The Haines 2.0 Solar Cooker

We encountered the original Haines Solar Cooker during the Solar Cookers International (SCI) Convention in Sacramento, California July17-19, 2014, and we were impressed by its simplicity, ease of set-up and use, and its effectiveness; not to mention how compact it is.  The new 2.0 version is made of the same metalized polyester (MPET) foam material, but is larger, more parabolic in shape, and heats faster than the original.

Haines 2.0 Solar Cooker Details:
Materials:

The reflector is made of IXPE (cross-linked polyester) foam insulation bonded with reflective metalized polyester film (MPET film / 3mm IXPE foam / white PET film). The reflective polyester will not oxidize, cannot be scratched off, and has a high melting point. Importantly, the new material is easy to recycle and is environmentally safe through the whole production and recycling process without pollution. In the U.S., this material is used to make high-end auto windshield sunshades.

How the Haines Solar Cooker Works

Like other solar panel cookers the Haines 2.0 Solar Cooker is comprised of a simply constructed reflective surface that gathers, or concentrates the suns rays onto a dark colored cooking vessel.  To retain heat, ordinarily the cooking vessel is enclosed in  glass or plastic, such as oven roasting bag.

In the case of the Haines 2.0 cooker rather than using an oven (turkey) roasting bag like many panel style cookers do, the manufacturer decided to use a material that would last longer than the standard oven roasting bag and would be easy to use while at the same time would be effective in retaining the accumulated heat energy in and around the cook pot.

The wide open and properly angled reflector panels capture a lot of sunlight, reflecting it onto the cooking vessel and the wind screen helps to reduce heat loss that is sometimes and issue with some panel style cookers. The cooking sleeve is designed so that it will fit around almost any of the small-large pot/pan sizes available (no handles) making the sleeve an effective glazing to hold the heat close to the cooking vessel.

If one wishes to use oven roasting bags with this cooker you can do so just as easily as using the included cooking sleeve. This would allow one to cook using a pot/pan that has a handle, if that were the only cooking vessel available.

            ....If taken care of this cooker should give many years of great solar cooking

This cooker is easy to set up, effective in its ability to cook and is definitely a nice cooker for the backpacker, outdoor enthusiast, and for the person who wants to have an extra and viable means to cook in times of emergency or disaster.

But, don't put this solar cooker away until needed for an emergency, keep it out where you can use it every day the sun is shining, because it is that easy to use. And it will not only cook your food well, but it might save you a little on the electric bill and intrigue the neighbors at the same time.

The Haines 2.0 Cooker is more rigid than a lot of similar style panel cookers and is more able to withstand breezes which can be a challenge for other soft material panel cookers.

This cooker also has an advantage of more efficient cooking with the added protection and heat retaining feature of the windscreen that covers the cooking pot.

-A very compact and useful solar cooker for backpackers and outdoors enthusiasts. We wholeheartedly recommend the Haines Solar Cooker.

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See our Copenhagen Cooker

See our SunFlair Cooker