This little burner has an almost cult-like appreciation among backpackers due to its lightweight, reliable design and impressive capabilities. I’ve been using it over the past year, and I can definitely understand the hype.

Buy the Soto Windmaster Stove £58 at Wildbounds.com

At 96g, it’s certainly lightweight and very packable – it will easily fit inside most pots. The materials ooze quality too, as you’d expect from a Japanese company that specialises in metal manufacture. It’s not the absolute lightest burner out there, with the MSR Pocket Rocket 2 and the Jetboil Stash‘s burner both coming in a few grams lighter. It is, however, exceptionally light when you consider all of its clever design details and overall capability.

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Features

First of all, what’s so impressive about the Soto WindMaster is its performance in windy conditions. Most stove systems require external windshields or pots with integrated wind blockers for fuel efficiency in breezy conditions, but this little burner does all the wind blocking by itself, thanks to a slight metal lip over the burner head and a configuration that keeps pots tucked in close to the flame.

There’s also a built-in Piezo ignition, which Soto says is carefully designed so it won’t break or fail over time. Perhaps most impressively, it features what Soto calls a ‘micro regulator valve system’. Most burners use a basic needle valve, but the micro regulator here involves a spring-loaded mechanism that compensates when gas pressure drops, delivering more stable performance in cold weather and as the canister empties. This regulator, combined with a precise flame adjustment knob, brings excellent control over flame intensity, allowing you to simmer food gently without burning it – one of the reasons it’s popular among backpackers who cook more than just dehydrated meals.

Finally, the WindMaster comes with a smart, folding ‘4-Flex’ pot support that clips onto the burner head, providing a spacious 14.4cm diameter for various pot sizes. If you’re especially conscious of weight, there’s also the option to purchase a separate ‘TriFlex’ support, which offers a compact 10cm alternative.

How I Fared With It

I’ve found this to be a hugely reliable little burner, and it’s become a go-to option for me. It offers everything I want from a stove: lightness, compactness, reliability and fuel efficiency.

I really like its versatility too. It’s obviously great for boiling water quickly, but it’s also very effective for simmering and frying. I’ve used burners in the past that basically offer an all-or-nothing approach to cooking – an easy way to end up with black sausages. This, on the other hand, gives you much more control.

I’ve used it on a frosty winter wild camp in the Brecon Beacons, and on a four-day camping trip with my partner in North Wales, where it handled all of our meals. I also took it on a month-long backpacking trip through Greece and definitely appreciated its lightweight, low-bulk design. These days, I use it almost weekly – for brewing tea down at our allotment.

I haven’t conducted any measured tests for fuel efficiency, but all I can say is that I trust it to do the job, and it hasn’t let me down. Most users report it will boil 0.5 L of water in under two minutes, and that matches my experience. As with most burners, boil times do tend to increase in windy or cold conditions.

Downsides?

It’s a fairly tall burner, and this can result in a top-heavy and slightly precarious setup if you’re using a large gas canister with a wide pot. I’m always mindful of this, ensuring I either pair it with a squat pot or use a canister stand, or at the very least find the flattest, most stable surface available.

It’s also worth noting that while the 4-Flex pot support is stable and durable, it’s a separate piece that could be lost if you’re not careful. For ultralight purists, the extra faff and weight might make alternatives like the MSR Pocket Rocket 2 or the BRS 3000-T more appealing.

Some might be put off by the fact it has a piezo ignitor due to their reputation for breaking quite easily. Soto do say they’ve managed to overcome this issue with a more durable, well-protected design that’s built to withstand regular use. In my experience, that claim holds up – I haven’t had any issues with it at all, even after extended use in a variety of conditions.

Final Verdict

Overall, this is an outstanding little stove. It combines thoughtful design, durable build quality and excellent functionality in a package that’s still impressively light and compact. Whether you’re boiling water at speed, simmering a stew in the cold, or simply making tea in your garden, the Soto WindMaster handles it all with poise. I’ve tested many backpacking stoves over the years, and this is, without question, one of the most well-rounded I’ve come across.

Pros: Light, compact, good in windy conditions, excellent design quality.
Cons: Quite tall so can make for an unsteady set up