Hexamine cooker vs. esbit cooker vs. FRH

[rationtin440]

Ok folks, I know I have a tendancy to repeat stuff here in forums, and I even occasionally cannot remember doing so. But That being said, I could not find this topic when I did a forums search, sooooooo here goes. I'm looking for opinions, horror stories, positive or negative comparisons between the hexamine cooker for the UK rations, the esbit cooker for the German rations, and the FRH for the MREs (this latter, I have found to be a case of people I've talked to outside forums either love it or consider it to be the worst thing since the dehydrated beef patty or the MCI Ham w/Lima Beans). Of course there are situations where one might be more practical than another, but over-all I thought it would be interesting to get different opinions on these cooking systems. As for myself, since I have never had very good luck with the FRH, I prefer a folding cooker.

[Name_not_found]

This is a tricky question

Fuel wise ill take a fresh FRH over any kind of hexamine cooker. Its just faster and easier and safer.

If i had to choose a solid fuel, it would be trioxane (or wood if available like camping not in combat)

Trioxane lights off 1 spark (hex like 4 matches sitting on it), wont blow out in insane winds(hex will puff right out), gives off more heat more efficiently (hex is slower all other things equal).

Fumes are an issue with solid fuel, triox is nastier than hexamine but you dont want to breath either. FRH release gas also but its not near as nasty has triox but is flammable = draw all around

So i guess if i had enough FRH to heat my meal side and drinks for a day, thats all i would take.


This all changes if we are talking groups of people

[rattattoo]

I've got all kinds of full meals that I would like to utilize, and I really like the idea that the FRH weigh in at next to nothing, so the FRH would be my first choice, however following my disastrous adventures with the FRH over this last weekend, I'm feeling a little down about them/ on them.
I'm going to have to see what I can do about finding some "fresh" units.

[housil]

If it´s just a quick lunch/dinner, I would prefer the FRH also.
If it´s a whole break, I´d like to heat some water in a canteen with an ESBIT stove so I can have a warm drink with it.
If I´m with my car, I like to use my fuel stove most. The ESBIT cooker leaves a nasty, black residue back.

[rationtin440]

Thanks for sharing your opinions everyone! In all fairness, although I recall mentioning that I've had no real experience with the FRH in Name_not_found's post about bad luck with the FRH, I actually tried one once, but it did not heat the entree very well at all, and there was alot of shavings in the FRH pouch. So I really can't say I've had enough experience with them to make an informed opinion. That being said, although I try to stay upwind of trioxane, esbit, and hexamine tabs when I use them with a folding stove, I feel they are very handy and convenient, and the fumes are not an issue as long as they are used outside. The problem with FRH, or more to the point, the advantage to me of the folding stove with heat tabs, is the tabs are easily carried and are more reliable. Just my $.02

[Bypah]

Anything except FRH's!!!!!

I rather use any fuel tablets or gels in my crusader or USMC/USGI cookers. or my Trangia alcohol burner of my Swedish mess kit.
I have plenty of fuel tablets from several international rations and as Ollie mentioned, the hexamine/trioxane tablets leave behind some nasty residue which is difficult to clean but for me is worth ir better than a stinking FRH. Also you can use civilian brands of fuel gels like Pryopac or Greenheat.
But like someone mentioned if I'm in the woods I would simply use some wood with Vaseline laced cotton balls as a starter.

[rattattoo]

Since we're getting around to the actual practicality is heating meals here, let me share a link to a Kickstarter projects that I supported. [By "supported" I mean that I'm getting a unit... I have no involvement in the project itself]

It's for a super small, [soup can size], pocketable wood stove that burns small wood... twigs and the like.


I'm sure I will end up doing a review over on my http://moosenutfalls.wordpress.com/ once it gets to me in late July, and I'll be sure to link it here. I went in on it specifically because it looks like it would be such a quick and easy way to get that one cup of water heated for a hot drink or to toss in a boil-in-bag.

[Apocalypse]

I prefer FRH, only because hydrogen is so much fun to play with. Stupid drunk tricks! Watch me set fire to my lunch.

[Bypah]

I prefer FRH, only because hydrogen is so much fun to play with. Stupid drunk tricks! Watch me set fire to my lunch.

Like the one where a 2 liter soda bottle is used?

[Name_not_found]

Just another benefit of FRH, I heated coffee and a marble pound cake while driving to work, not gonna happen with solid fuel hehe.