iReviewGear Editor:Cory
Just The Facts, GSI Pinnacle Soloist Camp Stove:
FEATURES & SPECS
Lightweight, high-efficiency, 9,629 BTU/h Pinnacle Canister camp Stove and Windscreen nest perfectly and provide ultimate efficiency regardless of conditions
IFolding handle locks into place for cooking and secures entire set for transport, eliminating the need for a stuff sack
IUnique mug/bowl solution with low center of gravity and Sip-It virtually eliminates spills while the integrated insulating sleeve keeps drinks hot
IWelded stuff sack holds set while traveling and doubles as a sink or wash basin
IIntegrated nesting for fuel canisters (220/110 g) for a complete cooking system in one small package
ICoated with Teflon® Radiance technology for exceptional non-stick performance
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
MAJOR DIMENSION: 1 Person
WEIGHT: 15.8 oz.
MATERIAL: Non-Stick Coated, Hard Anodized Aluminum, Clear Polypropylene, Nylon 6-6
PRODUCT USE: Ultralight Backpacking
INCLUDES:
Canister Top Stove, Windscreen w/ Folding Base Plate, 1.1 L Pot, Strainer/Sip-It Top, 14 fl. oz. Mugs/Bowl w/ Insulated Sleeve, Telescoping Foon, Stove Bag, Welded Sink
My Story:
As the Seasons change the northern wind pushed down its arctic temperatures and with it come thousands upon thousands of migrating waterfowl trying to stay one step ahead of the ice and snow. This time of year often finds most people huddled up to a warm fire with a good book of their favorite Netflix show. I am not one of those people. The cold is what pulls me from the confines of my warm house as it brings with it the start of the hunting season and my greatest passion.
I love the outdoors in just about every way. Each new season brings with it a new set of adventures and I am always looking for the next great tale. For any of us who spend time outdoors we know that it’s not an option to just pull up to the next pine tree or flooded march and order a Big Mac. So, for use outdoorsy types we need to bring our sustenance with us. This can be as simple as grabbing a few Power Bars but sometimes we want more. Sometimes we want a hot meal or a hot cup of Joe and that creates a bit of an obstacle.
Why not a traditional fire?
Sure, you could build a fire and cook a meal or boil some water but that is not always an option. That leaves us to the self-contained stoves. There are plenty of options available from a verities of companies but none quite like those of the GSI Outdoors options. For purpose of this review we will be looking at the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Soloist Complete.
Fully loaded…
This stove has it all! It is a fully contained cooking machine and will prove to help you quell that hunger beast in any season. Complete with a pot, cup, foon, stove, lid, wash basin, and wind screen this little guy is ready to go into just about any pack. And because it is designed to nest inside itself it can fit in just about any pack, bag, or even a glove compartment.
I used my GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Soloist Complete on several hunts this past season and found it to be a great companion. I was able to cooks some hot meals in the duck blinds and even refill my coffee while out on some scouting tips.
Here is a picture of the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Soloist Complete all set up and boiling water for a mid-day snack.
Extreme Temperatures
This kit did a great job for me even in the coldest of temperatures. I was able to get water boiling in a relatively fast manner. You might see in the picture that the lid does not fully meet up with the side of the pot. It did sit securely but for some reason I could not get it to match up completely.
The burner seems to do a great job and definitely sounds like its working. It is simple to operate and adjust. The only thing that I would have liked to see is an ignition source built into the burner. You will want to make sure you have a lighter or some other form of ignition when using this stove.
The advanced test
I tested the boil time on one hunt where the temperature was about 30 degrees Fahrenheit and elevation at about 1100 ft. I was able to get a full rolling boil in just over 10 minutes. Honestly, I was a bit surprised it took this long but hey, it was cold outside.
The stove went together very nicely as it was really simple to screw the stove to the canister and pretty much go from there. Where I had issues was the protective shroud that is meat to act as a wind break. This thing frustrated me to the point of almost throwing it! It would constantly fall apart and cause me to feel very real rage. Here is a picture of how it looked most of the time I messed with it.
To make it easier…
I quickly decided that I would discard this piece entirely and it made my life much less stressful. I also found that the stove operated just fine without it. As illustrated here as I boiled some water for a new pot of coffee while out scouting for geese.
After using the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Soloist Complete I can confidently say that it would be a great addition to a blind bag. I know that having the ability to cook, serve, and eat hot food is simply outstanding when you are out in the elements.
Find It Here:
http://www.gsioutdoors.com/shop/cooking/integrated-cooking-systems/pinnacle-soloist-complete.html
What can be done better?
I have to say that I absolutely hated the shroud that comes with this stove. It was nothing but an enormous headache and I really could have gone my whole life without ever attempting to use it. That said the rest of this kit is fantastic. I love the nesting design and functionality of the whole package. I would like to see the lid fit just a bit more snug and addition of an ignition source would be really helpful. The kit was really a nice little package but that darn shroud was a real bummer.
I give the GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Soloist Complete 3.75 stars.
