SOTO WindMaster £55

“Highly windresistant & great heat distribution”

Screw-in stoves like this one are often preferred by backpackers for their low weight and small pack size. However, their typical drawback is poor performance in wind. But as its name suggests, the WindMaster from Japanese brand SOTO is an exception, thanks to its concave burner head with protective lip.

A spring-loaded pot support clips securely to this lip and has four prongs to give a wide and stable cooking base. Its low-profile design also places the pot close to the flame. The result is a highly wind-resistant stove. It’s not quite as effective as a fully enclosed design like the MSR WindBurner, but overall performance is still impressive. It also has good simmer control and a wide burner head that gives better heat distribution (meaning less burnt-on mess stuck to the bottom of your pot).

Unlike cheaper stoves, this one has a micro regulator in the valve to give more consistent power output, even in cold weather or when your gas canister is running low. And despite weighing just 100g, it features a built-in igniter, which is neatly enclosed within the burner stem.

Its sparking mechanism also employs a metal strip rather than a delicate piece of wire, making it less liable to break.

IF WE’RE BEING FUSSY

The separate pot support is easy to lose and its folding prongs seem fairly delicate. The stove comes with a storage bag, but we’d prefer a hard case for more protection.

■ BOIL TIME 2min 14sec

■ POWER 3260W / 11,123 BTU/hr

■ POT SUPPORT DIAMETER 14.2cm

■ ASSEMBLED HEIGHT 18cm (with 227g gas canister)

■ PACKED SIZE (HxWxD) 8.8x9x4.7cm

■ PACKED WEIGHT 100g

Verdict

A light and compact stove with great simmer control and excellent wind resistance, as well as an integrated microregulator and built-in igniter. Our top pick for lightweight backpackers.