Author Topic: Lightweight Stoves....... (Read 4146 times)

Del · « **on:** April 01, 2003, 01:22:24 PM »

On a mission to find the best "all-around" lightweight backpacking stove!! All opinions on what works for you, or a model that you think would be good, are welcome.

Lightweight
Reliable
Compact
Easy to use
Durable

Keep in mind that this will be mainly used for boiling water (for freeze dried meals, oatmeal, coffee, etc) or frying up some heart or back straps now and then.

Let me know what you have or what you'd buy today!
Thanks, Del

Lead pot · « **Reply #1 on:** April 02, 2003, 11:52:51 AM »

Del.

I use a MSR Dragonfly stove.It is what I think a ideal pack stove.It's very compact stove you can carry it in a coat pocket.It is a multi feul stove that burns any feul, diesel,gasoline.I use white gas.It has a shaker jet,just shake it if if gets pluged.
I have been using it for 4 years,If something should hapen to it ,it would be another one. Lp.

Alice Cooper · « **Reply #2 on:** April 02, 2003, 05:01:51 PM »

i have three whisperlites,just sold two mt. stoves, and like my post below,. i'm making soda can stoves and "cat fod can " stoves.the msr's are nice,but the soda can stove is free and will do 99 % of your cooking, aka boiling water, with no parts to break at all, and you can carry the stove, pot support, windscreen, and fuel all inside a very small pot.in fact, the actual stove part is so small and light, you could actually carry it under your hat! just expierimenting, i've made rice, oatmeal, tea, coffee, and fried an egg on them...in fact, even if you carry a whisperlite, the soda can stove makes a real good backup,cause it weighs near nothing. try one, it's free, if you don't like it, toss it in the trash!

Ka6otm · « **Reply #3 on:** April 06, 2003, 06:49:26 AM »

How about Esbit stoves?

Cheaper Than Dirt carries them in a pack of 6 stoves and 6 fuel bars for about $8.00

About the size of a pack of playing cards when folded.

Ka6otm

Alice Cooper · « **Reply #4 on:** April 06, 2003, 10:43:17 AM »

haven't used esbit, but a lot of ultra light packers use them...but you can make the soda can stove, and use esbit tabs with it! just turn it over, and place the esbit tab in the bottom...see? double duty! and still free! i'm telling ya, try it!

Litefoot · « **Reply #5 on:** April 25, 2003, 05:20:33 AM »

Del,
I'm late in on this, but I'll just say that I have had all ths stoves mentioned above. If you want to occasionally fry up something, then neither a soda can stove or Esbit is the answer. The MSR Dragonfly (at $99) is, to me, far too expensive. There are so many choices. If I had to do it all over again, I would go down to Wal-Mart and pick up a $19 Peak 1 Micro stove. It's a simple cannister stove that works as good as anything out there, and believe me, I've tried them all.

Desertrat · « **Reply #6 on:** November 26, 2003, 03:47:10 PM »

Another vote for the MSR Dragonfly! I have used it on trips to Mt. Rainier,
Mt Logan, Mt St. Elias and even took it to Denali with me three years ago...don;t see a need for any other!

jgalar · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2003, 06:30:31 AM »

trangia

Lead pot · « **Reply #8 on:** December 03, 2003, 05:02:45 PM »

jagalar

What is a trangia?

Lp.

Lead pot · « **Reply #9 on:** December 03, 2003, 05:16:39 PM »

Litefoot

yes the dragonfly is pricy,but it has never failed me.It cooks my food heats the tent at times and it heats a large gold pan full of water in a hurry when I need it.
But the main reason I got it was for my trip on the Yukon river in a Kayak.It was easy to find fuel for,it did'nt mater if you used gas, gas mixed with oil,or diesel or paint thinner,just about any fuel that burns,and it is trouble free.
I am willing to pay a little more for something that works no mater were you are. :wink:

Lp.

jgalar · « **Reply #10 on:** December 04, 2003, 11:31:49 AM »

Trangia is a swedish alcohol stove. No moving parts, nothing to adjust, no maintenance, nothing to lose, works better in the wind. Just fill it with alcohol and light. It is very popular in Europe and is issued to Swedish troops. Sweden doesn't issue anything to their troops that will not work in their 40 below winters. I believe the importer is MSR, but you will not see anything about them. They would just as soon you don't know about them as you may not buy their gas stoves.

It is not a stove for boiling a gallon of water or cooking for the troops. As long as you use it as a personal stove it is great.

If you do a search on the internet you will see some trangia kits that come with pots etc. Here is one I picked at random: http://www.greatoutdoorsdepot.com/trangia-stoves.html

The best bet is to go to www.cheaperthandirt.com or www.sportsmansguide.com and look for the swedish stove and mess kits. They are $5 and come with a large bulky pot holder and pots. Its Ok for the truck or atv but for hiking just take the stove. I made a pot holder out of an empty 1 lb coffee can that works great. Here is a site for making an ultralite pot holder out of roofing tin: http://www.climber.org/gear/TrangiaStove.html

Lead pot · « **Reply #11 on:** December 05, 2003, 03:27:47 AM »

jgalar

I have seen them in the cheaper than dirt,but overlooked them.Looks like they also have a lot of good options for them.
TNX.for the input jgalar.

Lead pot · « **Reply #12 on:** December 05, 2003, 03:34:37 AM »

Litefoot.

I like your avatar immage is that your pup?or is that a picture out of the wild?
I had a friend that looked like that many years ago.

Lp.

jgalar · « **Reply #13 on:** December 07, 2003, 05:12:15 AM »

I found a setup that might fit the bill.

The first item is a combination solid fuel stove with canteen and cup:
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ctd/product.asp?dept%5Fid=807&sku=WX%2D130&imgid=&mscssid=JM3NF5Q3EE4P8JF0W1LUCR8QSGK59JM6

I always thought this stove would be great if only the trangia burner would fit in it, but it doesn't. However with 2 empty soda cans, an alcohol stove can be easily made in 15 minutes that fits and works perfectly in it. I made one like this only without anything inside. It is now a multifuel stove.
http://wings.interfree.it/html/GLKirby.html
Thanks to Alice Coopers post below

I bought this war surplus shoulder bag that the stove fits into. There are also 2 inside pockets where fuel tablets, alcohol bottle/burner or food can go into. There is still room in the bag for plenty of other survival goodies like knives, space blanket, parachute cord or whatever. There is also some D rings on the outside of the bag so you could attach a pauncho or other things to.
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ctd/product.asp?dept%5Fid=1603&sku=KEY%2D121&imgid=&mscssid=JM3NF5Q3EE4P8JF0W1LUCR8QSGK59JM6

With the ranger stove, bag and homemade alcohol stove you could assemble a grab and go emergency kit.

.22 coyote · « **Reply #14 on:** January 12, 2004, 04:19:09 PM »

I'm leaning towards an MSR Pocket Rocket. Any complaints about that unit?

jackfish · « **Reply #15 on:** February 17, 2004, 08:45:27 AM »

For 35 years a SVEA 123 has been working well for me.

rio grande · « **Reply #16 on:** February 02, 2007, 06:59:23 AM »

The Svea 123 is great. Old School, a classic, my first choice. I've had mine over 20 years, works great.

corbanzo · « **Reply #17 on:** February 13, 2007, 05:22:09 PM »

It all depends on the weather. In the summer I use a coleman component F1k, weights three ozs, the smallest on the market, but it dont work in the winter, like any other canister stove. In the winter I use my wisperlite, that things has been all over, and worked everywhere.

dla · « **Reply #18 on:** February 14, 2007, 10:11:36 AM »

http://mysite.verizon.net/restoq6v/id1.html - this is what I use.

jrlinz · « **Reply #19 on:** February 15, 2007, 04:36:40 AM »

Optima Hunter! get one!

victorcharlie · « **Reply #20 on:** February 22, 2007, 12:32:47 PM »

I usually carry a pepsi can stove and a MSR pocket rocket.

Be careful.....building alcohol stoves can be addicting......

http://www.pcthiker.com/pages/gear/pepsiGstoveinstruct.shtml

VolFan9183 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 28, 2007, 02:20:29 PM »

I'll throw in a late vote on the Pocket Rocket. I love mine...lightweight, uncomplicated, and fires up every time. Boils a pot of water in no time.

Anduril · « **Reply #22 on:** March 09, 2007, 08:49:35 AM »

'nuther vote for a pop can / alcohol stove.
give one a try, you might like it.

lakota · « **Reply #23 on:** April 12, 2007, 07:14:32 AM »

This is what I am going to try this year:http://www.sportsmansguide.com/cb/cb.asp?a=288270

No fancy fuels to buy and leak all over everything.
Works with anything combustible, sticks, twigs, pine cones I guess you could even use buffalo chips!
It folds down into a little nylon carrying case. Thankfully mine came in a green carrying case instead if the ugly purple one pictured!