We bought the stove new but it must have been a decade ago or more. Use it a few times and realized that we're just not stove people. (Sorry Jim, but I am trying!) I prefer to use a wood fire. (I have to admit to being a bit leary of liquid and gas fuel.) We shelved it and then added it to the family bug-in/out gear. We haven't used it in a maybe three years so I decided to test it this weekend.

We may have had some fuel left in the last original canester but figured it was probably too old so I went to get a new one. They don't make that one anymore so the sales guy suggested the Primus one. That may have been clue number one that this pairing wasn't meant to be.

I did have trouble getting the stove to attach to the canester. That was clue number two.

I couldn't turn the fuel adjustor knob at all. Clue number three or just an old stove? (This sucker doens't have auto ignition so there was thankfully no open flame potention from the unit itself.)

We got to or below freezing overnight so I probably should have warmed the canester up a little bit before using it.

All and all, this has kind of set me back into thinking that wood fire first, esbit fire second, is the way to go for me. Although, I think I may take a crack at it again with a new stove. I've been thinking about getting a Jet Boil as my third option. Most of my camp cooking is flame broiled or water boiled, and my understanding is that the Jet Boil boils exceptionally well.

Thanks for the other new stove suggestions, Russ. I'll check those out as well!