Soto is a Japanese manufacturer known for its high-quality canister (Windmaster) and liquid fuel backpacking (Muka) stoves. Their newest canister stove, the Amicus (which means friend in Latin), is value priced at $44.95 with a built-in piezo igniter and includes many of the features found on their more expensive models including four folding pot stand supports and a recessed burner head that provides superior performance in windy conditions.
Soto Amicus Canister Stove
Fuel Efficiency
Weight
Simmering Ability
Time to Boil
Ease of Use
Specifications
- Weight: 2.8 oz
- Model Number: OD-1NVE
- Fuel Tpe: Canister
- Energy Rating: 2600 kcal/h (3030w, 10210 BTU)
- Igniter: Piezo
Rated at 10210 BTUs, the Amicus has a standard screw-in Lindal valve making it compatible with standard isobutane canisters from Primus, Snow Peak, MSR, and Jetboil. Like the Windmaster, the igniter in the Amicus runs through the center post of the stove, protecting it from impact and creating reliable lighting performance.
The width of the pots supports is 4″ making this stove safe to use with wider cooking posts like the Evernew Titanium Pasta Pot (shown here). When not in use, the pot stand supports and simmer control fold up compactly, making this stove easy to store with a gas canister inside most small cook pots.
Recommendation
The Soto Amicus Stove is a very nice canister stove for camping and backpacking with all of the capabilities of the more expensive Soto Windmaster, except replaceable pot stand feet. I don’t think the latter is a net loss however since everyone I know lost the separate pot stand attachments and having pot supports permanently attached to a canister stove is the way to go.
While I can only speculate about the reasons for the lower cost of the Amicus stove, I think the root cause is competition. Still, the Amicus is a quality stove for the cost if you want a stove that you can simmer food with and mix and match with a lot of different cook pots.
See Also:
Disclosure: Soto provided Philip Werner (SectionHiker.com) with a sample Amicus Stove for this review.
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I wonder if this one does not have the micro regulator valve that provides optimal performance with cold empty canisters. Does it also help with canisters that are nearly empty? Looking at the pictures from the Soto website, the Windmaster and Microregulator stoves appear to have identical valves but the Amicus looks different. Perhaps this accounts for the lower cost? If so, that could be a significant difference in features. I did not see any info about it on the Soto web site.
The main factor affecting stove performance in cold weather is canister temp. That micro regulator speal is just marketing.
All these years later and my Amazon ultralight backpacking stove is still going strong. The price of these newer stoves makes it hard for me to justify replacing it.
How does this perform in wind? Any better than the windmaster?
Same exact stove head. Same performance.
Ok. It’s just that in your windmaster review you seemed less than impressed with the performance of the recessed burner head and now you’re saying it provides “superior performance” in windy conditions. Is this just because you’ve had more time with the stove? I’m looking to get rid of my windscreen altogether and was wondering if this would be a good stove to own if I do.
I was less than impressed because it was so hyped, but it is somewhat ore efficient than a conical head like a snow peak giga power. But most people don’t really need wind screens for camister stoves. Just move behind a rock or tree, out of the wind before you cook.
I hear you. Don’t believe the hype. Maybe I’ll just pair this stove with some natural wind blockers like you say. Thanks! I love your blog! I hike in NH all the time. Maybe I’ll see you on the trail someday.
I loved the original micro and some how lost it . Should I just replace it with another one or is this a worth upgrade?
Not worth the upgrade.
Will the Amicus fit in the Evernew Pasta pot with a gas can?
yes.
To clarify, is your answer for the 0.75 or 1.0L Evernew Pasta Pot? And what size fuel canister? Thanks!
Definitely with the 0.9L medium size
And an 8oz canister
I had both the Windmaster and the Amicus. The biggest difference I noticed was the burner size. The Amicus has a smaller burner and therefore a smaller hotspot. Not an issue if you’re just heating water, but cooking food I noticed it. For this reason I kept the Windmaster and returned the Amicus. Both were very good in wind.
Phil,
Doing a thru hike on the Superior Hiking Trail 310 miles in the early fall. Plan on freezer bag cooking, trying to decide to use the Amicus, Pocket Rocket or my alcohol stove. For a 3 week to a 4 week walk, I was thinking 3 canister for each stove and 30-40 oz for the alcohol stove. Using it 2 meals a day. Your thoughts
Thank you
Randy
Thinking about buying an Amicus, and hope it doesn’t have a microregulator like my Soto Microregulator stove. (This stove came out before the Windmaster). Lately I’ve been having a problem with my Soto stove. At modest altitudes (eg 1400 metres above sea level), although I turn the stove off, the gas still keeps coming out slowly in small quantity. This problem doesn’t happen at sea level where I live. Means on a mountain tramp I have to detatch the gas canister asap after using stove. I live in New Zealand.
Sounds like a bad canister seal. Maybe there is agasket in the stove gone bad. Have you contacted Soto yet? I bet they’d offer to fix it or replace it. They’re a small company. Really great folks.