Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

A quick intro to me (so you know where I'm coming from with my review): I'm almost always on a budget, so I'm always on the hunt for the absolute best way to spend my money. I don't like gimmicks and I don't like flashy "high tech" gear that tries to be ultra-lightweight while sacrificing value (i.e. costing itself right out of my budget). I hit the trail and backcountry twice, maybe three times per year, so I want to make the most out of my cherished days away--so I want things to work and not put a damper on the trip. I'm not a "prepper," but I do like to think about bad and/or worst-case scenarios and how gear might help out in those situations. If a piece of gear can be useful under normal and emergency circumstances, it gets bonus points for me. I was introduced to the original Solo Stove (the smaller one released a year or two before the Titan). Since then, I've monitored the company via Facebook and emails and I've been impressed with the interaction from the owner and the interest he takes in the product's reputation by engaging with customers and listening to their concerns and recommendations. I had put two or three backcountry trips on my Solo Stove before the Titan was released and I was impressed with the product already. When I saw the Titan, I wanted to try it out as well, so I ordered one up. After a recent backcountry canoe trip on Fontana Lake in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, I put the Titan to the test. Other than open firepit cooking, it was my sole source of heat for boiling water. I've used fire starters with the original solo stove ( I don't care if it's cheating, I'm not trying to earn any Boy Scout badges...I just want my water boiled!), so I carried on that practice with the Titan. I use little dome-shaped pucks that can found at REI for about $5 per 10 or 12. They're basically sawdust stuck together and take a flame quickly. That said, I did make an attempt to start the fire twice without a starter puck. The first time I had success with some dry pine needles and a survival-type fire starter. The second time I got impatient! There really is no other preparation to it--no fuel to bring or plan ahead. Just show up at your campsite and scrounge for some twigs. Of course, you need a pot to boil water in. I used the Solo Pot 900 (the original one made for the original Solo Stove). The only thing you really need to pay attention to is the diameter of the twig fuel you collect. as a rough rule, I try to keep them less than 1/2 inch in diameter, closer to 1/4 inch really. Too large and they aren't as easy to keep burning hot and fast. I have noticed some difference between species of wood, but not enough to exclude any one type due to lack of performance. Also, be sure to have enough on hand to keep the fire fed while boiling. Because the Solo Stove burns so efficiently, it eats through some fuel! It is not a set it and forget it heat source--at least not in my experience. You'll want to make sure you've got a large handful of twigs (easily gathered in less than 5 minutes at a typical wooded campsite). To put them in the Titan's firepit, they'll need to be broken into 3 to 4 inch lengths. I timed my boils for the first few trials, but I've since forgotten the numbers (oops!). I can say that it does not take long. Sure, a fueled "speedy" stove will boil quicker, but who's racing? You're backcountry camping and shouldn't have anywhere to be or anything to do. It's rewarding to sit at the stove and keep it fed to make your boiled water. If you're like the vast majority of other fellow weekend warriors, it's a thrill to be out and self-reliant, including the "chores" associated with the campsite. Those folks with the "speedy" stoves might laugh at your boil time, but who's laughing when they lose that little tiny critical widget that keeps their space station gadget teetering between a useless bundle of junk and a delicate (but quick) backcountry stove? With the Solo Stove, there's no moving parts, no pins to fall out, no canisters to replace, and really nothing to break or bend. Sure, it's metal, but this thing would work if you rolled it down a mountainside and picked it up at the bottom and used it immediately. As far as the physical aspect of it, the Titan is relatively light and stows easily. Sure, it's larger than the original Solo Stove, but if you need compact, that's why there's the original one. If you can afford a small amount of extra space, the Titan is great for backpacking or car camping. The only advantage I think the original Solo Stove has is the ability to fit inside the Solo Pot 900 (or equivalent pot). I don't know for sure, but I don't think the other pots offered currently from the company allow the Titan to be stowed inside. I'm sure there's another brand that would allow this though. Overall, I'm impressed with this product's ingenuity and self-reliability. No fuel canisters to pick up before your trip. No worries about replacement parts. You can have an equally good time on the trail as the folks with other products, but you've got added value in the Titan's ability to serve in a prolonged emergency situation. It doesn't need to be the zombie apocalypse, just a simple hurricane or other natural disaster that knocks out power for a week. You could let the entire campground cook on it with no loss to you or fuel supplies (there will always be twigs and other fuel sources laying around). You will not be disappointed with the Solo Stove's quality and functionality.