As you have figured out TSA bans esbits from all luggage, as well as
alcohol above 70%. Alcohol is easy to pick up on the way the the
trailhead. You just need a hardware or automotive store. In a pinch
you can burn the water/alchohol mix from a drug store. Outdoor stores
are starting to stock alcohol. Esbits (especially economically) is
much harder because there are few places that sell just the tablets.
If you are going to use solid fuel it's often best to mail (via ground
transportation in the COMUS) your fuel to a general delivery address
and stop at the post office on the way to the trail head or have a
friend on the other end gather fuel for you.
Pro/Con:
Alcohol is more available making it easier to resupply
Alcohol burns cleaner... no icky residue on the bottom of the pots
which you have to clean off
Alcohol is easier to burn exactly the amount of fuel you need (less waste)
Alcohol (depending on the stove) can be faster than esbits
Esbits are slightly more efficient when it comes to carry weight over time.
Esbits have less fiddle factor
Esbits are safer ... no risk of spills, etc
Some people (I am one of them) have problems getting a proper boil
from esbits. I expect I am doing something wrong... but one of my
friends who uses esbits couldn't identify what I was doing wrong so I
stick with alcohol.
--Mark
On Tue, Jul 21, 2009 at 4:16 AM, todd obrien<mtoddobrien@
>
>
> Looking for thoughts/opinions on the pros and cons of Esbit vs Alcohol
> stoves. Tried Esbit cubes and it seems to be a matter of starting them on
> fire and they burn really hot for 13+/- minutes. Seems good enough for me --
> what does alcohol get you?
> Also, any tips/tricks on acquiring Esbit/alcohol if getting to the trailhead
> involves commercial air travel.
> Apologies if all of this info is readily available via Google.
> TO
>
>
+-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+
BackpackingLight Mailing List
To unsubscribe, send a blank message to:
BackpackingLight-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Post messages by E-mailing them to:
BackpackingLight@yahoogroups.com
+-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=+
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe
No comments:
Post a Comment