(5 / 5)
The BRS-3000t is an incredible little stove. One of the lightest you can buy, it forms a core part of ultralight backpackers’ cook kits everywhere. And its super cheap too.
The Bottom Line
- Ultra Lightweight – only 25g
- Fairly cheap at around £15
- 2.7kW heat output – very good
- Does not perform well in wind
Purchasing
The BRS-3000t is available from Amazon and eBay for between £15 and £10, but prices vary. eBay tends to be cheaper, but it’ll take months to arrive.
Performance
Ease of Use:
Like all canister stoves, the BRS-3000t is a breeze to use. But, like all canister stoves, it has an issue with stability, especially if you use it with a 100g canister. I highly recommend getting hold of a small, foldable canister stand to get rid of this issue, because, even for ultralighters, they weigh almost nothing and make the whole cooking experience easier.
Cook Time:
Being 2.7kW (about the power of the immersion heater in your hot water tank…), it’s very quick off the mark with boil times. Its speed and gas-efficiency can be further improved with a simple wind-shield: you can buy one, or make one out of a disposable baking tray. I’ve found that, with a wind-shield, the BRS is consistently faster than the gas version of the Trangia 25, even with a pot with a very small base (which decreases efficiency and speed).
Efficiency:
Just like with the Vango Compact, this is the downfall of this stove (unmodified). It isn’t enclosed, so even small amounts of wind can really get in and take the heat away. It also tends to stutter a lot in windier conditions. This is completely solved by getting hold of a wind-shield (as I’ve mentioned), but I’m sure the stove still does use more gas than an enclosed design. It more than makes up for it in its lightness, though.
Bad Weather:
The BRS-3000t is far more likely to go out in high winds than the Vango Compact, because of the burner design. When using a stove like the Vango, you can get away without a wind-shield. Not so with the BRS. Unless you plan to do all your cooking in a tent porch (‘vestibule’, ‘foyer’…), you will need something to keep the wind out. You could buy something to do this, but much easier is just to get a thick piece of aluminium foil (from a disposable baking tray) and bend it to suit. If you use a 100g gas canister, the outer ring on the canister support can support your wind-shield.
General Comments
This is a really excellent little stove. Even setting aside its lightweight properties, it performs very well when out of the wind. It puts out a lot of heat and is fairly gas-efficient, it’s cheap, compact and robust. It is also one of the lighter canister stoves out there, at 25g. Anybody from experienced backpackers to complete beginners should definitely consider this stove for its versatility and practicality. The only issue I’ve ever had with it is the pot support arms deforming with heat and time and becoming loose, but they are very easy to bend back and the fix is pretty much perfect.