The 9 Things Your Parents Teach You About Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves

Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves

Summary: These simple and lightweight stoves burn wood and hexamine tablets as well as gas canisters and white fuel through only one nozzle. They're popular during cold weather but they're loud and don't have simmer control.

Some multi-fuel stoves are hybrids, able to burn multiple kinds of liquid fuel. The MSR WhisperLite Universal, for instance, takes both white and isobutane fuel in its canisters.

Optimus Nova

The Optimus Nova multi-fuel stove can be used for a variety of liquid fuels. It features a quick-priming burner as well as an aluminium pump that self-purges and precise control of the simmer. Its low centre of gravity and wide spreading legs make it a stable stove that can be used on uneven ground. This makes it a great stove for base camps for groups, kayaking, and arctic camp.

Contrary to many other stoves that use liquid fuel, which suffer from a problem where unburned fuel is left in the fuel line and the nozzle of the stove the Optimus Nova has a shut off mechanism that works by flipping the bottle over. The intake hoses are removed from the fuel, and forces them to absorb air, which extinguishes flames and depressurizes bottle.

This is an ingenious solution for an age-old issue and it's a good one. The Nova can be used with any standard fuel bottle with an o-ring seal, including MSR bottles. It comes with an oven bag that has pockets for spares, tools along with lubricant and fuel pump.

This is a great all-round backpacking stove that is suitable for use in the UK especially for long-distance trips where a variety of fuels is necessary. The cost is quite affordable compared to other stoves in the canister category with similar capabilities. The Optimus Nova is also easy to maintain and a joy to use.

Kovea Hydra

Since 2010 since 2010, the Kovea Multi Fuel Stove has become a popular choice among backpackers. The Hydra isn't as popular with UK backpackers any more possibly because they've caught up to better-known brands or the latest lightweight offering from China or Korea. However, that doesn't make it any less useful.

It's a compact and light stove that burns all liquid fuels including white gas and propane butane with only one nozzle. It's a pretty standard stove design with an ignition bell that is bolted onto the body, which is then anchored by three fold out support legs. A pump is located on the top of the fuel line, the generator loop goes around the inlet and the flame spreader is situated above that. The burner is a slow-moving flame type. This means that it is not affected by the wind.

A nice feature is that it can be used with a container of propane or isobutane, making it a versatile little cooker. It is easy to simmer with propane or isobutane and burns all types of fuel at a decent level but is a little slower than other stoves that use white gas.

The instructions for the Hydra are written in English however they were clearly not written by native users of the language. The instructions warn against the use of certain kinds of lighter fluid that if used in a manner that is not what is intended could lead to an accident that could land Kovea in a lot of legal hot water. Any 7/16ths UNEF-threaded gas container of a reputable brand will be fine.

Primus OmniLite Ti

The Primus Omnilite Ti is a great option for those who are looking for a multifuel stove that is able to cook using a variety fuels. It can operate on gas, petrol/gasoline, diesel, kerosene and aviation fuel. It has separate controls for every fuel type and also alter the size of the flame. This stove has an oil pipe that is flat on the floor and can be connected to the tank quickly.

The Primus Omnilite is an excellent stove, but it needs maintenance to keep it operating correctly. It is a risk because it explodes when you are priming. This issue is common to all stoves with liquid fuel that use a second spindle at the stove's end instead of an actual coil to vaporize the fuel.

Another issue is the fact that it requires different jets for each type of fuel. If you are cooking using kerosene, then the jet hole will be smaller than if using gas. This is a minor nuisance but it's worth mentioning.

MSR Whisper Light

The MSR Whisper Lite stove is one of the lightest, smallest and most affordable multi-fuel stoves. It is also simple to repair in the field. It can be used with canister fuel or liquid gas and comes with attachments for each. The new model is lighter by 10% than its predecessor and the burner mechanism was revamped to improve heat distribution. This is a great choice for backpackers on a tight budget or for beginners.

The whistler Lite requires a bit of time to prepare and prime, then boil water, but it's an efficient stove that will not fail you. The flame is extremely powerful and can boil a Liter of water in just two minutes. The only drawback is that it's not as good for simmering as some other stoves.

This is why MSR has developed the Dragonfly stove, which is a more capable simmering burner. It's similar to the whistler, but it's more compact and offers more performance. However it's not as inexpensive as the whistler Lite. The Soto Amicus cookset and stove is a great alternative, offering a similar setup for less than half the price. Whisperlite International and Universal can be utilized with isobutane. The same basic design is used in both, however the Universal version can be used with canister fuel in addition.

Coleman Sportster II

It's a simple low-cost, no-frills Coleman stove that does the job. It's compact, self-contained and solid, with the tank on the bottom and the burner on top. This makes it easy to use and a great 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 proprietary fuel (naptha which is also referred to as "white gas") but it can be used with non-leaded gas as well. A gallon of gasoline can last for as long as a standard Coleman liquid fuel cylinder, which means you'll save money on fuel by using this alternative.

It requires some practice to create a solid blue flame on a stove that burns liquid fuel. You'll have to pressurize the stove and prime them correctly before you can do this. If you do it wrong the fuel could be sprayed onto the burner, or sputter. Try it out in the open before taking it on your trip to learn how to do it.

The stove will sacrifice some performance or odor reduction with non-coleman fuels however this is a trade-off in exchange for the additional flexibility it offers. Make sure you purchase unleaded gas, cheap multi fuel stoves and not one that is augmented with alcohol or Methanol. These types of fuel can cause the performance of the vehicle to decrease and even explode.

ATG Jiko

The ATG Jiko multi fuel stoves-fuel stove from South Africa (formerly known as the Jiko) is a light multifuel stove that's built for harsh environments like Africa. It's an extremely compact and reliable all-in-one stove 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. It also comes with low costs of ownership, with fuel being less expensive per Liter than gas canisters.

Other multifuel stoves come with a distinct nozzle for each type of fuel. This makes them fiddly to change over in the rain or without gloves, and could increase their weight. Multifuel stoves of the newer kind use a single nozzle to burn multiple fuels, making it much easier. These stoves are described as hybrids or multifuel compressed fuel stoves. They are also known by other names, such as white gas, isobutane kerosene, and unleaded gasoline/car petrol.

A multifuel stove kit can be bought to convert your Trangia burners into multifuel cookers. They are sold in camping stores that specialize in outdoor equipment and are also available internationally. They are perfect for Trangia enthusiasts. They can burn all liquid fuels except diesel and, with the right accessories they can even simmer.