The New Lightweight Champion

Until recently, the Monatauk Gnat (aka the FMS-116t, aka the Olicamp Kinetic Ultra) was the world's lightest canister stove at 48g/1.7oz.  Until recently.

The Monatauk Gnat, 48g (1.7oz).

The maker of the "Monatauk" Gnat is really Fire Maple in China.  Fire Maple's nomenclature for the stove is FMS-116t (The "T" denotes "titanium").  Well, Fire Maple has now come out with a new, even lighter stove, the FMS-300t, which they have named the "Hornet."  The Hornet weighs in at a scant 45g (1.6oz).

The Fire Maple Hornet (FMS-300t), 45g (1.6oz)

Wait, wait, wait just a second.  Hikin' Jim do you mean to tell me it's only three measly grams lighter?  Three grams!?  Why that's only 0.1 ounce!  Who Cares?!

Well, and you've got a bit of point there actually, but that's not the whole story.  Whereas the Gnat is a rather wide stove even when you fold up the pot supports, the Hornet is quite compact.

The Hornet (FMS-300t) folds up compactly

Fire maple lists it's folded dimensions as 37mm X 52mm (1.5" X 2").

What's that you say?  With a tiny little burner head like that the flame must be extremely focused; why I'll burn my supper!  Actually, no.  The videos I've seen and the reports I've read indicate that the flame fans out reasonably well (Note:  I have not yet had a chance to get a Hornet myself for testing).  The stove is however reputed to be quite loud when in operation on high flame.

Of course, it remains to be seen how pot stability compares to other stoves.  The radius of the Hornet's supports is fairly small, and a pot will only have three points of contact because of the angle of the Hornet's pot supports.

The Hornet's pot supports are angled.

Wow!  So, where can I get one?

Fire Maple stoves are not currently available for purchase in the United States through normal channels, but even though Fire Maple stoves can't be bought from US sources, one can always buy them direct from China on eBay. Liberty Mountain does carry some stoves built by Fire Maple under the Olicamp name, but I don't yet know if the Hornet will become available under the Olicamp brand or not.

UPDATE 5 April 2013:  There have been some problems reported with jet blockages in the Fire Maple Hornet.  Apparently there is a sintered brass filter in the base of the jet.  If any gunk gets in the filter and blocks the flow of gas, there is no way to restore flow short of drilling out the filter.  A blockage would be impossible to clear in the field.  My advice is to hold off buying a Hornet until Fire Maple gets the problem corrected.  I'll post an update as more information becomes available.

At this juncture, I don't have any further information, but I wanted to at least pass it on that there was a new light weight champion in the upright canister stove category and mention the new stove's very compact design. 
Two lightweight champions in a row.  Well done, Fire Maple.

I thank you for joining me,

HJ