I'm planning on bringing my esbit stove to get the weight down. Is this a bad choice? I'm expecting Scotland to be windier than my usual conditions.

Hi Ulla

I'm sure some people cope very well with Esbit but, for me, it would not be a good choice for my main stove. My Esbit stove is a very small folding thing and it needs to be put on a solid base - like a rock or flat grass. I often camp on quite rough ground and don't want the bother of trying to find a nice flat bit to put my stove on. I use a Coleman F1 stove on a 250 gas cannister and know that I'll be able to keep the stove upright and balanced even if the ground is a little uneven.

I do take my little Esbit stove and a couple of tablets as an emergency stove after I broke my Pocket Rocket on the Challenge a few years ago. In an emergency I would find somewhere flat to use it but, day-to-day, my gas stove is just easier, more controllable, and cleaner.

An Esbit fan will be along soon, I'm sure!

There are some folk who use only Esbit on the Challenge.

I'm like Judith - I carry a few with a tiny MYOG titanium ( Brian Green ) "stove"; as back up.

They work well - just a little bit more messy on the pot. Main thing is focussing the heat and good wind protection; as with the cone type systems.

My main fuel is bio-ethanol used with a Caldera Cone sidewinder - although it may be a new Stormin' stove by the time of the Challenge.:grinning:

Same as Judith and Gordon - I carry an Esbit, but purely as a back-up.

We do get a fair amount of wind here in Scotland - expect several days with gusts of up to 50kph. Past Challenges - Stormy Sunday, Monday and Wednesday - saw sustained winds of over 80kph. So whatever your choice, be sure to pack a wind-shield!

Would people dislike of it being used in bothys? Some people don't like the smell...

I don't think so Ulla.

Most bothies are, erm, well aired.... and if other folk are in there they will probably smell too. :wink:

The other thing about esbit - if you didn't already know ( forgive me if you did ) is that you can post it to a pick up point on route. :smile:

Thank you, Gordon, that has been my biggest concern concerning the esbit :relieved:

I didn't really want to get a new stove right now, although I am thinking of getting a Soto Amicus Stove after the challenge. they are cheaper in Scotland than in Sweden.

I too use a pocket rocket/250 cylinder set up, and carry a tiny esbit foldaway stove as backup.

As stated, like an alcohol stove, Esbit is affected by wind. But protected in a cone, it works perfectly well. It's the lightest fuel option.

I used it on my challenge in 2014.
It was fine. I used 3 blocks a day.