My Top 5 SOLID FUEL STOVES - Not To Be UNDERESTIMATED! 

British people don’t use the Esbit, they use the BCB Fire Dragon. BCB Fire Dragon is made in Wales. ♥️

I still have my Australian Army Hexi stove that was issued to me in 1990...holds 12 Hexi tablets and basically unbreakable.

Ernie , I've been carrying Esbit Stoves in my packs for 60 years . I've got the predecessors to that little lightweight stove that you show at 3:24 except mine have a little round metal cup for the Hexamine Tablets . I got mine at a Military Surplus for 50 cents each ( I bought 4 ) and the Hexamine Tablets came packaged 8 in a cardboard tube with metal end caps . They were selling the tubes for $1.00 each but I was able to purchase an entire unopened Case for $50.00 . I've used my stoves periodically over the years , the individual Hexamine Tablets burn for approximately 15 minutes each . GREAT little stoves and I'm glad I got them . ---- < Doc > .

Yes! A top five on solid stove cook kits would be great. Thanks for another informative video.

One of the great things about the titanium Nano, well all titanium stoves over the stainless steel versions is they cool down so much faster. . . . Firebox stoves are the ultimate multi fuel stoves they can use any fuel there is

I’ve been using the Esbit for years. 1 in my emergency pack in my truck. 1 in my hunting pack, 1 in my day pack. 1 in my 72 hr bag. 1 in my inch bag which I hope I’ll never need. And 1 in emergency pack in my daughter’s car. They work for what they were intended for. The fire dragon stove looks great but not enough to change my set ups. My canteen cup is standard operating procedure lol Thanks for the video

Enjoyed how you had the best of categories as people prioritize different things. This allows a person to zero in on the best product for them.

Flat Cat Gear suggests adding a " focusing ring " to the titanium ultralight esbit stove. I use it and get great results.

I converted my BCB Firedragon to liquid alcohol. I used some JB Weld paste on the central seams (to prevent leakage) and then made a bed of rolled up carbon felt. Works fine, interesting experiment. But not better than a Trangia with a stand.

If you are bourgeois enough to have a fondue set the BCB gels are good at keeping your cheese warm

There's just something cool about the simplicity of these stoves.....

Great video! I used solid fuel years ago but didn't appreciate the dirty suet that came along with it. I must be bored because I'm coming back around to checking it out again. Thanks for your content on these things.

Wonderful review (as usual)! Your results match my observations on the equipment that I got based on your reviews.

Thanks again Dr. Stove for another solid review. Solid fuel is often overlooked but as an old Scouter I've burned many an esbit cube!

I have fire dragon stove, Useful for emergency situations in Florida in case of hurricanes.

I vote for the Top 5 Solid Fuel Stove Kits next.

Great video as always! I have the stainless firebox nano and made a plate for solid fuel at almost no cost from old pizza pan. I use trioxane which does not stink like esbit does. I love the nano and would recommend to anyone. Thanks again for the video and take good care.

Great video as always Ernie! They all looked great to me !! I have an stove but haven't got the fuel yet. Take care and stay safe my friend !!

I’ve used both the nano2 and the BCB stove. Both can be used in conjunction with the Evernew alcohol burner. I highly recommend this route as it gives you the most versatility. The only issue with the BCB I’ve found is that it must be modified to hold a burner (folding the metal down on the inside). Thank you for the vid!

Once again, nice informative video. Thanks!

Great video for Stove junkies like me 😎 I have three of these stoves (except the Firebox Nano and the Fire Dragon), and like them all. I modified my original Esbit Pocket Stove so it works like the Fire Dragon.

Nice comparo Ernie. Thanks for sharing!

Nice Earnie! Solid fuel does have it's place. Thanks!

Go make a video of top 5 solid fuel stove kits

Ernie, you just changed my opinion of solid fuel stoves. Nice video.

Firebox Nano is brilliant!

BCB is a well-respected UK company based in Cardiff but not sure where the stove is made 🔥

On Amazon widesea titanium alcohol stove cook set burner stand 900ml pot and spoon $50 looks very interesting 👍🏼

I like the fire dragon best. That windscreen is brilliant

Great demo 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

I solo backpack with my Vienna Sausage-can stove. It uses any fuel tab (and twigs) and fits into my metal cup with room to store some fuel tabs and a couple of Bic lighters. I just boil water.

Very good "fuel" for thought! 👍😎

Hi, I both like the Esbit and BSB stove, however downside of both of them is that the burning plate is too close to the ground at my liking. So I cut out the burning plate of an old Esbit stove and placed it on top of the BCB burning container. Another plus is that it's removeable and therefor easy to clean. Have tested it out and it works flawelessly. I have now the stability of the BCB and the burning capacity of the Esbit. ( I, for one, avoid wood burners for a number of reasons. In my opinion they are to be used as a final resort, depending on the season and area ( fire restrictions) one is in. But I do have to say that a woodburner is allways better than an open fire.)

Certainly the best for last with the FB Nano. A wind screen plate is also available as an add on and well worth it.

I for one would be interested in a comparison of the different solid fuel kit systems. These videos are very good. I was about to name a couple solid fuel burners that wern't listed but then I realized that they were indeed burners and not stoves nd so did not fit in this comparison as they need a seperate pot stand to be used. Of course if you disregard environmental issues you don't need anything more that a spot of bare ground, some rocks, and your cooking container of choice to use solid fuel as three rock can be used to support the pot, while if yu were more worried about the environment a fourth lower one can have the solid fuel burned on top of it.

Here in Germany you can buy the Esbit Ultralight Folding Stainless Steel Pot Stand for less than 22 Euro, that are around 25 - 26 Dollars. I wonder why they sell them so expensive in the U.S. Thank you for this interresting comparison. Atb Jürgen

BCB stove is made in Cardiff, Wales in UK 🇬🇧. Cost in UK is £1.67. The Firedragon tablets are £ 0.30 each. The Esbit does not seem to be sold in UK, but a very near copy is which is Coglans with Coglans tablets. These are 7g heximine lumps.

New sub here. Thank you for this, very helpful 👍

great video!

I have a Varga stove very similar to the Esbit solid fuel stove with pot stand that only cost around $15.00.

Thanks for the video. I was already decided on a BCB stove, then I realized that Esbit has 3 sizes of stoves and the medium has the same windscreen as the BCB. Now I'm not sure which one to pick. What would you recommend?

Thank you sir!

Firebox for the win! IMHO. No surprise there.

Firedragon tablets can be cut easily and a quarter can be used in the UL Esbit stove. They could also be used in alcohol burners.

BCB fire dragon is great. You only get the stove you can buy fuel for it. I go one better and suggest you try. Fill the solid fuel reservoir with non flammable media such as fiberglass, tiki torch wick, or I use 1" x 18" piece of carbon felt. If you use glass, fit a screen over it. Dollar store strainer screen will do. Soak with heet. Fire it up. It may leak a bit so u can fold aluminum foil tray to fit. Boils 2 cups in about 5:30 with a lid. I had it lasting 17 minutes. (Coulda used less fuel). You need to carry your fuel but heet is pretty cheap. Faster & more economical than many cubes.

Hi Ernie, I'm very interested in gel fuel. I like the look of the Trangia set up. Where do you get Swiss gel fuel? I cannot find it for sale anywhere. What are some other options in higher volumes. I don't want to use 3oz cups or cans.

I have several of these stoves and the nano is my favorite…

British Army Hexamine stoves came with rations Used them in the 60s I remember how well they worked in terrible weather And the noxious fumes

Hi, Pretty certain BCB are based in the UK. Apparently the Firedragon blocks can also be used as hand sanitiser.

I would vote for the fire dragon.

Thank you

With the high price of the Esbit stove you might as well just buy the Nano and get the added twig option.

Would be GREAT to try these on a windy day outside with different setups--no windguard other than what comes on the stove; a pile of rocks windguard; foil windguard...

Very nice

Esbit my favorit

BCB stoves are made right here in Wales, UK.

Good video ...

I am interested in the top 5 solid fuel cool kit

I have 3 of these solid fuel stoves but have moved onto Trangia alcohol and gassifier stove for most things. I've liked the ease and lightweight of the solid fuel burners but I've heard the these are toxic fuels. I don't know for certain but this could be the case.

Hey Ernie, I love this video! I just started using solid fuel for backpacking/hunting and nothing compares to it for the size/weight/cost! Could you do a video on or respond with a recommendation for a all metal cook kit that is budgetish friendly? I like the soto navigator but am afraid of melting the plastic with my firebox and would prefer something like the one tigris kit but have heard about some warping issues from the Outdoor Gear review. Thanks!

I really like the look of the Nano, they're harder to get hold of in the UK, seems like only one place imports and sells them.

There is no problem at all to fire up an Esbit cube with your ferrorod: just scrape a little bit powder off a cube with a sharp knife (or the sharp edged back of it) and place that powder back on top of the cube (I use usually a dedicated 'powder cube' for that purpose). This fine Esbit powder ignites as well as any alcohol from sparks. Esbit powder is also a great fire starter if you want to get a wood stove burning fast - in my opinion even better than any alcohol poured over the wood as firestarter because alcohol evaporates (at least here in the hot climate) very fast whiles this powder keeps its properties under any weather and temperature conditions. So keeping an Esbit cube in your fire starting kit not as fuel but for making tinder powder is not a bad idea at all ... The BCB is a relatively new stove to the UK military, before that they used a stove very similar to the Esbit stove. The standard tablets for that good old UK esbit stove copy were of different shape and weight compared to Esbit, their tablets weight 22 g instead of the 14 of an contemporary Esbit cube (Esbit had initially only smaller cubes weighting half of the modern ones, still the small ones are available). Esbit is a trade name, the UK tablets are simply named according to the chemical stuff which forms Esbit - Hexamine. I'm using mostly Hexamine tablets from UK military surplus - they sell it off since it is no more produced. No idea whether you can get it in the US of A, but if so it is for sure cheaper than Esbit. There are two further great Esbit stoves you might want to try - one is the 'Outdoor Pocket Micro Stove EDCBox' from Bushcraft Essentials, a super mini hobo which makes also bella figura on your desk as pot warmer with a tealight inside (!) and the other one is the Argos Titanium Folding Pot Stand (chinaware but great little stove).

Awesomeness....

I have been watching your water boiling videos until 2 am now.

Can you put liquid get, like hand sanitizer in these solid fuel stoves, and do another test with them? Comparing gel fuel to solid fuels.

I love my #firebox . No parts to loose and it allows for alcohol, solid fuel and twigs. My envoy is a perfect back up to my canister and campfire cooking

I've found these foldable stoves that seem to do ok for a number of trips for a dollar at places like daiso. Just don't unfold them and they kinda rust easy.

I love my Kelly Kettle.

Maybe you’ve already done it but I’d like to see an ultralight twig stove review

What about the fume from the Esbit tablets, isn't it kinda toxic🤔 I mean it can be a problem if used indoors.

You said you would provide a link to your review of each stove. But the links just take you the Amazon page?

That first stove (and its similar counterpart) being galvanized steel. Isn’t that known for emitting toxic gases/fumes when heated?

Where are BCB Fire Dragon stoves made, so far I can only confirm the fuel is made in Wales. Their seems to be no info on the actual folding stoves production location.

expedition research makes a very good titanium solid fuel stove for under 25 dollars.

So im concerned about how well this burners get water to a boil and maintain its heat

Watching on feb 17th 2023, seems alot of hiking/camping gear are all going up in price, some of the increases are ridiculous

Yup

Where do you buy all this fuel at solid fuel

Yea on the kit stove video

Can the fire-dragon solid fuel block burn efficiently in the Firebox Nano stove on the solid fuel plate without bubbling over the edges of the fuel plate and going to waste? Does anyone know? Thank you.

Bcb made in uk, Issued to armed forces of uk all branches. Company based in wales i believe

- Can Esbit Fuel Tablets be used in an Alcohol Stove ???

Great Video Ernie,,,, But,,,, How about the “Battle of the White Gas Stoves”,,!!!!! Joshua

Are you no longer pleased with the Expedition Research Solid Fuel stove which you've so highly rated previously?

The bcb fuel is made in England

Dang it, Ernie! I am NOT a solid fuel stove fan, so I can just skip this one, right? No. Of course I have to watch. Now I’m thinking that solid fuel stoves could be quite useful in some instances. Sigh. I see more stoves in my future.

Last

I'm not even going to lie but this dude looks baked AF

I’m interested in solid fuel stoves, but boiling water is not cooking. I cook on my camping trips, bacon, eggs, pancakes, steaks, etc. and you can’t do that with these solid fuel tabs.

Please tell me why these stoves are better than my jetboil mo…

Good news is that the Esbit pot stand has dropped in price to $50.