Burns hot, burns great
I subtracted a star because these are brittle and can crumble, and because their big strength is also a potential hazard--they burn real hot, and the flame will flare up at least four inches above the lit tablet.<br /><br />I got that stainless steel pot (the one made to cook over a campfire) that had the little plastic clips to hold the lid on. I used it over the folding commando stove for the "boil water" test. I set a small steel grill on top of the commando stove because the pot was too small. The heat melted the plastic clips like taffy within the first couple of minutes. (No great loss, I was planning on removing them anyway.)<br /><br />On the other hand, this passed the "boils water" test with flying colors.<br /><br />I recommend lighting them at a corner with a candle or long-style lighter. I also recommend saving broken tablets and using them to adjust burn time if needed. Absolutely have water nearby when using these. Thoroughly dousing them puts them out, but the remnant of the tab will crack and break or crumble outright.<br /><br />Also, I had the folding stove set on an old wooden table outside. The table started to smolder underneath the stove! Make sure you set your stove on packed dirt, rock, brick, steel, or cement. Do not set it up on an aluminum, wood, or plastic table--it burns too hot and will damage them.<br /><br />On a recent group camping trip, these saved the day when it rained and drenched the wood for the bonfire. One of these burned hot enough to get past the surface moisture on the wood and start the bonfire, no muss, no fuss. I would carry these camping even without the stove just for that.<br /><br />Good product. Does the job. Just be aware that it does work as advertised, have a cup of water to dump on it in case something goes wrong, and keep in mind that there is no way to get low heat out of these.
Rating: 4 stars