9 Lessons Your Parents Taught You About Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves

Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves

Summary: These simple, lightweight stoves can burn hexamine, wood white fuel, as well as gas canisters through a single nozzle. These stoves are popular during colder weather, but they are noisy and lack simmer control.

Some multi-fuel stoves are hybrids, capable of burning multiple types of liquid fuel. The MSR WhisperLite Universal, for instance, takes both white and isobutane canister fuel.

Optimus Nova

The Optimus Nova multi-fuel stove can be used for a variety of liquid fuels. It features a quick-priming burner, self-purging aluminium pump, and a precise simmer control. Its low center of gravity and broad legs make it a sturdy, rock-solid stove. This makes it a perfect stove for group backpacking base camps, kayaking and arctic camping.

The Optimus Nova is different from other stoves with liquid fuel which have issues with unburned fuel lingering in the fuel line or nozzle. This can be fixed by simply flipping over the bottle. The intake hoses are then removed from the fuel and forces them to absorb air, which extinguishes flames and depressurizes the bottle.

This seems like a fairly innovative solution to an old problem and it certainly works. The Nova can be used with a variety of regular fuel bottles that seal using an o-ring, such as MSR bottles. It comes with an oven bag that has pockets for spares, tools as well as lubricant and the fuel pump.

This is a fantastic backpacking stove that can be used in the UK. It is especially suitable for trips where a variety of fuels are required. Its price is also very affordable when compared with canister stoves of similar capability. The Optimus Nova is also easy to maintain and a joy to use.

Kovea Hydra

Since 2010, the Kovea Multi Fuel Stove has been a cult favorite among backpackers. The Hydra isn't as well-known with UK backpackers possibly because they've been able to catch up with more well-known brands or the most recent lightweight options from China or Korea. However, that doesn't make it any less useful.

It is a small and light stove that burns all liquid fuels, including white gas, propane butane and white gas with one nozzle. It's a typical stove with a burner attached to a body, cheap multi fuel Stoves which is secured by three fold-out support legs. The pump is on top of the fuel line, and the generator loop wraps around the inlet and the flame spreader sits just above. The burner itself is a low-speed flame type that makes it a little less affected by winds.

It's a remarkably versatile little cooker because it can be used with isobutane canisters or propane canisters. It is easy to simmer on propane or isobutane and burns all fuel types at a decent level but is a little slower than other stoves when using white gas.

The instructions for the Hydra are written in English however they were not written by native users of the language. The instructions warn against using certain types of lighter fluid. If you don't follow the instructions correctly they could result in an accident and put Kovea in legal trouble. Any 7/16ths UNEF-threaded gas container of a reputable brand will work perfectly.

Primus OmniLite Ti

Primus Omnilite Ti can be an excellent choice for those who are seeking a multifuel cooker that can cook with 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 allows you to adjust the flame size. The stove comes with an oil 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 keep it working correctly. Particularly it has a tendency to flare when priming which could be dangerous. This is a common problem with all stoves with liquid fuel that use a secondary spindle throttle on the stove's side to vaporize fuel, instead of the generator coil.

Another issue is that it requires different jets for every type of fuel. This means that if you cook on kerosene, the jet hole needs to be smaller than when using gas. This isn't a major issue however it's important to mention.

MSR Whisper Lite

The MSR Whisper Lite stove is one of the lightest, smallest and most affordable multi-fuel stoves. It is also easy to repair on the field. It can run on either canister fuel or liquid gas, and includes attachments for both. The new model is lighter by 10% compared to its predecessor and the burner system was revamped to improve heat distribution. This is a great choice for backpackers with a limited budget or for beginners.

The whistler Lite takes a little time to prepare, prime and boil water, but it's a reliable stove that won't let you down. The flame is extremely powerful and can easily boil one Liter of water in just two minutes. The only drawback is it's not as efficient to simmer as other stoves.

MSR created the Dragonfly to be a more capable burner. It's a similar design to the whistler but is more compact and offers superior performance. It's not as inexpensive as the Whistler Lite. The Soto Amicus cookset and stove is an excellent alternative, providing a similar setup for less than half the cost. Whisperlite International and Universal can be used with isobutane. The same basic design is used for both, but the Universal version can also be operated with fuel from canisters as well.

Coleman Sportster II

This is a simple and basic Coleman stove that does its job. It's compact, self-contained, and solid, with the tank at the bottom and the burner on the top. This makes it easy to use and an excellent option for backpackers, beginners who want to reduce weight, and for those of us who want to keep an extra or two in the van.

The stove is designed to burn Coleman's exclusive fuel (naptha gas, also known as white gas) This stove can be used with non-leaded gasoline too. This will save you money since gasoline tanks can last as long as the standard Coleman liquid fuel cylinder.

It requires some practice to create a solid blue flame on a stove that burns liquid fuel. You'll have to pressurize them and prime them properly before you can do this. If you do it wrong, your fuel may pool, spray beyond the burner, or even explode. To get the hang of this try it out in the open before embarking on your trip.

The stove will sacrifice some performance or flame odor effectiveness with non-coleman fuels however it's a trade-off for the additional versatility it offers. Be sure to buy gasoline that isn't leaded and not enhanced with methanol or (alcohol). These types of fuel could cause the unit's performance to decline and even explode.

ATG Jiko

The ATG Jiko multi-fuel stove from South Africa (formerly known as the jiko) is a light multifuel stove that's made for harsh environments like Africa. It's a compact and solid stove that can burn solid fuel tabs, gels and alcohol using one nozzle. It's a light, minimalist design that costs less than the majority of multifuel stoves. It also comes with low ownership cost with fuel being cheaper per Liter than gas canisters.

Other multifuel stoves use an individual nozzle for each kind of fuel. It can be difficult to switch between fuels in cold weather, or when wearing gloves. This can also increase the overall weight. The newest models of multifuel stoves have discovered ways to use the same nozzle to ignite various fuels, which makes it simpler. The newer versions of these stoves are known as 'hybrid' or "compressed double sided multifuel stove stoves'. there are many names for them like isobutane canister fuel white gas, kerosene and unleaded car petrol/gasoline.

Another option is to buy a multifuel stove kit that can convert your regular Trangia burner into a multifuel cooker. These are often available at camping stores that specialize in camping and are available internationally. They are ideal for Trangia enthusiasts. They can burn all liquid fuels apart from diesel and with the appropriate accessories, they can also simmer.