I've been using this stove for 25 years, mostly in the High Sierras. Zero complaints. I've even burned cow dung in it, it'll burn anything that burns. Once it gets going I've even used wet wood chips, the superheated air from the blower works great. I use mostly rechargable batteies and carry a small solar charger which I hang off my backpack - charges while I'm moving!

Customer Service

Never needed them.

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Nothing similar to this, quit using bottle fuel stoves looooong ago.

I started using the zz ztove in the early 80's. My first one lasted until 1993 when the interior began to disintegrate. I bought my second one before I started bike touring. That one lasted through Europe and from Canada to Mexico. I bought my third in 1999 when the previous one met the same demise as the first. Yesterday morning in the desert my third ztove wore out when one of the pot supports broke off the interior. It still works fine, but I'll have to use a small rock as a pot support until I can get #4. These stoves are dependable and fun. They quickly become a conversation piece in any campsite. I'm waiting until December, 2008 when the new Titanium model is available. That one should last longer than the 8-10 years the previous ones have.

Customer Service

The company just changed hands, but the new owners are as friendly and helpful as the old ones. They will even build a Titanium ztove for me with four pot supports instead of the three that come with the standard Titanium one to accommodate the four support accessories I have from my previous ztoves.

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I have a Bleuet as a back-up or second burner, but rarely use it because the zz Sierra Ztove boils water faster and is more fun.

I have used a Sierra stove for 3 years.It worked well but after only about 30 hours of use the inner burner bowl has rusted and is starting to fall apart.The pansupports have dropped off.It seems very poor value as it is one of the more expensive stoves on the market.Iwould buy another one but only if the manufacturers improve the burner section.

I bought my ZZ Sierra stove about eight years ago and have had many adventures with it. Never found circumstances in which I could not get enough fuel for it, always easy to light even without the cotton and vaseline trick that has become popular. At any altitude, by the beach or on a mountain it has just done the job without fuss. I am always amazed at how little fuel it uses. My only complaint is that I would like a double burner model or a dtableizing base so that I am less concerned about it being knocked over. I notice that newer models have tripod base and a different arrangement for the battery and switch. If my stove were ever to wear out I would buy another one right away!

Customer Service

Never had a reason to contact them except to see what stores carry the stove so I can tell friends where to find one!

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Svea, Coleman etc, but never willingly once I had this one!

I first bought the Zip Stove in 1980 for a three week trip I was doing in the High Sierra with no food drops and I didn''t want to worry about fuel. Nobody I knew had every herard of, much less used one. We used it everay day but one and it worked great. A couple of times when we were going to the extreme high country to camp (above 12,000) we just put some sticks in a stuff sack on the way up. I used that stove for the next twenty years without a problem. Two years ago, I got a new one for my birthday and gave my old one to a friend. This thing cranks. It boils water as fast as any other stove. One drawback if you are a neatnik is the pots turing black, but I have had my pots forever and used them over campfires anyway. Besides, this is backpacking, black hands and stinky shirts are part of the deal. One minor drawback is you have to baby sit the fire when you are boiling a big (4 liters) of water or a long cooking meal. I see it as all part of the fun

Customer Service

Haven''t had to use it

Similar Products Used:

MSR XGK, Bluet, SVEA, Coleman

I have used this stove several hundred times. I have never had a problem with starting a fire with any burnable fuel, using cotton balls/petroleum jelly as fire starter. Even soaked wood will fire up if you start with small twigs and then the bigger stuff. I can use coals from fire rings and not even use the fan once they are ignited. This will keep coffee hot all morning long. No hassel with the airlines when flying. Can boil unlimited amounts of water, comes in handy when water filter quits. I even have a mylar 3oz shower. Bigges problem I have is from other fuel carring hikers who want to borrow my zip because they are "running low on fuel" or "Im out of fuel and its miles to the nearest store" I gladly swap the use of my stove for some of their food, this helps me stay longer on the trail.

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None

Great stove!! NO FUEL to carry, and burns about anything you can find on the ground. In fact, I've used the charcoal that others have left in their firepits to cook meals for days, without gather any wood at all. Been using for just over a year, and the only problem I've had is a dirty motor that starts slowing down.

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None

I've had my sierra stove for ten years and I'm finally having real problems with the moter.Loved it while it lasted-light weight,gets through the air port, leaves only a little residue of very fine ash to scatter.I always found dry fuel by planning ahead, except in the dead of winter. My old one is prone to tip, you might want to put a pie pan under yours.Oil the moter before you leave.

Similar Products Used:

Coleman multi-fuel,Sears/hillary propane.

Bought one at the end of May and used for one week. An excellent product well worth the $52. For starting the fire I carried cotton wool balls smeared with vaseline, you can cram half a dozen into a film cannister
Pros: No fuel to carry
I like the smell of wood smoke
and the fireglow
Does exactly what the ZZ corp
says it will
Cons: None yet.

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None

A great invention. No fuel to carry.
Hard to believe it works till you use it.
I have used it to burn wet twigs and it works. My model is older, has everything underneath.
Great for kids to use, no danger of explosions or spills, gives them something to do (feeding the stove with twigs). Great for hamburgers and hot dogs (Campmor sells a grill for it). It does have drawbacks, like all stoves do. Cannot use inside tent, too smokey. Have to put the battery in the correct way, I once put it in backwards and could not keep the fire going, I felt real stupid when I found out. Mine came with pot and lid which stores the stove inside, real compact. NO FUEL TO SPILL. Good idea to use a lithium AA battery purchased at Home Depot for a low price (Walmart/Target a little more), I use Lithiums for my head lamp to now because of ability to work in winter, longer use, lighter weight, can carry less batteries.
Great stove period.

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MSR wisperlite. It works.
But the Zipp is a really great invention.