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Screwing Around with the BOT – Unsticking a Stuck Lid

September 5, 2012 by vargooutdoors

We have gotten word from some of our friends out west that they’re having trouble getting the lid off of their new BOTs. After some digging around we discovered that the issue was happening at higher elevations or when going through major elevation changes which was creating unequal pressure inside their BOTs. Unequal pressure paired with the BOT’s already tight fitting lid made it so impossible to unscrew that not even a professional bullrider could get it unstuck (it’s true…someone tried it!).

Luckily, it’s a quick fix to get that lid unstuck. Here’s how:

1. Grab your BOT in one hand and a thin, sturdy tool of some sort such as a credit card, key, or flat head screwdriver in your other. We used a drivers license for this demonstration.

BOT fix

Breaking the pressure seal on the BOT’s lid

2. Without damaging the O-ring, carefully wedge your tool between the top lip of the BOT and the O-ring. Pry up on the O-ring (as seen in the picture). You should hear a small hiss as the pressure equalizes inside the BOT. Ahhhh…

3. Unscrew your lid and enjoy as before!

And last BOT not least (see what we did there?), continue to let us know your questions, thoughts, comments, and concerns or just generally how we’re doing. While you’re at it, be sure to check out our latest BOT and other product reviews under “What Others Are Saying” on our blog!

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Thank You for a Great OR Summer Retailer!

August 18, 2012 by vargooutdoors

Brian and Chad in the Vargo Booth at OR

Many thanks to those who were able to stop by and see us at our booth at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market!  The show was a success full of lots of oogling over the new Vargo Titanium BOT and Flint Lighter.  We did some oogling of our own over all the other new products on the floor.  It was like Christmas in August!  We even got to hear Aron Ralston speak about his tragic and life changing accident in the canyons of Utah.  Carrying a sharp knife is a must from now on!  To sum up OR: cool show, cooler products, and the coolest people.

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Newest Vargo Products Make Sparks in an Instant and Protect Your iPhone

July 25, 2012 by vargooutdoors

Titanium Flint Striker

Never be without fire again!  The Vargo Titanium Flint Lighter delivers a dependable spark even in the most adverse conditions, including after getting doused with water, making it the perfect choice for lighting any backpacking stove or campfire.   Removable side panel allows for flint bar replacement while the built-in clip makes for handy storage.  And because it’s made of titanium it’s one of the lightest, strongest fire starters ever.

See the video here!

  • Length: 2.5 inches (63 mm)
  • Weight: 0.3 ounces (9.2 grams)
  • $19.95

http://www.vargooutdoors.com/Titanium-Flint-Lighter

Titanium iPhone 4 Case

Titanium iPhone 4 Case

What would you do without your iPhone?  Well put it through some wear and tear and find out.  OR protect it with the Vargo Titanium iPhone 4 Case which offers the strength and durability of titanium without adding bulk or weight to your cell phone.  The sleek design is fully lined with rubber to prevent scratching and provide added protection. Designed for the iPhone 4.   But unlike the iPhone 4, this comes with more color options. Four to be exact: blue, white, black, and green.

  • Length: 4.65 inches (118 mm)
  • Width: 2.4 inche (62 mm)
  • Weight: 0.8 ounces (23 grams)
  • $59.95

http://www.vargooutdoors.com/Titanium-iPhone-4-Case

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Why Alcohol Stoves?

June 25, 2012 by vargooutdoors

There is certainly a trend toward using alcohol stoves for backpacking, so I wanted to review some of the advantages, disadvantages, and considerations in order to help the novice backpacker understand why an alcohol stove may or may not be the best choice.

Vargo Triad Alcohol Stove Demo

General Principles

Alcohol stoves are different from other popular backpacking stoves – such as white gas stoves, iso-butane canister stoves or propane camp stoves – in that the fuel is not pressurized. White gas stoves require a fuel bottle that needs to be pumped while iso-butane and canister stoves use pressurized containers from the factory. Alcohol, on the other hand, develops pressure once the fuel is lit and allowed to heat naturally to the point that it becomes a gas. This priming process generally takes just a minute or so but is affected by outside temperature which is why alcohol stoves can be difficult to light in colder temperatures. Once lit however, they will operate just fine. Also, after being lit you will find that the greatest heat output occurs in the beginning and gradually decreases as the fuel level drops. Fortunately, this corresponds with how most outdoor cooking naturally occurs – intense heat in the beginning to bring the water to a boil and then decreased heat toward the middle and end to actually cook your food.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Alcohol backpacking stoves are designed to prepare a single entrée meal. Because of limited heat output, it will be difficult to muster enough heat for a pot larger than two liters. On the other hand, if you are cooking just for yourself, using between a 750 ml ~ 2 liter pot, an alcohol stove will work great to get the job done efficiently. As a rule of thumb, one ounce of fuel will burn for about ten minutes. Ten minutes are generally enough time to rehydrate noodles or cook a backpacking meal. Depending on the number of times you plan to cook each day (dinner only –or- both dinner and breakfast) you can determine the amount of fuel you will need for a given trip. I generally recommend an 8 ounce fuel bottle with a flip-top cap which will allow for easy filling.

The primary advantage of alcohol stoves are their low weight. Obviously any time you have to carry gear, weight is of the utmost importance. Most alcohol stoves weigh between 0.5 and 2 ounces while most white gas stoves weigh around 16 ounces or more.  Comparatively speaking, you could carry 16 alcohol stoves for one white gas stove!

Another advantage is simplicity. With few moving parts, or the complete lack thereof, there is less chance for damage, additional costs (repair and weight–no need for a repair kit!), and frustration due to the stove not working. As long as the material used to make the stove is sturdy and can withstand intense heat – such as titanium or other durable materials – you can rely on its performance.

Lastly, my eyebrows have been singed from white gas “explosions” a number of times and it is never a pleasurable experience. Alcohol is much less volatile and will not explode even if you hold a match directly above it. However, an alcohol flame is difficult to see in sunlight. I have heard many stories of people thinking that a stove is extinguished and then attempted to add more fuel, (although the stove was in fact still lit) resulting in the flame traveling back up into the fuel bottle and exploding. The lesson is to be absolutely sure the flame is out before trying to refuel. You will hear a hissing sound for 10 to 15 seconds immediately after you extinguish the flame. The hissing sound is the result of the gas produced from the still hot stove. If you attempt to relight the stove too quickly, the fumes that are still being generated from the hot stove have the potential to explode. Wait a minute or so before adding more fuel and err on the side of caution.

Taking the above into consideration, I recommend alcohol stoves for backpacking as they are are one of the best options currently available.  While other systems will prepare your food faster, I have never been in a rush to hurry up and eat in the outdoors.

To see some of the alcohol stoves I’m talking about and have designed click here…

…or to learn more about alcohol stoves in general visit Zen and the Art of the Alcohol Stove.

Posted in General, How-Tos, Product Tips | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

New Products On the Mid State Trail

June 19, 2012 by vargooutdoors

Raymond B. Winter State Park – start of the hike

With its incessant ups and downs across Pennsylvania’s Appalachian mountains notoriously hurdling its peaks across ankle breaking rocks the Mid State Trail makes you glad to be carrying a light pack.  Fortunately for me I was carrying some of Vargo’s newest titanium ware but since I also wanted to give my dog, Tuesday, a great first trail experience, I carried her gear as well.  All in all, lots more gear with much less weight in my pack than my previous excursions.

My plan was a quick out-and-back trip along the Mid State Trail starting in and returning to RB Winter State Park.  The hike immediately ascends up along the closest ridgeline passing through mountain laurel and chestnut oaks to the Sand Mountain fire tower which has been shut off from public use.  Finally the trail descended, ascended, and descended again across a few more ridges through some of the most beautiful hardwood and deciduous forests before settling into our destination–my favorite camping spot along White Deer Creek.  I feel worried making that public but since the Mid State Trail boasts remoteness and isolation (you seriously won’t see anyone else on the trail but plenty of wildlife for sure), I know my future trips will still remain somewhat pristine.

Vargo Titanium Whistle

Now besides the 10 essentials I never travel anywhere without a whistle.  It’s my security blanket.  The problem is that most whistles are plastic and break fairly easily (I’ve gone through quite a few) and the ones that come standard on most pack sternum straps are too dinky for my preferences.  However, Vargo’s Titanium Emergency Whistle  provided the peace of mind I desired while allowing me to forget I was wearing it around my neck.  And being made of titanium not only was it incredibly light, I didn’t have to worry about it causing any metal allergy reactions.  It was even great for calling the dog!

My favorite piece of gear by far was the brand new BOT (combo titanium bottle and pot).  As a water bottle it weighed half as less as my go-to 40 oz Klean Kanteen and was twice as easy to clean as I could actually get my hand inside to clean it.  Sterilizing water with my SteriPEN was also easy as there was no need to invert the bottle or swirl the pen through a tight opening.  Even for its size it fit right in my pack’s water bottle pocket.

Where it really shined, for me was the fact that I could actually use it to boil water in like a normal pot versus precariously doing the same with the Klean Kanteen.  Even with the Decagon stove, travel mug, pot lifter, and a bit of fuel my outfit still weighed less than the Klean Kanteen EMPTY!

Mmmm…coffee.

Arriving at the campsite I had enough water left in my BOT to boil for my coffee which I heated up quickly on the Decagon stove.  With the warmth and caffeine perk of the coffee plus the serenity of the creek I melded into a state of bliss…

…until Mother Nature proved the weather man wrong again.  Bliss quickly turned into a bustle to get out of the woods relatively dry.  Luckily we were able to hitch a ride for the last two miles back to the car thanks to some generous dudes whose car broke down on one of the mountain roads the trail crossed.  Gotta love trail magic!  But gotta love light, multifunctional gear and tired out pups more!

Posted in General, New Products | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Windscreen for Triad and Triad XE Stoves

June 19, 2012 by vargooutdoors

How to Make a Windscreen for Triad and Triad XE stoves

  1. Purchase a small amount of aluminum flashing from a local hardware store.
  2. Measure the circumference of the pot you intend to use by rolling your pot into flashing.
  3. Cut the flashing to the following pattern.

windscreen

Tip: Roll and place windscreen inside your pot for easy storage.

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Choosing the Right Backpacking Stove

June 19, 2012 by vargooutdoors

Vargo Hexagon Wood Stove

Backpacking Stoves

This post is a general overview of the various kinds of stoves used for backpacking. There is not a definitive right or wrong type of stove to use, rather, it is better to consider the situation in which you intend to hike so that you can choose the most appropriate type of stove for you. Weight is always of the utmost importance but in a situation where you are using one stove to cook for multiple hikers, sharing gear can help justify your choice.
 
Fuel Tab Stoves
 
Falling in the category of ultralight stoves are fuel tab stoves. Fuel tabs are very convenient and are individually packed for just enough fuel to cook a single meal entree. Heat output is limited and can be affected by wind, but their ease of use makes up for these shortcomings. The biggest disadvantages of a fuel tab stove are the dirty residue that is left after burning and the foul odor that the tabs produce. The casing of these stoves generally consist of a minimalistic stand and pot support. They are generally good for four season backpacking and not significantly affected by the cold.
 
Canister Stoves
 
Iso-butane stoves and propane stoves main advantage is their ease of use, weight and heat output. They are appropriate for three season backpacking but can be difficult to light and maintain a proper flame in cold temperatures.   Many use a Piezo igniter system which is safe and effective.  Most canister stoves screw into a fuel container below the stove which raises the center of gravity and can often lead to tipping and the unfortunate spilling of food. Recently, several manufactures have moved to canister stoves that attach via a hose to the fuel canister. These stoves keep a low center of gravity and receive less wind exposure for better cooking. The major disadvantages of the canister stove is that they are not environmentally friendly (i.e. the fuel canisters can not be reused or re-filled.) Also, canisters are not as accessible as other fuels and. Depending on how remote and long your hike is, could leave you with a perfectly functional stove but no fuel to cook. Lastly, be careful about using a windscreen with a canister stove as this could lead to excessive heat build-up around the canister possible explosion.
 
White Gas and Multi-fuel Stoves
 
This type of stove is probably the heaviest category of stove available but they also have the strongest heat output. Again, if you are backpacking with a partner or group then you can share gear and minimize the weight that each person needs to carry. The downside is that I generally recommend each hiker be self-sufficient in the event that they get separated from the group and need to prepare their own meal. Please be very aware that sharing gear requires that everyone is responsible enough to stay with the group for safety.
 
Multi-fuel stoves offer the greatest likelihood that you will not get stranded without being able to find appropriate fuel. Gas stations are ubiquitous and convenient. They burn well in colder temperatures and are not as affected by wind as other stoves. Using a wind-screen is safe and will increase the stoves efficiency. The disadvantage of white gas stoves is that they can be dangerous due to the volatility of white gas, kerosene, or unleaded fuel. Also, they are relatively complex with many parts and often the more you have, the more you have to go wrong.

Backpacking Wood Stoves
 
The obvious disadvantage of wood stoves is that you need to burn some sort of biofuel that is dry enough to burn.  On a rainy day it could be a challenge to find proper fuel.  The up-side is that they offer a sort of freedom and independence to hike in the outdoors and rely on mother nature to provide your fuel.  Most of the time, a wood burning backpacking stove will work just fine but comparatively, they require more time to build your fire and of course you need to have basic fire building skills.
 
Alcohol Stoves
 
Read our page about alcohol stoves here: http://vargoblog.com/why-alcohol-stoves.
 
Whatever type of backpacking stove you choose to use, be sure that you understand how to use it safely and properly while knowing how to fix and maintain it in and out of the field.  Doing so will ensure many long, safe years of use.

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