To me, stoves are as intriguing as fishing gear. Some people just see them as anecessary piece of kit and look no deeper into them, just like fishing gear! Those who appreciate such things will know what I mean. There are those who lovingly caress their grade AA cork Wells grip, finely turned reel seat and the delicateness of the carbon weave within the blank together with the equisitly executed whippings...others just get a £20 Shakey off e6ay and catch as many fish. Same thing different gear.
Anyway, I have a thing for stoves. The standard Trangia is OK, but you have to carry seperate fuel and they are very slow. My son has nicked mine, which is at least 40 years old.
An old stalwart is the Coleman 452 petrol/white gas stove. copper coloured tank. It is very reliable and fits perfectly into a CD tub, those plastic tubs you get 100 CDs in. I bet the Featherlite and other Coleman models that use the same tank will fit as well. It is a useful carrying case.
Then I needed a bigger stove so doubled it with a parafin fuelled Optimus 111B, which I still have but leant it to a friend who hadn't got a clue how to use it, despite being being shown and going through it before he went off.....it is blackened and needs a smarten up, it still roars though!
For on the bike I found the Coleman a bit big, and was introduced to the Optimus 7R, a completely self contained petrol stove in miniature and with the benefit of not having a pressure pump at all. You just need the warmth from your hands to expand the tank enough to create the pressure, from then on it is self pressurising. It is a work of art and I love it.
(http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c118/simoneverett/Est_0146.jpg) (http://s26.photobucket.com/user/simoneverett/media/Est_0146.jpg.html)
e6ay can be your friend though and the modern stoves are just amazing, with a standard fuel bottle acting as the tank. So I got an MSR Dragonfly as my modern one....
I'm in the market for a stove of some sort, I've got a big cumbersome one that screws to the top of a bottle which is also massive, works great but its thirsty and a pain in the arse to pack into a rucksack, one that sits low on the ground would be ideal, don't want to spend much either......
The Optimus 7R was called the Hunter stove with the sliding petrol tank within the outer tin box. Another classic is the Svea 123R also called the Optimus Climber. That is the one I have had as a very long term favourite. No pumping, self-pricking delivery valve and very compact size but great heat output and sounds like a Doodlebug. The originals date back 100 years now and still made to virtually the same design. Described as the best ultra compact stove ever made.
Cheap as chips to run on leadfree 2star. :D :D :D :D
I use a wood gas stove basically its a double layered can which draws air and its own smoke through its self to burn the smoke. They go for around £50 but you can get cheap ones off Amazon for £15 and they work just as well.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Camping-Hiking/Portable-Stainless-Solidified-Emergency-Preparation/B017SLM24U/ref=sr_1_1?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1484674232&sr=1-1&keywords=wood+gas+stove (https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Camping-Hiking/Portable-Stainless-Solidified-Emergency-Preparation/B017SLM24U/ref=sr_1_1?s=sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1484674232&sr=1-1&keywords=wood+gas+stove)
Edit I also use a jet boil when wood isnt available which is very rare.
Are these really good? I'd worry they wouldn't boil a pot, would be ideal otherwise, save me worrying about getting the right gas bottle when I'm going camping
Quote from: Lochan_load on January 17, 2017, 04:18:40 PM
I'm in the market for a stove of some sort, I've got a big cumbersome one that screws to the top of a bottle which is also massive, works great but its thirsty and a pain in the arse to pack into a rucksack, one that sits low on the ground would be ideal, don't want to spend much either......
It's something like this you want.
https://www.alpkit.com/products/koro (https://www.alpkit.com/products/koro)
They have a pre-heater for cold weather.
Something like that but a bit cheaper would be good :D for all I use it I don't really want to spend 50 quid
Is this cheap enough :)
http://picclick.co.uk/Foldable-Split-Burner-Gas-Stove-Picnic-Furnace-282175781473.html#&gid=1&pid=1 (http://picclick.co.uk/Foldable-Split-Burner-Gas-Stove-Picnic-Furnace-282175781473.html#&gid=1&pid=1)
Just noticed there is one with electronic ignition for £10 :)
The one in the picture is a tenner but I'm a bit suspicious of something that cheap!
https://www.nevisport.com/gosystem-sirocco-stove (https://www.nevisport.com/gosystem-sirocco-stove)
This is one I saw in the shop that looked good, anyone used this? And sorry if I've high jacked this thread a bit 😬
Admittedly I've not used many different stoves, when doing DofE awards we were supplied with trangia stoves. Few years ago I did try a very basic, and cheap, gas stove but did not get on well with it. The gas stove would probably have benefited from a wind break.
The trangia may be slow to heat up but I've never had a problem with the cooking times. They are robust and pack all pots etc into a fairly neat bundle.
I have one of the £16 ones and it works perfectly fine as a test I filled a 2ltr kettle took a little over 5 minutes to boil as I'm on my own a brew is done in no time.
Quote from: Element on January 17, 2017, 07:21:39 PM
Ifrequent places where there sinply isn't sufficient wood - or that that is present is damp / wet. Also - although in the pics of the amazon link it all looks great - I imagine it gets all sooted up from the fire? Especially if pine woods are being used for fuel...?
E.
They come with a fuel tray to use too though I've never used it with spirits. Regarding getting dirty its not bad at all though the under side of the pot your burning does get a little sutty but a quick wipe on the floor\moss sorts it.
Quote from: Robbie on January 17, 2017, 08:01:07 PM
Admittedly I've not used many different stoves, when doing DofE awards we were supplied with trangia stoves. Few years ago I did try a very basic, and cheap, gas stove but did not get on well with it. The gas stove would probably have benefited from a wind break.
The trangia may be slow to heat up but I've never had a problem with the cooking times. They are robust and pack all pots etc into a fairly neat bundle.
I've owned a Primus Multi fuel stove. It was a really powerful beast and it roared like a jet fighter when running on gas ! It was great for boiling but was hard to control so it was bad for burning the sausages! I also like the Trangia sets. They're a bit more controllable and they are now available in superb non stick coatings and there is a compact gas burner attachment that allows it to use gas canisters as well as the various liquid fuels and gels.
GREAT!
Isn't it amusing how old men can get so much pleasure from various ways of controlling FIRE.
Now where to start Trangia 27 with added gas burner also Swedish army trangia, The ideal express meths stove, Pocket gas stove that screws on a Coleman 250 canister for use with a fast boil pan, and 3 of those briefcase stoves for car camping, oh and a couple of army solid fuel things ,bloody eBay on a Friday night after a dram. cheers John
That's not a collection, that's the evidence of an obsession ! Inside every camper is a pyromaniac fighting to get out ! :-):-):-)
I'll second that motion bob!
I still use the auld paraffin primus stoves cheap to run and in my case always work, spares ready available and can burn for hours on a fill, have to say its saved my life a few times ...tip is having the Patience to allow the burner to get really hot before appling the pressure. For those who need spares
http://www.base-camp.co.uk/ (http://www.base-camp.co.uk/)
http://classiccampstoves.com/ (http://classiccampstoves.com/)
Tried a few times to post here but being blocked.
Billy
I have all sorts of stoves. Mountaineering being one of my major things. Not a kelly Kettle type thing though
I find that the primus style paraffin stoves are actually a pain noweverdays because paraffin is less available, and more expensive. They are also heavy, difficult to light (comparatively). There main advantages is being able to burn anything.
The little pocket rocket stoves or any simple gas stoves are fine, but then you need to carry pans and stuff. It all becomes bulky.
For a simple bru a jetboil type thingy is light, small, quick, gas is cheap per bru, easy, always lights, works in any weather, cold really isn't an issue in these climbs (or really anywhere, I use a large one to melt snow at altitude on remote mountaineering expeditions).
The disadvantage is they are not the cheapest. But I think
You can get a jetboil themselves, MSR, primus or Appkit versons of the same thing. for like 50 odd quid
I also love the coffee press attachment :-)
Attached a pic of mine in use this week up a munro :-)
P.S. Top tip, always take fire. The auto lighting mechanisms only work in ideal conditions.
I'm leaning towards getting a trangia, watching a couple second hand on eBay. Was in b&m bargains today for white spirit today and see they do meths for £2.49
I have been using the MSR pocket rocket for the last few seasons. Small, cheap and pretty reliable.
Also a fan of the pocket rocket,really couldnt be arsed messing about with paraffin and the likes.
Back to the Trangia or more importantly the meths... does anyone know where you can get clear meths? This is the stuff without the purple dye and horrid taste added. I used to be able to "obtain" it when I was in the helicopter business but for some reason it is not for general sale :roll:
Is this for drinking or are you just not a prince fan 😀
I've never tried standard meths . I was running mine on a clear Bio Ethanol fuel that was available from Cotswold and Go Outdoors. Very clean, no smell and no soot left on pots or kettle. Probably a wee bit more expensive than meths but if that's the price of soot free pots then so be it.
Go and see your friendly panel beater and sprayer. Ask if they will order you in a 5 litre can of FAST DRYING panel wipe (it is pure naptha, or Coleman white gas if it comes in a Coleman sticker bottle!) 5 litres cost me £12.50, so cheaper tahn white gas by a long way, last time I looked Go Outdoors were selling white gas for £8.50 for 500ml, or £17 / litre. :piper
If you get the ordinary coloured meths and add 10% by volume of water out of the tap, it will still burn happily but it won't soot. Alternatively, has anyone tried Isopropyl alcohol from an industrial supplier? I think it has replaced acetone as a degreaser, not as hot as panel wipe (naptha) but would suit meths burners.
Quote from: Roobarb on January 24, 2017, 10:45:59 AM
The Kelly Kettle is obviously too bulky to take anywhere but for a loch/roadside boil up there is nothing better as long as you have dry twigs - dry grass/leaves/moss won't do it. I did manage to get a boil going last season while on island where the only fuel available was damp reed stems, it took foever!
Andy
I have a tiny Kelly Kettle clone about the size of a tin of beans. Slower than a full size version but still works well and there is never a shortage of heather stems where I fish. Much prefer it to a flask.
Not tried it in anger yet, but I have an adapter/stand that fits on top of the Kelly Kettle so a saucepan can be used. Not sure how steady it would be on the hill rather than the garage floor......
I've tried cooking over a large Kelly Kettle. Its hard to control the heat so lots of charred sausages! The other issue is the amount of soot it leaves is ridiculous and its not easy to remove. Great tool for boiling water if you enjoy the sight and smell of real fire but it takes up a fair bit of space if you are carrying it and it's a pretty poor cooker.
Quote from: rannoch raider on January 25, 2017, 06:00:43 PM
I've tried cooking over a large Kelly Kettle. Its hard to control the heat so lots of charred sausages! The other issue is the amount of soot it leaves is ridiculous and its not easy to remove. Great tool for boiling water if you enjoy the sight and smell of real fire but it takes up a fair bit of space if you are carrying it and it's a pretty poor cooker.
I noticed the masses of soot even with dry wood on a trial run.
I just lose all common sense and judgement when I see something new in a tackle or outdoor shop. I have plenty of unused kit to prove this statement!
Worth looking at cycle-touring websites because these guys want kit that is light and small !!
Here, for example, is the Alpkit site with a page of some of their stuff. Near the bottom of this page is the Kraku mini stove at £25. Very compact and light. They have quite a few good bits of stuff including a lightweight 2 person tent at only 1.3kg in two wee packages.
https://www.alpkit.com/bike-luggage (https://www.alpkit.com/bike-luggage)
I would soon lose that Kraku stove, it is only the size of an AA battery. Can't argue with that.
These might be worth a look.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Camping-Hiking/Dpower-Foldable-Camping-Stove-Ignition/B0101JL7CE/ref=cts_sp_2_vtp?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_p=1212178027&pf_rd_r=XN58BPYJHD09R85K41Z6&pd_rd_wg=NPI5m&pf_rd_s=desktop-detail-softlines&pf_rd_t=40701&pd_rd_i=B0101JL7CE&pd_rd_w=JFEI5&pf_rd_i=desktop-detail-softlines&pd_rd_r=XN58BPYJHD09R85K41Z6&_encoding=UTF8 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Camping-Hiking/Dpower-Foldable-Camping-Stove-Ignition/B0101JL7CE/ref=cts_sp_2_vtp?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_p=1212178027&pf_rd_r=XN58BPYJHD09R85K41Z6&pd_rd_wg=NPI5m&pf_rd_s=desktop-detail-softlines&pf_rd_t=40701&pd_rd_i=B0101JL7CE&pd_rd_w=JFEI5&pf_rd_i=desktop-detail-softlines&pd_rd_r=XN58BPYJHD09R85K41Z6&_encoding=UTF8)
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Camping-Hiking/Lixada-Outdoor-Camping-Cooking-Windproof-Portable-Foldable/B01DVLZA22/ref=cts_sp_2_vtp?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_p=1212178027&pf_rd_r=7BJZGB70F33H8DEKJ79Q&pd_rd_wg=ZSilj&pf_rd_s=desktop-detail-softlines&pf_rd_t=40701&pd_rd_i=B01DVLZA22&pd_rd_w=JHKIx&pf_rd_i=desktop-detail-softlines&pd_rd_r=7BJZGB70F33H8DEKJ79Q&_encoding=UTF8 (https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Camping-Hiking/Lixada-Outdoor-Camping-Cooking-Windproof-Portable-Foldable/B01DVLZA22/ref=cts_sp_2_vtp?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_p=1212178027&pf_rd_r=7BJZGB70F33H8DEKJ79Q&pd_rd_wg=ZSilj&pf_rd_s=desktop-detail-softlines&pf_rd_t=40701&pd_rd_i=B01DVLZA22&pd_rd_w=JHKIx&pf_rd_i=desktop-detail-softlines&pd_rd_r=7BJZGB70F33H8DEKJ79Q&_encoding=UTF8)
I have sorted and resorted all my fishing tackle so I was wasting time looking at more things I really do not need especially as my camping days are largely over and my mini Kelly Kettle suffices for making tea. Then, prompted by this thread, I found The Honey Stove. http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/all/RD106.html (http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/all/RD106.html)
The ultimate in 100% British designed and manufactured wood burning and multi-fuel Titanium stoves.
Manufactured from .5mm Grade 2 Titanium sheet, which is 29% thinner than the .7mm Stainless Steel model.
This also makes it 55% lighter weighing in at a total of 161g. (Standard model 362g)
A true multi fuel stove which cooks efficiently with virtually any size or shape of cook pot, used by the independent traveller around the world. One which will burn organic matter, esbit/hexamine tablets, night light candles, ANY make of meths (denatured alcohol) stove, Greenheat Fuel Cells and even the standard Trangia gas burner, or other similar variations.
Oh. It is £75 with another £60 for an expansion kit.
Quote from: arawa on January 27, 2017, 10:36:52 AM
I have sorted and resorted all my fishing tackle so I was wasting time looking at more things I really do not need especially as my camping days are largely over and my mini Kelly Kettle suffices for making tea. Then, prompted by this thread, I found The Honey Stove. http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/all/RD106.html (http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/all/RD106.html)
The ultimate in 100% British designed and manufactured wood burning and multi-fuel Titanium stoves.
Manufactured from .5mm Grade 2 Titanium sheet, which is 29% thinner than the .7mm Stainless Steel model.
This also makes it 55% lighter weighing in at a total of 161g. (Standard model 362g)
A true multi fuel stove which cooks efficiently with virtually any size or shape of cook pot, used by the independent traveller around the world. One which will burn organic matter, esbit/hexamine tablets, night light candles, ANY make of meths (denatured alcohol) stove, Greenheat Fuel Cells and even the standard Trangia gas burner, or other similar variations.
Oh. It is £75 with another £60 for an expansion kit.
£75 for a fire box? I am sure there are some stones on the foreshore you can make a firebox out of without having to carry them in. :roll:
Quote from: Simon Everett on January 28, 2017, 01:56:11 AM
£75 for a fire box? I am sure there are some stones on the foreshore you can make a firebox out of without having to carry them in. :roll:
I did not buy it :shock: :shock:
I didn't believe for one minute you had...I was aghast at the concept of anyone buying it.
I have been pretty stupid in the past though. As I piled on the kilos I became obsessed with saving grams in my kit. I bought a titanium mug that weighs nothing but is impossible to drink from until the tea has gone cold because the hot metal burns your mouth!
This is it. we worry about cutting a few ounces here and there from our backpacks when what we really should do is lose a stone off the beer belly. :lol:
Quote from: arawa on January 28, 2017, 11:21:31 AM
I have been pretty stupid in the past though. As I piled on the kilos I became obsessed with saving grams in my kit. I bought a titanium mug that weighs nothing but is impossible to drink from until the tea has gone cold because the hot metal burns your mouth!
The MSR one? I've had my titanium kettle and cup for about 15 years now...still going strong!
WOW, my beer belly is off limits, worked many a year to nurture and develop it to what it is now.
Anyway I feel the weight from said beer belly gives me a good counterweight to my backpack.
I'm now the proud owner of a trangia 27, bought from eBay for £25 plus postage. Thought I'd pick one up reasonably cheap but I've watched a few and they generally go for over forty quid second hand, this one was on a buy it now at 25 so guessing the guy hadn't been watching what they go for, anyways looking forward to trying it out.
Says he's had it for 2-3 years, looks pretty good and has the bag you buy separate
Looks like a good find.
Bargain Like the look of the bag that's about 7 or 8 quid itself use an old net bag for mine want a swap :lol:
Tempting offer john :shock:
QuoteI don't use a bag... saves weight :D
I dont use a stove, saves weight :crap
I don't eat, loses weight. :D
[attachimg=1]Came a day or two ago, pleased with it and all looks pretty good, could do with a once over for a scourer but other than that brand new, look forward to trying it in anger :8)
I came across one of these Solo wood-burning stoves today in the outdoor shop in Ullapool.
http://www.outside.co.uk/shop/Solo+Stove+Lite?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=shopping&gclid=CMv8jpeLs9ICFU8o0wodqQgHZw (http://www.outside.co.uk/shop/Solo+Stove+Lite?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=shopping&gclid=CMv8jpeLs9ICFU8o0wodqQgHZw)
I was very impressed with the design and size of the smaller version with the parts neatly packing away into each other. There is also a pot/kettle that the stove fits inside to give everything needed for basic cooking facilities in something not much bigger than a large tin of soup. Very light too.
If I thought I would actually do much camping out again I might well have been tempted :lol: :lol:.
was there a stove in there? it obviously wasn't very good; she looked a bit chilly
That is why she was wearing furry boots :roll: :roll:
There is an article in FF & FT this month from Anthony Glasgow comparing three camping stoves. Three stoves were a Trangia, jetboil and a Kelly kettle.
Even I could have told you the results before reading it.
Billy
Quote from: Billy on March 04, 2017, 11:33:06 AM
There is an article in FF & FT this month from Anthony Glasgow comparing three camping stoves. Three stoves were a Trangia, jetboil and a Kelly kettle.
Even I could have told you the results before reading it.
Billy
put me out of my misery Billy :lol: i reckon, the jetboil was far and away the fastest, the trangia was the most practical, but they
STILL opted for the Kelly kettle as the best-buy.......?? :roll:
I admit Dave I really like the jet boil but I rather save the gas for when I really need it so (I'm cheap) I would opt for a Kelly my self as the fuel is free.
I have to say Kelly is my fav way to go on the rare occasion that I want hot anything when out n about.
Generally speaking I am a flask or 'go cold' kinda guy.
There is something about a naked flame that just seems right to me, I have also never really taken to carrying gas cilinders anywhere on my person,makes no sense I know but its just summit I have always had an issue with.
The jet boil came out best for speed. I reckon the name gives it away. Trangia was too slow and took up too much space. Kelly Kettle came third as it can't be used in a tent.
Not a very exiting article and I think it would have been better comparing different gas burners against each other or meths burners etc.
Billy
I know I am a bit old fashioned but I cannot see past an Optimus 123 , sometimes called the Svea 123 or the Optimus Climber. This little petrol stove is self cleaning with a built in needle wire in the jet. It requires no priming pump and it has an adjustable burner valve. It has been in production for more than 100 years so they are older tham me (!). It roars like a doodle-bug and gives out huge heat from petrol which is probably the most heat dense fuels you can get. Meths is very slow and a low heat fuel for its weight and is expensive. My one has been going for more than 40 years and it lights first time every time. New stoves and spares are available in many countries. A design classic :D :D
I have just posted my full kit in another post but as for stoves I have quite a collection, my two favourites at the moment are an evernew titanium alcohol stove and a fire maple FMS-117T Remote Gas Stove.
I like the evernew because its silent, it might be a bit slower than a gas stove but i am not usually in a hurry anyway.
its quite a weight saving over a trangia (35g to 110g) only downside is it doesn't have a lid so you can't store fuel in it and its not easy to put out so its best to gauge how much fuel to use and let it burn itself out.
If its likely to be windy then i will take the gas stove with a small 110g canister.
I am not a fan of jetboil type stoves as you are limited to the one type of cooking pot, i like to take a small pot to boil water in and a small frying pan for bacon / sausages or even a trout.
If i am camping near the car then i might use a kelly kettle.
I did make a wood burner from an ikea utensil holder (search youtube for ikea hobo stove) but i hate the soot / creosote it produces.
it is very hard to remove from my lovely titanium pans :(
I have a small primus spider which is good and fast especially when I use my lightweight wind break.
Billy
Reigniting an old topic,no pun intended.
I am looking for a backpacking stove and am thinking of either MSR pocket rocket,Soto Winemaster,Alpkit Koro orKovea Spider.
What is your thoughts on these or any other suggestions.
A
Quote from: Its Me on December 10, 2019, 11:44:18 AM
Reigniting an old topic,no pun intended.
I am looking for a backpacking stove and am thinking of either MSR pocket rocket,Soto Winemaster,Alpkit Koro orKovea Spider.
What is your thoughts on these or any other suggestions.
A
I've been using the pocket rocket for the last few years now along with the MSR titan kettle and titan cup - they all fit into each other and weigh very, very little. I am a fan of the tea-break when fishing most rivers and I find that combo works well for me. The new pocket rocket has a self-igniter built in but I always a carry a spare one too.
Quote from: Its Me on December 10, 2019, 11:44:18 AM
Reigniting an old topic,no pun intended.
I am looking for a backpacking stove and am thinking of either MSR pocket rocket,Soto Winemaster,Alpkit Koro orKovea Spider.
What is your thoughts on these or any other suggestions.
A
My tuppence worth.
Pocket Rocket---reminds me of the old Camping Gas Bluet stoves, which I still have, and I found them easy to tip over unless you had a good solid flat surface. Even then they were easily knocked.
Soto Windmaster----again, reminds me of the Bluet stove :)
Alpkit Koro------no longer available according to the store page.
Kovea Spider----looks good but looks a bit flimsy to me.
This one is close to the style I have and it also has the pre-heater for cold mornings :)
https://www.tiso.com/tiso-prim-1125945/primus-express-spider-ii-stove-no-colour-tiso-prim-1125945
An alternative thought: https://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/bushcraft/RD104.html
Literally fits in your back pocket! The stainless version weighs 141g and costs £25 and the titanium is 56g and £45.
I am perfectly happy with my micro kelly kettle but ......
This looks like a good buy.
https://campingstoves.org.uk/product/andake-portable-camping-gas-stove-energy-efficient-camping-stove-super-stable-wind-resistant-foldable-backpack-cooker-with-carry-bag/
Quote from: Its Me on December 10, 2019, 11:44:18 AM
Reigniting an old topic,no pun intended.
I am looking for a backpacking stove and am thinking of either MSR pocket rocket,Soto Winemaster,Alpkit Koro orKovea Spider.
What is your thoughts on these or any other suggestions.
I did use a "canister top" type stove similar to the pocket rocket but the whole operation sat very high so not only was it prone to being unstable but it was also very vulnerable to wind and eventually I moved away from it. They are small and light and so have their place but in the end I gave up on it for my purposes.
I have a few other stoves and will give some views, again this relates on to my use but it may give you ideas as to what is important to you...
Crusader Stove - burns solid fuel "tablets" or even better the chafing gel used in buffets to keep the food warm which can be bought in big catering size buckets for very little money. The Crusader is the simplest thing known to man as it is basically a cup and a little dish in which you light a fire. It is very basic, relatively inexpensive, good for boiling up a brew, a bit slow and inefficient, especially inefficient in a decent breeze, and perhaps a little heavy but for many purposes hard to beat.
Multi-fuel stove mine is an MSR Dragonfly - These stoves will burn a range of fuels but I run mine on Coleman Gas which is basically liquid fuel as it is clean and doesn't gum the stove up. The stove needs priming and, clearly, if you intend burning something like diesel then you need to make plans for how you'd get it primed. The stove plus a full fuel bottle is relatively heavy and although it claims you can adjust the heat output this is simply not true in anything but complete flat calm as if you turn it down the wind blows it out. Once you get it going, and priming might take a minute or so, then it is pretty efficient and with the big fuel bottle it would probably boil enough water to pour you a decent bath.
Canister gas stove - I've already mentioned why I gave up on the canister top type stoves but here I mean the type that sit on the ground and connect to the canister with a sort of hose arrangement. I have an MSR Windpro II and would use this stove quite often. It sits low to the ground and MSR supply a very simple wind shield and so you can get it to work, with thought and care, in most conditions. It is also relatively stable and it can run with the gas canister inverted which means you can squeeze a bit more heat out of it or use the gas right down to the last drop without a huge hit on performance. All you need carry is the stove and a canister of gas so this can be a very lightweight and compact solution. The stove is very efficient and fast though as the canister approaches empty or in cold conditions it isn't quite so effective but this is nothing you can't solve by using the brain. Again it is supposed to be able to simmer but it simply can't in even the lightest of breeze as it will blow out plus with the construction of most lightweight pots etc. it is better just to consider this a system for boiling stuff. If I had to pick just one than this is the one I'd probably go for.
Stove "system" I have the MSR Windburner - this is the sort of stove setup where you get a burner and a special pot that all screw onto the top of a gas canister and, generally, everything you need including a small gas canister will pack away into the pot. This system does suffer slightly from one of the problems of the pocket rocket type stove in that the whole setup is a bit tall and so less than ideal on uneven ground however, I've found it not such a big problem with the Windburner for some reason. The Windburner, as the name implies, is designed to work in the wind and so being tall doesn't cause problems in that respect but be aware that my experience is that in anything above the most gentle of breezes you need to use your head and get some shelter as it doesn't work in real wind. I used the Windburner on Lewis for all of the season just ended and loved it however it is relatively heavy and bulky compared to the Windpro II I mention above and it does just one thing which is to boil water, it is very fast and efficient at doing this. So very convenient but not for someone looking to be ultralight or with very limited pack space. If you saw any of the video reports I posted to the forum over the summer/Autumn then it was the Windburner in all of them.
I find it hard to see past my well used Optimus Climber compact petrol stove. Also called the Svea 123 and also Optimus Svea. Been made for 100 years and still being made. Simple and very reliable and now seen as a bit of an old cult classic. Burns 50 minutes on 120ccs of petrol or white fuel. Much cheaper than any gas canister stove to run. Sounds like a German Doodlebug bomb when on full chat !!! Lovely sound!!!
I use a Primus Spider.
Folds up really small and I can get the gas canister, stove, Swedish firesteel all in my small pot set.
I also bought a small flat folding windbreak which slides down inside the pocket of my rucksack but the stove sits so low in the heather that I have only had to use it once on North Uist.
Looking forward to using it again in 2020.
Billy
I settled for an Alpkit Koro that I have been watching on eBay the last 4 days and won it.
Thanks for your replies.
A