EcoZoom Versa Rocket Stove - Wood, Biomass, or Charcoal Fuel

by EcoZoom

• Abrasion resistant, lightweight ceramic insulation
• Refractory metal lining and 6­-pronged universal cast iron stove top
• Two internal grates to hold both wood and charcoal
• Painted sheet metal body with reinforced doors
• Comes with stick support and adjustable galvanized steel pot skirt

Product Description

Our newest series of EcoZoom stoves feature many improvements in design and functionality. Built for durability, our newest stoves take your feedback and comments into concern and have resulted in an easier to operate, safer to use, and longer lasting stove. EcoZoom's Versa Stove has a refractory metal lining that protects the ceramic insulation, increases the life of your stove, and improves combustion efficiency. This stove features our new hinged combustion chamber doors enabling for an effortless conversion from wood to charcoal fuels. Both the main combustion chamber door and the damper door have reinforced metal frames and have hinges that serve to securely close the doors and regulate airflow. The EcoZoom Zoom Versa has a durable, reformulated 6-pronged cast iron stove top that improves heat transfer for all pots including round bottom pots and woks. We've also used a thicker, reformulated cast iron in the internal grate for added durability and have included a replaceable secondary grate to increase airflow and to protect the stove. Cooler to the touch when in use, our newest stoves feature a thicker, more durable construction to keep you and your cooking surfaces safe. Feed wood fuel into the big door. Use the small lower door to control the flow of air into the fire (which lowers emissions). When burning charcoal, close the big door and control the rate of burn by opening and closing the lower door. Adding adjustable doors to a Rocket stove allows for control of the air that enters the fire to speed up or slow down the rate of combustion. More air is needed to start a cold fire and to create a hot fire initially. Once the fire is going, partially closing the bottom door limits the air, increases heat transfer to the pot and reduces harmful emissions.

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11 x 11 x 12.5 inches ; 22.5 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 26.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B005GQZ4O0
• Item model number: ZV-VMC26
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,264 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors)
  • #93 in Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Camping & Hiking > Camp Kitchen > Camp Stoves

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 55 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Burns hot and clean, fun Scout camp stove April 7, 2012

By D. Taylor TOP 500 REVIEWER

As a Scout leader I've found this stove useful since nearly anywhere we camp there's plenty of fuel to feed it. With this stove there's no reason to pack fuel. We use a large Dutch oven on top and cook our meals in that. It also works well with large cast iron fry pans, which distribute the heat nicely. You can also get a steel wok that fits nicely in the center for stir fry. Keep the kids not working on the meal busy by having them gather the fuel ;-)

This model is the best one of the series, it has the 6 pot supports and both a fuel door and a lower door for controlling the burn rate. This is a stove you have to tend to. The fuel chamber is pretty small (which helps it burn so clean), but this means that in a matter of 15 minutes it'll burn out if you don't tend to it and constantly feed it sticks. You don't have to put many in for it to be hot, but you do have to lay them out on the feed rack and keep them feeding into it. Don't think you can fire it up, walk away for an hour like you can with charcoal and come back to a cooked meal. This is not that type of stove. You can use it with charcoal and coal and then it'll burn for much longer.

I like knowing I have this stove in my garage since in any kind of emergency I can get a very hot fire going and there will be fuel. For the Zombie Prep group, it's also a covert way to cook, because the flame is contained (not visible) and there's essentially no smoke it burns so cleanly. In nearly every emergency, there's wood of some type around that would be freely available to fuel this stove.

An easy way to light this stove is to place a small chunk of fire starter (sawdust packed with wax) in the burn chamber on your first few sticks and light that. In a few minutes it'll be hot and burning well. Kindling works well too, and once the burn chamber is hot it'll keep everything going nicely. Open the bottom door all the way to increase the air flow at lighting time, close it partially to control the burn rate once you have your fire going. You can also change between the 2 included grates depending on the size of your fuel and how your wood burns. One grate has wider openings than the other and smaller pieces tend to fall through if you use the larger grate.

This stove design is called Rocket Stove due to the swirling action in the burn chamber. The creator has opened up his patented design to help enable impoverished countries get these at less cost and improve their cooking conditions.

*** Nov 2012 I was asked about using coal in this stove. The only coal I have tried is Charcoal, which works great and lasts longer than wood. I don't have lump coal to try but it does come with a coal grate and says it works well with coal too.

4 stars for a great stove that cooks with nearly any wood source, not 5 since it's high maintenance to keep the fire balanced.

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Prepper Sove January 21, 2012

By Leon M. Begin

Amazon Verified Purchase

Very fast shipping! I have bought 4-5 other stoves looking for the right one and found most have some fuel compromises. Most need for propane, white gas, butane etc. This one does not! Are you kidding me? A hot, sustained fire with just pine needles, twigs and sticks...wow! Very easy to use. If you can start a fire you can use this stove. We have been with out power due to storms many times; often up to 5 days. This stove will be the go-to cooker stove from now on. Very well made and well packaged. Save your $ and searching. This is the one you want. Get some cast iron pans, dutch oven and a water boiler (all available from Amazon) and your ready. Looking forward to a preppers dinner soon.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great product May 18, 2012

By G. Edwards

Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a great product. Heavy duty, efficient, and handy. Great for emergencies or camping. I've used both wood and coal in it to test it and the item preformed very well with both.