9 . What Your Parents Teach You About Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves
Summary: These basic stoves that are lightweight can use hexamine, wood white fuel, white fuel, Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves and gas canisters through a single nozzle. They’re popular in cold temperatures, but they’re noisy and don’t have simmer control.
Some multi-fuel stoves are hybrids able to burn multiple types of liquid fuel. The MSR WhisperLite Universal, for instance, can burn both white and isobutane canisters of fuel.
Optimus Nova
The Optimus Nova contemporary multi fuel stoves-fuel stove can be used to cook a variety of liquid fuels. It comes with a quick-priming stove as well as an aluminium pump that self-purges and a precise simmer control. Its low center of gravity and wide spreading legs make it a sturdy stove that can be used on uneven ground. This makes it an ideal stove for backpacking groups, base camps, kayaking, and camping in the Arctic.
The Optimus Nova is different from other liquid fuel stoves that are plagued by unburned fuel lingering in the fuel line or the nozzle. This can be solved by simply flipping over the bottle. The intake hoses are removed from the fuel, and forces them to absorb air which extinguishes flames and depressurizes bottle.
This seems like an innovative solution to an old problem and it certainly is effective. The Nova can be used with any fuel bottle with an o-ring seal, including MSR bottles. It comes with a stove bag that includes pockets for spares, tools along with lubricant and fuel pump.
This is an excellent stove for backpacking that can be used in the UK. It is particularly ideal for trips, where a variety of fuels are required. Its cost is reasonable when compared to canister stoves of similar capability. Additionally, the Optimus Nova is easy to maintain and a pleasure to use.
Kovea Hydra
The Kovea Hydra multi fuel stove first came on the market in 2010 and has been a favourite choice for many backpackers since. The Hydra is not as popular with UK backpackers Perhaps because they’ve caught up to better-known brands or the latest lightweight offering from China or Korea. However, this doesn’t mean it’s any less useful.
It’s a relatively compact and light stove, that can burn all liquid fuels including white gas and propane butane, using a single nozzle. It has a fairly typical stove design, with an ignition bell that is bolted onto the body, which is then anchored by three fold out support legs. The pump is situated on top of the fuel line, the generator loop runs around the inlet, and the flame spreader sits over. The burner is a slow-moving flame type. This makes it less affected by the wind.
It is a nice feature that it can also be utilized with a canister of isobutane or propane, which makes it a versatile small cooker. It is easy to simmer on isobutane or propane and burns all types of fuel at a decent level but is slower than other stoves when you use white gas.
One thing to be aware of concerning the Hydra is that the instructions are written in English which was not written by someone who speaks the language. The instructions caution against the use of certain types of lighter fluids that, if misinterpreted as what is intended could lead to an accident that would land Kovea in lots of legal hot water. That said, any 7/16ths UNEF threaded gas canister made by a reputable manufacturer should work just fine.
Primus OmniLite Ti
The Primus Omnilite Ti is a ideal choice for those who are looking for a multifuel stove that can cook using a variety fuels. It can be used with gas, petrol/gasoline or diesel, kerosene and aviation fuel. It has separate controls for each fuel type and also allows to adjust the flame size which is a great feature. This stove comes with a fuel pipe that is flat on the floor and is connected to the tank in a snap.
While the Primus Omnilite is a fantastic stove, it requires maintenance to ensure it is operating properly. It is a risk because it gets flaming when priming. This is a problem that is common to all stoves that use liquid fuel, which use a secondary spindle on the stove’s side instead of an actual coil to vaporize the fuel.
Another issue is the fact that it requires different jets for every type of fuel. This means that if you cook on kerosene, the jet hole has to be smaller than when cooking on gas. It’s a minor issue, but it’s worth mentioning.
MSR Whisper Light
The MSR Whisper Lite is one of the lightest, slimmest and most affordable multi fuel stoves. It is also very easy to repair in the field. It can be used with canister fuel or liquid gas and includes attachments for both. The new design is lighter by 10% than its predecessor and the burner mechanism was revamped to improve heat distribution. This is an excellent choice for backpackers on a tight budget or for beginners.
The whistler Lite takes a little time to set up, prime and boil water, but it’s a reliable stove that won’t fail you. The flame is powerful and can easily boil one Liter of water in two minutes. The only issue is that it does not simmer as well as other stoves.
MSR created the Dragonfly to be a better burner. It has a similar design like the whistler, but it is smaller and provides better performance. However, it’s not as cheap as the whistler Lite. The Soto Amicus cookset and stove is an excellent alternative, providing the same setup at half the price. It is also possible to purchase Whisperlite International or Universal for isobutane containers as well. Both versions have the same basic design, however the Universal version is also compatible with canister fuel.
Coleman Sportster II
This is a simple, Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves no-frills Coleman stove that can do the job. It’s small, self-contained and solid, with the tank at the bottom and the burner on the top. This makes it simple to use and an excellent option for backpackers, beginners who want to reduce weight and for those who want to keep a backup or two in the van.
This stove is designed to burn Coleman’s exclusive fuel (naptha also known as “white gas”) but can be used with non-leaded gas too. A gallon of gasoline can last for as long as a standard Coleman liquid fuel cylinder so you’ll save money on fuel with this alternative.
It takes a bit of practice to get a good blue flame on a liquid fuel stove. You’ll have to pressurize the stove and prime them correctly before you can do this. If you don’t do it right, your fuel may spill out, splash beyond the burner or splash out. To master this, practice outside before embarking on your excursion.
The stove will sacrifice some performance or odor reduction with non-coleman fuels however it’s a trade-off for the added flexibility it offers. Make sure to purchase unleaded gasoline, and not one augmented with methanol or ethanol (alcohol). This is because these types of fuels can cause the unit to disintegrate, leak, sputter and may even explode!
ATG Jiko
The ATG Jiko multi fuel stove from South Africa (formerly known as the jiko) is an ultralight multifuel stove designed for harsh conditions such as Africa. It’s an extremely compact and reliable all-in-one system that burns alcohol, solid fuel tabs and also gels through only one nozzle. It’s an ultralight minimalist design that is priced less than most other multifuel stoves, and also has low costs of ownership, with fuel being cheaper per Liter than gas canisters.
Other multifuel stoves have a separate nozzle for every type of fuel. It isn’t easy to switch fuels in bad weather conditions, or while wearing gloves. This can add weight to the overall load. Multifuel stoves of the latest model utilize a single nozzle to burn multiple fuels, which makes it simpler. The latest versions of these stoves are referred to as ‘hybrid’ or “compressed fuel multifuel stoves’ and there are various names for them such as isobutane canister fuel white gas, kerosene, and unleaded car petrol/gasoline.
Another option is to purchase a multifuel stove that converts your regular Trangia burner into a multifuel cooker. They are usually sold at specialist camping stores and are also available for purchase internationally. They’re a great choice for Trangia fans. They’re capable of burning all liquid fuels, with the exception of diesel. If equipped with the right accessories can even cook.
