A place to chat about gear and the philosphy of ultralight. Ultralight bushwalking or backpacking focuses on carrying the lightest and simplest kit. There is still a good focus on safety and skill.
Forum rules
Ultralight Bushwalking/backpacking is about more than just gear lists. Ultralight walkers carefully consider gear based on the environment they are entering, the weather forecast, their own skill, other people in the group. Gear and systems are tested and tweaked. If you are new to this area then welcome - Please remember that although the same ultralight philosophy can be used in all environments that the specific gear and skill required will vary greatly. It is very dangerous to assume that you can just copy someone else's gear list, but you are encouraged to ask questions, learn and start reducing the pack weight and enjoying the freedom that comes.
Common words Base pack backpacking the mass of the backpack and the gear inside - not including consumables such as food, water and fuel light backpacking base weight less than 9.1kg ultralight backpacking base weight less than 4.5kg super-ultralight backpacking base weight less than 2.3kg extreme-ultralight backpacking base weight less than 1.4kg
Seems a good price for the little sibling to the Champeen SOTO Windmaster. The igniter model seems very reliable (so far) after about 50-60 uses in my case. I carry something just in case. https://www.massdrop.com/buy/soto-amicus-stove
Ha! I was just browsing Massdrop (which I only discovered thanks to you, Lamont) and saw the stove. My existing stove doesn't have an igniter and I liked the concept of the concave design as a natural windshield. Sounds like you have really given it a good testing out. Perhaps a bit heavier than I would like though... given I am offsetting the weight of my lovely comfy sleep mat by shaving grams in every possible other way
Oh the Sotos are sweet, not cheap but quality plus and smaller than you might think.Elegantly engineered. I wanted the Windmaster but this came up and very happy so far.Wind resistance is quite remarkable.
Thanks Lamont, been wanting an Amicus for awhile now so I bought it. It's the first time I've wanted to buy something on Massdrop that actually delivers to Australia!
Lamont wrote:Oh the Sotos are sweet, not cheap but quality plus and smaller than you might think.Elegantly engineered. I wanted the Windmaster but this came up and very happy so far.Wind resistance is quite remarkable.
I will take your word for it, if nothing else about me is elegantly engineered, at least my stove will be
Just joined the drop. I actually need a new stove. I have been using a cheapie stove for a year, it is heavy and the 'O' ring is starting to go (is that the correct tech term for the rubber sealy thing?) and while I am sure it can be replaced, purchasing a new stove is exciting and then I can research the right sealy thing and pass on the heavier stove to my son once I have found the right part.
Thanks for the heads up on the drop and also the adventures in stoving review.
I have a pocket rocket and its been a fairly reliable partner for many years. However the Soto Amicus seems to be superior in many aspects.
- Wind resistance. This is a big one, the pocket rocket was annoying in anything above light breeze. - Piezoelectric ignition. Using a mini bic early in the morning with cold hands and a sleepy brain can be challenging. - Superior pot support. Was always consious of the pocket rockets less than stellar pot support. - More compact and a bit lighter.
Ha ha don't get to far into hikin' jims videos you might never come out- What is it about watching stove tests with that bloke? It's mesmerising! He is "Keithy" of the US -reviewer nonpareil. Those blokes know how to do a review! The Amicus can take a moment for the gas to come through-spell scooby dooby doo- then click-works every time. Zapruda is a SOTO Windmaster afficanado I believe, he may know about the cold results -if he reads this he may comment.
Lamont wrote:Zapruda is a SOTO Windmaster afficanado I believe, he may know about the cold results -if he reads this he may comment.
I love that stove!
I don’t think I will ever move to anything else. It’s excellent.
It comes with me on ski tours all the time and does very well in the cold. I used it the other weekend for melting snow when it was around -7. It didn’t skip a beat. And the wind protection is fantastic.
Thought I would update now that I have used the stove a whole heap. I flipping love it. Inbuilt igniter is great and the 4 arms are so stable. I have used it many times and in wind and yes, the concave design is great in the wind. I also just used it the past 4 days for my husband and I so had a bigger (2lt) pot on it and it was so stable even with that size. Money well spent.
Gotta agree...love the stove, even if I had to get it replaced when the piezo stopped working and the FireMaple 116T my partner uses boils water much faster and is much lighter...go figure!
I have the soto amicus with the inbuilt piezo. I love it. No lighter? no worries! It's good in wind too. It's back on massdrop again, albeit it's a quick drop, will be over by tomorrow I think.
For those who missed out and can put up with the version without the igniter https://www.bivouac.co.nz/gear/camping- ... niter.html $32.49 NZ won't break the bank Plus postage of course if you don't spend over $99 Bivouac are having a sale but I'm unsure when it finishes
Ms_Mudd wrote:Still loving it. Igniter hasn't missed a beat.
Amicus fan as well, they handle the wind and have good focus on the pot. The thing I've found with the igniter is I now carry 1 lighter where as before I'd be finding lighters in my first aid kit, cook kit, diddy bag, pant pocket... used to find them every where so all those lighters may well have been heavier than the stove itself.
crollsurf wrote:You won't get a better price than what bivouac is offering. I'd go for that if you're a stove junky but the pocket rocket you got is v good as well
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Cheers I was thinking about it as a stocking filler for a nephew with Xmas approaching.
A question for the technical people out there, if I may. On the aluminium safety label attached to the Soto Amicus, it states to only use the 70% butane/ 30% propane mix of gas. Is there an actual reason for not using 100% butane, if I refill a canister?
Another question, if I may. It also states the orifice size is 0.31mm. Is that the jet hole, in layman's terms.
Gold Coast wrote:A question for the technical people out there, if I may. On the aluminium safety label attached to the Soto Amicus, it states to only use the 70% butane/ 30% propane mix of gas. Is there an actual reason for not using 100% butane, if I refill a canister?
I have used mine with butane most of the time and it works fine. I believe the source of the caution is towards Propane not butane. Don't go over 30%. Had mine for a few years now.
I know a few have the Amicus and thought you might like to see (if you haven't already that is) a windscreen being sold specifically for it. Way too rich for my blood but thought I'd chuck it up for any interested parties. The owner Jon has been especially responsive to new ideas. https://www.flatcatgear.com/shop/ocelot-soto-amicus/ No affiliation to the seller. there is one and a video for the Windmaster as well plus some other stoves. Just have to do some searching.