camping stoves

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

You might want to consider getting two stoves, one for backpacking and one for car camping. Often you can pick up a used Coleman stove at a garage sale. You can get an adapter to run it on propane, which then gives you an option as how to use it.

I have a MSR International for backpacking. You need to know how to take care of it and you need to learn how to get it to simmer (don't put too much pressure in the tank). You can field repair everything with this. Compare that to a Coleman which is easier to use, but if something goes wrong, which I have seen, there is nothing you can do in the field. I would not use a backpacking stove which uses propane/butane since then you end up having half filled containers and need to decide if it will be enough or if you need a new one. With white gas or other such fuels you can fill it at the start of each trip, also butane and propane can have issues at high elevations. One suggestion with the MSR, turn it over and use the air pressure in the tank to clear the fuel in the line to prevent issues which cause the fuel line to get blocked (cooked fuel).

Another class of stoves, like the Optimus and Primus are nice, but you need to realize those are closed loop systems. More heat means more pressure which means more heat until you turn it down or it goes over pressure. In other words don't leave it. The MSR Whisperlight will run out of pressure if left along and go out. I heard of one guy who left his Optimus to visit a tree and just as he came back he was entertained with a large flame. There is little to go wrong with these types of stoves and little to replace, so these are great long term investments. I have one which is quite old. It is more of a trick to light them too, but people get used to that.

Any backpacking stove will be harder to use for car camping since they tend to be small. If you keep to that style of cooking, then it won't be an issue. Also, I would not use a MSR Whisperlight on a wood surface, such as a picnic table or inside a tent. One mistake and you will have more things cooking than you intended.

Also, with car camping you might be more likely to make more complex meals and need to use two burners, which is another reason for multiple stoves.
 
I have Camping Gaz. Got it from REI about 8-10 years ago. It uses propane/butane mix canisters and I can attest that it still works well at 10k feet. Used at that altitude many times. Since I got it ther have been quite a few new ones come out. I like the MSR dragonfly. If its for international use I would get the multi-fuel type. For car camping I have a nice 2 burner/griddle Coleman propane stove.
 
Im glad I read this. I have used the Whisperlite Int. In the past when I used to Climb and Kayak. I always used a buddies.

I keep a back pack on the back of each seat to hold stuff like gloves, maps, first aid, and other stuff I need close. I always take sandwichs for lunch on the trail and I am getting real tired of them. So thats why i have been looking for a compact stove I could toss in one of the back packs.

I just bought a Whisperlite Int with a extra fuel bottle on ebay for 23 bucks.

Glad to know others are using the same stove and it seems like for a good reason.


JOSH
 
kemasa said:
.... The MSR Whisperlight will run out of pressure if left along and go out. I heard of one guy who left his Optimus to visit a tree and just as he came back he was entertained with a large flame. ...

I've had this happen with my stove, very entertaining. Not much to worry about, the pressure relief valve vents, catches fire, burns for a while then all is right with the world. That is if you have more fuel, which I didn't. :doh:
 
Back
Top Bottom