Navigating the great outdoors requires equipment that’s as robust and adaptable as the environment itself. The Fire Maple Polaris Cooking System is a beacon of reliability for outdoor enthusiasts. Engineered to perform in various conditions, from biting cold to gusty winds, it’s an essential piece of gear for anyone venturing into the wild. The efficiency and resilience of the Fire Maple Polaris set it apart, securing its position on our list of the Best Camping Stoves.
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Quick Overview
- Weight: 622g / 22 oz
- Packed Dimensions: 123 x 132 x 207 mm
- Boil Time: 110 seconds per 0.5 litre
- Volume: 1L
- Power: 6142 BTU
- Fuel Type: Isobutane gas canister
- Material: Anodized Aluminum / Stainless Steel / Tritan / Silicone / Copper
The Fire Maple Polaris Cooking System is a portable, all-in-one stove designed for outdoor adventures. It’s built to work in all kinds of weather, making boiling water or cooking meals easy and quick, even in tough conditions.
The system includes a powerful stove, a pot with a special heat exchanger for faster cooking, and other handy accessories, all fitting together in a compact package. It’s durable, easy to use, and safe, making it a great choice for campers and hikers who need a reliable way to cook while exploring the outdoors.
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Fire Maple Polaris Video Review
Fire Maple Polaris Cooking System Features & Specs
All-in-One Set
The Fire Maple Polaris Cooking System comes as an all-in-one package, including a stove with a pressure regulator valve, a highly efficient pot with a heat exchanger, a pot stand, and a canister stabilizer, all designed to nest together seamlessly. This integrated system offers quicker cooking times and enhanced fuel efficiency, even in demanding weather conditions.
Price
While integrated stove systems are generally more expensive due to the inclusion of a pot and stand, the Polaris is priced competitively at around £75 making it a very cost-effective option compared to other models in its category. To find the most up-to-date prices, click on these links to some of our top recommended retailers: Fire Maple, Amazon
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Weight
While the Fire Maple Polaris is more affordable, it is slightly heavier than some of its costlier counterparts, weighing 622 grams. However, this weight should not be a concern for most users. It’s still very light, and the additional grams are a small trade-off for its cost-effectiveness. This stove is ideal for weekend or overnight trips, and even for longer excursions, unless you are in situations where minimizing every single gram is critical.
Pressure Regulated Valve
The Fire Maple Polaris Cooking System is equipped with a pressure regulated valve, a feature that significantly enhances its performance across various environmental conditions. This valve ensures consistent and efficient heat output, regardless of the weather, altitude, or temperature. It’s a crucial element for maintaining a steady cooking temperature, making it easier to prepare meals in the unpredictable outdoors.
Rapid Boil Time
This cooking system excels with its impressive boil time, capable of boiling water in just about 3.5 minutes for 1 litre. Just what you need if you’re preparing a quick cup of coffee in the morning or a hearty meal after a long day of hiking, the Polaris ensures that your food and drinks are ready in a fraction of the time compared to standard outdoor stoves.
Wind-Proof Design
The Polaris boasts a wind-proof design, which effectively shields the flame from gusts, ensuring that the stove maintains a consistent heat output even in breezy conditions. Such a feature is invaluable for adventurers who often find themselves cooking in exposed, windy environments, as it greatly enhances the stove’s reliability and performance.
Advanced Heat Tech
The system features highly efficient heat exchange technology, enhancing its boiling efficiency significantly. This technology is designed to minimize heat loss, ensuring that more of the heat goes directly to heating your food or water. As a result, you get faster cooking times and reduced fuel consumption, making it both efficient and eco-friendly.
Stability
A key advantage of this integrated stove system is the secure fit between the pot and the stove, greatly reducing the risk of accidental spills or knocks – potentially avoiding disaster. The included pot stand adds to this stability, ensuring the system stays steady even on uneven ground.
Portability
This stove is designed with both compactness and portability in mind. Its components neatly nest within each other, including a gas canister (sold separately) resulting in a streamlined package which packs away neatly into a mesh carry bag.
Piezo Igniter
The system is equipped with a Piezo Igniter, which ensures a reliable and instant start every time. This feature eliminates the need for matches or lighters, making it safer and more convenient, especially in windy or wet conditions. With just a push of a button, you can easily ignite the stove, adding to the overall practicality and user-friendliness of the cooking setup.
Locking Handle
The stove features a locking handle that securely snaps into place during cooking, easily realised again when done cooking with the touch of a button. This handle also cleverly doubles as a lock for the lid when the system is nested together, ensuring that contents stay secure and spill-free during transit.
Pot Lid
The pot lid is thoughtfully designed with a vent, which serves a multi-purpose. Firstly, it prevents steam build-up from pushing the lid off during cooking. Secondly, the escaping steam through the vent acts as a natural indicator, signalling when your water has reached boiling point and finally, for draining water after cooking without spilling your dinner.
Volume Markings
Inside the pot, there are clear volume markings, which allow you to easily measure the amount of water you’re boiling or cooking with. These internal indicators are a practical addition, especially useful when a precise water measurement is required.
Pot Stand
The addition of a pot stand in the stove system opens up a world of culinary possibilities, as it allows for compatibility with standard pots and pans. This flexibility is ideal for outdoor enthusiasts who prefer a variety of cooking styles or need to prepare larger meals for groups. It’s a practical feature that extends the usability of the stove beyond its integrated set.
Fire Maple Polaris Cooking System Pros and Cons
Pros
- Piezo Igniter
- Consistent heat output in varying conditions.
- Fast boil time
- Very fuel efficient
- Convenient all-in-one cooking system
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Heavier than similar cooking systems
- No spout for precise pouring
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My Experience with the Fire Maple Polaris Cooking System
On a recent overnight trip to Snowdonia National Park, Wales, my brother-in-law Adam and I were both extremely tired after a long day hiking when we finally reached camp after dark. As the temperature dipped to near freezing as we set up camp, the need for a quick, warming drink was all I could think about.
The Polaris cooking system, with its rapid boil capability, was a lifesaver. In just a matter of minutes, it had the water boiling, allowing for a much-needed coffee. Its efficiency in these conditions was impressive, proving that despite the cold, it lost none of its effectiveness.
With a hot brew in hand, we turned our minds to dinner. To keep things simple we opted for ready-to-eat expedition meals warmed in a pan of boiling water. I tried Wayfayrer’s Chili con carne and rice which I got to say tasted incredible.
Within an impressive total time of less than 12 minutes, we both enjoyed a steaming cup of coffee followed by a satisfying meal thanks to the quick and effortless setup and rapid boil time of the Polaris stove.
This experience solidified the Polaris stove as a reliable and essential piece of gear for any adventure, combining convenience, efficiency, and adaptability in challenging environments.
Fire Maple Polaris Cooking System Alternatives
Now let’s see how the Fire Maple Polaris Cooking System stands out from the pack by comparing it with some of the best integrated cooking systems available today.
Jetboil Flash
The Jetboil Flash boasts a rapid boil time of 100 seconds and a lightweight design coming in at just shy of 370 grams, making it a great choice for speed-focused ultralight backpackers.
However, the Fire Maple Polaris, while slightly slower in boiling, offers a more comprehensive package at almost half the price. Its pressure-regulated valve makes it superior in diverse weather conditions. While the Jetboil Flash excels in speed and lightness, the Polaris provides a better value for those seeking a robust, all-in-one cooking solution.
MSR WindBurner
Comparing the MSR WindBurner with the Fire Maple Polaris, we see two robust contenders in the integrated stove market. The WindBurner, also including a pressure regulator, excels in windy conditions with its windproof performance and radiant burner, ensuring consistent operation. It’s also lightweight at 465g and boasts a quick boil time of 2.5 minutes using MSR IsoPro. Notely the Windburner lacks an integrated lighter found both on the Flash and Polaris.
On the other hand, the Fire Maple Polaris, although slightly heavier, offers a more budget-friendly option (also half the price) with similar capabilities. Its integrated lighter and heat exchange technology still delivers efficient cooking, albeit in a slightly longer time frame. While the WindBurner is ideal for those looking to save a few grams, the Polaris is a great all-rounder, balancing cost, performance, and versatility.
Alpkit Brukit
While the Alpkit Brukit is a more budget-friendly option and includes a convenient Piezo ignitor, it lacks a pressure regulator, a feature where the Fire Maple Polaris has an advantage. This makes the Polaris, albeit slightly pricier, more suitable for year-round usage.
The pressure regulator in the Polaris ensures consistent performance in varying weather conditions, enhancing its reliability. For those seeking an affordable, efficient option, the Brukit is great, but for all-season reliability, the Polaris stands out as the better choice.
More Camping Stoves
Take a look at our Best Camping Stoves list to compare how the Fire Maple Polaris Cooking System compares against others.
Still interested in more from this brand? Dive into my review of the Fire Maple Polaris Remote Gas Stove.
More Polaris Cooking System Photos
Final Thoughts
For adventurers in need of a dependable and efficient cooking system, the Fire Maple Polaris emerges as a standout option. Its combination of rapid boiling, piezo ignitor, and pressure regulator makes it a solid choice even in challenging weather conditions. Although on the slightly heavier side, the Polaris’ affordability more than makes up for it, making it a value-packed choice for both backpackers in need of a hot meal – fast!
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Learn More
Like this review? Well, you’re in luck as I’ve got a bunch of other great resources for you to explore here…
- Wild Camping: The Complete Beginner’s Guide
- Best Tents For Wild Camping
- Best Hammocks + Best Bivvy Bags
- Best Portable Camping Fire Pits
- Best Places for Wild Camping Wales, Scotland and The Lake District
I bought the Fire Maple Polaris Cooking System with my own money to test and review. My review is independent of the supplier and reflects my own unbiased opinions. Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission if purchases are made through those links at no additional cost to you. You can read my affiliate disclosure in the privacy policy.
About the Author
Steve Cleverdon is an adventure blogger dedicated to helping outdoor enthusiasts make the most of their outdoor experiences. With years of travel and many epic adventures including a 3000-kilometre solo hike across New Zealand, Steve has amassed practical knowledge on outdoor gear. You can learn more about his adventures here. Through expert reviews, recommendations, and guides, he equips his readers with the best gear for their next adventure. If you want to send Steve a quick message, visit his contact page here.
