Go Systems
Basecamp Stove
Long Term Test
After 3 years of reviewing similar or identical products, I had come to the conclusion that once you’ve seen one gas powered stove, you’ve pretty much seen them all. That was until the all new offering from Cheshire based Go Systems arrived on the doorstep of the UKMA offices. This totally unique re-think of the humble gas stove has more new features than a 50 year old Hollywood actress after a "buy on get one free" day at her plastic surgeons. A slight exaggeration I hear you cry, maybe? but this very clever stove has it all and a whole lot more.
UKMA have put the Basecamp Stove through its paces over the past four months, just to see if all of the new features found on this classy stove, improved the overall performance, here’s how we got on.
Vital Statistics
The Basecamp stove is designed to offer the function of volume cooking and is designed to handle pots and pans of more than 30cm diameter. To accommodate these larger pans you have three 60mm long and three 90mm retractable, serrated pan supports that can be folded in or out give total stability when cooking. To enable you to create enough heat for these larger pans, Go Systems have added a shielded double skinned valve that is fitted with a wind shield, which enables the Basecamp to create a constant, balanced flame.
This Basecamp Stove is powered by a standard screw thread gas canister that simply attach into the canister mount on the base of the lower alloy support plates between the three support legs. Go Systems claim it is possible to get 1 hour and 15 minutes continuous burn from a standard 445g canister. UKMA tested these times for ourselves and give or take a couple of minutes they are spot on. To ignite the flame you have a simple Piezo auto start ignition that is mounted on the left side of one of the support legs and this is spring loaded to enable instant ignitions of gas even in very windy conditions.
To keep everything well and truly under control when cooking on the Basecamp Stove there is a precise flame control dial that has been located below the main burner to prevent the traditional scorching of the hairs on the back of your hand when trying to adjust the gas flow on a windy day. The real nice thing about the dial is that it is of a size that even in extremely cold weather when your fingers are numb you can still easily control the gas flow at all time because the dial is now big enough to hold comfortably between the thumb and for-finger.
TOP FEATURE :- One of my personal pet hate with all standing gas stoves is that when ever you want to use them you have to bend down, even when sitting on the edge of your bedchair. If like me, you’re of the larger persuasion, then this can be a bit of an awkward task at the best of times but to save the day, those clever people at Go Systems have really come up trumps. They have incorporated three stainless steel and alloy telescopic legs that are individually adjustable in variants of 5cm, with a maximum extended height from floor to burner of 38cm (15’), perfect!!
Each adjustment on the legs is securely locked into position with the use of spring lock retaining pins. Once pushed in these pins allows the leg sections to move freely up and down and when the pin reached the next location hole it instantly locks into position creating a very strong support. The ability to adjust each leg makes the Basecamp Stove a definite option for use on all uneven ground and because of the height from ground achievable, you can use the stove inside your bivvy even on top of a standard groundsheet safely, which is not possible with a standard Stove.
At the base of each leg you have a rubber foot with a textured sole, this helps grip the ground and greatly increases the stoves all round stability and rigidity. When fully erected the Basecamp is one of the biggest Stoves I have personally used out on the bank but once it is folded up and the legs are all packed away, it turns into a very compact unit that is only 18cm (7’) in height and 17cm (6.5’) in diameter which is a minimal amount of space to give up for a cooker that can handle even the largest of bank side or outdoor cooking situations.
Final Thoughts
The UKMA team have now used the Go Systems Basecamp Stove in all weathers and on all terrains and after several sessions using the stove, I absolutely adore it. This very lightweight stove that weighs in at only 915g (without the canister) offers superb heat control that can boil 1 litre of water in less than 4 minutes, (closer to 3 minutes on a warm calm day).
If UKMA had to point out one thing that makes this one of the most practical stoves on the market, then the adjustable legs would definatly top the list but that would do this Basecamp Stove no justice at all as it is far from being a one trick pony. This top quality stove is now available on-line and comes with a full manufacturer 3 year warranty and sells for around the £79.99.
Supplied with a black nylon stuff bag and basic tool kit (Not Pictured)
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