Reviews You Can Rely On

BRS-3000T Review

A shockingly small, ultra lightweight, and straightforward backpacking stove at an impressively low price
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BRS-3000T Review (The BRS had no problem with our 1.5L boil testing pot (6" diameter).)
The BRS had no problem with our 1.5L boil testing pot (6" diameter).
Credit: Ian McEleney
Price:  $17 List
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Manufacturer:   BRS
By Mary Witlacil and Ian McEleney  ⋅  May 9, 2022
55
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#9 of 20
  • Fuel Efficiency - 25% 2.0
  • Weight - 25% 10.0
  • Simmering Ability - 20% 7.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 5.0
  • Boil Time - 15% 2.0

Our Verdict

This stove may only deliver average performance, but the well below-average price tag makes the BRS-3000T a clear winner for those on a tight budget. This stove is impressively small, unbeatably lightweight, and performed decently in most of our metrics. We found the pot supports to be surprisingly sturdy with small to medium cookware but have heard mentions of them deforming under heat and load. That said, we did not see any evidence of this during our testing period. We think this is a great little stove for solo trips of 1-3 nights in the summer, especially when paired with similarly light and small cookware. The low price tag makes it an appealing first backpacking stove, a great emergency or backup stove, or a reasonable option for solo ultralight missions. Get the skinny on how it stacks up against other top products in our article on the best backpacking stoves.
REASONS TO BUY
Tiny
Light
Cheap
REASONS TO AVOID
Small burner head
Poor wind performance
Not great fuel efficiency

Compare to Similar Products

 
brs-3000t
This Product
BRS-3000T
Awards Best Buy Award
Best on a Tight Budget
Top Pick Award
Best Ultralight Backpacking Stove
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Backpacking Stove
Best Buy Award
High Value and Ultralight
 
Price $17.00 List
$16.95 at Amazon
Check Price at Backcountry
Compare at 3 sellers
$69.95 at REI
Compare at 2 sellers
$50 List
$49.95 at Amazon
$30 List
$29.95 at Amazon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line A mini stove with a mini priceA crowd favorite for simmering that works well in a breeze and is also easy to useThis lightweight stove is easy to use and will boil water when it's breezyThis canister stove is lightweight, compact, fuel efficient, and performs well in windA bulky small canister stove that's good at simmering but doesn't have a piezoelectric start
Rating Categories BRS-3000T MSR PocketRocket De... Soto Windmaster Soto Amicus Primus Essential Trail
Fuel Efficiency (25%)
2.0
6.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
Weight (25%)
10.0
8.0
7.0
8.0
6.0
Simmering Ability (20%)
7.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
Ease of Use (15%)
5.0
7.0
8.0
8.0
6.0
Boil Time (15%)
2.0
9.0
7.0
7.0
4.0
Specs BRS-3000T MSR PocketRocket De... Soto Windmaster Soto Amicus Primus Essential Trail
Category Small Canister Small Canister Small Canister Small Canister Small Canister
Essential Weight (stove or stove + integrated pot only) 0.9 oz 3.0 oz 3.0 oz 2.79 oz 4.5 oz
Trail Weight (stove, fuel, pot) 12.63 oz 15.13 oz 15.63 oz 14.92 oz 16.63 oz
Wind Boil Time (1 liter, 2-4mph) 14:45 min:sec 5:27 min:sec 5:46 min:sec 6:30 min:sec 10:10 min
Boil Time (1 liter) 5:13 min:sec 3:14 min:sec 4 min:sec 3:52 min: sec 5:30 min:sec
Packed Weight (stove + all accessories) 1 oz 3.5 oz 3.5 oz 3.5 oz 4.5 oz
Dimensions 2" x 1.2" x 1.3" 3.3" x 2.2" x 1.8" 4.7" x 3.9" x 3.6" 3.9" × 0.7" × 6.5" 4.3" x 2.4"
Fuel Type Isobutane Isobutane Isobutane Isobutane Isobutane
Additional Included Items Stuff sack Stuff sack Stuff sack, pot support Stuff sack None
Piezo Igniter? No Yes Yes Yes No

Our Analysis and Test Results

All small canister stoves are just that — small. However, like an Olympic gymnast standing next to a regular-sized person, the BRS-3000T makes the other stoves look big. It has a weight to match: 0.9 ounces! A number of online reviewers experienced durability issues, but we haven't throughout our months of testing.

Performance Comparison


brs-3000t - this stove is a great value for backpackers on a budget.
This stove is a great value for backpackers on a budget.
Credit: Ian McEleney

Fuel Efficiency


Fuel efficiency is one of our most important metrics. The behavior of the stove user has an enormous impact on stove efficiency. Nevertheless, the performance of the stove itself is relevant. The BRS did not wow us in this department.


In calm conditions, the BRS burned 0.47 ounces of fuel while bringing one liter of water to boil in 5 minutes and 13 seconds. It used slightly more fuel and took a bit longer than the top-performing small canister stoves and integrated canister models but was better than the liquid fuel stoves.

The wind test is where the BRS was unable to compete. When subjected to our test fan blowing 2-4 mph, the BRS boiled one liter of water in 4 minutes 45 seconds (at 5,000 feet in elevation). During this test, it consumed 1.55 ounces of fuel or 35% of a 4 oz fuel canister. In previous tests at 8,000 feet, it was unable to bring water to boil after 15 whole minutes and consumed 1.1 ounces of fuel in this effort. When camping above treeline, you will want to find a sheltered spot for this stove or consider using it in a well-ventilated tent vestibule.

brs-3000t - in our boil test, we pointed a fan blowing 2-4 mph wind at the flame...
In our boil test, we pointed a fan blowing 2-4 mph wind at the flame of each stove.
Credit: Ian McEleney

Weight


Weight (and bulk, which we also consider in this metric) is where the BRS really shines. Though weight differences can be significant when comparing different types of stoves (say, small canister to liquid fuel), within small canister models, weight is becoming less important. Modern small canister stoves weigh between 1 and 4 ounces, and our testers think this isn't the most productive place for backpackers to shed weight. That being said, the BRS is impressively light --- just 0.9 ounces (about 25 grams)!


The other impressive characteristic is how small this stove is. When folded for transport it measures about 2" x 1.5" x 1.5" (5 x 3.8 x 3.8 cm). Our testers find bulk to be a pretty important real-world metric because we like to store all of our cooking gear in our pot when on the trail. The BRS fits easily into any of our tester pots with room to spare. This stove could pair well with a small titanium cup used as a pot on a solo trip.

brs-3000t - weighing the brs.
Weighing the BRS.
Credit: Ian McEleney

Simmering Ability


While some backpackers are happy to eat freeze-dried food for days on end, for others, the ability to cook a more complicated meal is important. The first characteristic we look at when considering simmering is the character of the control valve. The BRS has smooth and consistent resistance throughout its range. This makes it easy to turn the flame waaaay down to the point where it looks like that of a single candle. It was much easier to do this with the BRS than with any liquid fuel stove. That being said, simmering only works in the absence of wind. If you require reliable simmer ability and plan to camp in the mountains, you might want to check out one of the small canister stoves that simmer well and deliver good performance in the wind.


Another important quality when it comes to actual cooking is the size of the burner head. A broad burner head helps distribute heat more evenly around a pot or pan. Obviously, big burner heads weigh more and take up more pack space. Anyone reading this review can probably guess that the burner head on the BRS is tiny. If you want to do cooking that requires simmering (oatmeal, refried beans, etc.) with this stove, you better be prepared for attentive cooking and continuous stirring.

brs-3000t - the brs packs in this 1 liter pot with a 4oz fuel can, lighter, and...
The BRS packs in this 1 liter pot with a 4oz fuel can, lighter, and pot grips with room to spare.
Credit: Ian McEleney

Ease Of Use


The small canister stove is a fairly simple piece of backpacking gear. As such, they're generally easy to use. Aside from its stuff sack, the BRS has no parts or accessories to keep track of (or lose). All you have to do to use this stove is swing the stabilizer arms into position and attach the stove to a fuel canister. If you plan to use your stove with its stuff sack, you will need to open the fuel gauge slightly to make it fit into the bag, so before using, make sure to close the valve to avoid spraying fuel everywhere. Otherwise, using this stove is simple and fast, as it should be. It has a decently sized wire valve control handle, something we've come to expect as an essential feature.


We were pleasantly surprised with the stability of the BRS. Because the stove is so small, it has a low center of gravity, which helps. No canister stand comes with the stove, and most weight-conscious backpackers would prefer a 4-ounce canister, but our testers found that the increased mass of an 8-ounce fuel can vastly improved stability.

We appreciate the sturdiness of the pot stabilizers. Once snapped into place, they form a platform more rigid than some of the more expensive stoves. While we wouldn't want to make a habit of it, the BRS was plenty stable under our 1.7-quart test kettle, even when it was holding a liter of water. We have read several reviews on the internet that mention the stove arms melting and deforming under load once they're hot. If this happens during use, it could cause a boiling water disaster and ruin your meal. Our reviewers did not experience this while testing the stove, but complaints of this kind seem too widespread to discount.

Our biggest complaint about this stove's ease of use is the lack of a piezoelectric igniter. That said, we don't think a small canister stove could be this light and compact with an igniter.

brs-3000t - bigger cookware (like this 2l kettle) pushes the limit of stability...
Bigger cookware (like this 2L kettle) pushes the limit of stability for this stove.
Credit: Ian McEleney

Boil Time


Our testing team thinks boil times are a relevant consideration but definitely not the most important one. Still, nobody likes to wait for eons for a hot cup of coffee or tea on a cold morning. In our testing, anything in the 4-minute range was respectable. The BRS brought 1 liter of water to boil in 5 minutes and 13 seconds with no wind.


Historically, small canister stoves have struggled in the wind, and most have failed our box fan wind test. This is starting to change, and the BRS is a little behind the curve in this regard. When situated adjacent to a box fan blowing 2-4 mph (at 5,000 feet), this stove barely managed to boil one liter of water before our 15-minute cut-off time, squeaking in at 14 minutes and 45 seconds. In previous tests at 8,000 feet, a fan blowing 2-4 mph kept this stove from boiling water in 15 minutes at all. Though it was able to generate active fisheyes, water temperatures stayed in the 160s F (71 - 76C).

brs-3000t - the brs folded up and ready to pack.
The BRS folded up and ready to pack.
Credit: Ian McEleney, BRS-3000T

Value


This stove is an excellent example of when technology has been around for long enough for the price to come way down. It's a “middle shelf” small canister stove at a “bottom shelf” price. We think it is a good value, especially for ultralight backpackers or those who are occasionally out solo for a night or two. It's inexpensive enough that it's easy to justify buying it as a second (or third) stove.

Conclusion


We try to keep our expectations low when reviewing products that are less than half the price of the best in their category. With the BRS-3000T, we came in with low expectations and were impressed by an average performance. This stove boils water in a decent time, has good valve control for simmering, the pot supports are remarkably stable for their size, and the burner is light and shockingly small. It's clear why this tiny stove walked away with one of our coveted Best Buy Awards.

Mary Witlacil and Ian McEleney