Camp Stove - 2012

jonesy66

Well-known member
Jan 12, 2009
539
0
VA
Alright, upgrade and buying time - feeling the camping itch coming on!!!

Thoughts on a backpack stove that can also do double duty when car camping? Mostly car camp duty.

Four front runners - in order (MHO)

1. Optimus - Nova Plus
2. MSR - Dragonfly
3. Primus - OmiFuel
4. Brunton - Flex

oh - i want multi fuel capability!

THOUGHTS?
 

BahatiDisco2

Member
Aug 18, 2009
19
0
42
Bend, Oregon
MSR Wisperlite International. Its efficient, multi fuel capable, easy to clean, easy to repair, and quiet.

With the Dragonfly you won't be able to hear anyone talking
 

dcarr1971

Well-known member
Jun 16, 2010
610
0
Pittsburgh, PA USA
BahatiDisco2 said:
MSR Wisperlite International. Its efficient, multi fuel capable, easy to clean, easy to repair, and quiet...

x2 This stove's been the same design for 20 years for a reason...it's small, light, simple, reliable, and runs on most liquid petroleum fuels you'll run across around the world.

For my second choice, I've gone to using a Jetboil with an adapter for use with a regular pan/pot.
 
Last edited:

Asolo3j

Well-known member
Nov 8, 2004
1,267
1
Annapolis
Coleman Dual Fuel Featherweight. I use it mostly for car camping. Parts are easy to get, fill up attached fuel reservoir and plenty for a weekends worth of cooking. I use white gas (coleman fuel) because it burns cleaner and doesn't soot the pots.

I have the slightly older style than this one. http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-550B7...C7QK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1329949607&sr=8-2
The Sporter 442 is another nice dual fuel from Coleman.


When I'm backpacking I use a dedicated alcohol cat-can setup for boiling water.

Had the Whisperlite for years. Great stove for backpacking, but better options for car camping. I am also looking at those SnowPeak GigaPower canister stoves. They look Gucci. But I like my alcohol setup for lightweight simplicity.
 

Leslie

Well-known member
Apr 28, 2004
3,473
0
52
Kingsport TN
If I'm car-camping, I'd use my traditional Coleman propane dual burner stove, so I can cook and have coffee at the same time (http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-20000...sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1330002885&sr=1-2). If backpacking, though, I use my Whisperlite International. But, I've considered getting one of those GigaPower stoves, too. (I do have another stove that's akin to that Coleman dual-fuel shown above, but is a military issue one that can burn anything, even gasoline; but I've not pulled it out in years, I always grab my Whisperlite if packing, the Coleman if out of a vehicle.)
 

KngTgr

Well-known member
May 20, 2005
1,321
14
Fairfax, VA
dcarr1971 said:
x2 This stove's been the same design for 20 years for a reason...it's small, light, simple, reliable, and runs on most liquid petroleum fuels you'll run across around the world.

For my second choice, I've gone to using a Jetboil with an adapter for use with a regular pan/pot.

I second this choices, but for car camping I have a Coleman double burner stove, that may be replaced, mine does not have wind screens.

Marco
 

jonesy66

Well-known member
Jan 12, 2009
539
0
VA
THanks guys: FWIW I bought the Coleman Dual Fuel Featherweight - great little stove! And additionally, on a splurge that I wondered if it was actually any good - at 1/2 the price of the Whisperlights, Dragonfly etc for backpacking. I bought this on eBay. Actually a very well made little stove, comes with everything, including the gas bottle, tools etc. I would def recommend it if you are considering a backpack stove - the control of the flame is very easy, and regulates well, it is made of all steel/brass except the control knob (plastic) - but hey for $45 it is AWESOME!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320848954606

Yeah - I know made in China - but isnt everything - incl the MSG's? I think Optimus is the only one that isnt???
 

leeawalden

Well-known member
Feb 21, 2005
2,401
1
Atlanta, GA
not related but I thought this was pretty cool.

South African Stove in 10 minutes.

1330057256.jpg

1330057284.jpg

1330057321.jpg
 

varova87

Well-known member
Mar 21, 2006
3,557
0
Texas
Car camping - dual burner coleman. For everything else, a JetBoil with the proper accessories. Some of the guys that camp with us use the MSR whisperlite, they love it.
 

Tugela

Well-known member
May 21, 2007
4,754
562
Seattle
The Whisperlite was the staple stove I used while guiding and I take my own on trips where I need the power, like for melting snow. The main drawback is the lack of adjustability of the flame for cooking, it's either "afterburner" or "off". Although I have gotten pretty handy with the prime-depressurization trick for backcountry bread baking. I think mine is nearly 20 years old now. Adjustability seems to be the main advantage of the Dragonfly.

For most lightweight trips I go on I have a Primus titanium stove that fits in a pot with a fuel canister. The stove weighs two ounces but is a bit fragile.

I've also been quite impressed with the MSR Reactor. Several of my buddies who climb way harder than me (i.e. Diamond Route on Denali) use it. Performance in a crosswind doesn't falter and it's very efficient on fuel. Wish I could run my Disco for 3 hours on one of those isobutane canisters.
 

rover4x4

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2004
5,228
45
41
North Carolina, Raleigh
I have a 2 burner Primus for the rover camping, a dragonfly for when I actually camp. Both have served me very well. I agree the dragonfly is a little noisey but I like the throttle.
 

benlittle

Well-known member
Jul 18, 2005
4,086
7
Draper
jonesy66 said:
Alright, upgrade and buying time - feeling the camping itch coming on!!!

Thoughts on a backpack stove that can also do double duty when car camping? Mostly car camp duty.

Four front runners - in order (MHO)

1. Optimus - Nova Plus
2. MSR - Dragonfly
3. Primus - OmiFuel
4. Brunton - Flex

oh - i want multi fuel capability!

THOUGHTS?

My thoughts are:

I have the Primus Omnifuel. I bought it for one reason, it can burn canister for summer and white gas for winter. Canister's don't burn too well in winter (in my experience). White gas on the other hand burns pretty well.

I use this for boiling water while camping and use a Snow Peak Gigapower for backpacking. It's light, and reliable. Nuff said.
 

jonesy66

Well-known member
Jan 12, 2009
539
0
VA
I like the fact that if I fuck up and leave the white gas then I can use some petrol or diesel
 

benlittle

Well-known member
Jul 18, 2005
4,086
7
Draper
Hmmm... Why would you want to fuck around with white gas in the first place? Are you winter camping/ backpacking.
 

jonesy66

Well-known member
Jan 12, 2009
539
0
VA
I like it for its high flame point, evap quality vs other fuels. I do some winter camp/hunt and so it is preferable to cans in the cold...for some reason (temp/evap) I find white gas better in winter