9 Lessons Your Parents Taught You About Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves

Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves

Summary: These basic and lightweight stoves burn wood, hexamine tablets, white fuel and gas canisters through one nozzle. They're popular in cold weather, but they're loud and don't have a simmer control.

Some tiger multi fuel stove-fuel stoves are hybrids able to burn multiple kinds of liquid fuel. The MSR WhisperLite Universal, for instance, can burn both white and isobutane canister fuel.

Optimus Nova

The Optimus Nova is a 3kw multi fuel stove-fuel stove that can be used with various liquid fuels. It features a quick priming burner, self-purging aluminium pump, and a precise simmer control. Its low center of gravity and wide legs make it a stable stove that is rock-solid. This makes it a perfect stove for base camps for groups kayaking, arctic camp.

Unlike many other liquid fuel stoves which have a problem of unburned fuel remains 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. This disconnects the intake hose from the fuel, causing it to draw air into the stove, which smothers the flame and depressurizes the bottle.

This is an clever solution to a long-standing problem, and it certainly is effective. The Nova can be used with a variety of regular fuel bottles that are sealed with an o-ring. This includes MSR bottles. It also comes with a fully featured stove bag that has separate pockets for tools, spare parts and lubricant, as well as the fuel pump.

This is a great all-round stove for backpacking use in the UK, particularly for expeditions where a wide choice of fuels is essential. The price is reasonable compared to other canister stoves that have similar capabilities. Moreover the Optimus Nova is easy to maintain and enjoyable to use.

Kovea Hydra

Since 2010, the Kovea 5kw multi fuel stove Fuel Stove has been a cult favorite among backpackers. The Hydra isn't as popular among UK backpackers anymore, perhaps because they have caught up to better-known brands or the most recent lightweight options from China or Korea. But this doesn't mean it's any less useful.

It's a relatively compact and light stove, burning all liquid fuels, including white gas and propane butane with one nozzle. It's a typical stove design, with an ignition bell that is bolted onto a body that anchors three fold out support legs. The pump is above the fuel line, while the generator loop is wrapped around the inlet, and the flame spreader is situated over. The burner is a low-velocity flame type. This makes it less susceptible to wind.

It is a nice feature that it can be used with a canister of propane or isobutane which makes it a versatile small cooker. It's easy to simmer with propane or isobutane and burns all types of fuel at a decent level but is a bit slower than some other stoves that use white gas.

The instructions for the Hydra are written in English but they were clearly not written by native users of the language. The instructions caution against the use of certain kinds of lighter fluid, which if mistaken for what was intended, could lead to an accident that would land Kovea in lots of legal hot water. That said that any 7/16ths UNEF threaded gas canister made by a reputable manufacturer is likely to work perfectly.

Primus OmniLite Ti

Primus Omnilite Ti can be an ideal choice for those who are looking for a multifuel cookware that can cook using a variety of fuels. It can run on gas, petrol/gasoline, diesel, kerosene and aviation fuel. It has separate controls for each fuel type and also adjust the flame size. The stove also has an fuel line that is flat on the ground and is easily connected to the tank.

The Primus Omnilite is an excellent stove, but it needs maintenance to keep it operating correctly. Particularly it has a tendency to flare during priming, which can be risky. This is a problem that occurs with all liquid fuel stoves which use a second spindle throttle at the stove's end to vaporize fuel, instead of the generator coil.

It is also important to remember that each fuel type needs an individual jet. This means that if you're cooking on kerosene the jet hole has to be smaller than when cooking with gas. This is a minor issue but it's still worth mentioning.

MSR Whisper Lite

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 run on canister fuel or liquid gas and comes with attachments for both. The new model is lighter by 10% over its predecessor and the burner system was redesigned to improve the distribution of heat. This is a great choice for backpackers with a limited budget or for beginners.

It takes a bit of time to prepare, set up, and boil water but the whistler Lite is a reliable camping stove that will not disappoint you. The flame is powerful and can boil a liter of water within two minutes. The only drawback is that it does not simmer as well as other stoves.

This is the reason MSR has created the Dragonfly stove to be an efficient simmering burner. It's similar to the whistler, but is more compact and offers superior performance. However, it's not as cheap multifuel stoves as the whistler Lite. The Soto Amicus stove and cookset is a great alternative that offers the same setup at half the price. Whisperlite International and Universal can be used with isobutane. The same fundamental design is used in both, but the Universal version can also be run with canister fuel in addition.

Coleman Sportster II

Like many Coleman stoves, this one is a basic, rough and ready unit that will get the job done. It's strong, compact and self-contained with the tank on the bottom and the burner on at the top. This makes it simple to use and a great option for backpackers, beginners who want to save on weight and for those of us who prefer to have an extra or two in the van.

This stove is designed to burn Coleman's proprietary fuel (naptha also known as "white gas") but can be used with unleaded gas too. A gallon of gasoline will last as longer as a standard Coleman liquid fuel cylinder so you'll save money on fuel by using this alternative.

It takes a bit of practice to create a solid blue flame on a liquid fuel stove. You'll have to pressurize them and prime them properly before you can start. If you do it wrong, your fuel may pool, spray beyond the burner, or explode. To master this, practice outside before embarking on your excursion.

This stove does give up some performance or flame odor effectiveness with non-coleman fuels however it's a trade-off for the added flexibility it provides. Make sure to purchase unleaded gas and not something that is augmented with alcohol or Methanol. This is because these types of fuel will cause the unit to disintegrate, leak, sputter 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 system that burns alcohol, solid fuel tabs, and gels with only one nozzle. It's a lightweight and minimalist design that costs less than other multifuel stoves. It also comes with low ownership cost with fuel being less expensive per Liter than gas canisters.

Other multifuel stoves feature a separate nozzle per fuel type. This makes them a little difficult to change in cold weather or using gloves and can add to their overall weight. Multifuel stoves that are of the current kind use a single nozzle to burn multiple fuels, making it simpler. The newer versions of these stoves are referred to as 'hybrid' or "compressed fuel multifuel stoves' and there are a variety of names for them such as isobutane canister fuel white gas, kerosene, and unleaded car gasoline/petrol.

Another option is to buy an multifuel stove kit that converts your regular Trangia burner into a multi fuel cooker. They are usually sold at specialist camping stores and are also available for purchase internationally. These are great for Trangia enthusiasts. They can burn all liquid fuels apart from diesel and with the appropriate accessories they can even simmer.