9 Things Your Parents Taught You About Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves

Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves

Summary: These simple and light-weight stoves burn wood and hexamine tablets as well as gas canisters and white fuel with one nozzle. They're popular in colder temperatures, but they're noisy and don't have a simmer limit.

Some multi-fuel stoves burn different kinds of liquid fuel. The MSR WhisperLite Universal can be used with both white and isobutane canisters for fuel.

Optimus Nova

The Optimus Nova is a multi-fuel stove that can be used with 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 legs make it a solid and solid stove. This makes it an ideal stove for group base camps, kayaking, and the Arctic camp.

Unlike many other liquid fuel stoves which have a problem in which unburned fuel is left in the fuel line and the nozzle of the stove the Optimus Nova has a shut off mechanism that operates by flipping the bottle over. The intake hoses are removed from the fuel and causes them to absorb air, which puts out flames and depressurizes the bottle.

This seems like an innovative solution to an old problem and it definitely works. The Nova can be used with any standard fuel bottle with an o-ring seal. This includes MSR bottles. It comes with an oven bag that has pockets for tools, spares, lubricant, and the fuel pump.

This is an excellent backpacking stove that can be used in the UK. It is particularly useful for expeditions, where many fuel types are required. The price is reasonable compared to other stoves in the canister category with similar capabilities. Additionally the Optimus Nova is easy to maintain and a pleasure to use.

Kovea Hydra

The Kovea Hydra multi fuel stove was first introduced in 2010 and has been a popular choice for many backpackers since. The Hydra isn't as well-known with UK backpackers any more possibly because they've caught up to better-known brands or the newest lightweight offerings from China or Korea. However, this doesn't mean it's any less useful.

It's a compact and light stove, burning all liquid fuels, including white gas and propane butane through only one nozzle. It has a fairly typical stove design, with a burner bell bolted to the body, which is then anchored by three fold out support legs. A pump is located on the top of the fuel line and the generator loop is positioned around the inlet, and the flame spreader is situated above that. The burner itself is a low velocity flame type which makes it a little less impacted by winds.

It is a nice feature that it can be used with a canister of isobutane or propane, making it a multi-functional small cooker. It is easy to simmer on isobutane or propane and burns all fuel types at a decent level but is slower than other stoves that use white gas.

One important thing to remember with the Hydra is that the instructions are written in English which was not written by a native speaker 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 land Kovea into legal trouble. Any 7/16ths UNEF-threaded gas canister of a trusted brand will work fine.

Primus OmniLite Ti

The Primus Omnilite Ti is a ideal choice to those looking for a multifuel stove that can cook using a variety fuels. It can run on gas, petrol/gasoline or fuel oil, kerosene, and diesel fuel. It has separate controls for each fuel type and can also be used to alter the size of the flame which is a wonderful feature. This stove also has a fuel line that lies flat on the ground and is easily connected to the tank.

The Primus Omnilite is an excellent stove, but it requires maintenance to keep it running properly. In particular it has a tendency to flare when priming which can be a bit dangerous. This issue is common to all stoves that use liquid fuel that use a second spindle at the stove's end instead of an actual coil to vaporize the fuel.

It is also important to know that every fuel type requires an individual jet. If you are cooking using kerosene, the jet hole will be smaller than if using gas. This is a minor issue but it's worth mentioning.

MSR Whisper Light

The MSR Whisper Lite is one of the lightest, smallest and most affordable multi fuel stoves. It is also easy to repair in the field. It is able to be used with liquid gas or canister fuel and includes attachments for both. The new model is 10% lighter than its predecessor and the burner has been revamped for improved heat distribution. It's ideal for novices or budget-minded backpackers.

It takes a bit of time to set up, prime, and boil water but the whistler Lite is a reliable camp stove that will not let you down. The flame is extremely powerful and can cook a liter of water within two minutes. The only issue is that it does not simmer as well as other stoves.

MSR developed the Dragonfly to be a more powerful burner. It's designed in the same way like the whistler, but it is more compact and offers superior performance. It's not as cheap as the Whistler Lite. The Soto Amicus cookset and stove is an excellent alternative that offers similar features for less than half the price. Whisperlite International and Universal can be utilized with isobutane. The same design is used for both, however the Universal version can be run with canister fuel as well.

Coleman Sportster II

It's a simple and basic Coleman stove that does the job. It's solid and compact, and it's self-contained with the tank on the bottom and the burner up top. This makes it easy to operate and a great option for backpackers, beginners who want to cut weight, and those who keep a few spares in the van.

This stove is designed to burn Coleman's exclusive fuel (naptha which is also referred to as "white gas") but it can be used with non-leaded gas as well. This option can save you money since a gallon of gasoline can last as long as the regular Coleman liquid fuel cylinder.

Liquid fuel stoves have a learning curve, as you'll have to pressurize and prime them before you can get a nice blue flame. If you don't do it correctly, fuel can be sprayed onto the burner, or even sputter. To master this, practice outside before embarking on your excursion.

This stove sacrifices some performance or odor reduction when using non-coleman fuels, but that's a trade off for the additional flexibility it provides. Make sure to purchase gasoline that isn't leaded and not that is enriched with methanol or ethanol (alcohol). These kinds of fuels can cause the unit's performance to degrade and even explode.

ATG Jiko

The ATG Jiko Multi Fuel Stove from South Africa is an ultralight multifuel engineered for harsh environments such as Africa. It's an extremely compact and reliable all-in-one stove that burns solid fuel, alcohol, tabs and also gels through one nozzle. It is a minimalist, ultralight design that costs less than other multifuel stoves. The fuel is also less expensive per liter when compared to gas canisters.

Other multifuel stoves have different nozzles for every type of fuel. It isn't easy to switch between fuels during bad weather, or when wearing gloves. This can increase the overall weight. multifuel stove with back boiler stoves of the latest model use a single nozzle to burn multiple fuels, which makes it much easier. These stoves can be called hybrids or compressed fuel multifuel stoves. They are also known under other names like isobutane, Multi fuel stove white gas, kerosene and unleaded gasoline/car petrol.

Another option is to purchase a multifuel stove which converts your standard Trangia burner into a multifuel cooker. These are available at camping stores that specialize in outdoor equipment and can be bought internationally. They are a good option for Trangia fans and they're capable of burning all liquid fuels except diesel and if equipped with the right accessories can even cook.