9 Lessons Your Parents Taught You About Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves
Summary: These basic and light-weight stoves burn wood as well as hexamine tablets, gas canisters, and white fuel through one nozzle. These stoves are popular during cold weather, however they can be noisy and lack the ability to control the simmer.
Some multi-fuel stoves are hybrids, able to burn multiple kinds of liquid fuel. The MSR WhisperLite Universal, for instance, can burn both white and isobutane canisters of fuel.
Optimus Nova
The Optimus Nova is a multi-fuel stove that can be used with various liquid fuels. It features a quick-priming burner, self-purging aluminium pump and precise simmer control. Its low center of gravity and large spreading legs make it a sturdy stove that can be used on rocky ground. This makes it an ideal stove for group base camps, kayaking, and arctic camp.
The Optimus Nova is different from other stoves with liquid fuel that have a problem with unburned fuel lingering in the fuel line or nozzle. This can be fixed by simply flipping over the bottle. The intake hoses are removed from the fuel and forces them to take in air, which extinguishes flames and depressurizes the bottle.
This is an ingenious solution to an old problem, and it works. The Nova can be used with a variety of regular fuel bottles that seal with an o-ring. This includes MSR bottles. It also comes with a fully featured stove bag that includes separate pockets for tools, spare parts and lubricant, as well as the fuel pump.
This is an excellent stove for backpacking that is suitable for use in the UK. It is especially ideal for trips, where various fuels are required. The price is affordable when compared with canister stoves with similar capabilities. The Optimus Nova is also easy to maintain and a joy to use.
Kovea Hydra
The Kovea Hydra multi fuel stove was first marketed in 2010 and has been a favourite choice for many backpackers since. Fewer UK backpackers seem to give the stove much attention these days perhaps because they’ve been able to catch up with more well-known brands or whatever the most recent lightweight stove from China or Korea is, but it doesn’t mean the Hydra does not have its merits.
It’s a relatively compact and light stove, that can burn all liquid fuels, including white gas and propane butane, using only one nozzle. It’s a typical stove, with a burner attached to a body which anchors three support legs that fold out. The pump is situated on top of the fuel line, the generator loop runs around the inlet, and the flame spreader sits just above. The burner itself is a low velocity flame type which helps it to be less impacted by wind.
It is a nice feature that it can also be utilized with a canister of propane or isobutane making it a multi-functional little cooker. It is easy to simmer on isobutane or propane and burns all types of fuel at a decent level but is a little slower than some other stoves that use white gas.
The instructions for the Hydra are written in English however they were not written by native speakers of the language. The instructions caution you against using certain kinds of lighter fluid. If you don’t follow the instructions correctly this could cause an accident and put Kovea in legal trouble. Any 7/16ths UNEF-threaded gas container of a reputable brand will work fine.
Primus OmniLite Ti
The Primus Omnilite Ti is a excellent choice for those who are looking for an all-fuel stove that can cook using a variety fuels. It can be powered by gasoline, petrol/gasoline, diesel, Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves kerosene and aviation fuel. It has separate controls for each fuel type and allows you to alter the size of the flame. This stove comes with an fuel pipe that sits flat on the floor and can be connected to the tank in a snap.
The Primus Omnilite is an excellent stove, but it needs maintenance to keep it running properly. In particular it has a tendency to flare when priming which can be a bit risky. This is a common problem with all stoves with liquid fuel that utilize a secondary spindle throttle at the stove’s end to vaporize fuel instead of a generator coil.
Another issue is the fact that it requires different jets for every type of fuel. If you cook using kerosene, then the jet hole will be smaller than if using gas. It’s not a major issue, but it’s worth mentioning.
MSR Whisper Light
The MSR Whisper Lite stove is one of the smallest, lightest and most affordable multi-fuel stoves. It is also simple to repair in the field. It can run on either canister fuel or liquid gas, and includes attachments for both. The new model is lighter by 10% than its predecessor, and the burner has been revamped to ensure better heat distribution. It’s perfect for beginners or backpackers with a budget.
It takes some time to set up, prime and boil water, but the whistler Lite is a reliable camp stove that will not disappoint you. The flame is powerful when cranked to its maximum and can easily boil a liter of water within two minutes or less. The only drawback is that it’s not as good for simmering as other stoves.
This is why MSR has designed the Dragonfly stove to become a pot that can be used as a simmering stove. It is similar in design like the whistler, but it is more compact and offers better performance. It’s not as affordable as the Whistler Lite. The Soto Amicus cookset and stove is a great alternative, offering the same setup at half the price. Whisperlite International and Universal can be utilized with isobutane. The same fundamental design is used for both but the Universal version can be used with canister fuel as well.
Coleman Sportster II
This is a simple low-cost, no-frills Coleman stove that does the job. It’s solid compact and self-contained, with the tank at the bottom and burner up at the top. This makes it simple to operate and a great choice for those who are new to backpacking, who want to cut weight, and those who have spares in the van.
This stove is designed to burn Coleman’s proprietary fuel (naptha, also known as «white gas») however it can be used with unleaded gas as well. A gallon of gasoline will last as long as a standard Coleman liquid fuel cylinder, which means you’ll save money on fuel by using this alternative.
It takes a bit of practice to achieve a perfect blue flame on a stove with liquid fuel. You’ll need to pressurize them and prime them properly before you can start. If you do it wrong the fuel may pool, spray outside the burner, or even sputter. To master this do some practice outside before you go on your trip.
This stove does give up some performance or flame odor efficiency when using non-coleman fuels but that’s a trade off for the additional versatility it offers. Just be sure you’re buying gasoline that isn’t leaded and not enhanced with methanol or (alcohol). These kinds of fuels can 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 an ultralight multifuel stove that’s made for harsh environments such as Africa. It is a compact, robust stove that burns solid fuel tabs, gels, and alcohol through one nozzle. It’s a lightweight and minimalist design that costs less than most other cheap multifuel stoves stoves and also offers low costs of ownership, and fuel is less expensive per Liter than gas canisters.
Other multifuel stoves use a separate nozzle for each type of fuel. This makes them a little fiddly to change over in cold weather or using gloves, and adds to their overall weight. The newer types of multifuel stoves have discovered an option to use the same nozzle to ignite multiple fuels which is much simpler. The latest models of these stoves are referred to as ‘hybrid’ or ‘compressed multifuel stoves’. there are many names for them, including isobutane canister fuel white gas, kerosene and unleaded car gasoline/petrol.
Another option is to buy a multifuel stove that converts your regular Trangia burner into a multifuel cooker. These are available at camping stores that specialize in outdoor equipment and can be bought internationally. They are ideal for Trangia enthusiasts. They can burn all liquid fuels except diesel, and with the right accessories, they can even simmer.