Base stats:
– BTU:  9860
– Weight:  12 oz
– Stove comparison chart

Every once in a while, a piece of engineering, a gadget, comes along, that is so well done, that I just have to have it.  Do I need it?  No.  Does it really fit in any scenarios I’m thinking of?  Not really.  Does it compare favorably vs. other gear that I know?  Meh.  And yet, it’s a gadget with engineering so attractive, so well designed, that the only way to properly appreciate it, is to use it.

The Soto STG-10 is just such a device.

The STG-10 works only with butane gas canisters.  Those canisters are ubiquitous in many parts of Asia, but are not as common here in the US.

That makes the Soto STG-10 a little less convenient to own in the US or Europe than in Asia.  More’s the reason they’re not that useful in regions outside of Asia.  Luckily, I live in Northern California’s Bay Area, where you can throw a rock in any direction and hit an Asian supermarket.

The first striking thing about the STG-10 is the case.  It’s not very large, about the size of 2 packs of cigarettes placed side by side, and it’s a rigid canvas case, with an extra slim pocket to hold the wireframe pot stand.

When taking the stove unit out of the canvas case, it is a near perfect rectangular device.

[In another thin pocket in the canvas case is an oddly shaped rectangular’ish wireframe.  The wireframe is actually the pot stand portion.]

The rectangular device has two wireframes that you extend out partially, and then the entire box also opens partially as well.

This forms an “M” shape.

Inside the rectangular box is the stove, fuel connector, and heat shield, all in a single unit.

You remove that and then clip it into the now “M” shaped box (which also has little clamps to keep everything in place.  Note that when the stand is laid on a table, the center touches the ground.  However, when clipping the unit in, you need to make the angle wider, which lifts the center off the ground.  The stove will not clip in unless you spread that angle, so, just make a habit of holding the case in one hand, spreading the angle, and then clipping the stove in.

Connecting the canister is easy, but for fun, here is a step by step

First, pull out the black plastic lock.

Next, align the tab on the butane canister with the right side of the plastic lock.

Connect the butane canister

Push the gas canister in so the plastic lock is back to being flush with the copper plate.  And then twist the butane canister counter clockwise until it faces up.

[SIDENOTE:  For anyone who is unfamiliar with butane gas canisters, that notch is important, and needs to be facing up when in use.  The reason is that the notch is aligned with a tube inside the gas canister, and that tube ends up along the inside edge wall.  When the notch is facing up, the intake for the tube is also at the top.  Why does this matter?  Because the gas canister needs to send out vaporized gas, not liquid.  So the tube alignment facing up ensures that only vaporize gas is released through the fuel exit point.]

Raise the heat shield

The oddly shaped wireframe mentioned earlier than goes on top of the “M” shaped box, and you’re ready to go.

The stove portion contains a piezo lighter, so once connected with the gas canister locked in tight and the notch facing up, simply turn the fuel throttle and push the piezo ignite switch, and you have a strong flame going immediately.

 

Without wind, in 60-70 F degree weather, 8-10 Oz of water takes about 2 minutes.  You definitely want a wind screen for this when using outside with even a bit of a breeze.

I ran a little test and put a 32 oz kettle on.  maybe about 4/5 full.  No wind, in my garage with the door open, in about 70 degree weather.  It didn’t take very long at all for the kettle to heat up, maybe 8 minutes or so.

So….at the end of the day, this unit works, and is highly compact.

– Would I take it backpacking?  No, the butane gas canister is too big.

– Would I take it day hiking around my neighborhood?  Sure, but only for the fun-ness and rareness factor.  A JetBoil Sol would work better, and white gas stoves are just as fun to use.

– Would I take it car camping?  Absolutely!  in group car camping trips, there are always grills and stoves, but a little something something for a quick water boiling without bothering anyone or getting other stoves going is convenient, and the fun factor just adds to a positive experience when using these stoves.

Would I recommend this for anyone else?
Hmmm….If you’re a day hiker in Asia, this might be a perfect solution for you.
If you’re in the US and have easy access to these butane canisters, than sure, for day hikes or even outdoor picnics, these can be fun and convenient.

For any other situation….not really.

But….they are fun.

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While this stove is not technically distributed in the US, you can buy it here:  http://www.bestfromjapan.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=20925

Soto’s US website (doesn’t have the STG-10):  http://sotooutdoors.com/products/index.html#stoves

Soto’s Japan website, STG-10 product page:
http://www.shinfuji.co.jp/soto/products/stg-10/