The Kovea Spider (Kb-1109) Remote Canister Stove

What's this?  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 package?  For me?  Why how nice.  You shouldn't have.  I hateful really... but I'm so glad you lot did.

The Kovea Spider's package

And look!  It's the novel Kovea Spider, a remote canister stove that is capable of running amongst the canister inverted (if you're non familiar amongst the mutual depression temperature conditions advantages of running amongst the canister inverted, you lot mightiness desire to cheque out my article on Seattle Backpacker's Magazine, Stoves for Cold Weather II).

UPDATE 10 March 2013:  I've added a Cooking study for the Kovea Spider.
UPDATE seven June 2017:  I added some pics, below, of the orientation necessary to jibe a Kovea Spider into an MSR Titan Kettle (850 ml size) along amongst a 110 g canister of gas.

Why I've been lusting afterward i of these e'er since I saw it inwards the Kovea catalog.  Aye, in addition to she's a overnice one.

The Kovea Spider

Look how compact that is!  Yes!  What a sugariness petty stove.  Now, I ain a divulge of stoves that are capable of running on a remote gas canister (Rapidfire, Windpro, Omnifuel, OmniLite Ti, Whisperlite Universal, etc.), but every i of those stoves is essentially a big, white gasoline type stove converted to run on canister gas.  None of them are especially low-cal or compact.  The lightest remote canister stove that I've got is the Windpro II at 187g/6.6oz.  The Kovea Spider weighs inwards at 168g/5.9oz which field almost 3/4oz lighter isn't actually all that much of a weight savings to live perfectly frank.

A Kovea Spider (right) adjacent to a Monatauk Gnat (left)

But weight's non the whole story, immediately is it?  Packability ranks rattling high on my listing give cheers you lot rattling much.  I similar to live able to set my stove in addition to a canister of gas within my pot.  It is here, inwards the packability subdivision that the Kovea Spider shines.  I tried my Kovea Spider inwards my 780ml Snow Peak Ti pot.  It jibe great, along amongst a 110g Snow Peak canister of gas.  Note:  The 780ml Snow Peak pot has a frying pan lid.  Not all 780ml pots volition work.

A Kovea Spider fits easily along amongst a 110g canister of gas within a 780ml Snow Peak Ti pot.

I was besides able to jibe the Kovea Spider into my 850ml Titan kettle, i time again amongst a 110g Snow Peak canister of gas.  It's a chip tighter jibe fifty-fifty though the Titan kettle has a larger capacity due to the kettle's proportions, but I was able to acquire it to jibe in addition to to closed the lid.  Now that's pretty sweet.

The Kovea Spider volition jibe into an MSR Titan kettle along amongst a 110g Snow Peak canister of gas.

By comparison, field I tin jibe the Windpro II into either a Snow Peak 780 or the Titan Kettle, I can't fifty-fifty laid out to jibe a canister of gas within when there's a stove inwards there.

An MSR Windpro II (left) inwards a 780ml Snow Peak pot.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Kovea Spider (right) inwards an 850ml MSR Titan kettle.  With the Spider, there's room for a 110g gas canister!

Now don't acquire me wrong, I like the Windpro II; it's a proficient stove.  It's precisely that I've been wanting something lighter in addition to to a greater extent than packable for some time.  For groups of 3+, I mightiness nevertheless select the Windpro II, but for smaller parties, tell from 1 to three people, I intend the Kovea Spider volition practice rattling nicely.

UPDATE 07 June 2017
Here's the orientation necessary for the Kovea Spider in addition to a 110 g canister of gas to both jibe into an 850 ml MSR Titan Kettle (see photo, below).  Basically, you lot ringlet the hose tightly but without kinking anything.  You therefore stand upwards the stove upright.  The burner must live up.  The canister must therefore sit down on its side amongst the concave side toward the stove.  It's tight but it does fit, in addition to I tin acquire the lid on in addition to closed.  You may direct keep to jostle things around inwards at that topographic point a bit, but it does fit.  You desire to orient things such that no business office of the stove presses on the lid.  If whatever business office of the stove is pressing on the lid, the lid won't closed fully.

Here's a video where I compare the packability of the Kovea Spider amongst that of an MSR Windpro II.  In the video, I solid set down that the Windpro II weighs 8 ounces, which is NOT correct.  I must direct keep been thinking nigh the stuff sack in addition to windscreen or something.  The right weights are 168g/5.9oz for the Spider in addition to 187g/6.6oz for the Windpro II.

Well, that's rattling overnice that it's a chip lighter in addition to a whole lot to a greater extent than packable, how nigh the stove itself?

Ah, proficient question.  And inwards answer, allow me tell that I'm suitably impressed past times Kovea's workmanship.

The Kovea Spider is rattling good made

I similar the overall create lineament in addition to fit.  There are some overnice touches similar the crimp out wire flame control.

The Kovea Spider has a crimp out flame adjuster.  Works cracking amongst mittens.

Some of the inexpensive stoves coming out of Cathay direct keep a modest knob hither which is much harder to operate when wearing mittens.  I've besides seen the knobs on inexpensive stoves jam -- in addition to unscrew right off the goal of the spindle.

The stove comes amongst a pre-heat loop, therefore that you lot tin gain nigh a xx Fahrenheit grade (about 10 Celsius degrees) mutual depression temperature conditions wages over conventional upright gas stoves past times running amongst the canister upside down, which causes the stove to live fed liquified gas.

The pre estrus loop on a Kovea Spider

Here i time again is why I prefer an experienced in addition to accomplished stove maker similar Kovea over some of the inexpensive stoves coming out of China.  In inverted canister operation, some Chinese stoves direct keep had particles pause off from their hoses (improper materials were used) in addition to nevertheless others had a "stutter" caused past times liquid fuel reaching the burner fifty-fifty though the stove had a pre-heat loop (bad design).  At to the lowest degree amongst inverted canister operation, Chinese stoves don't appear to live quite upwards amongst their European, Japanese, Korean, in addition to American designed counterparts.

The burner caput of the Kovea Spider is small, but this should live nix novel for those who direct keep been using low-cal weight conventional (upright) gas stoves.

The burner caput of the Kovea Spider

Now, direct keep a hold off at the photograph below.  Notice the downward pointing arrow on the leg/pot support?  The legs of the stove snap into identify amongst a rattling positive lock.  No flopping around here.  To unloose the leg, precisely force downwards every bit the arrow indicates, in addition to rotate the stove's leg inward for packing.  Nice touch.

The legs of the Kovea Spider click into identify for use. 
The legs are therefore pushed downwards every bit indicated past times the arrow to unloose the lock in addition to crimp for stowage

In damage of flame characteristics, I flora that I could acquire all the means from a depression simmer.

A Kovea Spider simmering

To a rattling total blast.

A Kovea Spider on high flame.

The Kovea Spider has enough of powerfulness in addition to easily brings H2O to a total roiling boil.  Notice also, inwards the photograph above, that the flame angles outward from the burner head.  Even though the burner caput is relatively small, the flame is good distributed, in addition to you lot don't acquire every bit much hot spotting every bit you lot mightiness from other similarly sized burner heads.

A vigorous boil

With a rotating coupler, the Kovea Spider is slowly to role inwards either normal canister or inverted canister mode.

A Kovea Spider amongst the canister inverted

And of course, since it's a remote canister stove, you lot tin role a total 360 grade windscreen without fearfulness of overheating the canister.

A Kovea Spider inwards role amongst a total 360 grade windscreen.  No problem; industrial plant great.

In damage of pot sizes, the legs tin back upwards a broad diversity of pots.  The smallest diameter pot I tried was an MSR Titan kettle, but a smaller pot would live no problem.  However, if you lot desire to jibe both the stove in addition to a canister of gas inwards your pot, you lot can't acquire smaller than a Titan kettle.

A Titan kettle on a Kovea Spider

The largest pot I tried on my Kovea Spider was a 1300ml Evernew Ultralight Ti pot.  It worked great, in addition to there's no argue why you lot couldn't role an fifty-fifty larger pot.

An Evernew 1300ml pot on a Kovea Spider.  Very stable.

The stove comes amongst a detached piezoelectric ignition.

The Kovea Spider comes amongst a split upwards piezoelectric ignition

The ignition is nice, but since I bear a butane lighter on every trip already, I flora myself sometimes leaving the piezo ignition at home.  Interestingly, the Kovea lighter appears to live identical inwards every means to the MSR lighter sold amongst the MSR MicroRocket, except for the color in addition to create name.

The Kovea in addition to MSR piezoelectric ignitions appear to live identical

The Kovea Spider is easily my favorite gas stove to direct keep come upwards out inwards 2012.

Testing the Kovea Spider on the PCT this past times summertime amongst my daughter.

Summary
The Spider (KB-1109) remote canister gas stove from Kovea
What's Good nigh it

• Compact!
• Relatively light
• Capable of inverted canister role for mutual depression temperature weather
• Compatible amongst a total 360 grade windscreen
• The flames from the burner caput angle outward which helps forbid "hot spotting"
• Well made; good designed
• Very affordable.

What's bad nigh it

• At 168g/5.9oz, it's nevertheless a petty heavy for what it is.  More on that inwards my lastly remarks.

The Spider (KB-1109) remote canister gas stove from Kovea:  Highly recommended.


Concluding Remarks
I mentioned that I thought the stove was a chip heavy for what it is.  Now, don't direct keep that out of context.  This is a rattling overnice stove in addition to has definitely made it into my "go to" gear bag.  But I intend to a greater extent than progress tin live made hither inwards hereafter generations of the stove.  The stove should live at to the lowest degree i ounce lighter than it is immediately in addition to preferably two.  To you lot Kovea, I throw downwards the proverbial gauntlet.  If you lot don't practice it, the Chinese will.  I'd similar to run into you lot succeed because I know you lot volition create a far amend stove.  I sincerely promise that you lot volition direct keep upwards this challenge.  I desire the stove that you lot volition build!

Lastly, the Kovea create is non available through conventional channels inwards the United States, but I practice run into the Kovea Spider beingness sold on eBay.  The cost I run into listed is $52.90, which is roughly one-half of similar stoves from American producers.  The Kovea Spider is non solely a darned proficient stove, it's a darned proficient deal.  It's my favorite inverted canister stove in addition to my outset recommendation to anyone looking for either a remote canister or inverted canister stove.  In example you lot haven't already figured it out, I actually similar this stove.

UPDATE 31 Oct 2014:  The Kovea Spider is immediately available through several US retailers.  Note:  The links below practice non constitute an endorsement of whatever of these retailers.  I haven't necessarily e'er purchased anything from them.  This is precisely for your information.
Thunder Adventure Company
The Gear House
Camp Saver
Flat Cat Gear

Flat Cat Gear has what may live a most interesting package:   The Bobcat Kovea Cooking System which includes a windscreen in addition to pot that together amongst the Kovea Spider create for a much to a greater extent than efficient, current of air resistant stove laid up.  I promise to exam the Bobcat Kovea Cooking System from Flat Cat Gear soon.

I give cheers you lot for joining me on some other Adventure inwards Stoving,

HJ

Appendix I, Radii of Stoves Featured inwards this Post

Stove	Radius (cm)	Radius (In.)
Monatauk Gnat	5.5	2.2
Kovea Spider	6.5	2.6
MSR Windpro II	7.2	2.8

Keep inwards hear of course of pedagogy that an upright canister stove's burner sits upwards much higher than that of remote canister stoves similar the Spider or Windpro II. Generally, pots are to a greater extent than stable on a remote canister stove if the pot supports are equal inwards length to an upright canister stove's. If the pot supports are longer, the remote canister stove has an fifty-fifty greater wages inwards damage of stability.

Appendix II, Additional Video
I shot a video amongst my novel camera.  I'm nevertheless learning the ins in addition to outs of my novel camera, therefore I managed to cutting off the video earlier I was done.  Since it's cutting off, I won't set this video inwards the torso of the review, but fifty-fifty though it's cutting off, the video should nevertheless give you lot some thought of what the stove is like.