Pepsi Can Stove Review

I've been on this quest to lighten up my backpack load when I go into the backcountry. 

I've been using an MSR Whisperlite along with the MSR Teflon coated aluminum cookware. The setup has served me well for over 15 years. However, I've been wondering whether the weight of this package (1# 15 1/2 oz) could be lightened. Also I wondered whether I could also decrease its volume....

Enter the Pepsi can stove. This is a stove literally made out of a Pepsi can that runs off denatured alcohol. There are dozens of plans for stoves floating around on the internet that you can make from cat food cans, 3 oz spam spread cans, Heineken cans-- you name it.  

I chose to construct a Pepsi (technically a DIET Pepsi) sideburner design rather than a "top burner" design. The sideburner you see above does not require a potholder-- you just set the pan on top of the hole once it's primed. This creates a seal that self-pressurizes the evaporating alcohol, creating a "gas stove" flame pattern out of the jet holes. It is magic to behold!

1 oz of fuel has a burn time of around 8-10 minutes and brings my water to a boil in a little over 6 minutes.

The BTU value of denatured alcohol is roughly half that of white gas, so in theory, you'd have to bring twice the amount of fuel. But here's the thing-- on a weekend outing, you're only talking about 1 oz of fuel per meal, so a Friday-Sunday backpack (2 dinners, 2 breakfasts) is only 4 oz of fuel plus a couple extra ounces for a safety margin.

PLUS, since this doesn't burn like the flamethrower MSR, it doesn't burn the meal as quickly or easily. Make no mistake-- this stove burns very hot-- it's just not a full-on flame monster like the Whisperlite.

FINALLY the weight of my cooking setup with this stove, inclusive of the stove, medicine cup to measure fuel, potholder, smaller cheap aluminum pot and top, lighter and 4 oz fuel bottle (WITH fuel): 10 1/2 ozs.... a difference of over a pound! And it's a smaller package.... probably 25% smaller.

I took this setup out on field trial this past weekend in the Pemi Wilderness with great success. My meals at Black Pond and 13 Falls were perfect, and I came home with fuel to spare. (Meal review to follow in the future!) Meals were hot, moist and no hint of scorched food on the pan. In fact, cleanup was a breeze!

Is this an ideal setup for a group? No way. The greater volume of food you need to cook for a group, as well as the water to boil for hot drinks, makes the Whisperlite or similar stove a much better choice. But for a solo weekend trip or longer, I think I might have just found a new way to cook!