school single hole punch. I bet that would work just fine.

[@wayofthehike]

Very interesting! Do you have a sense for if the pills will start to breakdown after a certain number of uses - or simply become less absorbent over time leading to shorter burn times? Are they like pumice stone and could they be broken in a fall from a reasonable height ?

[@TrailandBackAgain]

Hmm…fantastic questions. Breaking…on cement or tar I could see that happening. It the woods, no chance in my opinion. Will they breakdown? I don’t think so, or if they would, I think it would be a long time. I will message the maker tomorrow and see what he has to say. I will get back to you asap. Cheers! 🤙🍻

[@TrailandBackAgain]

I heard back from the maker. "Longevity is a good question, too. I have a set of pills that I have charged and burned over 100 times in 2022, and the they are just like new. except the color is kinda gray now. They do not degrade. I have a set that has been sitting outside on a picnic table in the sun and rain for a year and they are also just fine, no crumbling. Their love of water is the only thing that reduces performance by not being able to absorb a full charge of alcohol. As my Tech Sheet says, put them in a microwave to drive out the water." I hope this helps!

[@wayofthehike]

@@TrailandBackAgain awesome. Thank you so much Mark. Really appreciate the follow up here!

[@JonJaeden]

​@@TrailandBackAgain Any chance the water trapped in the stone could cause an explosion in the microwave.

[@TrailandBackAgain]

@@JonJaeden no concerns with that. I think with the stone being so porous takes that concern away. The water can easily escape

[@paulinoo2]

Thanks for the video ! I wonder how much it weighs ? Do you know ?

[@TrailandBackAgain]

I will weigh it on Sunday when I get back to a scale. Cheers!

[@TrailandBackAgain]

2 oz

[@sitbone3]

How many uses from one alcohol charge ? Do you have to carry extra alcohol in your pack to recharge the tablets each time you cook ?

[@TrailandBackAgain]

charging up 2 pills gets me one full use. I have blown out the flame after my water boils, but I don't think you would get another 10oz to boil off the single charge. Single charge is just under 1oz. Yep, I take extra fuel.

[@JediStockTrader]

So with all your other stoves compared to this one. What happens if during operation in the field you tip them over by accident? Doesnt this stuff stop and cut out the flame when toppled over compared to the fire risk of the others?

[@TrailandBackAgain]

that is a great question. Tip it over and it will still keep burning. I have found this to be the only negative with this set up and my gram weenie alcohol stove...they are quite tipsy...wasting my filtered water and fuel. I have only had this happen twice on trail, so a low percentage of times that I boil water, but you certainly need to be careful.

[@rwhirsch]

i tried this product but the bottle melted all over the stones while i was cooking. but seriously...what do you think the stones are made of...and....it seems like setting the stones in a bed of small sticks would be useful to set the pot on top of...and if the sticks caught on fire, all the better.

[@chrisbush714]

What kind of container are you storing your denatured alcohol in? I noticed a plastic bottle. Does the type of plastic matter? I bought a set of these stones, and they came in the mail yesterday! I'm gonna go boil some water! Have you ever cooked anything other than water?

[@TrailandBackAgain]

Hey Chris. I have not done anything other than boil water. I don’t think the container matters. Just one that will not leak. This one is from garage grown gear, but I also bought 3oz mouth wash bottles and use those. Happy boiling!

[@chrisbush714]

Thanks! @@TrailandBackAgain

[@e.k.4508]

Use polyethylene terephthalate or PET

[@bryaneditiontv600]

But can I cook food with it like cooking some rice and meat and stuff? For like 3 people

[@TrailandBackAgain]

Alcohol stoves are only good for boiling water

[@philigan2339]

In the picture on ETSY I can barely see the words Acetone & Gasoline. Can these be burned in the biscuits or is it a warning NOT to burn Acetone & Gasoline?

[@TrailandBackAgain]

You can, but they would leave a residue due to making soot

[@krisqueen5939]

😊

[@MyLifeOutdoors]

Picard was upset about the noise pollution from the plane right? 😉

[@TrailandBackAgain]

Hey man. I am not following the reference. Help me out… 🤙🍻

[@TrailandBackAgain]

Ok..did a plane literally fly over at that spot??? I turned my phone up and close to my ear and heard it. Dude, how did you pick that up?!?

[@MyLifeOutdoors]

I hate planes noise in the backcountry. I hear them everywhere. That’s why I made this: The Wilderness Has A BIG Problem! kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y3zKkoKplNVlmtE

[@TrailandBackAgain]

That vid looks interesting. I will check it out tomorrow.

[@TrailandBackAgain]

@@MyLifeOutdoors I just viewed this. Very well done. I have so many thoughts on this, many that overlap your own. I would enjoy talking with you a bit about it sometime.

[@PeteOutdoors1]

I reviewed this on my channel. I like it but the price cannot be justified. You can make an alcohol stove for free, and the difference in performance and fuel between the pill bottle and traditional alcohol stoves is negligible. $40 dollars is just too much.

[@ricdonato4328]

Spot-on comment. Yes, I would like to have one of these, however mentally I cannot justify their cost, price is over the top.

[@hashbrown4278]

Not really for free but less then $40

[@PeteOutdoors1]

@@hashbrown4278 Well, if you really didn't want to spend the 2-4 dollars on the tin cans, you can find those in a garbage can.

[@anonymousf454]

Could you just make something like this out of something else?

[@e.k.4508]

The stones are made of vermiculite

[@iiinsaiii]

How long does it burn?

[@TrailandBackAgain]

I have found that it burns 10-12 minutes for me. I think it will vary on how long you let it soak in the fuel, how much humidity they are soaked up prior too, etc. I have continued to use it and still really like it a lot.

[@308prestonc]

How long do the pills burn for?

[@TrailandBackAgain]

Depending on how long I let them soak (5 min or so is my norm) 2 of them stacked will soak up almost 1 ounce of denatured alcohol and burn 8-9 min. With the windscreen I can usually boil one 400 ml and then get a second one very warm to border line hot.

[@tomc.4860]

It seems pretty cool but there's no way that I'm going to pay $40 for this when I can make an alcohol stove with batting in it for less than $5.

[@TrailandBackAgain]

That's totally fair. cheers!

[@deskmat9874]

40$ for a set of small porous brick circles is an actual ripoff!