Stove of the Week: Hank Roberts Mini Stove

[Hikin_Jim]

I haven't done one of my reviews for a while. This week's stove is an oldie (1970's) but a goodie, the Hank Roberts Mini Stove.



HJ

[Sally]

Hi HJ,

That's a very cute stove you've got there, and it looks like it works really nice, too.

I would like to thank you for easing my guilt. This last month I have upgraded a lot of my backpacking equipment while trying to lighten my load a bit. My final score: 4 backpacks, 4 tents, 3 bear canisters, 2 water purification systems, 5 pairs hiking boots, 3 headlamps, 2 daypacks, etc. - but I only have 2 stoves! (You probably think I ought to get some more stoves!)

Out of curiosity, just how many stoves do you have?

[Hikin_Jim]

Out of curiosity, just how many stoves do you have?

Maybe 125? Might be more. Been collecting them for about a decade or so.

HJ

[Norris]

Looks identical to a Gerry brand pocket stove I bought in Colorado in the early seventies. Great, compact little stove. The canisters tended to leak though. The stove had a needle that you pushed into a hole in the top of the canister.

[Norris]

Ok, I read the review now Definitely the same basic stove, except your mark III has an improved burner design, my Gerry stove had a simpler burner with just the outer ring of holes.

[Hikin_Jim]

Hi, Norris,

These stoves were to the best of my information produced by EFI Industries. They were marketed under the Browning, Gerry, Hank Roberts, and EFI brands. Compatible fuel canisters were sold under the Thermos, Coleman, Hank Roberts, and Optimus Brands (and maybe some others).

They're cool little stoves, and can outperform the vast majority of modern day gas stoves in cold weather. Their connector wasn't the best. Who knows, if they had had a better connector, maybe we'd still have them with us.

Do you still have your old Gerry?

HJ