30-NC vs Lopi Endeavor

[jerseyben]

Hello all, shopping for a wood stove. Have used hearth.com to do a massive amount of research.

Have narrowed it down to 2 wood stoves: 30-NC or Lopi Endeavor.

Willing to consider other suggestions using the following criteria:

-Must heat between 1200-2000 sqft
-Rear wall clearance around 15" or less
-Firebox size 2.2 cu ft or bigger (preferred)
-Non catalyst only
-Under $2500 or so
-Must have legs (no pedestal base)

Have found nothing but awesome reviews for the 30-NC but the Lopi looks nice as well. Cannot see a reason to go one over the other. The Lopi is more expensive and has a smaller firebox. Perhaps I am missing something that is notable?

Thanks for your suggestions.
-Ben

 

[BrotherBart]

Both great wood stoves. The Lopi should do a little better in the convection heat department because of the standard side shields feeding heated air up and into the convection deck cleverly disguised as a step top on the Endeavor. Side shields for the 30 are a tad over a hundred bucks extra and don't have the finished look of the ones on the Endeavor. Also the Lopi has a damper that can be opened for easier start-up fires. Because the Endeavor is really a flat top stove with no step bend for strengthening it has a 5/16" thick top plate which is a hair thicker than the 1/4" top plate on the 30.

Either stove will get'er done. Longer burn times with the 30 just because you can load more wood into it.

 

[stoveguy2esw]

im with BB on this one , both my 30 and the Lopi are quality stoves, each has its "good points" and its "better points" being as I have "a dog in the fight" im not picking sides, but I will say you cant go wrong with either unit. Lopi makes some great stuff.

 

[Hoozie]

I have a 30, and my parents have the Lopi. They like mine better "burns twice as well, for half the price" BUT, that is mostly because I know how to burn the stove properly, and they're still trying to burn theirs like their old smoke monster. The only time I have thick black stuff on my glass is when they run mine

That being said, after using theirs, there is something that bugged me about the Lopi: The ash shelf is right below the door, so any embers/coals that fall out need to be moved.. somewhere... before you close the door, otherwise they get smashed between the stove and the door gasket.

On the 30, there's a few inches there, so you can close the door, then deal with the runaway coals.

Also, to go N/S loading on the Lopi, your splits have to be really short (like 12-14"). And the latch on the 30 is much nicer, in their opinion.

 

[BobUrban]

im with BB on this one , both my 30 and the Lopi are quality stoves, each has its "good points" and its "better points" being as I have "a dog in the fight" im not picking sides, but I will say you cant go wrong with either unit. Lopi makes some great stuff.

Now there is an honest post - not surprised at by whom it was posted by but geesh - can's get anymore real than that!!

I love my 30 but have never run a Lopi. The ash lip would be enough to sway me if all things were equal regarding size but they are not. I like being able to go NS or EW with equally ridiculously huge splits!!

 

[begreen]

They are both good steel stoves. Each has its strengths and you would like either one, but there are distinct differences. The 30NC is a third larger, but a value stove. In order to sell it for such a great price some compromise has to be made. For example, the 30NC baffle is made from a somewhat fragile ceramic board. The Endeavor uses robust firebrick and as noted, the 30NC doesn't have a flue bypass damper like the Lopi. That said it is hard to beat the value of the big Englander. It sets a high standard and there are a lot of happy owners here.