SimmerShield Complete Solo System Backpacking Stove Review

The Specs

The SimmerShield Complete Solo System is available as a kit and you cannot purchase the pieces individually (from SimmerShield). The information below reflects the specs for the entirety of the kit.

• Weight: 6 oz / 170 g
• Includes: BRS-3000T, storage baggie, cup with lid (650ml), shield wall and floor, two-part cozy
• MSRP: $109
• Return Policy: 30 days (10% restocking fee)

The Good

The Weight: The SimmerShield Complete Solo System weighs just 6 oz / 170 g which is exceedingly lightweight for a stove setup. Beyond potentially making an alcohol/HEET-burning stove out of a can (I’ve done this and I am not a fan), the SimmerShield system is incredibly lightweight. If you wanted to reduce the weight you could leave behind the windscreen and cozy but then you’re essentially not using the SimmerShield System anymore since the stove and pot are available separately.

The Packability: I love it when things fit together compactly and don’t take up unnecessary space inside my pack. The SimmerShield Complete Solo System accomplishes this beautifully – even with the addition of a 110 g (the smallest) fuel canister. The stove, windscreen, and gas can, all nest neatly in the pot which you can then slide into the cozy which does a decent job of holding the entire thing together without the need to throw a strap or rubber band around the system.

The Cozy: Perhaps my favorite part of the SimmerShield Complete Solo System and the one thing I love to bring along even if I leave the other pieces of the kit behind is the cozy (I feel like I always spelled it koozie but SimmerShield’s website says cozy, so that’s what we’re going with here). It’s great for conserving fuel as well. I typically boil my water, put in my food (nearly always macaroni and cheese), and then move my pot from the stove to my cozy where I let it cook (soak) until the water eventually cools down.

The Windscreen: When used correctly (I encourage you to check out the SimmerShield website to make sure you’re educated on this), the windscreen does an excellent job of heating your water and/or food more quickly and efficiently – with or without wind. The shield doesn’t mean that you’re 100% guaranteed to be able to make the included stove (which I have issues with) perform in all conditions, but it will certainly make life easier for you with moderate wind gusts.

The Okay

The Fragility: I typically treat my gear well and am not a fan of people saying things along the lines of “a thru-hike will destroy your gear”. That said, I have found that I need to be quite careful with the windscreen included with the SimmerShield Complete Solo System. When I’m solo backpacking (or even backpacking with someone else), cooking food at the end of the day is typically more a chore than anything else and I’ve found it frustrating to repack the windscreen in my stove – which is typically less than sparkling (i.e. filled with mac and cheese sauce) after a meal. Yes, this can be easily fixed by simply taking a bit more care, but any additional steps needed to complete an already laborious chore isn’t great for my end-of-the-day mental health (that said, quickly making hot food certainly is).

The Stove: Yes, the SimmerShield comes with the lightest canister stove you can buy (the BRS-3000T), but I am not personally a huge fan of this backpacking stove. I’ve had two fail on me in the past and have regularly found myself bringing out the SimmerShield System with one of my other stoves instead of the one included in the kit. The windscreen still works with canister stoves other than the BRS.

The Bad

The Price: The SimmerShield Complete Solo System includes a BRS-3000T stove, a titanium 650ml pot – essentially a white-labeled Toaks 650ml Pot – a cozy, and a windscreen. A TOAKS pot costs $37 and the BRS-3000T has an MSRP of $30 but typically retails for between $15 and $20. That means you’re paying around $40 for the windscreen and cozy which, despite being the crux of the SimmerShield system, also seems a bit high. It would be nice if these items could be purchased individually as well.

The Availability: The only place to pick up the SimmerShield Complete Solo System is direct from the SimmerShield website. Not typically an issue as they appear to have any trouble keeping their product in stock, but there’s no way to check one out in person ahead of time and you’ll be charged a 10% restocking fee on any returns.

Who is it for?

The SimmerShield Complete Solo System is a great option if you’re not ready to switch to a stoveless style of backpacking but still want something as lightweight and as functional as possible.

• Beginner Backpackers: Although this kit is simple, if you’re a beginner backpacker and not too worried about the weight you’ll be carrying, there are other, larger/more reliable options for stoves than the one included in the SimmerShield kit.
• Weekend Warriors: If cooking isn’t a huge part of your backpacking agenda and you’re cooking just for yourself, then the SimmerShield System might be a good option for you. That said If weight isn’t an issue I would recommend bringing a beefier stove to use with it.
• Thru-Hikers: Likely designed with the weight-conscious thru-hiker in mind who can’t bring themself to hike without a stove, the SimmerShield system is an excellent choice for anyone wanting a minimalist stove system that will perform in the wind.

Rating + Recommendation

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