text: Easy to assemble out of the box without instruction. Fits together snugly and disassembles easily even after use. The mesh bag for storage is heavier gauge cordage than you'd expect and it's roughly the size of a small camp cooking kit with room to fit fire starter and lighter in there as well. To light I used one cotton ball and small twigs, piled on larger ones. Started easily and, even with damp wood it worked well with a minimum of smoke. I tested it with a standard size camp coffee pot about two thirds full. It took awhile to get the rolling boil, expected given the amount of water, and probably about the same as a gas stove. Once a rolling boil was achieved it was easy to maintain feeding a few occasional sticks. Letting the flame burn down to the coals produced a simmer. No mistake, you do have to feed it frequently, about every two or three minutes but easy to do with the opening for that. The flame was similar to a gas stove once the flame was established. A little less uniform than a stove but controlled. Once the fire is out it cools fairly quickly and leaves only a fine cool ash that is easy to disperse in the woods. At a bit over a pound I wouldn't take it back packing but it has a place on every canoe or car camping trip. It's sturdy enough for cast iron on flat, solid ground. The base is broad but there are no stabilizing legs on the bottom to further guard against tipping. A few rocks around it would do well as long as it doesn't block the air flow from the base. All around highest ratings.