I am looking at getting a primus omni fuel stove for Christmas. According to the what different websites say, it can burn anything from diesel to butane. I have been searching the internet for reviews, and all I can find are favorable listings. I was looking at the jet boil stove, but I need something that can burn anything, and the Omni Fuel Stove fits the bill.

Have any of you seen these? Do any of you own these? I am looking for first hand knowledge of this stove, as it seems like the perfect stove for just about anything.

Garrett

I bought one and have used it a couple of times on camping trips. I haven't tried any fuel other than white gas and butane/propane.

It's a little bit finicky to switch from one type of fuel to another - there are three interchangeable nozzles and you're supposed to install the correct nozzle for the type of fuel. I haven't had any trouble changing the nozzles when I switch from white gas to butane, but I'd hate to drop one of those suckers in the snow. Otoh, I don't know how important having the correct nozzle is - I suspect the stove will burn quite adequately with the wrong nozzle installed, just not as efficiently.

The biggest complaint about it I've read in any of the reviews is the weight, but unless you're into ultralight backpacking I don't think that will be a concern. To use white gas or other liguid (ie non-canister) fuel you will need to buy a separate fuel bottle but that's pretty cheap by comparison.

I bought it because I wanted to have a stove that would run on car gas or aviation gas if I was really stuck but so far I have not tried either.

Because Primus is a Swedish manufacturer, the instructions are in about 7 different languages, which means the typeface is very very small. If you're like me, you may want to slip a small magnifying lens in the pocket.

The harshest conditions I've used it in was blowing snow; I found that it ignited very well with my Blastmatch. (I keep a Ferrocerium rod from Hood's Woods and a tiny metal bulldog clip to use as a striker in the carrying case.) I did get a bit of a scare when backpacking last summer - I let a little too much fuel collect in the priming bowl before I lit it, the flames leaped up about a foot, I jerked back and snagged the fuel bottle with the lanyard on my BM and damn near pulled the whole kit and caboodle off the picnic table onto the ground. (Can you say "Only YOU can prevent forest fires", Smoky?) After that, I made sure the lanyard was wrapped securely around my wrist before I lit the stove in that fashion. But that could have happened with any stove, I suppose. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

There are still times I wish I had bought something cheaper, smaller, and lighter, like the MSR Dragonfly; but other than the amount of money I had to spend to get it, I have no complaints about it.

It's probably best (IMHO) if you stick to one main type of fuel and only use the others if you have to. For example, it would be great to take it with a container of white gas for everyday camping, then swtich to a butane/propane canister to take it on a day-hike from camp.

Hi, I don't have the Primus, but I have the MSR whisperlite international. I like it a lot. Info on the stove here:
http://www.msrcorp.com/stoves/whisper_intl.asp
It can burn white gas, butane, and unleaded. I have tried all three in the unit, and it works great. I have read some reviews on the JetBoil, and while people like the stove, you have to use the included pot, and you can not fill the pot all the way to the top because it is unstable. The other problem with the JetBoil is that you must use the canisters, and while you may be able to run over to Wallyworld or your other favorite retailer to get a refill can, in remote areas or internationally these may not be available. Hope this helps.

Dear iljeepguy,
How do You connect WhisperLite to a butane source?

/Sir Vival, avid Optimus Nova fan

I use a an XGK Expedition (http://www.msrcorp.com/stoves/xgk.asp).

Which I find great, very powerful, burns various fuels and rock solid even in wind or the wet. The fuel consumption seems minimal for my needs; I filled an MSR bottle once early in the year and haven't had to refill it yet, despite six or eight trips. They are, however, extremely loud. They sound a bit like a small rocket lifting off. How's the Whisperlight for discrete camping?

My apologies, I mistyped. I was responding while accessing the link I provided, and apparently had my head somewhere else while typing. The stove does not use butane, but White Gas, Kerosene and Auto fuel. Which should also allow the unit to work on Diesel fuel since Kerosene and Diesel are very similar. Sorry for any confusion.