Bushbox Ultralight Pocket Stove: Simple And Mighty
I recently reviewed the fantastic Littlbug twig stove and mentioned that I purchased a Trangia alcohol stove as a back-up, for times when fire bans preclude burning wood of any kind. This got me thinking: since I'm already carrying the Trangia with me, if I had a second, smaller twig-style stove to hold the Trangia, I could have two stoves going simultaneously: the Littlbug and the Trangia. This would be handy when cooking meals that are a bit more complex than simply dehydrated, prepackaged foods. It would also give me a super compact option of traveling with only the Trangia and whatever I found to hold it.
After looking at a lot of options online, some cheap and of dubious quality; some overkill for what I was looking for, I finally settled on the Bushbox Ultralight Pocket Stove. This tiny twig stove is made by Bush Craft Essentials, and is available through Canadian Outdoor Equipment Co. - the same place I bought my Littlbug and Trangia stoves. After getting in touch with Canadian Outdoor Equipment Co, I received my Bushbox Ultalight in the mail, and wow, I was shocked at the size!
This little guy folds down flat and literally fits in the palm of my hand! It's so small, it would fit between the pages of a paperback novel, no problem, and I don't mean War and Peace! Weight wise, it comes in at about 70g or less than 2.5 oz; barely noticeable.
Much like the Littlbug, the Bushbox Ultralight is both a twig stove and a Trangia holder. It's made of five separate sheet metal pieces that fit together easily: three pieces for the sides; one for the bottom; one for the top. They all fit together with a nice pleasing “click”; some real thought went into the design. I personally find it easier to put together the Bushbox Ultralight than the Littlbug, but that could be just because it's smaller and has fewer configuration options. Something else I like is that it comes with its own fabric “sleeve” to keep it all together when not in use. This is a separate purchase with the Littlbug.
I've now taken this stove with me on two separate trips and am very pleased with it! When paired with my Trangia and a pot, it's perfect for just making coffee or tea on a day trip, or gently simmering food I'm rehydrating on longer trips, while my Littlbug cooks up the main meal. I haven't used it with twigs yet, as my main use for it is with the Trangia, and I already have the Littlbug as my primary twig stove. That said, it's good to know I can use it with twigs as a back up, if I run out of alcohol for the Trangia.
The lightweight and tiny size makes the Bushbox Ultralight a “no brainer” addition to my gear set. It's well made, and the reasonable price compared to many alternatives is a nice bonus too! I think this will be coming with me on all my future trips.
If you're looking to round out your gear, the Bushbox Ultralight is a great choice & worth a hard look!
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Ron Breault
