Woodstock Survival Hybrid - looking for input

I looked at the data on the Morso 2b since it appears to have done well in the 2020 EPA tests. I saw one site that said that it can burn for like 8 hrs which I find a little hard to believe with such a small burn chamber. Looking at the web site for Morso also seems to indicate there is no outside air kit available on that stove. I have been trying to find video and reports on the stove seem kind of hard to locate. The cabin is going to be pretty tight so I think I need something that I can get an outside air kit/adapter for. Woodstock has an adapter available for the Survival they said I would need to order and they install it there from the way it sounds.

I looked at the Blaze King's but they seem like they would be a little too much for my planned small space. I really don't want to be run out of the house by the stove because my objective is to super insulate the cabin so I really don't think I will need a big wood stove, but I would like one with a burn chamber that can handle decent size wood. 16-18" rounds and splits is what I have cut so far because that I what I knew I could get into the NC30 pretty easy so it would be nice to have the stove in the cabin also able to burn the same rounds if possible.

 

Probably a smart move going with a stove you can hook an OAK to if your cabin will be super tight. Like the Morso 2b there's no way to hook up an Oak to the Jotul 602 and 16" splits are right up to the glass and they only fit on bottom of firebox due to the baffle configuration. I found 14" to be best if you want to fill the firebox full. There are other nice looking small Morso Squirrel stoves out there but I'm not sure if they have OAK adapters and they take even smaller splits.

One other option is the small PE stove like the T4 Alderlea, Classic or Vista. They have Oak hook ups, take 16" splits and very close clearance to combustibles, I think its like 4".

 

I know nothing of Morso, other than they have a good reputation.
I refer to the Keystone (1.4cuft usable) because I'm very familiar and very happy with it. Fits MY needs almost perfectly: A Very easy 12 hour burn averages .12 cuft/hr. My standard day time burn is 1.4/14hrs=.10cuft/hr. 1.4 cuft capacity for the cold night 8hr burns. 440 lbs soapstone that has the heat density of 880 lbs steel, to level the heating curve. 6 month satisfaction, or your money back guarantee. Can be bought factory refurbished at a discount. I couldn't tell mine had ever been fired.
Morso: .806/8hrs=.10 cuft/hr. Weighs 156 lbs.
Can it actually burn that long without a catalyst? If so, very impressive.
Both have reversible flue collars, a plus.

 

Longsnowsm , where'd you move from, what kind of winters are you used to?

 

I moved here from Colorado. Was in an urban setting and wood heat isn't a great option where I was. My property in MO I have access to all the wood I want in a rural setting without all the rules regulations and hassles so wood will be my go to here. I grew up in west central IL so I am familiar with the midwest winters, but I am a good distance further south here than where I grew up as a kid so not completely sure what to expect since I haven't stayed on the property during the winter time. The goal here is to put up enough solar to be able to go off grid, but keep wood as a core resource since I have all that I need.

 

After burning my little stove that has the same sized firebox as the Morso 2b I believe it can do an 8hr burn if you consider burn time down to enough coals for relight. I did 11 hrs once with 4 perfectly sized Black Locust splits, prolly could of went longer. What I dont get is how the 2b can heat 400 sq ft more than mine according to their specs.

I would of went with another Keystone if I could of installed it in a more central location but needed a stairwell for the loft that was in the way so decided on a corner install where the Keystone just wouldnt cut it.

 

Lots of these stoves look like they're pretty well in the wheelhouse of what you're looking for. At this point you might want to make a list of what you're looking for and create a spreadsheet that identifies which stoves have those particular traits and which don't. From there you'll be able to narrow down what will fit best and what wont.
I did that with a motorcycle purchase for what its worth. In the end, a stove purchase also needs to satisfy that hard to put a finger on "emotional" desire. If you have a strong pull to one stove or the other, sometimes that's enough to put you over the edge. As much as it's a functional item, you need to live with it all year round.

 

Well honestly in the small stove category for small spaces the list appears to be pretty short. That is pretty much how found myself looking at the Survival because it does check the performance and specs boxes which is a big deal. I think the one thing that is the "pause" for me is the appearance of the Survival. The Survival lacks the more rustic visual appeal that these other stoves bring. I would prefer a more rustic look for the setting that I plan to put the stove in. But each one of the other stoves I am looking at has things missing from that specs/performance list that are very important to me. So while I am not thrilled by the way the Survival looks in physical appearance, the specs and capabilities do meet all the requirements. I guess I am just doing that last look around hoping that I missed something before I will be pulling the trigger on one. Right now I have a little time as I am waiting on dirt work and the cabin build which is looking like it will be around mid Nov at the moment. I will get to talk to the dirt work guy next week, but he has already told me it is likely not until end of Oct, first week in Nov before he can do the work. Given the lead times on things I will probably need to get the stove ordered/purchased in Oct.

I very much appreciate the feedback and the suggestions because it makes me go back and take a look. Top checklist items: 1. Small stove sized for small spaces (planned 800sf) 2. over night burn 3. length of the wood for common lengths 16-18" 4. Outside air kit/capability 5. Cooktop 6. Efficient and clean burning stove

I know I am asking a lot from a small stove. Most of these features are a lot more common in the larger stoves. However I don't think a larger stove in a small well insulated space makes sense. This really is a niche, small houses, cabins, tiny houses have gained more popularity and it would be great if we saw these features be much more common for the small space stoves so we have more choices.

 

Did you decide on your stove yet? We were considering the Survival and we went with the Absolute Steel instead (our space is larger and we live in the UP of MI, where -20F temps for weeks on end are common). I think you'll love the Survival--and Woodstock is a great company to deal with.

 

iirc, the (sides) clearance to combustibles on the Jotul is 24 inches, the Morso is 26 and the Survival is 9 inches.
Dunno if Jotul and/or Morso make bolt-on side shields

 

Well I ended up changing course and decided to go with a wood cook stove for my cabin. I liked the idea of a multipurpose stove. I think the cook stove will be overkill for my small cabin as far as heat output so I imagine I will have my windows open most of the winter. We will see. I ordered a Kitchen Queen Grand Comfort 550 which is the same size as their smaller stove the 380. I have seen others with small cabins running the smaller 380 cook stove so I felt this would be doable in my cabin also but includes the secondary burn system. So that is what I decided to do. Right now just waiting on construction of the cabin and trying to get infrastructure into place. Hopefully I will be able to get things in place by early spring.

 

My cabin is about 800 sq feet on each level (2) with open cell filled in the 6" walls. I can tell you it doesn't take much to heat it. I have a Kuma Vapor Fire 200 and it will run you out if you fill it up. I would think if you go with closed cell the smaller soapstone would handle your needs well. I also have a Woodstock Fireview in my garage that is about 900 sq ft and the Fireview will keep the garage/man cave nice even with 2 garage doors. I am not familiar with the stove you are asking about but if it a Woodstock I'm sure their burn times are very accurate, maybe a little conservative.
I burn all softwood and am located at 9500 feet elevation, so your mileage will be different than mine.