Folding Wood Stoves: Emberlit or Vargo?


W

Will_Power

Tinder Gatherer
Joined
Nov 28, 2011
Messages
15
Likes
0
Location
An Okie in Orygun
Hey there bushcrafters, got a quick question.

I'm planning on picking up a collapsible wood stove here soon and am looking at either the Emberlit or the Vargo. At the moment, I'm leaning towards the Vargo, primarily because of it's all one-piece design. Not a big worry, but regardless, it's nice to know I won't misplace one piece. However, the trap door design on the Emberlit seems really handy to easily keep feeding the fire and prevent ash from blowing every which way...

Are there any others I should take a look at?

Is there a prevailing consensus on which is the better stove?
 
I use an Emberlit Ti. Easy to assemble, easy to fire up, easy to feed, and it is very light. Packs flat. Also, made in Utah, I believe. Hope this is helpful. Best of luck finding what works for you.
 
I also have the emberlit Ti and love it. The best design feature is the front wood port. You can keep it burning without removing the pot unlike the vargo. The customer service on the emberlit is second to none.
 
I have had both and can honestly say I'd go with the Emberlit hands down.i feel it has a better airflow and a much larger firebox and no hinges to break and is practically indestructable.
 
Well the reply's certainly overwhelming, isn't it? Guess it helps when nwmanitou is on the board, here, right?

Looks like my decision is easy enough!
 
I have both the emberlit and the vargo. I use the vargo in my day pack mostly for a cuppa something hot to drink and the like, paired with the vargo ti 700ml cup and lid it works great. Also works with my alchohol stove.

I use the emberlit paired with a mors pot and a 700ml cup. I feel it is better with the bigger pot and I can still use the cup if I want to. Can also put a small pan on the emberlit and it works fine too. Can also use my alchohol stove in the emberlit, but haven't played much with that yet.

What is your purpose or major expected use? Day trip use, overnight-several days-multiuse?

If I was going with only one and multiuse I would buy the emberlit.
 
Emberlit. It will burn about anyting you can stuff into the hole and ignite. you can also set sterno, or an alcohol burner inside (raise it closer to bottom or pot for best results). Works utterly fantastic with pine cones. I have the original SS version, rubbed all the edges, slots and tabs with 600grit emery cloth to remove sharp edges and it slides together beautifully now.
 
I apologize if it came off that everyone was biased solely because manitou is on the board here. That wasn't my intent. More so a matter of a guy in the hobby, who knows the stuff everyone uses, and the ability to get immediate feedback and word of mouth via the board.

It was through the forum here that I discovered the Emberlit, so I'm not trashing the guy.
 
I have the Vargo. It is easy to setup and if you leave the door open you can feed in longer twigs. That said, if it gets bent or a hinge breaks you may not be able to fix it without shop tools. If the Emberlit is bent, just beat it flat with a stick and carry on. Also, the Emberlit is larger. My vote is for the Emberlit.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk
 
I have no experience with the Vargo. I can give another thumbs up for the Emberlit. I was playing with it the other day and kept it burning for an hour with little trouble, just because. For that time of burn it only required a handful of small sticks.
 
I have the SS Emberlit, works great. Threw away all but one hobo stove since I got it.
Well worth the money IMHO.
 
emberlit rules - crisscross some ss chopsticks across the top to support cups with a smaller diameter than the stovetop


great great stove
 
Emberlit ss and ul here.Just got them myself and think they are really useful pieces of equipment.You can use them several different ways and made in the USA.
 
I did a little side by side comparison in the fall. I like the one-piece design of the vargo and it does come with a decent storage pouch.

Two areas I distinctly remember where the Emberlit won out:

First, the Vargo has holes in the bottom so you really need to watch what you sit it on.

Second, the size of the Vargo really means you need to feed it more often, but the shape requires much smaller pieces than the Emberlit.

Now that Emberlit is made in Ti, it's the choice between the two...I need a better carrying pouch.

ROCK6
 
PICT0025.jpg
Emberlit for all the reasons mentioned above. Plus as an added bonus for me its fiits nicely in the zippered pouch found on the side of the Maxpedition 5x12, which is were i carry all the rest of my cook gear!!
PICT0026.jpg
 
This really settles it. Looks like I'm going to be ordering an Emberlit to start my cook set.

Now, being the bushcraft ignoramous that I am, does anyone have some recommendations for a sturdy pot & pan/lid? The options out there are kinda mind boggling.

Absolutely not opposed to a DIY solution, too. Not sure where to look or what terms to search for on that front, however.

I'm looking for a combo set up like these two:

Backcountry.com Titanium Cookset - 1650ml:


Or the Snow Peak Trek 1400 Aluminum:



Would prefer something in stainless steel. I'm not completely overtaken by the aluminum boogymonster, but I'm getting close.

Anyone know of something in that sorta ballpark that I won't spend an arm and a leg on?
 
Last edited:
Another interesting option is the Folding Firebox. foldingfirebox.com though I can't find any specs on it it looks fairly versatile.
 
I'd never heard of the Emberlit, but also have been getting ready to buy something like that. Reading this discussion has me all but ordering one right now.

I've also never had a Ti stove. Anyone want to tell me how important the difference is?
 
The Firebox is 2.2 pounds!

Wildmike said:
Another interesting option is the Folding Firebox. foldingfirebox.com though I can't find any specs on it it looks fairly versatile.
Click to expand...

The firebox is a neat stove. I kept looking for the weight but could not find it listed. I watched one of Hiram's video reviews of the Firebox stove and he said it weighed 2.2 pounds. It might be a good stove to leave in the truck.
David Enoch
 
Emberlit. If you do go with the Emberlit consider getting the small pot adapter. Most pots fit without, but for 5 bucks you might as well get them.
 
Again, thanks for all the helpful input, guys. I ended up ordering the steel Emberlit, which should be arriving tomorrow.

NJWHN95 said:
Emberlit. If you do go with the Emberlit consider getting the small pot adapter. Most pots fit without, but for 5 bucks you might as well get them.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm going to be doing some searching here and online for some DIY pot holders for the Emberlit. Probably a mesh or grid of some sort should work for my pot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top