whats the best backpack stove

““anyone here have the Hex 2 by Golite. Do you use the pole or clip a carabiner on the top and use a tree limb to hold it up.”

I've done that with my old tarp/tent that was just like it. Man, ya get that pole out of the middle of that thing and you could have jello wrestling matches in there.”

“dang I didn't mean to post that question on this thread. Oh well thanks for answering Nigal..lol”

“I have been Backpacking for 25 years now and have used alcohol stoves, Svea,optimus, All of MSR stoves, (and by the way, MSR has a new stove soon to be on the market in 2005.) I have tried coleman, heat tabs, propane stoves.When i do a trip, I ask myself what am i eating, what altitude will i most likely be base camped,What time of the year is it? In winter I use WHITE GAZ stoves only, I Treked 500 + miles on the continental divide through Canada and MSR stoves work best at high altitude, I did try alcohol above 14,thousand and I didn't like the time to boil. When I treked the AT, I used a alcohol stove and it worked for me, If your a cold weather Backpacker like myself I need WHITE GAZ! HOT,FAST.”

“Another vote for the Pocket Rocket if all you need to do is get the water boiling. I'm not the simmer and really cook type when I camp, so the PR is great and very compact.

However, my trusty Coleman Peak 1 that is more than 20 years old still works fine, and is what I'd grab first for cold weather. Always has worked, it's just bulky; a full tank will get you through a weekend trip easily unless you're some gourmet chef who does more than boil liquids. It'll do the low flame thing great, but you'll just need extra bottle of white gas.

I bought an Apex II on a big sale as a backup for the Peak 1 in case it ever died, but the Apex is still in the package, now NOS as they say in retailing. Also have a Sierra Zip that I got dirt cheap on closeout at a Gander Mtn years ago, also unused. I keep an Esbit stove in my day/emergency pack. Just a touch of gear ho in me.”

“I find the PR simmers better than any one of my other stoves.

The thing about the Peak1 stoves is you have to take it right out of the box and burn that little red knob off with a bic lighter. It's gonna happen sooner or later so might as well be first thing. LOL! That's what I was raised on as a kid was the Colemans.”

“Camoing GAZ isobutane stove in the warmer months, and a SVEA 123 (white gas) in the winter. The GAZ stove is great in warm weather, and can also be used in the winter if needed (put it in your sleeping bag to warm it before lighting). The SVEA might seem tough to light, but I've found a small dab of fire paste (about the size of a 1/2 pea) used as a primer works great.

For ALL stoves used in winter, an insulated base make a GREAT improvement in performance.

As for MSR's liquid fuel stoves: I own an old Whisperlite, and it works OK. The newer models seem to have been "overengineered" and have lots of reliability problems.”

“Trangia in summer, Optimus Nova in winter”

“Primus all the way, baby! I have had my primus stove in just about all conditions and it is awesome. It is lightweight, never gets messy and comes in a cute little pouch. :) Harhar!”

“well, the energy density of ethanol is 30 megajoules per kilogram, gasoline, including white gas (volatile fraction of gasoline with flash point below zero centigrade) is about 45 megajoules per kilogram. I have found white gas has been OK for me on trips at moderate altitudes (7k - 13k ft) and somewhat cold weather (hard freeze at nite, 40-50 degrees during the day). Half a liter per week per person gets us home with a surplus fuel. I like my old MSR whisperlite. The orifice clogs every so often, but I carry a strand of wire from a bicycle cable to unplug it. If I'm out for just a few days, especially alone, I don't bother with a camp stove.”

“I saw where someone said the Dragonfly® was really loud. Ha! The Dragonfly would qualify as Stealth® technology compared to the MSR XGK II. You need to stake that stove down or you're goin' to the moon.”

“Those are what I call a "What stove". If someone says something to you while your cooking you yell, "WHAT?".”

“Buck,

I'll be out in CA this summer and we can have a "Who's MSR stove is the loudest" contest. I simply can't believe that there's anything out there louder than a Dragonfly, it's noise level is legendary.”

“You can find ANYTHING on Ebay. I'm watching an auction as we speak. Down to five minutes...reload...reload...reload...reload...”
Nigal
11:36:28 AM
12/08/04

I challenge you to find the other type of Pocket Rocket.”

“Here ya go BM, enjoy.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=47103&item=5542192575&rd=1”

“Or if you prefer -

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=36452&item=5541693545&rd=1”

“You are right about the red plastic tip on the flame adjustment lever, Nigal. Mine's not burned off, but it is nicely deformed and blackened. The flareup that caused that was my fault -- happened once, tightened the nut, never again, though I carry a tiny crescent wrench made for carburetor adjustments just in case. The PR certainly does have a simmer-worthy adjustment, I only meant that I don't need to use the stove that way and it kicks butt for getting a blow torch going on a pot of water.”

“OMFG! "Massager"? LMAO! Didn't say if it was "used". That's why I thought you might not be able to find it. I mean who would buy a potentially used "massager"???????”

“Bison, a stove-off competition this summer would be cool. If you want to save some cashola coming to California, you should just fire up an MSR XGK II and ride it out here. It burns fuel pretty fast so carry an extra bottle of white gas in your pocket and know how to refill during flight. I'd hate to see you crash somewhere in the Nevada desert.”

“The MSR Pocket Rocket is what I use. Very light and small enough for the stove and fuel to fit inside my mess kit. Its pretty loud, but boils so fast its easy to live with!”

“what norco said -- I'd forgotten to mention that aspect of the PR. Canister slips right in my solo cook pot.”

“MSR stoves are all good. I own 7 stoves in all not counting my pepsi can alcahol stoves. Depends on the TREK, as to what i will carry, Elevation also will effect my choices as well as weather,ie,.... winter i use white gas only. Look at your budget and buy something. In a year or two you will buy another maybe. Learn it by trying it. And BUCK is right, the MSR XKGII you can ride anywhere. Everyone willhave there own opinions so go out and buy something and you too will have your opinion. Mine is MSR”

“I have never bought a stove all I cook on is the open flame, which should be my first one?

I have been looking at the MSR, suggestions for a clueless stove-looker”

“Personal favorite, MSR Whisperlight.

If you don't plan to go out in the winter or you have problems using a choke on a motorcycle or lawn mower, get something that uses canisters, like the MSR Pocket Rocket or something similar. They are simple and easy to use.

I have heard story's of the XGK burning filtered chicken fat.
last edited: 12/12/04 10:58:51 PM”

“One more thought....

The MSR Whisperlight simmers just fine...


once you burn that first inch of food in your pot.”

“is it wise to get the internationale version of the whisperlite so you can use any fuels?

is it fine to use unleaded gas?

(sorry if these are niave questions)”

“If you plan to be out of country, it's nice to be able to burn kerosene, otherwise I don't really think it would be a major consideration. I have heard that using unleaded gas is is not a really good idea, burns to dirty....but I have never tried it myself. I'm sure someone here has better info on using auto fuel.”

“ditto on the simmer quality, but its a good reliable stove.

I usually just hold the pot a couple of inches off the flame for a few minutes to let it simmer.”

“Ahh, the ol' elevation trick. That's how you simmer with a soda-can stove...”