SOTO Windmaster Backpacking Range Assessment

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 in opposition to the opposite high backpacking stoves in the marketplace to seek out out if it actually lives as much as its title.

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

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

The explanation many stoves wrestle 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 shall be affected by the wind in some capability, we’ve 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 have 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 record of the Greatest Backpacking Stoves, the Windmaster is the fourth lightest. That mentioned, the highest 5 lightest stoves on the record 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 good wind efficiency can save round 20 grams (0.7 oz.) by getting the TriFlex Pot Help. We’ll dive just a little 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’ll be able to boil shortly or simmer slowly for the proper backcountry meal. We expect there are too many elements that go into boil occasions to make {that a} actually 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 typically correct underneath regular circumstances.

Secure 4-prong pot help – Certainly one of our favourite issues concerning the Windmaster is the robust and secure 4Flex Pot Help that comes with it. This help means that you can use bigger pots with the Windmaster, with out the range struggling underneath the load or your pot changing into unbalanced.

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

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

We sometimes at all times desire to take the 4Flex Help because it provides a whole lot 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 desire 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 record of the Greatest Backpacking Stoves. With the TriFlex, the range about 2.4 oz. – the third lightest on our record.

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

Piezo ignitor – It is a considerably small perk, since we regularly discover that the Piezo (push-button ignitor) is the very first thing to fail on stoves. Nevertheless it’s a handy characteristic – 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 remains to be working fantastically and customarily ignites on the primary or second push. Both manner, we at all times carry a Mini Bic as a backup fireplace supply – even when our range has a Piezo.

CONS

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

We expect the Windmaster is value the associated fee for hikers who typically hike in windy areas – above treeline, in open deserts, or in coastal areas – since it’ll boil much more effectively than lots of the different high stoves.

Bulkier than some – The Soto Windmaster is a bit longer than many different stoves, and the detachable pot help – particularly the 4Flex – is bulkier than the extra frequent foldable arms on different stoves. It may be a bit powerful 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 similar time.

We normally 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 help.

A bit simpler to burn meals if you happen to’re not paying consideration – One factor to remember 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 more in-depth 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 just a little extra shortly than different stoves.

BOTTOM LINE

We’re large followers of the Soto Windmaster, and we extremely advocate it to hikers who’re over struggling in opposition to 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, secure pot helps, and effectivity. The Windmaster is one in every of our go-to stoves for uncovered, windy areas and for hikes the place we’re sharing a cookset with a associate. We’ve been whipping up scrumptious backcountry meals over tons of of path miles with this range, and it’s one in every of our all-time favorites.

See how the Windmaster compares to our different favorites on our record of the Greatest Backpacking Stoves.

MORE INFORMATION

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