What sort of stove do you generally carry?

[ADKian]

anybody ever use a Sterno stove, I've had one for many years it is a nice backup in the event a campfire is not possible for whatever reason. It is not super fast but it does work well.

Actually for my birthday last year my father got me a bunch of camping stuff and in it was a little stove called "Magic heat" it is a lot like the sterno canister but I haven't used it yet. Mainly because I forgot I had it.

[DuctTape]

the manufacturers do not recommend using windscreen for canister stoves due to liability reasons. That said, I use an aluminum foil windscreen for my alcohol burner. There is no fear of my overheating the burner and having it explode which I suppose is the fear of the canister mfgers in regards to their pressurized gas. The best alky stove, IMO, is one that is an open burner or a wick burner, not one of those neato looking jetted things with inner walls etc... I know some like them and are used to them, but in my experience they use more fuel and are finicky in adverse conditions. In the end, one must use what works for them.

[Adirondackiteer]

Well I wont do the vote because technically I have never carried a stove

For most of my hiking we hiked as a family and dad always used white gas. In the last couple years since getting back into hiking I have relied on my buddies jetboil. For myself I just purchased an alcohol stove, but havent been out with it yet, only tested in the kitchen.

I got a Whitebox stove, and even got it on sale at campsaver, total price $18 and included the fuel bottle, free shipping since I had other things I bought as well. Matched it up with a GSI Kettle since all I plan on using it for is boiling water. For frying/simmering I'd look into other options.



The WB stove includes the bottom heat shield and windscreen as seen in the pic on the scale. The stove also more or less nests on the fuel bottle, which also protects the cap from accidentaly being flipped open which is nice.

[Jackson]

I still use an ancient Coleman Peak 1 stove. the thing just keeps working so I stick with it, it's been a workhorse and never given me a bit of trouble.

[l'oiseau]

I still use an ancient Coleman Peak 1 stove. the thing just keeps working so I stick with it, it's been a workhorse and never given me a bit of trouble.

Those things were awesome! Heavy as a brick but bulletproof.

Back when gas stoves were cool and alky was a joke that or the whisperlite were the stoves to have. Let's see you use alky or a twig burner in a snowstorm at -20°!

A friend of mine had the Peak 1, I had the MSR. Seemed everyone else had those propane stoves that use the big Coleman tanks. They were cheap and quick in the summer for making lunch on the trail but bulky. I still think the Coleman worked better than the MSR despite having the weight and bulk disadvantage.

[desmobob]

Those things were awesome! Heavy as a brick but bulletproof.

Glad to see this thread resurrected. :-)

I have an older Coleman Peak 1 Feather 400, and it won't die (not that I want it to!). They have a reputation for being heavy, but since it's totally self-contained, they really aren't THAT bad. My Feather 400 only weighs three ounces more than the legendary Svea 123 but cranks out almost twice the BTUs. It also holds enough fuel for a solo two-three days of cooking, so you don't have to carry a fuel bottle. Adjusts down to a simmer easily.

BUT... for a solo two or three days, I carry a good ol' Trangia and a few extra ounces of alcohol. With the Westwind pot support and a folding or heavy foil windscreen, this set-up is light and compact.

I have a BushBuddy gasifier wood stove that is incredible. But after being used to white gas and alcohol stoves, the whole soot mess is a big turn-off to me. But you can't beat the weight on long trips. The stove is light and no fuel needs to be carried.

I enjoy my Ghillie Kettle (my favorite version of the Kelly Kettle type boiler). It works REALLY well, but is bulky and gets sooty/stinky. Seems like it boils water instantly!

You can never have too many stoves, and I think I'll try one of the White Box stoves next.

Take it easy,
desmobob

[l'oiseau]

I switched to alky earlier this year desmobob. I am loving it. The simplicity cannot be beat, not to mention the light weight.

Plus, as we discussed in another thread, the fuel options are very abundant... from race fuel to top shelf booze!

[desmobob]

I switched to alky earlier this year desmobob. I am loving it. The simplicity cannot be beat, not to mention the light weight.

Plus, as we discussed in another thread, the fuel options are very abundant... from race fuel to top shelf booze!

The only thing about the Trangia I was not totally pleased with was the choice of pot stands. The mini-Trangia stand is nice, but bulky and with lots of sharp edges to shred stuff sacks and backpacks. The Westwind stand was OK, but needs to be used up-side-down for best efficiency. And you can't use the Trangia's simmer ring with the Westwind stand. (ie: no beloved coffee percolator use over the Trangia!)

Now, there is the Mojo stand. It holds the pot at the best height from the burner for max efficiency and allows use of the simmer ring. It's even lighter than the Westwind, and holds pots more steadily.

I buy four-packs of the yellow bottle Heet gas line antifreeze (methanol) for fuel. Cheap, easy to find, and already in a safe and convenient size for backpacking.

For day trips and shore lunches, I love the fact I can just fuel up the Trangia when I pack it and have enough fuel to boil water for a freeze-dried backpacking meal for two and coffee or tea afterwards. Perfect!

Somebody once did an "exit poll" at the Appalachian Trail concerning stove reliability. The Trangia was the most reliable stove, by FAR. About the only thing you can screw up is the rubber O-ring in the cover, by putting the cover on before the stove has cooled for a few minutes after use. Even if you monkey that up, the stove still works fine... you just can't carry fuel in it until you get a new O-ring.

In my car emergency kit, I have one of the Swedish military surplus cook kits that has a Trangia burner, pot stand/wind screen, pot, lid and alcohol bottle. You used to be able to find them complete for $15-$20. Now, they're scarce. They're too heavy and bulky for backpacking, but perfect for car camping or emergency use.

Take it easy,
desmobob

[l'oiseau]

I have a clickstand and it works great. Sturdy, easy to use and packs up small.

[desmobob]

I finally picked up a Svea 123R. I felt like I was missing out, not having one of the --or the-- most legendary stoves of all time. They've been on the mountains and trails for over 100 years now and I'm sorry I waited until now to try one.

I fired her up today after work... wonderful. Now I have an excuse to buy a new Snow Peak titanium solo cookset that it will nest in.

Take it easy,
desmobob

[ppdangler]

stove? msr pocket rocket, had mine 2 years. cheap. lightweight. fits in my cook kit. i chucked the red container it came it, saved and ounce and some bulk. tried some of the penny stoves wasnt for me. pocket rocket boils 2 cups of water in under 2 min (with gsi soloist cookset) very efficient

[Schultzz]

Coleman propane.

[12trysomething]

What sort of stove do you generally carry?

DIY alcohol stove

[bioguide]

Bushcooker LT

http://fourdog.com/bushcooker-lt/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RWifacFFUDI

[Jackson]

I have a Kenmore gas range but it gets a bit heavy to lug up the trail so I use an oldie but a goodie, Peak 1 stove. Older than heck but works well...no complaints.