Hello, I am a camper who loves the outdoors! I have been camping continuously 1-3 times a month for over 10 years. Since I am such an enthusiast that I camp at least once a month, I have been exposed to a lot of camping gear. Some of them are easy to use, some are not, but the ones I’m going to introduce here are absolutely indispensable gear for camping. They are the most cost-effective and easy-to-use, so please take a look at them until the end.
What is a good burner for solo camping?？
What kind of gear do you use when cooking over a fire at camp?
For those who want to enjoy the fun of building a fire or the soothing flickering of a fire, cooking with wood or charcoal is appealing, but it can be a bit of a hassle to clean up and maintain, can’t it?
Cooking with a cassette stove or burner is a convenient alternative. This gear is useful for solo campers who want to finish cooking quickly, as it saves time in making a fire and cleaning up afterwards.
As I mentioned earlier, I have tried many different types of cassette stoves and burners. Finally, I came across a product that I thought was the best burner for solo camping. It is the Iwatani Junior Compact Burner.
This time, I would like to introduce the Iwatani Junior Compact Burner that I fell in love with.
Are you a camper, or are you just starting to camp, and have these complaints about your stove or burner?
・I am not satisfied with the stove or burner I am using.
・I want something more compact and easy to pack.
・I want a stove or burner that is more compact and easy to pack.
・It is hard to get OD cans.
・It takes a lot of time to set up.
If you feel this way, read this article to learn more about the Iwatani Junior Compact Burner. The author will give his recommendations based on his actual experience, so please read to the end.
Let’s get right to it and look at the six points I recommend!
Point No. 1 for Iwatani Junior Compact Burner : Compact and lightweight
The first thing to mention is its compact structure. It measures 15.5 x 15.5 x 12.7 cm when unfolded, and folds down to 82 x 68 x 109 mm when stored in its own hard case. The hard case protects the device well, so you don’t have to worry about it breaking even if you stuff it into a backpack that is a bit overstuffed.
The author does not pay particular attention to the storage location or order when packing.
The special hard case does not get caught on other things, so it is easy to remove even if it is stored deep in the backpack.
It also weighs only 274g, so I have never had any trouble carrying it around.
Point No.2 Good for CB(normal) can in Japan
There are a number of burners that can be used with OD(outdoor) cans, but the disadvantage is that OD cans are difficult to obtain.
The advantage of the Iwatani Junior Compact Burner is that it is fueled by gas in CB cans, which can be purchased at supermarkets and convenience stores.
There was a time when I used OD can burners, but I ran out of gas in the middle of the night and had a hard time purchasing OD cans.
With CB cans, I can enjoy camping to the fullest because I have the peace of mind of knowing that I can always purchase a CB can in case of an emergency.
Point No. 3 Iwatani Junior Compact Burner : Easy to install
The ability to set up quickly is also useful for camping.
Since we are cooking in nature, weather and timing can affect when we want to cook “now”! There will be times when you want to cook “now” because of weather and timing. If you are slow at such times, you may miss the perfect moment.
According to the author’s measurement, it took about 30 seconds from opening the hard case to ignition.
The main body is all deployable, and there is not a single part to attach or detach. Products that have parts to be attached or detached are a concern because of the risk of parts falling off or being lost.
In addition, in many cases, the installation surface with the ground is the bottom of the OD can itself in products that use OD cans, but if the ground is even slightly uneven or affected by small stones, the stability of the product will be lost.
If the pot falls over while cooking, you feel depressed, and above all, you are worried about the risk of burns.
The Iwatani Junior Compact Burner firmly captures the ground with its three deployable feet. The small footprint with the ground makes it easy to find a stable place even if there are some uneven surfaces.
Point No.4 : High flame power
In order to show you how strong the fire power is, I measured the time it takes to boil 500 ml of water in an environment with a temperature of 20°C and a wind speed of 3 m as a test of the fire power.
In a previous test of another product under the same conditions, it took about 5 minutes to boil the water, but this time it boiled in 4 minutes and 10 seconds.
This verification actually proved the strength of the firepower that the author usually feels.
In addition, from the author’s experience, he has used it in a very cold environment with a temperature of minus 2 degrees Celsius, and was able to boil water, although it took a long time.
The specs of the CB can may have been a factor, but I was impressed because some burners become unusable in such freezing temperatures.
Iwatani Junior Compact Burner Point No.5 : Full functions
The igniter is attached to the main body, so it can be lit without the use of a lighter when igniting.
Also, after ignition, the heat power can be adjusted by using the plus and minus buttons on the knob so that the user can see at a glance which way to turn.
The top deployable trowel is designed to provide a solid block against wind blowing in four directions. By blocking the wind and stabilizing the fire, it maintains a constant heat output, allowing stress-free cooking.
Iwatani Junior Compact Burner Point No.6 : Multi-purpose
It works well as a main stove for solo campers; for campers of two or more, it is recommended to use it as a sub stove.
The Iwatani Junior Compact Burner is a convenient way to cook when you want to cook one more dish while cooking on the main stove at the same time.
Also, the fact that it can be stored very compactly makes it useful in times of disaster.
I have two of them, one for daily use and the other always kept in my disaster prevention bag. Fortunately, I have no experience of using it for disaster prevention, but I believe it will be a reassuring ally in times of emergency.
Deployment Methods and Notes
Finally, we will introduce the method of deployment and points to note.
① Take out from the hard case
②Deploy the upper 4 tongs.
③Deploy the bottom 3 legs.
(The legs can be deployed in the opposite direction, so look carefully at the shape of the installation area with the ground to stabilize it.)
④CB can installation
(Align the cutouts, push in and rotate clockwise about 45° while being careful not to leak gas.)
⑤Ignition
(Turn the heat adjustment knob slightly in the positive direction and press the ignition switch while confirming the sound of gas emission.)
As you can see, it is easy to set up and ignite the gas while paying attention to a few precautions.
Removal is done in the reverse order. Immediately after use, the main unit is hot and there is a risk of burns, so be sure to wait a while before touching the main unit.
There is nothing in particular that I do for maintenance. However, I am concerned about mud on the legs, so I just wipe it off with a cloth.
Although I use my bicycle roughly in this way, I have not experienced any breakdowns, and I have been using it for more than five years.
Summary of this issue
In this article, we introduced six points that show how the Iwatani Junior Compact Burner is an excellent burner.
Each point is a necessary specification in camping, or a feature that users want.
I think that these products are packed with features that solve the frustrations that campers usually feel about burners.
We hope that you have found this product to be cost-effective while having the specifications necessary for solo camping.
The use of CB cans and the fact that it is very easy to set up also make it a good choice for camping beginners and those who want to start camping now.
Because it is lightweight and compact, the Iwatani Junior Compact Burner can be used as a sub-stove for camping for multiple people or for emergency use in times of disaster, and it can be used in a variety of situations, regardless of where it is used.
After reading this article, why not pick up an Iwatani Junior Compact Burner and actually experience its compact size, simplicity in deployment and installation, and enjoy a comfortable camping experience?
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