July 1st 2014
I purchased this pot for myself. This is an unbiased, honest review of my experience with this product. This is the first purchase I have made with this custom maker. Keep in mind this is a custom USA made stove, and not mass produced in China!
From BladeHQ
The Phoenix wood burning stove features 0.025" thick 6Al4V titanium construction. It measures 11.75" tall with a 9.5" diameter 5-sided base. It has been tested to hold over 10 pounds and bring water to a boil in just 5 minutes with only wood as a fuel source.
This 5-sided stove is fashioned from just 7 pieces. There are 5 side panels (one with a door cutout), 1 door panel, and 1 bottom panel. The Phoenix stove comes in a 1000 denier custom Cordura nylon pouch with MOLLE webbing for external pack carry options. Total weight is just 21 oz.
Made in the USA.
I purchased this pot for myself. This is an unbiased, honest review of my experience with this product. This is the first purchase I have made with this custom maker. Keep in mind this is a custom USA made stove, and not mass produced in China!
From BladeHQ
The Phoenix wood burning stove features 0.025" thick 6Al4V titanium construction. It measures 11.75" tall with a 9.5" diameter 5-sided base. It has been tested to hold over 10 pounds and bring water to a boil in just 5 minutes with only wood as a fuel source.
This 5-sided stove is fashioned from just 7 pieces. There are 5 side panels (one with a door cutout), 1 door panel, and 1 bottom panel. The Phoenix stove comes in a 1000 denier custom Cordura nylon pouch with MOLLE webbing for external pack carry options. Total weight is just 21 oz.
Made in the USA.
I received this stove a week ago, direct from the maker. It retails for $250 and is currently sold out at BladeHQ, and you will see why. This is my first purchase from Marc at Mummert knives, but won't be my last. Marc bent over backwards to FedEx overnight this beast to me in time for the big week long family reunion! This is my first review of a camp stove, so let's begin.
First Impressions Several things really make this stove stand out from the rest. I currently own several alcohol stoves, gas stoves, solo stove, and an emberlit UL titanium stove. As you can see from the photos, this stove is a different beast. To the right you can see the three different stoves. Accessories 1. Custom 1000 Denier Nylon carrying pouch - This is a heavy duty pouch, well thought out, and even includes a sewn slit to hold the titanium poker/door hook. 2. Titanium hook/poker - This is a well thought out addition. It is used to open the door (too hot to touch with your hand, yes, I tried!) and to poke around the firewood. This simple addition is unique to any other stove I have ever owned. 3. Grill top - This was not included, as the main function is not for grilling, but for stove use. I got this mini circular grill top at target for 4.99 and it works perfectly! I used it 4 times while camping to grill some dogs and brats. |
Design
The design of this stove is aesthetically pleasing. I had multiple compliments, from the looks alone, when the fire was roaring. When it gets darker, watching the flames burst through the Phoenix emblem brings a smile to my face. As you know, it isn't all about looks so let's go beyond the looks and see the features I noticed.
1. Multi-tiered arms - This is by far, the coolest feature on any wood stove I have seen. It allows me to hold almost any of my pots securely. This is very important when stirring the pot of food. On all of my other stoves, the pots just sit on top. With this one it is like having a ledge at 5 points, giving a sense of security. As you can see, I sat many different size pots on this stove. I even stole some of my wife's pots to see what it would hold. Here are some photos showing some different pots. They range from small solo pot to a massive 4.7L pot.
The design of this stove is aesthetically pleasing. I had multiple compliments, from the looks alone, when the fire was roaring. When it gets darker, watching the flames burst through the Phoenix emblem brings a smile to my face. As you know, it isn't all about looks so let's go beyond the looks and see the features I noticed.
1. Multi-tiered arms - This is by far, the coolest feature on any wood stove I have seen. It allows me to hold almost any of my pots securely. This is very important when stirring the pot of food. On all of my other stoves, the pots just sit on top. With this one it is like having a ledge at 5 points, giving a sense of security. As you can see, I sat many different size pots on this stove. I even stole some of my wife's pots to see what it would hold. Here are some photos showing some different pots. They range from small solo pot to a massive 4.7L pot.
2. Titanium - This goes without saying, titanium is awesome. While titanium is amazing, it does jack up the price. To me, it is a well worthy expense. The ability to cut weight and provide strength makes titanium my first choice. This is a very strong stove.
3. Door - I like that the door was included. The other stoves I have do not have doors. This allows better energy usage and better wind resistance. I had no windscreen, despite being in the open. With both of my other pots, a windscreen is a must.
4. Setup - Setup was a breeze, despite me forgetting to bring the directions. I was able to set it up and get the fire burning in no time. The five sides design offers more stability than the emberlit UL. The teepee design also allows it to hold more weight while being extremely stable. Even when I had the grade on it, I had no issues with any wobble.
5. Size - Size can be both a pro and a con. I would consider the size of this stove to be a pro, because it is designed to be used for multiple people. Making it any smaller would simply degrade the stability and usefulness. Compared to the emberlit, it is a beast, however, that is to be expected. This stove fits a different role, although it can be used with great versatility. It would be like the difference between a suburban and a smart car. This is a larger stove you can comfortably take with you to cook for more people. Although it weighs 16oz, you will be saving weight, with cooking for a group, by using wood for the fuel source.
6. Use - I used several different methods for starting my fire including a ferro rod, waxed cotton balls, lighter, and fat wood. I appreciated being able to fit the entire fat wood stick inside, without breaking it up. I also was impressed by the efficiency, which I feel is helped by having the door closed. When I was done I let the fire die out and dumped out the little ash that was left. The takedown and setup is easier than the emberlit. As you can see in the photo, I learned not to put the dogs directly over the flame the first time! You can see afterwards I put them in a square around the center and they cooked perfectly! There was a surprising amount of heat being emitted from the stove.
Final Thoughts
I may seem over enthusiastic about this stove, but, it is because I love it! The overall design and features of this pot make it worth it's price point. Some may think it a bit pricy, but you get what you pay for. Realistically, this will be one of the most used pieces of my camping gear. While I love my solo stove, this stove is much better for larger groups and also provides the packability. This stove will provide me with a lifetime of use as an essential piece of my camping kit. Over time this stove will help pay for itself with no need for pricy fuel canisters. Overall, I highly recommend this stove kit to anyone cooking for 2+ people, or want a stove that can bring a smile to your face every time you use it. It will always be a conversation starter! I will end by saying that if you are on the fence, you won't regret it!
I may seem over enthusiastic about this stove, but, it is because I love it! The overall design and features of this pot make it worth it's price point. Some may think it a bit pricy, but you get what you pay for. Realistically, this will be one of the most used pieces of my camping gear. While I love my solo stove, this stove is much better for larger groups and also provides the packability. This stove will provide me with a lifetime of use as an essential piece of my camping kit. Over time this stove will help pay for itself with no need for pricy fuel canisters. Overall, I highly recommend this stove kit to anyone cooking for 2+ people, or want a stove that can bring a smile to your face every time you use it. It will always be a conversation starter! I will end by saying that if you are on the fence, you won't regret it!