I can't help but snicker at carrying anything when fires are legal. if you're going to use a wood fire and fires are legal, a *very* small twig fire inside three rocks can easily boil water. Just set your pot on the rocks. There's a reason most of the third world talks about a "three stone fire".

I've tried variants of the downdraft wood stoves and the like, but even a tomato sauce can is a lot heavier in my pack than nothing <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

So, as far as weight goes, if fires are legal, make one. just make a very small one to keep your impact
low. While I won't do it from an LNT perspective in a random place, When I'm hitting backcountry campsites where fires are allowed, I certainly have no concern (ethically) with doing this. Now, ususally
I carry an alky stove as well, so If the weather is miserable and I don't want to mess with tending a small
fire, I can use alky.