Clearview Pioneer 400 stove

Finally made the decision to buy a woodburner could not believe how much choice of stoves there are.we saw and liked the look of the 400 but was shocked to see the cost but we went away and checked the reports and reviews.went back and bought the 400 then worried whether we had wasted our money.Now the stove has been fitted and been running for a good month or so,the worry has turned to relief.If we hadnt bought this stove we feel we would have made a mistake it is everything we wanted.overnight burn is excellent just chuck a log in turn right down then in morning open up and away it goes.never had to clean the glass must be down to the airwash system.the only problem we have found is the ash raker handle is difficult to operate with a glove on.
that apart cannot fault the stove and would advise anyone looking for a stove to seriously consider this one.

This is our second Clearview stove, we bought a Vision in 1999 and when we moved we brought it with us to the new house. We got the chimneys lined with insulated concrete and bought a Pioneer 400 for the smaller front room in 2004.

This addition meant that we haven't had to use our gas central heating for 5 years, and our annual gas bill is less than £100. These stoves are an important part of our low carbon lifestyle.

We don't use the front room Pioneer as much as the back room/kitchen Vision, but it is a super stove, just as good as the bigger stove, perhaps just slightly less easy to keep the fire in overnight, although we do sometimes do it! But it's SO easy to light, this really isn't a problem. The double-glazed window doesn't soot up and all the parts are replacable, although we haven't had to replace anything from the Pioneer. It easily heats the room it's in, and the bedroom above too.

Several friends have bought a Pioneer since seeing our Clearviews, and they are all very pleased with it. The flat-top version is good as you can put a kettle on it or even cook with a small pan.

My brother bought a similar-sized Town and Country stove, and when he bought his second stove, decided on a Clearview.

We recommend Clearview Stoves above the others we've seen and experienced.

John Cossham, York

15 years ago I bought a Clearview Vision 500 and was extremely pleased with it. 10 years later we moved to a cottage and the Clearview Vision was too big for the fireplace so purchased a Hunter Hawk.

Much later on I found out that Clearview had introduced the new Clearview Pioneer so after some measuring discovered that it would fit nicely.

Now I thought that the Hunter Hawk was OK but since installing the Clearview Pioneer it is like chalk and cheese, the Clearview experience is back and makes the Hunter seem not even second division but more like a third division stove.

I know that Clearview are expensive but their stoves will still be going when the Hunter is dead and gone. So do yourself a huge favour and buy a Clearview - they are not called the Rolls Royce of stoves without good reason!

This will be our fourth winter with this hard working little stove. Fitted in a north facing room in an exposed position, we couldn't ask for more!

We occasionally burn smokeless fuel, but find that it burns far too hot and we end up having to open all the internal doors.

This wonderful little workhorse has been used to make casseroles on and boil kettles of water in power cuts. I timed boiling a pan of potatoes on it compared to the gas hob, and beat the hob by two minutes (it was going at full capacity).

Having the longer legged option means you can store small logs or kindling underneath.

If lit in the morning and the room is left with the doors open, a gentle heat will permeate throughout the ground floor during the day.

We are installing a second stove but have chosen a Charnwood Country 4; two reasons: the hike in price for a Pioneer during four years is over £300. We wanted a light coloured stove for a dark room, Charnwood are the only manufacturers that do this in a paint finish, unless we want to pay £2k to Chesneys (National Trust).

We have been using the Clearview 400 for abot 7 years now with no complaints. Burning only logs it lights in a jiffy, sometimes just using newspaper without kindling. Contrary to the experience of Shughes the fire stays in overnight every time. Indeed, we have frequently damped the fire down late at night and have been able to bring it back to life after returning home from work the following evening (18 hours later).