Nine Things That Your Parent Teach You About Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves
Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves
Summary: These simple and lightweight stoves burn wood as well as hexamine tablets, gas canisters, and white fuel via only one nozzle. These stoves are popular during cold weather, but they are noisy and lack simmer control.
Some multi-fuel stoves are hybrids capable of burning multiple types of liquid fuel. The MSR WhisperLite Universal can be used with white and isobutane fuel canisters.
Optimus Nova
The Optimus Nova is a 5kw multi fuel stove-fuel stove that can be used with a variety of liquid fuels. It features a quick-priming burner, an aluminium pump that self-purges and a precise simmer control. Its low center of gravity and broad legs make it a stable and solid stove. This makes it a perfect stove for group base camps kayaking, arctic camp.
The Optimus Nova is different from other stoves using liquid fuel that have a problem with unburned fuel lingering in the fuel line or nozzle. This can be resolved by flipping the bottle. This removes the intake hose from the fuel, forcing it to suck air which extinguishes the flame and depressurizes the bottle.
This is an ingenious solution to an age-old problem, and it certainly is effective. The Nova can also be used with a variety of regular fuel bottles that seal using an o-ring, such as MSR bottles. It comes with a stove bag that includes pockets for tools, spares along with lubricant and fuel pump.
This is an excellent all round backpacking stove for use in the UK, particularly for expeditions where a wide choice of fuels is required. The price is reasonable compared to other stoves in the canister category with similar capabilities. Additionally, the Optimus Nova is easy to maintain and a pleasure to use.
Kovea Hydra
Since 2010 since 2010, the Kovea 12kw multi fuel stove Fuel Stove has been a favorite among backpackers. A few UK backpackers pay it much attention nowadays perhaps because they've been able to catch up with more well-known brands or whatever the most recent lightweight offering out of China or Korea is, but this doesn't mean that the Hydra doesn't still have its merits.
It is a lightweight and compact stove that burns all liquid fuels like propane butane, white gas and white gas with one nozzle. It's a typical stove, with a burner attached to a body which anchors three support legs that fold out. A pump sits on top of the fuel hose and the generator loop runs around the inlet, and the flame spreader is up above that. The burner itself is a low velocity flame type that makes it a little less impacted by wind.
One of the best features is that it can be utilized with a canister of propane or isobutane which makes it a versatile small multi fuel stove cooker. It is simple to simmer with isobutane and propane and burns all types of fuels at a good rate. However when using white gas, the stove is a little slower.
One thing to keep in mind concerning the Hydra is that the instructions are written in English that was clearly not written by a native speaker of the language. The instructions warn against the use of certain kinds of lighter fluid that, if misinterpreted as what is intended could result in an accident that could result in Kovea in a lot of hot legal water. Any 7/16ths UNEF-threaded gas container of a trusted brand will work perfectly.
Primus OmniLite Ti
Primus Omnilite Ti can be an excellent choice for those who are seeking a multifuel cooker that can cook with a variety fuels. It can run on gas, petrol/gasoline or Kerosene, diesel and aviation fuel. It comes with separate controls for each fuel type, and you can also adjust the flame size. This stove also has an fuel line that is flat on the ground and is easily connected to the tank.
The Primus Omnilite is an excellent stove, but it requires maintenance to keep it running efficiently. In particular it is prone to flare during priming, which can be risky. This is a common issue with all stoves with liquid fuel that use a secondary spindle throttle at the stove's end to vaporize fuel, instead of an engine coil.
Another issue is that it requires different jets for every type of fuel. If you are cooking using kerosene, the jet hole will be smaller than if you were using gas. It's not a major issue, but it's worth mentioning.
MSR Whisper Light
The MSR Whisper Lite is one of the lightest, smallest and cheapest multi fuel stove 5kw fuel stoves. It is also easy to fix on the field. It can be run on canister fuel or liquid gas and comes with attachments for both. The new model is lighter by 10% than its predecessor and the burner mechanism was revamped to improve heat distribution. This is an excellent choice for backpackers on a budget or for beginners.
The whistler Lite requires a bit of time to set up and prime, then boil water, but it's a reliable stove that will never let you down. The flame is extremely strong when turned to the max and will easily boil the water to a liter within two minutes or less. The only downside is that it does not simmer like other stoves.
This is why MSR has developed the Dragonfly stove, which is a pot that can be used as a simmering stove. It is similar in design as the whistler, however it is more compact and provides better performance. However it's not as inexpensive as the whistler Lite. The Soto Amicus stove and cookset is a great alternative that offers the same setup at half the price. It is also possible to purchase Whisperlite International or Universal for isobutane canisters too. Both versions have the same design and style, but the Universal version is also compatible with canister fuel.
Coleman Sportster II
It's a simple, no-frills Coleman stove that does its job. It's sturdy and compact, and it's self-contained with the tank on the bottom and the burner up at the top. This makes it simple to use and a good choice for beginners, backpackers who want to cut weight, and those who have spares in the van.
This stove is designed to burn Coleman's exclusive fuel (naptha also known as "white gas") but can be used with unleaded gas too. A gallon of gasoline can last for as longer as a standard Coleman liquid fuel cylinder, which means you'll save money on fuel using this alternative.
It takes a bit of practice to create a solid blue flame on a stove that burns liquid fuel. You'll need to pressurize them and prime them properly before you can start. If you do it wrong your fuel may be sprayed, pool, or splash over the burner or splash out. To master this try it out in the open before your trip.
This stove does give up some performance or odor reduction with non-coleman fuels however it's a trade-off for the extra flexibility it offers. Be sure to buy unleaded gasoline and not something that is enriched with methanol or ethanol (alcohol). This is because these types of fuels can cause the unit to disintegrate, leak, sputter and may even explode!
ATG Jiko
The ATG Jiko multi fuel stoves banbury Fuel Stove from South Africa is an ultralight multifuel designed to withstand harsh conditions like Africa. It's a compact, robust stove that burns gels, solid fuel tabs and alcohol with a single nozzle. It's an ultralight, minimalist design that costs less than the majority of multifuel stoves, and also has low costs of ownership, with fuel being cheaper per liter than gas canisters.
Other multifuel stoves use a separate nozzle for each type of fuel. This makes them a little fiddly to change over in bad weather or with gloves and can add to their weight overall. The latest models of multifuel stoves have come up with ways to use the same nozzle to ignite different fuels, making it easier. These stoves can be called hybrids or multifuel compressed fuel stoves. They are also referred to by other names such as isobutane, white gas, kerosene, and unleaded gasoline/car petrol.
A multifuel stove kit can be bought to transform your Trangia burners into multifuel cookers. These are often sold at specialist camping stores and are also available for purchase internationally. They are a good option for Trangia enthusiasts and are capable of burning all liquid fuels except diesel, and when fitted with the right equipment can even simmer.