SOTO Windmaster Backpacking Range Overview

The Soto Windmaster is touted as one of many best possible backpacking stoves for its superior wind efficiency. However does it actually outperform different canister stoves when the wind begins whipping?

We put the Soto Windmaster to the take a look at towards the opposite prime backpacking stoves available on the market to seek out out if it really lives as much as its identify.

QUICK SPECS

MSRP: $70

LISTED WEIGHT: 3.1 oz. (with 4Flex Help)

MEASURED WEIGHT: 3.1 oz. (with 4Flex Help)

FUEL TYPE:Isobutane/propane canister

PROS

Glorious wind efficiency – We’ve used the Windmaster in some fairly windy situations – uncovered washes within the Sonoran desert, high-elevation ridges within the Cascades, and sprawling lava flows in Central Oregon. And we’ve got to say, we’ve been very impressed with the efficiency of this range each time.

The rationale many stoves battle to work effectively within the wind is as a result of there’s an excessive amount of open area between the burner and the pot. The Windmaster is designed with a lip across the burner to dam some wind on the supply of the flame, and the pot sits comparatively near the burner head in comparison with different main stoves.

The Pocket Rocket Deluxe may be very related in design with its recessed burner, however the arms of Pocket Rocket aren’t hooked up to the burner head just like the arms on the Windmaster are. The Pocket Rocket design leaves extra space for wind to chop the effectivity of your flame.

Whereas the efficiency of all stoves can be affected by the wind in some capability, we’ve got discovered the Windmaster to be noticeably higher within the wind than different canister stoves.

Light-weight – With the included 4Flex Pot Help, the Windmaster weighs solely 3.1 oz. And hikers who had been beforehand carrying a windscreen with a distinct range can avoid wasting weight by ditching it for the superior wind efficiency of the Windmaster.

In comparison with different stoves on our listing of the Finest Backpacking Stoves, the Windmaster is the fourth lightest. That stated, the highest 5 lightest stoves on the listing vary from 1 oz. to three.2 oz. – not a dramatic distinction. The Pocket Rocket Deluxe might be the closest in design to the Windmaster – it weighs 2.9 oz., or 0.2 oz. lower than the Windmaster.

Hikers who’re actually trying to shave each little bit of weight and bulk with out sacrificing the nice wind efficiency can save round 20 grams (0.7 oz.) by getting the TriFlex Pot Help. We’ll dive a bit of deeper into the TriFlex later on this evaluation.

Good simmer management/environment friendly boiling – The Windmaster permits for vary of management over your flame, so you may boil shortly or simmer slowly for the proper backcountry meal. We predict there are too many elements that go into boil instances to make {that a} really correct comparative measurement. However SOTO claims the Windmaster can boil 2 cups of water in lower than 2.5 minutes, which we discover to be usually correct beneath regular situations.

Steady 4-prong pot assist – One in all our favourite issues in regards to the Windmaster is the robust and steady 4Flex Pot Help that comes with it. This assist permits you to use bigger pots with the Windmaster, with out the range struggling beneath the burden or your pot changing into unbalanced.

The excellent pot assist is very nice for {couples} preferring to share a single giant pot for boiling water.

Interchangeable pot helps – A novel function of the Windmaster is the flexibility to swap between the sturdy 4Flex Help (included with the Windmaster) and the ultralight TriFlex Help (offered individually).

We usually at all times favor to take the 4Flex Help because it provides a number of stability for a really small quantity of weight over the TriFlex. However hikers who’re counting each gram and use a smaller pot could favor the 0.7 oz. weight financial savings of the TriFlex.

With the 4Flex, the Windmaster weighs 3.1 oz. – the fourth lightest range on our listing of the Finest Backpacking Stoves. With the TriFlex, the range about 2.4 oz. – the third lightest on our listing.

Sturdy – This little range may be very sturdy for the burden. We’ve examined it on over 500 miles of path with two hikers utilizing it, and we anticipate it to final for a number of extra years.

Piezo ignitor – This can be a considerably small perk, since we regularly discover that the Piezo (push-button ignitor) is the very first thing to fail on stoves. However it’s a handy function – particularly in windy areas the place it may be tough to make use of a lighter.

As we talked about above, although, the Windmaster may be very well-made. And after 500+ miles of constant use, the Piezo continues to be working fantastically and usually ignites on the primary or second push. Both method, we at all times convey a Mini Bic as a backup fireplace supply – even when our range has a Piezo.

CONS

Costly – The Windmaster is among the most costly canister stoves on our listing of the Finest Backpacking Stoves (not together with built-in range programs, just like the Jetboil Flash). That stated, it’s solely $10 greater than two of our different prime picks -the MSR Pocket Rocket 2 and the Snow Peak LiteMax.

We predict the Windmaster is value the price for hikers who usually hike in windy areas – above treeline, in open deserts, or in coastal areas – since it can boil much more effectively than most of the different prime stoves.

Bulkier than some – The Soto Windmaster is a bit longer than many different stoves, and the detachable pot assist – particularly the 4Flex – is bulkier than the extra widespread foldable arms on different stoves. It may be a bit robust to pack the Windmaster into smaller pots due to this. Even bigger pots could not be capable to accommodate the range and a small gasoline canister on the identical time.

We often simply retailer the Windmaster separate from our cookpot in our meals bag. This isn’t a dealbreaker, however it does require you to be a bit conscious of how issues are packed so that you don’t bend the arms on the pot assist.

A bit simpler to burn meals in the event you’re not paying consideration – One factor to bear in mind is that since your pot sits nearer to the flame on the Windmaster than it does on many different canister stoves, you must maintain a better eye on the contents of your pot whilst you’re cooking/boiling. The extra concentrated flame can overheat any meals on the backside of your pot a bit of extra shortly than different stoves.

BOTTOM LINE

We’re massive followers of the Soto Windmaster, and we extremely advocate it to hikers who’re over struggling towards the wind to get a fast boil. Although it’s a bit on the costly facet for a canister range, we predict the Windmaster is value each penny for its sturdiness, steady pot helps, and effectivity. The Windmaster is certainly one of our go-to stoves for uncovered, windy areas and for hikes the place we’re sharing a cookset with a companion. We’ve been whipping up scrumptious backcountry meals over a whole bunch of path miles with this range, and it’s certainly one of our all-time favorites.

See how the Windmaster compares to our different favorites on our listing of the Finest Backpacking Stoves.

MORE INFORMATION

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