Help me choose a stove

“So I read most of the old stove threads and I have narrowed my options to the MSR whisperlight international, and the Primus Himalya. A couple questions. The Primus, am I to understand that you could use both a canester or a regular liquid fuel. Do these stoves have adjustable flames (boil vs. simmer), and is that necessary? Thanks for your help.”

“I looked in the Backpacker Magazine GEAR GUIDE and they don't even have that Primus listed. A lotta help those monkeys are! Sorry man, can't help ya.”

“I looked at a Whisperlight this week and I wouldn't use that stove if they gave it to me. The pump looks like it came out of a bubblegum machine in front of Kmart. It looks like it would break easily. Also the stove doesn't simmer. I have a MSR Firefly I bought in 1983 and MSR only produced it for a few years and replaced it with the Whisperlite. Big Mistake! The Firely was the best stove they ever made. It simmers great and burns stronger than the XGK, weighs 15 ounces and folds up so small you can almost fit it in your coat pocket. Mine has the old style pump and has never broken and the stove has never clogged or broken in the field and I used it a lot. I always maintained mine by changing the fuel tube and control valve o ring on a regular basis. The only negative about the stove is that it's loud because it's so strong. If you find a used one somewhere in good shape buy it.”

“Oldie, got a whisperlight here. Pretty good stove, I think. Yes, the pump assembly is plastic, but I've not had a problem with mine. Few people I know have had any problems with 'em in fact (OK, here come the people out of the woodwork w/ horror stories).

I'd buy another. I'd recommend the standard, unless you plan to do a lot of overseas travel where white gas is hard to find, and the multi-fuel would be a benefit. Simmering is also touchy on it...yes it can be done...use a heat diffuser or hold the pan a bit above the stove. It has two settings...off and full blaze. Works for me, though.

I was hiking with someone with the new Optimus Nova a month or two back. Good looking stove. You can simmer on it just fine. I wasn't impressed with it's starting ability on a cold snowy morning (we listened to him cuss at it for 10 minutes before it started). Backpacker like the stove a lot and gave it an editor's choice, but it is awefully pricey.

I don't know too much about the primus, so can't help you there. All I have seen are their canister fuel only stoves.”

“Primus has few dealers in the u.s.
it makes parts hard to find.
And the pump on the msr will break if mishandled, my son broke one pumping it to fast,and let the plunger go back with full force.
But i have an msr dragon fly, and never had a problem, also the pump on the dragonfly is heaver.
If you do a lot of heavy duty cooking on the trail you might need simmer, but if you only boil water like most you dont.

NCRR.!!!!”

“i was about to buy the himalaya. it's a piece of art, man, and it will probably be my next purchase.”

“The international is okay, the normal sucks like none other. I would try the dragonfly or a primus stove.”

“oldie - The Primus Himalaya Multi-fuel is awesome. I've used this stove in very high winds and sub-zero temps. It is extremely reliable, super easy to field maintain (includes a multi-tool) and super solid. Its wide and low, so pots sit very easily on it, very stable. The pump is much more durable than the MSR. It also has a self shut-off in the pump. Just flip the bottle over and it will burn off all the fuel in the line, then shut off. It is also very conservative on fuel. The flame control is not real good with white gas, which I normally use. Simmer is usually not real important to me, especially in the winter and on long trips, when I just need quick snow-melting. When I feel like a being a backcountry gourmet, I hook a cartridge up to it, and presto, incredible flame control and great simmering!

In response to ridge runners comment about parts availability. actually parts are very easy to come by, most major retailers (including REI) stock the parts. But unless you run over it with your car, you probably won't need parts for years. The only thing I've ever needed to replace was the priming pad, but now I've been using it without a pad and it still works great. Just don't over prime (it doesn't take much) or you'll get a flare-up. Not a big deal unless you are in your tent.”

“rei.com has the dragonfly, but it is $100. It looks like a good stove. I like the ability to simmer, but I don't know if I want to spend that much $. I like the whisperlight intl 'cause it can burn just about anything. Since I'm applying for the peace corps, that maybe a good thing.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of canister stoves?”

“I've had my MSR International for 18 years. Its been all over the world, from sea level to 20 thousand feet never had a problem that didn't come from dirty fuel. I brake it down and clean it twice a year. It doesn't simmer, thats for sure. As for the plastic pump, had a bear once that took a liking to the fuel bottle. Got the bottle back in a nonfuctioning state but except for tooth marks and a bit of a bend the pump still worked. I was accused of posioning the bear though.”

“In general canister stoves are the easiest to use (by far, in my opinion), but of course you have to keep buying the canisters. White gas is cheaper and easier to find. Canister stoves also don't maintain pressure as well as white gas stoves in very cold weather. Another thing to consider is if you ever travel with your stove, you can't take fuel canisters on a plane, so you have to make sure that you can buy your canisters somewhere near your destination.”

“Xtreme xpert stove is the bomb. Never had a problem with it or with getting the gas cannisters. Have had mine in feezing temps and the baby lights up right away. Any, oh yes, it simmeres like a champ. Light weight, can get the gas at Wallmart, and the cannisters can be crushed down and recycled. Think I paid $75 for mine. I think it's a stove that get's looked over quite a bit, all the hardcore clan can't imagine using a Coleman product, even if it is better. Unless I plan on doing a bunch of hiking overseas, I'll stick with this stove.”

“Yeah fasttimes, I have that stove too and I love it, but the Wal-Marts in my area stopped carrying the canisters, along with every other store in the area, except where they cost about five bucks apiece. I guess it depends somewhat on where you live.”

“I recommend the Amana or the Whirlpool. Either way, get gas and not electric. Try to get the venting hood with the build-in microwave.”

“I recently bought a Primus Himayala. I haven't had the chance to test it but if it works anything like my old Optimus 99 it will do just fine. I bought it because it is built (IMHO) sturdier than MSR products. Just compare the pump on a Primus to an MSR. All the Primus/Optimus/Svea products just seem to be expedition quality heavy duty. As an engineer I like things overbuilt so these stoves are my kind of stuff. Plus you can burn JP4, white gas, regular gas, kerosene, and the gas canisters.

I bought mine from Campmor for $89.99 and you can get burner and pump rebuild kits for around $18.000 each.”

“I have the Dragonfly. Had it for 3 years now never cleaned it once and never a problem........however you need to remember the fuel for it to work. how about it Walkindude. LOL. I would suggest it to anyone. The only drawback, if it is one, is that it is loud, no whispering there.”

“solitary, is the optimus 99 similar to the optimus 80?”

“About the closest thing to it is the current Optimus R8 but smaller. The Optimus 99 has an all aluminum housing body and the top serves as a pot. Mine is the earlier model with the detachable chrome plated heat shield mounted on the brass tank. The later model 99s had a permanently mounted aluminum shield. I bought mine in 1972. It's as good as new. If you go to eBay you occasionally see them for sale. They are in demand to this day and depending on condition sell for up to around $100. I never use mine anymore unless I go day hiking and want a pot of tea.”

“Here's a eBay address for an Optimus 99 being sold right now.

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1124381452”

“Wow! I was all upset because Hyper spent $70 on a bunch of CR@P and an Optimus 80. The stove is in perfect condition and works great so I guess he didn't get a bad deal.”

“I'm bidding on a Himalaya vari-fuel right now. Auction is done in about 30 minutes. Wish me luck.”

“I've had the MSR XGK for about 25 years. I've rebuilt it twice. Replaced the pump after 20 years, so only had the plastic one for 5 years, and it's still working fine. I leave the pump in the gas all the time. so I'm wondering, just how tuff do these things need to be?
Today my hiking partner wanted a stove, I advised (and he bought) the Whisperlite.”

“Ok, now I'm looking at the Dragonfly. I can buy one for $86 on Ebay. I like that you can simmer with it. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!!!”

“Oh yeah, cannisters: Picture yourself packing for a trip, the stove goes into the pack, you reach for the cannister and ask "Is this the full one or the 1/2 gone one?"
Then as you use up the fuel you still have to carry the empty cannister out.”

“I've had the dragonfly for about 2 years and have never had a problem. Simmers great, but it is loud.”

“BPbaby, how is the Dragonfly for ease of use? Any little quirks or tricks you have to do?”

“I've never had to do anything special with it, it's just like the whisperlite but it doesn't go out when you lower the flame! lol The one thing I do like is that it works well in cold and rain. White gas stoves and I don't get along well, so it must be easy if I don't have trouble with it. Works great with the bakepacker oven too.”

“I've used the whisper light on most of my trips that are not solo. Never had a problem, it sounds like a jet taking off though.”

“Whisperlite Intenational for me.”

“When I hear the "jet engine" of my XGK, I know it's on, and I get warm just hearing the noise.”

“I've been using an original Coleman Peak 1 stove for more than 20 years. A bit loud at full blast, but nothing terrible. It simmers quite well and is economical with fuel. And despite what the current Backpacker says in its editor's choice section about the new Snowpeak white gas stove being so cool because it doesn't need priming, my Coleman has never needed priming. I think that's what Backpacker even noted when reviewing it more than two decades ago when it was the neat new stove. It's extremely rugged and the most I've ever done to it is tighten a couple nuts/fittings on the valves after long trips, and lubricate the seal on the pump.

I bought an Apex II multi-fuel on a big sale at REI almost two years ago because it had the kerosene generator with it, but it's still in the box waiting for the old stove to crap out.

What do you canister stove folks do with those empty canisters? I really like the idea of a 4 oz. Primus, but I hate the idea of unreusable canisters. My fuel bottle is two decades old and in fine condition, and the Peak 1 has its own tank that holds enough for a weekend trip by itself.”

“I have a peak 1 as well. I like it. I got it because my father has always had one and it still works well. I'm looking for something lighter and less bulky though. I'll still use the peak one when car camping, but I lighter/smaller would be better for the trail.

Well, I'm kind of back at square one. I didn't get anything off ebay. I can still get a Dragonfly for $78.90 (plus or minus a buck), a whisperlight intl for $70, or Himalaya vari-fuel for $63. Damn indecision.”

“MSR Dragonfly. Only stove I've ever owned...jeez, that sounds pathetic.

But it's great, and the simmer is nice...”

“I'm missing something...if you use a white gas stove, and you run out of fuel, does the container it was in suddenly turn into mist and disapear? How is packing that out different from packing out the spent canister?

And if you can't tell a full canister from a half you are probably drunk.”

“I'll sell you an alcohol stove that simmers ;^)”

“Pekka, I agree about the Peak 1. I have one too and it's really and underrated stove. I had mine since 1993 and never had any trouble with it and it simmers better than any stove I know of. It very quiet which I like. The weight and bulk isn't that bad when you consider the tank holds almost 12 ounces of fuel and there's nothing to assemble. Best thing about it they're on sale for $35 a lot.”

“I own a Peak 1, very trouble free. I thought about getting a whisperlight to replace it, but when you look at weight for the whisperlight and a fuel bottle, you really don't end up saving a heck of a lot. Then you look at the fact that the Peak 1 doesn't need priming and is as rugged as they come. I just wish it wasn't so bulky.”

“With the X-pert stove the canisters are a light weight aluminum I believe, and come in two differnt sizes depending on your needs. With them I can easily tell how much fuel is in them by shaking them and feeling the weight. The great thing about the canisters is that when they are spent, they are easily crushed down to the size of a crushed soda can and can be thrown in the recycle bin.”

“Oldie - You won't be disapointed with the Himalaya. Go for it.”

“The only thing that makes me hesitate is the lack of simmering ability. I like the option to cook a little if I want. Is there a good way to simmer over a blast furnace? If I can, then I'll probably go with the Himalaya or the whisperlight.”

“Oldie - You can simmer with white gas on the Himalaya, but you have to watch the flame, keep it adjusted. Not a big deal, you're usually watching the stove anyway. If simmering is your issue, then use it with a cartridge. Voila! Instant super simmering capabilities. That is the beauty of the Himalaya. And for me anyway, some trips are boil trips, some are simmer trips. If I'm solo or with a hardcore buddy, it's boil and go, fast. This stove is so conservative with white gas. If I'm with my girlfriend or someone who I'm breaking into packing, I use it with cartridges, and show off my backountry gourmet chops. With a cartridge you get incredible flame adjustment, and no pumping. Looks easier and cleaner to newbys.”

“Check this out!

Cat Can Stove”

“Tommy, how it's different is I don't have to dispose of my stove tank when I get home. Nor my extra fuel bottle for longer trips. What do you do with your canisters? Only the Coleman canisters are recyclable it seems. And none of the propane/butane gas canisters I've seen say they are refillable. So for a long trip, how many canisters do you take and then have to later dispose (landfill?) of?”

“MSR Whisperlite 600 Int'l. with a 22oz fuel bottle.

Next question?”

“22 oz...do you go out for weeks at a time? (That's yer next question, Mr.Toast. lol)”

“M-nutz, I think you just decided for me. Thanks man. Himalaya it is. But first I have to go to class - maybe I'll skip out a little early and go buy it.”

“Is that the problem? Landfill?

If I throw away a handful of canisters over the course of a summer, the problem is landfill?!?

My Primus is pretty conservative with fuel, and I'm basically the "boil and go" kind of cook. My last canister I've used for 4 people, 5 days, and had enough left for a solo 4 day trip. I finally cashed it on a solo overnighter when I had tepid oatmeal for breakfast.

Am I contributing too much to the landfill space of America?”

“tommy, thanks for the info on how much use you get out of a canister. As for the landfill issue, it isn't just you buying those canisters. I just want to know what I'm getting into (implications and consequences, I remind my students when they write their papers) before I decide to buy a canister stove. The ease of use is very attractive compared to pumping up my white gas stove. Certainly you don't object to the idea of creating recyclable gear rather than disposable gear?”

“I got a Dragonfly as I like the ability to simmer - I had one too many scorched meals. The pump did break on me my last outing. It still worked so it wasn't a disaster.”

“butter, uh. . . I mean buddur--

22oz is best of both worlds--size&weight vs. volume.

Oh, and there's usually enough left over to start a campfire. Or a canoe fire (long story).”