The new Eta Solo backpacking stove from Primus works equally well with the built-in cooking pot… (photo: FTO)
…or without. (photo: FTO) |
Salt Lake City, UT – Drawing comparisons to the popular Jetboil PCS when reviewing Primus’ new Eta Solo backpacking stove is a natural, for in many ways they’re nearly identical. But in one very important way the new offering from Primus is even better.
Just like the Jetboil PCS, the Eta Solo is built for cooking for one. The stove itself attaches atop an isobutane canister and directly to the bottom of the cooking pot, which has a built-in heat exchanger to boil water quickly. Like the Jetboil, the Eta Solo’s pot comes wrapped to insulate hot liquids and to facilitate drinking hot beverages directly from the cooking container. Just like the Jetboil it’s tough to get an even simmer with the Eta Solo — these stoves are designed to do one thing exceedingly well, and that’s boil water quickly. There’s even an available optional French press for brewing coffee, just like the Jetboil. And in case anyone’s wondering, the Jetboil’s French press fits the Eta Solo like a glove.
What sets the Eta Solo apart from its counterpart, though, is the ability to cook with other pots using the same stove. Sure, carrying an extra cooking container adds pack weight and isn’t necessary if all you’re doing is boiling water. But what if you want oatmeal in the morning with that fresh brewed coffee? That requires drinking the coffee from a separate cup anyway, plus washing the pot before boiling more water for the oatmeal. The Eta Solo comes with three small metal legs and a heat reflector that, when installed, will allow you to toss a second pot onto the stove and boil away. And with today’s tiny, lightweight titanium cookware, carrying a second cooking pot isn’t that big an inconvenience. Jetboil has also made such a conversion possible with an optional accessory, but they charge $19.95 for their pot support; Primus includes theirs with the stove.
The Eta Solo is two ounces lighter than its counterpart, thanks to a slightly smaller pot (0.9 liters vs. 1.0 liter). Boiling time is only six seconds longer for a half liter with the Eta Solo. The Eta Solo also comes with a hanging device for cooking off the ground and plastic stabilizer legs included in the package. Everything but the stabilizer legs nests within the cooking pot for traveling, even fuel.
Unlike some other stoves, such as Primus’ own EtaPackLite, the canister can’t be inverted for more efficient fuel use in very cold weather. But anyone considering the Jetboil PCS should take a long hard look at the Eta Solo, especially it carries the same $99.99 MSRP as its competition even with the extra cooking capability. The Eta Solo is readily available online for sub-$70, while it’s tough to find such steep discounts on the Jetboil.