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SOTO Windmaster Test & Experiences – Wind resistant outdoor gas stove from Japan

Soto Windmaster Test Soto Stove Title

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A mini gas cooker for easy screwing onto standard gas cartridges. This is the Soto Windmaster*! The Japanese company Soto promises with the Windmaster with particularly high wind resistance. Thanks to the low weight of 86 grams and a tiny pack size, the Windmaster is suitable for ultralight bikepackers and hikers. A piezo ignition is integrated for particularly easy ignition.

I bought the SOTO Windmaster for a cycling trip in beautiful and challenging Iceland. Find out how the outdoor gas stove performed in our test. We’ll start with the highlights and key dates first. Then follows my detailed practical experience.

Soto Windmaster Test - Soto stove with blue flame
Soto Windmaster Test – Soto stove with blue flame

You’re in a hurry? Click here to go directly to the SOTO Windmaster

Particularly wind-resistant outdoor gas stove: edge at the burner head, as well as downward offset (concave running) burner head. Pot is located particularly close to the firing head – this provides hardly any surface for the wind to attack.

Angebot
SOTO Windmaster Gas Stove*

Power: 3260 watts
Burn time:
approx. 60 minutes with 227 gram gas cartridge
Cooking time for 250ml: approx. 1 minute
Cooking time for 1L: approx. 4 minutes
Weight with 4-arm pot holder:
86 grams (self-weighed)

* Werbung - Aktualisierung am 2024-03-29, Preis kann gestiegen sein, Als Amazon-Partner verdiene ich an qualifizierten Verkäufen, Bild:Amazon

What are the big features of the Soto Windmaster?

✅ Small and light
✅ Very wind resistant: Thanks to integrated windbreak edge and concave firing head
✅ reliable piezo igniter
✅ Size pot supports: Holds even large pots reliably
✅ Quiet
Efficient: 250ml water boil approx. in 1 minute
❌ Price
❌ Removable pot holder is possible weak point in long-term durability

SOTO Windmaster bei Amazon kaufen*

A wind-resistant gas stove with useful comfort functions and a weight of only 86 grams: That is the SOTO Windmaster! The highlight is clearly the integrated draft shield on the burner head. This works wonderfully and so you can cook well with the Windmaster even in strong winds. Thanks to 3260 watts of power, 250ml of water are brought to the boil in only about 1 minute. Useful comfort functions such as a piezo ignition are available. The removable pot rest does not seem completely stable. Medium-sized and heavier pots are then held reliably.

Soto Windmaster Outdoor Gas Stove with Gas Cartridge
Soto Windmaster Outdoor Gas Stove with Gas Cartridge
Soto Windmaster Mini Gas Stove with 4Flex folded in
Soto Windmaster Mini Gas Stove with 4Flex folded in
Soto Windmaster Test - Soto stove from above
Soto Windmaster Test – Soto stove from above

SOTO Scope of delivery

The SOTO Windmaster comes in an interesting cardboard box. It contains everything you need for operation and transport:

  • SOTO Windmaster Mini Outdoor Gas Stove
  • 4 Arm pot support
  • Transport bag
Soto Windmaster scope of delivery and bag of the trekking gas cooker
Soto Windmaster scope of delivery and bag of the trekking gas cooker

The SOTO Windmaster gas stove is screwed directly onto a standard gas cartridge and you can start cooking immediately. More on the operation below.

The mini camping stove is supplied with the 4-arm pot support (4Flex). The pot arms can be easily removed for quick and space-saving transport. With a diameter of xx cm, the pot support is really stable, so that even large pots stand safely on the SOTO Windmaster.

The Windmaster is very small. For transport, the outdoor gas stove can easily fit into a 700ml bag or a 1 litre titanium pot – together with a 100ml gas cartridge, of course. To keep the equipment nice and clean and scratch-free, the small transport bag included in the delivery is very practical.

Soto Windmaster Weight & Pack Size

Together with the 4-arm pot rest from the scope of delivery, the SOTO Windmaster weighs in at a light 87 grams. A few more grams can be saved by buying a 3 arm pot rest.

The stability with the 4-arm pot rest from the scope of delivery is quite excellent and reduces the weight by only a few grams. Therefore, you can save the accessories.

Soto Windmaster Weight Trekking Gas Stove
Soto Windmaster Weight Trekking Gas Stove

Matching gas cartridge and cooking pot

follows 😉

Field test

In just a few steps the SOTO Windmaster is ready for use:

Soto Windmaster Test - Cup support folded in
Soto Windmaster Test – Cup support folded in
Soto Windmaster 4Flex Cup Support
Soto Windmaster 4Flex Cup Support
Soto Windmaster - Soto stove with folded 4Flex pot support
Soto Windmaster – Soto stove with folded 4Flex pot support
Soto Windmaster Test - Burning head of the trekking gas stove
Soto Windmaster Test – Burning head of the trekking gas stove
Soto Windmaster Test - Gas tap
Soto Windmaster Test – Gas tap
  • 4Put the Flex pot holder on the side of the gas cooker – you will immediately notice that the pot holder is now securely fastened.
  • Unfold small metal handle. With the rotary handle the gas supply can be controlled steplessly and finely. Make sure the handle is turned all the way to the right. The gas supply is then interrupted, i.e. the gas cooker is switched off.
  • Screw the SOTO Windmaster firmly onto the gas cartridge.
  • Now turn the handle in the direction of the plus symbol, i.e. counterclockwise. You can hear the gas hissing softly now.
Soto Windmaster Test - Soto stove and blue flame
Soto Windmaster Test – Soto stove and blue flame
  • Now press the small red button of the piezo ignition.
  • A spark is created and the fire on the burn button ignites.
Soto Windmaster Test - Fire between burning head and cooking pot
Soto Windmaster Test – Fire between burning head and cooking pot

The fire burns evenly and vigorously. The flames are concentrated on the pot or pan on the support. A sign that the energy is being put to good use.

Stability

Stability is often an issue with a screw-on outdoor gas stove: the gas stove is screwed onto the top of the gas cartridge. Then the pot or pan is placed above the firing head. The centre of gravity is therefore quite high for gas cookers of this type.

Soto Windmaster Soto Stove with Gas Cartridge and Cooking Pot
Soto Windmaster Soto Stove with Gas Cartridge and Cooking Pot

The following features positively influence the stability of the SOTO Windmaster:

  • Stable pot supports sitting under the firing head
  • 4-arm pot supports
  • Large diameter pot support
  • low height of the Windmaster – therefore slightly lower centre of gravity

Overall, the SOTO Windmaster offers excellent stability for a screw-on gas stove. Ideally, a screw-on gas stove can accommodate pots and pans for one or two people. Exactly these are held very securely by the SOTO Windmaster on the firing head.

A gas cartridge stand ensures an even more secure stand. This is attached to the bottom of the gas cartridge and increases the footprint.

Gas consumption & Efficiency

In practice, you need about 2 minutes for half a liter of water with the SOTO Windmaster.
250ml accordingly only need about 1 minute for the water to boil.

Soto Windmaster Test - Soto stove and blue flame
Soto Windmaster Test – Soto stove and blue flame

You can fine-tune the throttle at any time with the twist grip. If you are preparing a camping meal with fresh ingredients, it is better to use the outdoor camping stove on a low flame. If you only want to bring water to the boil in a short time, you can also turn the knob up further.

  • Power: 3200 Watt
  • Gas consumption: 250 grams are enough for 1.5 hours

Weather & Wind susceptibility

The SOTO Windmaster lives up to its name: As already mentioned, the mini gas stove is designed for maximum wind resistance. This allows for efficient outdoor cooking even in strong crosswinds. The SOTO gas stove I had especially on my bike trip around Iceland and can confirm: Even in strong crosswinds hardly any energy seems to be lost and I was always able to bring my water to the boil quickly.

On a bike trip I think a 100ml gas cartridge is ideal. On Iceland I got an opened 200ml gas cartridge as a gift right at the beginning of my trip. This fired the SOTO Windmaster reliably for over three weeks and I even had plenty of gas left at the end.

A piezo ignition is integrated in the SOTO Windmaster. This allows the mini cartridge stove to be lit without a lighter or match. The ignition works reliably even in crosswind: By pressing the red ignition button, a spark is generated at the combustion head (function piezo ignition). With the gas tap turned on, the fire can be lit quickly and reliably with the piezo ignition. The cable is integrated and therefore there is hardly any surface to attack. However, the ignition on the combustion head should not get wet, because a piezo ignition does not work when wet. During my trip around Iceland by bike, the SOTO Windmaster worked reliably even in wet and rainy conditions. I still recommend carrying matches or a lighter in case of emergency.

Transport

During use, the gas stove and the pot holder become very hot. Most of the time, the pot holder will even start to glow, which is perfectly normal with a gas stove on high. After use, you should wait long enough for both the SOTO Windmaster and the pot attachment to cool down. Experience shows that both parts can be touched again safely after a few minutes.

Soto Windmaster Test - Outdoor Cooker Transport in the Cooking Pot
Soto Windmaster Test – Outdoor Cooker Transport in the Cooking Pot

This is how you get the SOTO Windmaster ready for transport:

  • Close the gas tap completely: To do this, turn the gas tap to the right or clockwise.
  • Unscrew the outdoor gas stove from the gas cartridge. A small amount of gas escapes with a hiss directly when unscrewing. This is quite normal
  • Press on the clip from the pot holder and remove the pot holder
Soto Windmaster Trekking Gas Stove Transportation in Cooking Pot
Soto Windmaster Trekking Gas Stove Transportation in Cooking Pot

The SOTO Windmaster is small enough to easily fit in a 700ml cup and carry around. Together with a 100ml gas cartridge, the small gas cooker also fits into a 1 litre pot. For transport, it is best to pack the Windmaster in the packing bag included in the delivery. This ensures that neither the gas cooker itself nor other camping utensils are scratched during transport.

SOTO Windmaster Experience and Summary

A small and lightweight gas stove is the SOTO Windmaster. You can expect a lot of power from this outdoor gas stove: Water for about a cup of coffee or a typical outdoor meal is heated in about 1 minute and within about 4 minutes boil a whole liter.

The SOTO Windmaster shows its full strength in bad weather: Even in strong crosswinds, it reliably fires the pot or pan. Gas burners without windbreaks hardly work at all in strong winds. The small wind edge at the torch head of the SOTO Windmaster and the slightly downward offset torch head provide for hardly any attack surface.

The gas supply can be finely adjusted with the fold-out gas tap and thanks to piezo ignition, the fire can be lit without a lighter or match. If you want to save another 25% of weight, replace the 4-arm pot holder with the optionally available 3-arm pot holder.

Buy SOTO Windmaster – yes or no?

For ultralight hiking, bikepacking and other outdoor adventures, the SOTO Windmaster is the right gas stove. The handling with the gas cartridge is particularly comfortable. Thanks to integrated piezo ignition, the fire is also lit at the touch of a button.

For those who value absolute reliability even in bad weather, the SOTO Windmaster is the right stove: most gas stoves hardly produce any more power in windy conditions. The gas consumption is then very high. With the Windmaster, you can cook even in adverse conditions and don’t have to carry an extra windbreak.

Angebot
SOTO Windmaster Gas Stove*
  • Leistung: 3260 Watt
  • Brenndauer ca. 1,5 Stunden mit 250 g Kanister
  • Gewicht: 87 g mit der 4Flex Topfstütze

* Werbung - Aktualisierung am 2024-03-29, Preis kann gestiegen sein, Als Amazon-Partner verdiene ich an qualifizierten Verkäufen, Bild:Amazon


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Good

✅ Small and light
✅ Very wind resistant: Thanks to integrated windbreak edge and concave firing head
✅ reliable piezo igniter
✅ Size pot supports: Holds even large pots reliably
✅ Quiet
Efficient: 250ml water boil approx. in 1 minute

Bad

❌ Price
❌ Removable pot holder is possible weak point in long-term durability

Alternatives to the SOTO Windmaster

MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe

The MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe is the direct alternative to the SOTO Windmaster: A windbreak edge, as well as a downward offset burner head (concave burner head) offer both outdoor gas stove. The MSR Pocket Rocket 2 has more space between the burner head and the pot than the SOTO Windmaster. Does the gap provide more surface for the wind to attack? In practice, both gas cookers bring the contents of the pot to the boil at a similar rate. Otherwise, the MSR gas stove is similarly small, light, quiet, and offers similar features to the SOTO Windmaster. On the Pocket Rocket Deluxe, the 3-arm pot holder cannot be removed and has a folding mechanism. The workmanship seems a bit more stable for continuous use.

MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe - Outdoor Gas Cartridge Stove
  • DujinÄ— viryklÄ— MSR PocketRocket Deluxe

* Werbung - Aktualisierung am 2024-03-29, Preis kann gestiegen sein, Als Amazon-Partner verdiene ich an qualifizierten Verkäufen, Bild:Amazon

To the detailed MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe field test (test & experiences)

What do you think of the SOTO Windmaster? Do you have any questions? Feel free to write me your comment.

The mini gas cooker presented here does not suit you? In the large outdoor gas cooker article you will find everything worth knowing about the topic outdoor gas cooker. With many models in practical comparison.

1 Kommentar Text
  • Bart says:
    Your comment is awaiting moderation. This is a preview; your comment will be visible after it has been approved.
    Hi Michael, Good review! Which pot is featured on the photo in which the Soto Windmaster is nestled? Best regards, Bart
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