![]() ![]() The ignition point of Soto's Stealth ignition is the strip of silver colored metal (not a wire) in the center of the burner head. The ignition point is less exposed to heat and is less likely to become warped or otherwise damaged. ![]() This has two advantages: 1) It's a heck of a lot less likely to snag on something when located in center of a burner than an ignition on the rim of a burner and 2) there's a sort of "island" in the center of the burner head that the ignition point sits in. Notice also, in the photo below, that the ignition point is in the center of the burner. Then, at the top of the burner column, instead of a little wire sticking out just waiting to be snagged, they put a much more stable strip of metal that doesn't jut out the way wire ignitions do. Soto has a much more elegant control and runs their wire up through the inside of the burner column. This wire often warps in the heat or snags on things – and fails. The ignition system then ends with an exposed wire directly in the flame. Many companies sort of bolt this big kludgy ignition thing to the side of their stoves and then have a wire running up the side of the burner column. Nobody's ignition is as sophisticated and reliable as Soto's. Soto's Stealth ignition (found on several Soto stoves) is the best in the industry. Now, another thing about the WindMaster: The "Stealth" ignition. You can actually cook with the Soto WindMaster, to include fine simmering. Noodle dish prepared on a Soto WindMaster. Soto would never have put out stoves with crappy burner control like that on the first generation regulator valved Jetboils. Soto is really ahead of other stove companies in terms of technology, so I laugh when other companies make a big deal about something that Soto has been doing for several years. Why do I laugh? Because Soto has been doing it all along. Yes, Jetboil made a big deal about how you can really control the flame on their relatively new MiniMo regulator valved stove. Much ado has been made about stoves with regulator valves being able to really cook lately. Note how the Microregulator's flame is blown off to the left whereas the WindMaster's is not. ![]() Soto Microregulator, right, with an open burner head. Soto WindMaster, left, with a recessed burner head. I am however an REI customer, and I do occasionally make purchases from them. I just happen to know that they have the Windburner on sale right now. * The Windburner is on sale at REI for $99 right now which is a pretty good price considering that MSRP is $130.ĭisclosure: I receive no remuneration from REI for mentioning them here. How do you "do your homework?" Well, you might check out my post, What Makes a Good Backpacking Stove? If you do your homework and find that an upright canister stove is right for you, the WindMaster will offer far better performance in wind than other similar stoves. However, the Windburner* is larger, heavier, and more expensive than the WindMaster. If you expect to be in seriously windswept areas and really need just absolutely rock steady performance in wind, then get the MSR Windburner not the Soto WindMaster. The Windburner is a freaking miracle of windproofness. Now, how wind proof is the WindMaster? Is it as windproof as say the high tech MSR Windburner? Um, no. In test after test, I could see an open burner's flame being blown to one side or another whereas the WindMaster's flame was still centered on the pot. I actually kind of enjoyed watching just how well the Soto WindMaster's burner head worked. ![]()
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