Took my $40 off-brand stove to the Smokies, embarrassed my buddy's Jetboil
I've always figured you get what you pay for with camp stoves, so I used my buddy's fancy one every trip for like two years. Last month in the Smokies, mine was the only one that lit on the first try in 20 mph wind at 4,000 feet. We timed a boil side by side, mine hit rolling water in 3:40, his took 4:15. Now I'm wondering how many other 'budget' picks are secretly just as good, anyone else had a cheap piece of gear outshine the big name?