stove recomendations,,

[Cruiser]

Looking for a simple one burner stove,, small backpack type,, so the question is,, is there one that wont break the bank?? Also liquid fuel or the isobutane?? Burner on top of the can or is it worth having the small extension hose type??
Thanks,
Steve

[Robar]

Check out this thread by Rubimon: Any backpackers out there? (http://www.jk-forum.com/showthread.php?t=6271&highlight=stove)

[Mark Doiron]

Looking for a simple one burner stove,, small backpack type,, so the question is,, is there one that wont break the bank?? ...
Steve--

I have a nice Primus Multi-fuel. I hardly ever carry it. Curtis (my son) and I made one from an Altoids tin that burns alcohol. We then made a small, metal box that holds the Altoids tin and, when open, serves as a support for a small pot. We carry alcohol in a small, pink (since neither of us would be caught dead drinking from a pink!) Nalgene. It works great. I don't have time right now, but later I can post a pic or two if you like. However, search on Altoids tin stove and you'll find plenty of hits. If you decide to go this route, let me know and don't buy the Perlite--I bought the smallest bag I could find (and it was quite huge!) and the stove only needs a little bit! LOL. It weighs nothing, so I'll mail you an envelope-full gratis.

BTW: You can also buy commercial versions of these stoves for about $25.

[sully151]

I use the MSR whisperlite International. You can get it for $80 or so at rei. They also sell the Pocket Rocket for $40. They are easy to take apart and will burn on farts if needed (well almost)

[Mark Doiron]

... They are easy to take apart and will burn on farts if needed (well almost)
Yes, but you must be very careful if you chose to do this. A few days on trail food could mean that your farts aren't completely liquid free (don't ask how I know!). :rotflmao2:

[Cruiser]

Mark,, I like those stoves,, but they seem a little underpowered to do any real cooking on.. I have made a zen stove once out of a beer can and it was good but just not enough for my little espresso maker to work,, would get it right to the edge then stop just short.. Great for heating up water for instant coffee and such.. I plan on car camping more but the smaller and lighter gear the better.. I do travel on dirtbike to camping areas, so its not as bad as backpacking but size and weight are still important.. But all that said I just cant go without my espresso in the morning.. Also my drink at night.. when camping I use vodka instead of bear as it takes up much less room.. If I'm real space conscious I go everclear,, add coolaid to it,, to make it taste better..

[Sum_Devl]

If weight and size are somewhat of an issue, but not a major issue I would recommend checking out some of the Jetboil products. They are not cheap by any means but they are great products. I personally own the PCS (personal cooking system) and I love it, :ya: I take it with me on all of my backpacking trips, to boil water for all my dehydrated foods and what not, and just like you I could not function in the mornings without my coffee so the optional coffee press comes in real handy. :2thumbs: They also make a few other things for groups or actual camp cooking, here are a few pic's of them.

PCS (personal cooking system) this is what I have.
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/pcsblackf.jpg

and here are the others

GCS (group cooking system)
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/gcs.jpg

Helios High-Performance Cook System
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/helios.jpg

[Cruiser]

I was looking at those over at LL bean store,, do you have to use specific pots or will any work? look really nice.. nobody at the store at the time could answer any questions(even what time it was)....

[Mark Doiron]

... But all that said I just cant go without my espresso in the morning...
I know what you mean. I tell folks that the best thing I've had in the morning since my wife passed away is a cup of coffee while camping. :rotflmao2:

[Sum_Devl]

I imagine you could, but it would probably not work very well. The reason it is so efficient is because of the design of the containers you get with the package, if you look at the bottom of each of the containers they are designed with a flux ring (which is the finned looking part), to concentrate the heat for faster boiling time, here is a pic.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/fluxintro.jpg

Also here is a pic of the PCS show in it's packed state, it is real compact so I really couldn't see a reason to use any other pots with it.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm295/Sum_Devl/stackpackpcs.jpg

If you decide to get one I would recommend you put the burner under the fuel can (if the pot is still wet when you pack it back up, you run the chance of getting some on the pot from the metal ring of the fuel can.)

[Cruiser]

I'm going to go look at these tomorrow,, I think they have them at cabelas..
Thanks,,
Steve

[spencenaz]

If weight and size are somewhat of an issue, but not a major issue I would recommend checking out some of the Jetboil products. They are not cheap by any means but they are great products. I personally own the PCS (personal cooking system) and I love it, :ya: I take it with me on all of my backpacking trips, to boil water for all my dehydrated foods and what not, and just like you I could not function in the mornings without my coffee so the optional coffee press comes in real handy. :2thumbs: They also make a few other things for groups or actual camp cooking, here are a few pic's of them.

PCS (personal cooking system) this is what I have.


and here are the others

GCS (group cooking system)

Helios High-Performance Cook System


I love my Jetboil. The starter sucks though. Be sure to have some matches or a butane lighter with you. Nothing boils water faster, and with the pot attachment it makes a great camp stove. Lightweight and great for backpacking.

Highly recommended.

[Brad2893]

I really like my MSR, pretty good heat and efficient.

Also used a methyl-hydrate stove, can't remember the brand, but it fit into a nice pot pack.

Cheers.

[CIJeep]

I'm in Calif so at higher altitudes anything that uses gas like propane gernerally sucks if you want something really hot. I prefer a coleman style pressurized pump fuel conrainer. It will burn as hot up high or down low. Its a higher maintenance item but generally only need to be serviced once a year.

If you're hotfooting it then weight is an issue go for what suits you best from the posts above.

[SONIC]

I have both a pocket rocket for those quick trips and an MSR WindPro for the longer ones.
i love the wind pro its awesome, its an isobutane canister stove

[08JK]

Here are the pro's and con's about the liquid and canister fuel. Liquid fuel stove will burn practically everywhere, but there is priming involved which can get messy at first. Canister fuel stoves are easy to use, but do not perform as well as liquid fuel in high elevation and cold weather. The fuel cost is also another factor, one quart of white gas (that can last you for many trip) will cost about the same as a fuel canister (which usually last you for a few trips). So depending on how serious you are with backpacking, I would go with canister fuel stove if you don't want to hassle with priming (the best choice for canister stove has already been mention-the Jetboil, but do also look into the MSR Reactor, which is a little bit bulkier but boils faster and more wind resistant than the Jetboil). But if white gas is your choice, then go with the MSR Simmerlite (weights about 8.5oz), it primes much faster than the traditional Whisperlite which can save you fuel in the long run. One note about liquid fuel stove, unless you plan to go backpacking oversea, a white gas stove is sufficient instead of a Multi-fuel stoves, any other type of liquid fuel will tend to clog the stove faster than white gas. Just my 2 cents.

[Brad2893]

As last post, I generally stick to white gas these days. Used it in the Rocky Mtns in Feb (-30C) and on the coastal rainforest. Works just as well in both, really, and doesn't clog.

[Cruiser]

What is the difference in a white gas and multifuel? can the multifuel run on reg. unleaded? If so that would solve an issue of packing fuel as I'm usually camping with my dirt bike..

[Brad2893]

I haven't used gasoline on my multi, but have used white gas and kerosene. Both worked fine. Anyone else?

[Mark Doiron]

... can the multifuel run on reg. unleaded?...
Yes, but you may not appreciate the flavor it imparts to your food.

[Cruiser]

You saying it gives a new meaning to leaded coffee?? I run a mix of 93 pump gas and vp racing fuel,, wonder what that tastes like??

[Zylfrax791]

Snow Peak makes a super light titanium stove that runs on cartridges. Fast & Light...

[Cruiser]

ok,, went to a semi local outfitter today,, havent made it out to cabelas yet.. they had the jet boil,, high $$ but nice,, and they had a couple older style white gas setups.. but one that was kinda nice was the exponent series multifuel,, had the remote fuel holder, and the hookup for running butane too,, the guy there said it would burn anything from butane, white gas, unleaded, citronella,, but joked about how smelly and dirty that would be,, also said it would bring the bears in fast,,, anybody use one,, single burner,, and the whole setup minus fuel dint take up much room,, or weigh that much more than the jetboil(but that had a pot too)..
Oh and heres a pic,, the firestorm,, I remember talking to someone about this and cant remember where the post on that was,, oh,, and they were like $149 but clearing them out for $59..
http://www.2camping.com/images/product/5_51694.jpg

[Cruiser]

Ok,, to clarify,, not exactly multifuel,, only white gas or unleaded,, or any canister fuel.. I'm heading to REI today to "play" with some stoves.. The jet boil I liked was over $200 and you can use other pots on it if you get the right attachment.. My espresso maker will not fit on the adapter,, so I think that is out.. The coffee maker they have is a french press type,, and might as well just make cowboy coffee,, same thing just with the grounds strained.. I like my espresso,, or should I say addicted..
I'll report more later,,,
Thanks,,
Steve

[DavidEllzey]

I'm in Calif so at higher altitudes anything that uses gas like propane gernerally sucks if you want something really hot. I prefer a coleman style pressurized pump fuel conrainer. It will burn as hot up high or down low. Its a higher maintenance item but generally only need to be serviced once a year.

If you're hotfooting it then weight is an issue go for what suits you best from the posts above.

CJ,

Yes, the JB is really a backpacker stove and using it in a car camp or even a short hike situation would be silly since you could have a much better setup. That said, I've used my JB at altitudes up to 11,000 with great results. The trick is that you have to sleep with a canister in your bag, if the canister get too cold they perform poorly.

Dave

[Kes]

I would have to give another nob to the jet boil (http://jetboil.com/).