Fox Cookware Infrared Stove V2

How well is it built?

The V2 is built from stainless steel and aluminium, which is the right mix for a stove that gets hot, damp and knocked about in a rucksack. Stainless steel copes well with heat and weather, while aluminium is light.

The burner sits in a round stainless body with a mesh top, and the control knob is on the side where it's easy to reach.

Three folding legs tuck in for transport and open out to give the body a stable stance, and a braided hose runs from the burner to the canister connector. An extra pan stand comes with it, so you aren't tied to Fox's own pots.

For me, it's a properly made stove rather than a budget burner, and I think 8.8 is fair. It sits a notch below the JetBoil Flash Carbon only because the JetBoil is a fully integrated system, with the burner, cup and cosy built as one.

Heat & Performance

Concentrated heat is the key to this stove. Because the infrared burner focuses its output and burns less gas, a pot of water should come to the boil more quickly and a canister should go further.

On paper, 1760W isn't a big number, but focused heat is the whole point of the design.

The efficiency gain rises to as much as 30% with Fox Cookware Power Boil pots, which are built to pair with this burner. Put a standard pan on the extra stand and you still get the infrared heat, but that headline figure is tied to the Power Boil pots.

The JetBoil Flash Carbon puts a hard number on its speed, with half a litre in 100 seconds, and that's why the JetBoil scores higher for heat.

Even so, I think 8.6 is a fair score for a stove built around efficiency, and it should be a very economical choice for brews and simple meals.

Ease of Use

Setting up is straightforward. Fold the three legs out, connect the hose to a canister and set the stove down.

The long hose is the big ease-of-use point, as it lets the canister sit to one side, so the stove itself stays low rather than perched on top of a can like the JetBoil Flash Carbon.

Can you use your own pans? Yes, as the extra pan stand takes standard-style pans, so your old frying pan or kettle still has a job. That flexibility makes it easy to fit into the cooking kit you already own, and you won't need to replace everything at once.

Never cook or run a gas stove inside a closed bivvy or tent, because of carbon monoxide and fire. Cook in the open or under a well-ventilated porch, on a stable, flat base. A low stove with the canister set to one side is easy to keep level, too.

For me, the hose and the pan stand together earn the 8.6.

Is it good value for money?

How does it stack up on value? It sits between the two extremes, cheaper than the JetBoil Flash Carbon but dearer than a compact burner like the Trakker Armolife CG4.

Lower running costs should claw some of that back, especially if you fish plenty of nights and get through a lot of gas. The stainless steel and aluminium build should also give it a long life on the bank.

To be fair, it makes the most sense if you use a Fox Power Boil pot, because that's where the full efficiency figure comes from. With standard pans it's still a well-made stove, but you're paying for an advantage you won't fully use.

Overall, I'd recommend the V2 to carp and specimen anglers who brew up all session and want to use less gas.

If you mostly cook big meals, a cook station like the Fox Cookware Cookstation suits you better, but as an efficient stove for brews and simple meals I think it's a smart buy.