What Stove?

[Greenmountainguy]

Here it is, as simply as I can state it: what stove would you recommend for a distance hiker that does not expect mail drops?
I once, decades ago used the first MSR white gas stove and it is still going strong, The fuel issue however advocates against it, I do not want to carry huge quantities of fuel and I doubt small amounts can be bought en route.
I have an MSR multi-fuel, but the issues above still obtain.
A canister stove, like an MSR Pocket Rocket. The light weight intrigues, but the fuel canisters are expensive and I would think, hard to find in small town stores. The weight savings would also seem dubious given the weight of the canisters and the need to pack extras and empties as well.
I have a Sierra ZZip stove I have played with but never taken long distance. I am put off by the mess and the inability to quickly make a beverage and get going in the morning.
Some version of the Solo stove (actually a Forfar Stove) that also allows an alcohol option. I could use the alcohol for a quick beverage and alcohol is easy to find everywhere.
I am leaning toward the last since I can use twigs at night, do not have to worry about a battery dying and can fall back on alcohol.
What do you think? For what it is worth, I do not ever want to carry more than 5 days food. That is pushing my 30 lbs. limit pretty good.
Thoughts?
Thanks

[Starchild]

Since this is the AT forum, I will assume the AT, both canisters and alcohol are heavily used on a thru hike. Esbit is coming on strong and should be considered also, but calling ahead to assure availability up trail is wise. White gas is, well a heavy novelty, wood stoves are basically alcohol or esbit stoves that can burn wood when the mood strikes you (ok a bit harsh, but wood requires a backup, but can save weight).

Short summary:

Canisters, they last a very long time, even the smallest one, if they don't you are using them wrong. This allows a degree of freedom, being able to bypass looking for fuel for weeks at a time. Hiker boxes will give you a resupply at times as well. No need to carry more than one at a time, no need to carry anything larger than the smallest canister, but if you find yourself carrying more than one small canister at a time consider another fuel source. Some can get used to the shake test to feel how much fuel is left, others never get the knack (they are the ones that leave 70% full canisters in the hiker boxes and travel with more than one). No problem getting canisters on the AT.

Alcohol, fuel inefficient, but can be lighter due to the stove and fuel container weight. Either way you will need to get a good stove setup, and do some measurements to see if you have a decent stove for your pot and also the wind. Fuel available along the AT, however it is often another step (going to another store) and you will need to refill often. Additionally, in practice, many AT thru hikers end up carrying extra alcohol fuel (weight) due to how it is sold (heet bottles), and it is not as big a weight saving if you do that.

Esbit, has a odor that some finds unpleasant and it does cause soot on your pot, needs a good ignition source as it is sometimes stubborn to ignite, fuel is not as available, but you can mail yourself extra esbit from the trail. Some have trouble boiling water with it (though it is their inefficient setup which causes that). Perhaps the lightest stove option.

[orthofingers]

"A distance hiker that does not expect mail drops"

"do not ever want to carry more than 5 days food"

Does that mean you will resupply at least every 5 days?

Canister stove= ok weight (BRS 3000 or something lightweight), loud, quick to boil, adjustable flame, gotta pack the empty canisters $-$$

jetboil or similar= heavy, loud, very quick and efficient, gotta pack the empty canisters $$$

alconol= fancee feest, trangia, or similar, light, quiet, longer to boil, windscreen mandatory, no shutoff valve, a bit of fiddle factor, $

It depends on when and where you hike . . . extreme cold = alcohol and canister not so good, white gas or multi fuel better, some areas require shutoff valve.

[ScareBear]

I've thought about going to an alcohol stove, as all I use a stove for on the AT is boiling water. There does seem to be some weight savings over a canister stove, but the trade-off is a longer time to boil, liquid fuel, more wind protection needed. There are a myriad of different stoves. Zelph, a poster here on WB is a manufacturer/retailer. The Trangia burner is a time-proven unit, but you will need a burner stand. Since there is a Lowe's not too far away, I am going to get some carbon felt and try a few cat food can designs. It seems the best of the units can boil two cups of water in around 5-6 minutes. Which, is perfectly acceptable for me, as 2.5 cups is the most I boil at any one time. YMMV.
http://www.woodgaz-stove.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Trangia-Spiri.../dp/B000AR7970

However, I do think I prefer my canister stove, for all-around usefulness and speed of boil. Options there vary greatly as well. I'm a fan of the Optimus CruxLite. My former TrailPartner(tm) swears by a 10 buck Chinese knock-off of the MSR Pocket Rocket you can find on amazon. If you do a lot of cold-weather(below 15F) camping, you may want to look into a remote inverted canister stove...almost everywhere near the AT that you can find alcohol, you can find canisters. And, vice versa...just sayin..

[nsherry61]

There are many threads in these forums looking at net weight carried for canister vs. alcohol. If you haven't read over some of them, they are worth a look.

Here is one I started a while back . . .

[Venchka]

Number of thru hikers = Number of stove+fuel opinions.
Wayne


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[Secondmouse]

Number of thru hikers = Number of stove+fuel opinions.
Wayne


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that's wrong...

[Engine]

Started out with the original remote fueled Coleman Peak 1 model in the 80's, then moved to an MSR Whisperlite for a few years. After that I briefly tried the MSR Dragonfly, but it woke people up in the next county in the morning...ridiculously loud. We went straight to a homeade alcohol stove after that and have never had an issue. I am currently using a Caldera Cone with a Zelph Starlyte stove, it's very fuel efficient and light.

I always felt like the disadvantages outweighed the advantages for wood fueled stoves. It rains a lot in the east and having to deal with soaked fuel, or carry some to keep it dry is a pain. In addition, the soot from cooking gets all over everything if you aren't extra careful.

The other day I read a post somewhere on WB where someone mentioned they only actually cooked about 600 calories a day and the rest were eaten cold. That really hit home because it mirrors our habits. We will heat up water for coffee and occasionally oatmeal in the morning, but otherwise it's cold food all day until dinner and then the stove run for about 6-7 minutes prior to the pot going into the cozy. That means I'm actually using the stove for 0.4% of the day...not worth stressing over.

[garlic08]

...The other day I read a post somewhere on WB where someone mentioned they only actually cooked about 600 calories a day and the rest were eaten cold. That really hit home because it mirrors our habits. We will heat up water for coffee and occasionally oatmeal in the morning, but otherwise it's cold food all day until dinner and then the stove run for about 6-7 minutes prior to the pot going into the cozy. That means I'm actually using the stove for 0.4% of the day...not worth stressing over.

I saw that post too and liked it. Another wise trekker once told me to always carry enough food that can be eaten without cooking on a stove, just in case of stove failure. Examples are instant mashed potatoes, Ramen noodles, rolled oats, couscous.

To the OP, read this. It covers the issues (including even post-9/11 air travel) very well, and is well-written.

[Venchka]

Started out with the original remote fueled Coleman Peak 1 model in the 80's, then moved to an MSR Whisperlite for a few years. After that I briefly tried the MSR Dragonfly, but it woke people up in the next county in the morning...ridiculously loud. We went straight to a homeade alcohol stove after that and have never had an issue. I am currently using a Caldera Cone with a Zelph Starlyte stove, it's very fuel efficient and light.

I always felt like the disadvantages outweighed the advantages for wood fueled stoves. It rains a lot in the east and having to deal with soaked fuel, or carry some to keep it dry is a pain. In addition, the soot from cooking gets all over everything if you aren't extra careful.

The other day I read a post somewhere on WB where someone mentioned they only actually cooked about 600 calories a day and the rest were eaten cold. That really hit home because it mirrors our habits. We will heat up water for coffee and occasionally oatmeal in the morning, but otherwise it's cold food all day until dinner and then the stove run for about 6-7 minutes prior to the pot going into the cozy. That means I'm actually using the stove for 0.4% of the day...not worth stressing over.

Do you still have the Coleman Peak 1? Does it work? Would you care to sell it?
Thanks.
Wayne


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[Engine]

Do you still have the Coleman Peak 1? Does it work? Would you care to sell it?
Thanks.
Wayne


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Unfortunately no, as much as I loved that old stove, it got temperamental and nearly incinerated itself along with the old dry picnic table it was sitting on in the smokies back in the late 90's.

[Venchka]

Unfortunately no, as much as I loved that old stove, it got temperamental and nearly incinerated itself along with the old dry picnic table it was sitting on in the smokies back in the late 90's.

I'm afraid mine might do the same which is why I asked. Thanks.
Svea 123 & Primus Multi-Fuel at the ready.
Wayne

[Feral Bill]

I'm afraid mine might do the same which is why I asked. Thanks.
Svea 123 & Primus Multi-Fuel at the ready.
Wayne

With a Svea, why would you need anything else, unless you are melting a lot of snow?

[jeffmeh]

Unfortunately no, as much as I loved that old stove, it got temperamental and nearly incinerated itself along with the old dry picnic table it was sitting on in the smokies back in the late 90's.

I retired a Coleman Peak 1 for much the same reason. I believe I still have an old Optimus 8R that I haven't fired up in years. The MSR Whisperlite is superior in all respects, IMO. Still a great stove for a group, or for deep winter, when I care much less about weight anyway.

[Greenmountainguy]

I retired a Coleman Peak 1 for much the same reason. I believe I still have an old Optimus 8R that I haven't fired up in years. The MSR Whisperlite is superior in all respects, IMO. Still a great stove for a group, or for deep winter, when I care much less about weight anyway.

I carried an 8R for years despite some dubious reviews. I mostly like it because of the stability. It never gave trouble lighting, although the boil time may have been mediocre.

[biloute]

For those of you who might be interested (and I apologize if someone’s mentioned this, but I haven’t read through all the multiple pages yet) I was in contact today with MSR about upgrading my stove. Apparently it’s possible to upgrade a Whisperlite International with the stamped legs (not wire legs) with a conversion to the Whisperlite Universal. This would allow you flexibility to carry the bottle of fuel (white gas, kerosene, or gasoline) or use the stove with a canister. It’s only $35 plus shipping one way in the US and Canada. They do the conversion and send it back to you. You’d have to contact a representative to inquire if you’re in any other country.

[Greenmountainguy]

Do you still have the Coleman Peak 1? Does it work? Would you care to sell it?
Thanks.
Wayne

A lot of people liked them, but they never did have good reviews. As I recall, the tank was huge enough for like a week of modest cooking for one. I guess that made it desirable.

[Venchka]

A lot of people liked them, but they never did have good reviews. As I recall, the tank was huge enough for like a week of modest cooking for one. I guess that made it desirable.

The fuel bottle that came with my Peak 1 holds 15 ounces of white gas. Not exactly huge compared to the 29 ounce capacity of the fuel bottle I use with my Primus stove. Somewhere I read online that 1.5 ounces per day is a conservative estimate of white gas consumption. Looks like I could cook more food than I can carry.
Wayne


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[Greenmountainguy]

The fuel bottle that came with my Peak 1 holds 15 ounces of white gas. Not exactly huge compared to the 29 ounce capacity of the fuel bottle I use with my Primus stove. Somewhere I read online that 1.5 ounces per day is a conservative estimate of white gas consumption. Looks like I could cook more food than I can carry.

But that Peak I still has a big capacity when compared to my old 8R which had like an 8 ounce fuel tank.

[Thinspace]

Do you still have the Coleman Peak 1? Does it work? Would you care to sell it?
Thanks.
Wayne


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You can find them on EBAY