Solo Stove Lite – Portable Wood Burning Stove

9.0
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Editor’s Conclusion
Returning to the basics with success, we originally cooked outside using wood fires, then we moved onto fuel stoves; here the circle is completed. Now? Back to wood stoves. This is a very good option with no fuel canister cost involved.

The makers say, burn hotter fires but use less fuel. The fuel is on the ground around you, yet, you're not burning trees; you are just burning wood which is shed by trees. This means you are burning wood but in an eco-friendly way.

If you're looking for an effective stove, which is small, light, easy to carry, and one that doesn't require you to go out and buy a bunch of fuel canisters, this option is the best choice.
Solo Stove Lite – Portable Wood Burning Stove Review Facts
Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros

Free fuel

Twin combustion-more heat

Lightweight

Durable stainless steel

Effective performance

Available in various sizes

Cons

It takes some time to get used to how it works

Key Features

Performance

When you unpack this, take a closer look and see why this stove can knock out a lot of heat just using bits of wood. Note the double-wall airflow system; we all know the more air you get to a flame, the hotter it will burn. This stove channels air and creates pre-heated oxygen which makes secondary combustion and a lot more heat.

A double combustion wall system means a lot less smoke once you have reached a peak heat; there is also less requirement for fuel because heat efficiency is reached.

Free Fuel

When your out hiking or camping, or even on a survival course, look around you; free fuel is everywhere in the form of twigs, bark, pine cones; in fact, anything which can burn can be fed into the stove. No harm to living trees or the environment. You won't be out in the wilds and thinking how you can find a way to dispose of an empty butane gas canister. You won't need to carry fuel canisters anymore. Pick up the skills for how to effectively use this stove and you won't be buying fuel canister anymore.

One word of advice for ease of heating up the stove, look around for bits of hardwood, this burns perfectly. Collect up a supply of wooden twigs and wood bits so you can feed the stove while cooking.

Durability

This is made from 304 stainless steel at a premium grade level. You can throw any doubts about durability out of the window since steel is seriously durable. This is the light version but these stoves go up to a large sole stove, Titian size.

This stove concept allows you to focus a wood campfire into a contained area inside a stove and this means lots of efficiency for heat. This is why durable stainless steel is the best construction for the pot; steel can take high heat easily without being damaged or wearing out. Another plus for durable stainless steel is it means a light stove at only 9oz so it works as a backpacking stove.

Pots to be Purchased Separately

Pots are purchased separately and there are lots of small pot options available. It's just a question of shopping around. This is a small stove at only 5.7 inches in height when assembled; it can support a decent-sized pot and when the stove is folded down to a 3.8 inches height and a width of 4.25 inches, you are probably able to store the stove in the pot.

Value for Money

Without a doubt, you get value from any wood-burning stove because of free fuel. When it comes to the Solo Stove Lite, your value increases since it has a double-wall design to create twin combustion; this will feed warm oxygen to the flame and this means a lot of heat. When a flame and heat are at their peak, it is easy to slowly feed in wood to maintain the heat.

You will be on a learning curve; cultivating an effective wood fire and flame is a technique that you get better at the more you use this. High heat means a lot less smoke but you will need to develop your skills to get through the initial burn and heat up phase quickly because that's where there can be smoke. If you make too much smoke, you will char and blacken the bottom of your pot which means a good cleaning for the pot base after use.

In Comparison to Other Camping Stoves

The first and very notable comparison is the endless buying of fuel canisters and of course carrying a few canisters each trip and even then, running out of fuel.

That can't happen with this stove unless you're camping out in a desolate place covered in deep snow but even in these conditions at a push, you might still find something which will burn.

Gas canisters will heat up a lot quicker but we are only comparing by a matter of minutes quicker; gas does give a cleaner flame and a wood stove requires developing a technique to avoid smoke and blackened pots.

So in terms of ease of use, gas cookers are easier to use but there are extra costs.

Verdict

Free fuel is a huge attraction; no need to pack canisters is another attraction. For efficiency, you need to practice using this model while with gas stoves it's simply light up and use.

This stove will burn and heat efficiently, though be ready to practice how to set the Solo Stove Lite up and feed it with wood without creating lots of smoke. It can be done, just needs thinking and practice.

The functionality is there, the design of the heat efficiency system is good; this wood-burning stove works and it is worth trying out.