SOTO Windmaster £50

“Reliable, great stability & the fastest boil time on test”

In the competitive, crowded market of canister-top stoves, the Windmaster from Japanese brand SOTO stands out.

Firstly, the burner head has a concave shape with a protective lip, providing better wind protection (a common flaw of canister-top designs). Secondly, you get four pot support arms – unlike most other three-pronged stoves – thus ensuring improved pot stability with a wider, safer cooking base. And thirdly, the powerful 4.5cm burner head is broader than most, giving better heat distribution (so less burnton food stuck to the pot) and the fastest boil time in our tests.

Furthermore, the low profile of the support prongs (which are serrated and slightly inwardlysloping) keep the pot close to the flame to enhance wind protection and improve boil times. Other nifty features include a piezo igniter housed inside the burner stem (protected from snags and damage), a simple control valve, good simmer control and a micro regulator for consistent output.

IF WE’RE BEING FUSSY

The folding prongs and control valve feel a little delicate (although this is the case with almost all stoves) and the stack height makes the set-up a tad wobbly. Despite first-rate wind protection, you may still need a foil windshield in stronger gusts.

BURNER DIAMETER 4.5cm PAN SUPPORT DIAMETER 14cm

ASSEMBLED HEIGHT 16cm (inc 100g gas canister)

PACKED SIZE (LxWxH) 7x7x11cm

WEIGHT 97g (inc carry case) MANUFACTURER STATED BOIL TIME 3 mins 54 secs for 1L

TRAIL TEST BOIL TIME 3 mins 50 secs for 500ml

OUTPUT 3260W / 11,123 BTU/hr

Verdict

A reliable, affordable canister-top stove with good stability and excellent wind protection, plus the fastest boil time in our tests.