Cook stoves

Been using a MSR WindPro for years…
and I am very pleased.

~Glenn

The windscreen does matter

– Last Updated: Jul-07-08 8:36 PM EST –

The Windpro windscreen is lacking in good design however. Its too easy to crinkle it out of round and then it catches pots which can lead to nasty accidents with pots of boiing water tipping.

Those that do a couple of day outings may not quibble but for multiweek outings I made a much sturdier windscreen out of heavy aluminum flashing thats adjustable to pot diameter.

Last trip we were out for six days on one eight ounce canister of Brunton isobutane.

The WindPro is not bottom heavy..an oversize pot especially one that is not serrated on the bottom can tip it over. Its definitely for smaller parties or the more minimal kitchen (not as minimalist as the pop can stove though!)

If you are talking these; http://zenstoves.net/Canister/Century.jpg

Ontario Parks banned them last year at campsites.

Too bad. I found that kind of stove useful. I could fly with the burner and pick up fuel easily at the destination.

tippy
"If you are talking these; http://zenstoves.net/Canister/Century.jpg"



Always found those to be rather tippy. The scout troop had them for a couple of years then abandoned them.

Iso-butane stove (Canister Style)
We have been thinking ultralight for paddling for a while and have looked at a number of light -weight stoves. We use fire to cook on our 2 week plus trips here in Southeast Alaska, though we do bring a stove along for the quick cup of soup at lunch. Two stoves meet our needs and I think they will meet yours as well. Our winter stove is the MSR Superfly (4.7 oz) – it can also be used on Camping Gaz canister and we have one of their small lanterns. The rest of the year its the Coleman Exponent F1 Ultralight Butane Stove. It weighs 3.7 oz and puts out an amazing 16000 BTUs at full throttle. The Coleman fits in my 700 Ml Mug on top of a 100g snowpeak canister and along side of a spork. That set-up is our cooking kit for hikes; total weight is under 10 oz. I bought the Coleman for $40 in Juneau, you could do better anywhere else.


Snow Peak GS-100A
was my choice because it is small, compact, comes in a plastic case and has a built in ignitor.



It will fit in a shirt pocket.



Sorry I don’t remember the cost.



Paddlin’ on

Richard

An addendum
If you canoe trip in below freezing temps white gas will work better. The canisters freeze up.



I use a Coleman Peak One Exponent white gas stove (of course no longer made aargh) for cold weather. You can clean the tanks and fly with it.



You cannot fly with canisters and they are hard to find if your canoe travels take you to the backcountry.

stove
I have a msr pocket rocket. It was cheap under $50.00. Its super light, comes in its own plastic case, and boils water in a few minutes. I love this stove. I have 2, one for backup since my first one is about 6 years old.

Coleman 442 dualfuel.
But I only use Coleman fuel in it now. Unleaded gasoline was totally unreliable.



I also have a Jetboil and love it. Day trip soup for lunch and morning coffee before getting out of the sleeping bag is where it shines. Nothing like a hot lunch on a cold day, instead of sardines and cheese. The Jetboil is small, efficient and reliable. It’s always in my daypack along with a bag of Ramens and some coffee.

Great discussions; thanks!!
I have borrowed or used many of the stoves listed here and liked them. Some are new to me. I am borrowing one of the pocket rocket stoves for my next trip to see if I like it. I used one for a day but only to boil water.



I also have checked out the pop can stoves, which really interest me because you can make them. Last Spring, I talked about having a ‘pop can stove making’ party but never did it! I should put that on my agenda for Fall.



I also am fascinated by this Jet Boil-first time I have seen it. It claims to heat water faster than my electric one at my desk at work. Does it really boil two cups of water in two minutes? I could definitely see using that a lot. It says it is a fuel miser as well. How many cups per fuel canister? How does wind affect it?



I appreciate all the comments and reviews. I really need to buy a stove & stop being the stove sponge. ; )


Stove

– Last Updated: Jul-09-08 10:03 PM EST –

I use a propane-isobutane Snowpeak Gigapower Micromax. It folds super compact, has only three prongs instead of four (makes the pots more stable), and heats up nicely. Plus, it fits inside any pot (or cup) you use! Since I don't camp in freezing temperatures, I don't have to worry about slow heat from cold fuel.

Edited to add: Cost was only $59.95 regular, but I got it for a bit over $40. It also comes with an ignitor standard.

hi
I got a whisperlite internationale and it is an absolute flaming pile. It’s never worked well since the first lightly used year.

SVEA Trianga + denatures alcohol = $10
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=442721



I have one of the whole set up… Stove, wind deflector, pot & pan, and fuel bottle. Cost me $5 for the whole deal about 8 years ago & it has been excellent with only one function problem- I forgot the rubber seal on the stove rim when I lit it… 15 cents later it has run fine, since.



Paddle easy,



Coffee

SVEA Trianga… more info


On the bottom of the “stove part” it is stamped SVEA. The ones I have run off of denatured alcohol ($1.35 per gallon, and lasts forever). Go back to www.cheaperthandirt.com & look up part # ZRW-170 Military 5 piece cook stove.





Paddle easy,



Coffee

Finally found the link…

– Last Updated: Jul-10-08 1:46 PM EST –

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ctd/product.asp?sku=ZRW%2D170&thru=fr&mscssid=JFX2U8SM54FT9MRVDAUHBWENTHGJE3F4

Although, when I bought mine it was 3 for $15...

Or:


http://cgi.ebay.com/Swedish-Two-Person-Camp-Backpack-Stove_W0QQitemZ280243103533QQihZ018QQcategoryZ36077QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Or:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Swiss-Military-Camp-Stove-Kit_W0QQitemZ110269180981QQihZ001QQcategoryZ36077QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Paddle easy,

Coffee

Stove
I use a Coleman Apex II as a primary stove because I love the fuel delivery system.

For day paddles I use a pop can alcohol stove exclusively. WARNING . . . making pop can stoves can become addictive!!!

I use an ancient Coleman Peak I
The old Peak I is good enough for me. It really packs a punch at “full throttle” (better not even use the full-pwer setting unless the pot you are using is more than 14 inches in diameter or you’ll get flames all up the sides), but it simmers better than most of the really expensive stoves I see other people using. The only reliablity issue I have had is age-related valve-seal leakage, which so far has been repairable simply by tightening the packings.



In general, I’m a fan of liquid-fuel stoves because you get more heat production, relative to the amount of weight and space of your fuel containers, than with propane or butane. Also, you always know exactly how much fuel you have, and there’s never any need to bring along extra containers carrying questionable quantities of fuel. Just fill the stove’s tank (and maybe a reserve tank) at the beginning of the trip and off you go. Finally, as already pointed out, liquid fuel is reliable in cold temperature, while propane/butane is not.

the annoyance
of having several mostly empty but not quite canisters in your garage…unless you want to take them all for your next week long trip.



Liquid fuel doesnt pose that dilemma.



Plus you can start a good fire with it if you need one for warmth. Carefully. Wont go into the details but when it has been raining for seven weeks straight, kindling needs a boost. (Northen Ontario is awash… thats north of Thunder Bay)

stoves
If you want a light weight, small, relatively inexpensive ($39) cannister stove it is hard to beat the MSR pocket rocket. Weighs 4 ozs and can be stored is a small quart pot. Cannisters are a little problem becasue you always seem to have a half full one but if you punch a hole in them after they are empty they can be recycled.

Jetboil is great stove!
Especially if you’re looking for boiling water. Not as useful for cooking up full meals, although some of their models are more suitable than the basic boiler. About $80.

Solid Fuel:
Esbit…



Liquid fuel:



MSR Pocket Rocket (Snowpeak is good but pricey).





Consider: Pepsi Can Stoves…(Free), uses denatured alcohol as fuel (HEET automotive fuel additive in the YELLOW bottle), or from a Hardware store/Walmart.