Stratus Trailstove Review

"The Trailstove is a very simple backpacking stove that burns wood, it weighs a bit below a pound and costs between $20 and $30 depending on where you buy it from. This is the ultimate survival stove in my opinion, no moving parts, no nozzles that can freeze up or break, and best of all: no fuel that can run out. I've had mine for three years now and I can't come up with a single bad thing to say about it. I use it all year, in any kind of weather. It's surprisingly easy to get it started even if the wood is wet."

"What a stove this is!
Just like in the old days before modern technology. Prehistoric man used stoves like this one for thousands of years with great success. In the last century or so these stoves have been largely forgotten due to new stoves burning different fossil fuels but primitive wood stoves have so many advantages. Among the different wood stoves on the market this is definitely the best one for backpacking. It's light, simple, and extrememly reliable."

"I have been using this stove for a few years now and I must say it is the best stove I've ever used.

1. It's an incredibly simple and fool proof design. This I think is the most important aspect, there's just no way this stove can break down. No other stove can make a claim like that.

2. Fuel is not even an issue since it runs on wood, there's no need to pack heavy and explosive fuel. You can go for as long as you want without packing an ounce of fuel.

3. It's fun to use."

"Man, I've taken this stove on so many backpacking trips I can't remember, month long summer trips, week long snowshoeing trips, you name it. Never had any problems at all. I spent so many years trying different stoves, specially for winter. I finally found the right one in the Stratus Trailstove. I like to go on quite long trips so not having to carry fuel is a huge advantage. I thought it would be hard to get the stove started in wet conditions but not at all, starts just as easily if you ask me."

"The new design of the TrailStove makes it safer to use, lighter in weight, and more stable than the original. The design is elegant in its simplicity, and truly makes the TrailStove a "one-match" start-up stove, with no moving parts or batteries required.
If you line the inside with a plastic produce bag, you can then fill it with food items and fit it into a bear canister, so that there is a minimum of space taken up in your backpack. It does get sooty on the inside, but a plastic bag works just fine."

"I have had this stove for a around a year now. I purchased it from the manufacturer's website for $20.00. The stove fits what I look for in camping equipment perfectly. First it's reliable. There are no moving parts, and fuel can be found everywhere (or at the very least more abundant than petroleum fuel). It is also very light weight. I like lightweight as much as the next person but if your equipment does not work its just dead weight. So with the simplicity and readily available fuel I am assured that I can use this stove when I see fit.

I have read that some feel that this stove is only marginally better than an open fire, well yes and no. This allows me to use less fuel, acts as a pot stand, and keeps the fire up off the wet ground while providing ample ventilation with protection from the wind. But this is a wood fire that is used for cooking with the inherent limitations of a wood cooking fire. It is definitely not a gas range with the infinite flame adjustments that they offer. It can be dirtier than a gas range as all your pots will get soot on the bottom…

Bottom line. I have used this stove all over Europe and North America. I appreciate that I do not have any problems shipping it with regular luggage, as it does not contain any volatile fuels. I like that it puts out more heat than a little gas or alcohol stove on those cold mornings while preparing breakfast. Last of all, if I cannot get the stove to work I know what the problem is… Operator error as there is no shortage of fuel, no moving parts, etc… I would definitely buy another if I loose this one, as there is no way I can wear it out."