Brunton Raptor Isobutane Stove

So you just hiked for 15 miles. You started off with a good breakfast. The trail mix you munched on for lunch was tasty. Dinner time has arrived and something cold just will not do. What you need is something warm, soothing, and filling to recharge your batteries. Whether you are just adding boiling water to prepackaged meal or making your recipes, a stove is necessary.

Two years ago I asked Santa for the Brunton Raptor and he delivered. This stove has never let me down and creates a whole lotta heat. As you can see in the pictures this stove is very small. With the case it comes with and the optional stand (separate purchase required) this setup weighs in at 7.625 ounces. Without the stand the stove comes down to 6.875 ounces. When I received this stove as a gift it was one of the lighter stoves on the market. At the time of writing this much lighter isobutane stoves are available.

There are some great features on this stove. One enjoyable aspect is the ability to control the flame with ease. An intelligently placed handle/grip can be turned to a myriad of levels. Any stove can boil water but not all can cook delicate items. With the heat control the Raptor offers you will have an easy time cooking your morning pancakes. Another great feature is the penzo ignition system. To light this stove simply turn on the gas and push the little red button. The largest pot I used on this stove was 3 liters. Normally I am using my REI 1.3 liter pot (review here). In ideal conditions I can boil 2 cups of water in under 5 minutes. Air temperature and wind conditions will affect times. 8 ounces of fuel is rated to last 1.5 hours at full blast. A final advantage to the Raptor is cost. At $30 the Raptor is priced well below many other stoves. I must point out however that more expensive stoves are much lighter.

The main problem with isobutane stoves is the fuel canisters. 8oz of fuel weighs just about 15oz due to container weight. The fuel canisters are also bulky and waste pack room. When the fuel canisters are empty you have to pack them out.

For the ultralight crowd an alcohol stove might be the best option. In the next few weeks we will be testing penny stoves and will post our experiences.

For weekend trips or those people not very concerned with weight, the Raptor is an easy, effective, and reliable way to cook on the trail. Although I will most likely be moving to a penny stove setup in the near future, the Raptor was and still is a great stove.

Pros: Inexpensive, Small, Reliable
Cons: Many lighter stoves are available, requires heavy fuel canisters

Performance: 8
Quality: 8
Weight: 5
Price: 7.5
Tilt: 7

Total: 7.1

Available at Amazon $30, 6.875oz, 1.7 inches x 1.5 inches x 2.5 inches (folded)