Altitude
I know it may not be an issue, since this is a paddling forum - but the subject of altitude seems to be glossed over here. If the user wants something for alpine use, the Jetboil or other canister stoves may not be the best choice.
I first started using the Whisperlite (International) because I was spending a lot of time at altitudes around 8-10,000’. And a good deal of that time in cold weather. If you think a canister (or alcohol) stove loses efficiency in the cold or at high altitude, try using one under both conditions. Pretty frustrating. That situation makes the white gas stove way more attractive. Even under those conditions, my Whisperlite never lets me down - heavy and messy as it is.
As with boats, the best setup is to have more than one and then use the one that fits the occasion best. But for someone who will have only one stove, IMO, the best thing to do is pick the stove that will work at the extremes of the user’s expected activities. If the user will not be encountering very cold temps or high elevations, a canister stove is best IMO. If there will be much cold temp and/or high altitude use, the “single stove” user would be better off with white gas.
Just for further clarity, I use my Pocket Rocket the vast majority of the time. But if I’m going out in winter weather or above 6000’, I am more likely to be using the Whisperlite.
Here’s a good article that gives a backpackers view of the issue. The weight-saving aspect may or may not be relevant to paddlers.
http://www.pmags.com/joomla/index.php/Backpacking-and-Hiking-documents/stove_comparison.html
I Have
A wisperlite International…but always use my Optimus Nova
I like the way it works better than the Wisperlite Int.
field repairable and it burns anything, under any condition any stove is going to work
Best Wishes
Roy
Canister/cold/altitude
I was talking to one of the gear heads at Neptune Mountaineering about this and asked if he knew of anyone who had used a hand warmer packet under the canister successfully. Yup. It puts out enough heat to keep the fuel warm enough to work in pretty cold temps. Stick a hand warmer (dry chemical type) under the canister and pull an old sock up over it, should work well. I plan on getting up to Eldora Nordic area ( http://www.eldora.com/mountain.stats.html )in a couple of weeks and will try this at about 9500’ and below freezing. Looking forward to a hot noodle cup at the far end of the trail. My stove: Northern Lights Alpha Ti, its hard to find these days, but is kind of like the Pocket Rocket. It weighs about 3oz with spark igniter included. A mighty little stove that will simmer or blast.
Good tip, Taj
Don’t see any reason it wouldn’t work.
something else to think about
Recycleability. Unfortunately cannisters (for cannister stoves) are not recycleable. You’d think they would be a way for people who love the outdoors to recycle them, but no. The cans that white gas comes in, on the other hand, … well, I don’t know about them. But maybe you use less can-per-joule, I don’t know. Another issue to think about, though, if you care about that sort of thing (I do).
If using the Whisperlite International…
…you can just keep refilling the same can.
cannisters are recycleable
The Jetboil cannisters are recycleable, as are any of the similar typs. You can't recycle them with any fuel remaining - so just take the empty cannister out to the workbench and punch a hole into it anywhere using a hammer and nail - then toss them in with the pork n'bean cans. I think someone markets a little punch device just for this purpose, but can't remember who.
Even the one pound Propane cannisters can be recycled, but not easily. They need to be taken to one of the few places that are set up to drain and capture the remnant fuel - in trash, unless they have been emptied like that, they are considered hazardous material I think.
another comment on a comment above, regarding Jetboil at altitude, I have used my Jetboil at about 9200 ft elevation, on frosty mornings - works fine, though I kept the stove in the tent the night before, wrapped in clothes or whatever to keep the temp up a little bit. It wouldn't be my stove of choice for really cold temps, but Jetboil does have a higher ratio of iso-butane than most other cannisters, for the purpose of using at colder temps. Some people will use a "cozy" around the cannister to help insulate it from the cold (assuming you've kept it in the sleeping bag with you, or otherwise have kept the cannister a bit warm overnight). I assume the efficiency suffers a bit, requiring more fuel to boil water, but any stove would have the same isse.
http://www.jetboil.com/faqs
click on the link and scroll down to get some ansers about cold weather use.
One point in favor of a cannister stove is that you can take them on a plane, as checked baggage, and then buy fuel at your destination. A whitegas stove can't normally be carried on a plane (one exception being a brand new, never used stove)
?
“A whitegas stove can’t normally be carried on a plane (one exception being a brand new, never used stove)”
Link to confirm?
stoven not specifically prohibited,
Probably should have qualified that a bit; more like its more dificult to bring a liquid fuel stove on a plane than a cannister stove - but fuel is prohibited, and the theory is they don't want any chance of vapor remaining in the stove. Its how the airline interprets the rules mostly. I've been asked many times if I have a stove, when I haven't had one.
I think I did once fly with my Coleman Peak1 - I'd left the cap off the fuel tank for a couple of weeks, but had to talk my way into being allowed to bring it - had to show them the stove. So in part, it depends on the airline check in person - if they aren't sure its allowed, they'd probably disallow it. A typical cannister stove will normally be ok, as there is minimal chance for any fuel vapors to stay in the stove if you keep the valve open.
see the link below for some comments - I'm sure if you just google for bringing a camping stove on a plane, you'd find lots of similar stuff.
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/message.jspa?messageID=10180909
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5028798_tsa-requirements-camp-stoves.html
Not had that problem
I’ve carried my MSR Wisp. Int. in checked baggage with no problems. Fuel bottles must be empty.
MSR Simmerlite
Hello,
My vote is for the MSR Simmerlite. I have the Whisperlite and Simmerlite. The Simmerlite is smaller and is a fully adjustable white gas stove which I have really enjoyed. Basically I would say it has a low, med, and high setting. It doesn’t adjust like the Dragonfly, but certainly much better than the Whisperlite. However, if your friend doesn’t need this feature for lower heat cooking, you already know that you can’t go wrong with the Whisperlite for a dependable, simple, durable stove. I take both along because the pumps are close enough to be interchangeable if one of them breaks, and both are light to carry.
Same experience here
I’ve travelled with my Whisperlite on flights before. Not had any problems.
That said, it’s still an odd thing to have to buy a new can of fuel at the destination, use a tiny fraction of it, and dump the rest before the flight home…
Optimus Nova…
or Nova Plus, or any of the Optimus multi-fuel stoves including the Svea or Svea 123R. With stoves you get what you pay for. MSR, bless their heart, is still selling cheezy plastic pumps with rebuild kits. Optimus pumps are all metal and I’ve not had to rebuild/repair one yet. The “burners” on both MSR and Optimus are about equal. They all perform well if directions are followed. It’s the pumps that will let you down. My brother in law has a box of MSR Dragonfly’s from a boy scout troop, ALL with failed plastic parts. Gotta say, my Sveas still hold the record for 100% reliability over the years.
Forgetting a major option
Maybe I missed a few when read this thread but only saw one very brief mention of alcohol stoves. They are a very serious option and are becomming more main stream in the US (have been in Europe for a long while).
Zen stoves does a much better job than I do regarding their pros and cons http://zenstoves.net/Stoves.htm
I have access to pretty much any stove I care to use, these are my choices;
Altitude or extreem cold = white gas MSR, especially if I am snow melting.
Fast and simple weekend trip = Jetboil or MSR reactor or Primus ETApower if more than 2 people.
Ulta light backpacking = Vargo (http://www.vargooutdoors.com/store/STOVES/c119/p998/Vargo-Titanium-Alcohol-Stove/product_info.html) or soda tin (http://zenstoves.net/Stoves.htm) alcohol stove.
Cooking for a comercial group = colman white gas/kerosene double burner as long as there is a porter or double kayak to carry it.
Outfitting an educational group = Trangia 25 alcohol(this is probably the most widely used stove for school/youth groups in europe due to its ruggedness and safety)
All of these stoves can be made to work in pretty much any situation, even melting snow on a home made soda can stove and all have their limitations.
If I was starting over without access to this variety of stoves and had to choose one stove for all situations for the next 20 year it would almost certainly be a Trangia 27 http://www.campsaver.com/itemdesc.asp?ic=327735
They are bomb proof. And in most situations "so what" if it takes 6 minutes not 3.5 to boil water, I've wasted way more time in the past tinkering with all the other options trying to get them to work.
ixnay on the itaniumtay
Titanium is light, strong and resists corrosion very well but is it the bast material for cook pots?
A lot of what I read and experience says no. I think its insulating properties (any rocket scientists out there want to weighing) mean more fuel (= more weight), longer boil times and hotspots causing burnt food.
I’m back to aluminum even on salt water.
Hey gbarron
We have a similar background 
MSR Dragonfly?
Has firepower, will simmer, burns a variety of fuels and a bigger platform for pots, but is it to big and heavy for basic backpacking and is it more reliable then the Whisperlite International? Non around here to look at so would have to order.
Also how well does the Whisperlite International simmer? There are some around here.
Didn’t know if the extra weight, price and “supposed” reliability of the Dragonfly makes sense over the Whisperlite International .
MSR’s are on sale (EMS) and Optimus is beyond the alloted price range.
Simmering Whisperlite Int’l?
Pretty tough to do, from my experience. I can pull it off with a cast iron pan, but that kinda defeats the purpose. With mine at least, the lowest setting it will burn at is still pretty hot. The Pocket Rocket, OTOH, will do it - so long as it isn’t in the wind. I don’t know about the Dragonfly.
One trick that does work almost like simmering with the Whisperlite is taking the bowl of my mess kit and floating it on about and inch of boiling water in my pot. Kind of a simmer/steam thing going on that way - great for cooking fresh trout - and no sticking to the pan.
"how well does the Whisperlite Internati
About as bad as the regular Whisperlite! (which is basically one of the worst)
Simmering
The trick to simmering with a Whisperlight, which is probably the case with most white gas stoves, is not over-pressuring the fuel bottle. This makes it a little more difficult, but quite doable. I’ve been using a Whisperlight International for over 20 years. It works as well as the day I got it. I recently decided I’d like a canister stove as well, and bought a Snowpeak Gigapower. Smaller, easier to deal with, no priming necessary, and here in TX cold and elevation are not likely to be issues. I’ve used the gigapower a few times and like it a lot. But the two stoves are different, and serve different functions. If I were taking a long backpacking trip, especially in cold weather or high altitudes, I’d take the Whisperlight. Shorter trips in warmer weather, it’s the Gigapower.