Hello all,
I am looking for a stove to use while backpacking and camping. I want one with a refillable fuel container like the MSR Simmerlite. I used a simmerlite on a recent backpacking trip, with my class, and liked it. I don't know much about backpacking stoves. What kind of fuels can I use? Can I mix fuels? what spare parts should I get? What do I need to be careful about? What kinds of features are there? Any advice would be much appreciated.
thanks

Also check REI for some info on stoves.

Lee

With certain MSR models you can use fuels other than white gas (aka. coleman camp fuel) but they don't burn as clean or as hot and can gunk up your stove. Do not mix fuels. If you're camping in the US white gas should be widely available so there's really no need to use secondary fuels such as kerosene, etc. Stoves like the MSR you used put out a lot of heat and are very efficient. On the downside, they require a bit of care and maintenance, (the pump assembly alone has quite a few components), and the fuel is extremely volatile. To most this doesn't matter, but I prefer simplicity, bulletproof design, and a non-explosive fuel so I switched to alcohol stoves. The tradeoff is less heat and longer boil times. If you decide to go with an MSR white gas stove I'd get a standard repair kit
(o-rings, etc.) if it doesn't already come with one. And of course a fuel bottle.

The Primus Omnifuel Stove is very flexible in what fuels can be used, probably the most flexible in the world as it can use propane/butane gas resealable gas cartridges as well as white gas. It will also burn diesel, petrol and even kerosene (these are really not recommended though because of the toxicity but sometimes needs must) and has an adjustable flame. You can even get one made from Titanium. One of the main criticisms of the MSR multifuel models is the plastic pressurization pump.

If your looking for a purely gas cartridge stove the Optimus Crux is really neat because of how compact the stove is.

well what kind of stove are you exacly looking for and what purpose?

What kind of fuels can I use?: depends on the stove
Can I mix fuels?: NO!!!
what spare parts should I get?:depends on the stove
What do I need to be careful about?: depends on the stove
What kinds of features are there?: Depends on the type.

Too many people in mine opinion are really over killing with there stove’s.

If you go on short trips only, on low altitudes, with the temperature well above freezing and fuel is available. Than a stove burning propane/butane mix is ideal. They are very easy to use and light weight.

If you go to places where fuel is harder to get, the temperature is lower, higher altitudes and your travelling for longer periods. Than a multifuel or gasoline stoves comes to its own. A build in cleaning needle is always a nice feature and it’s good to consider a silent or a roarer type of stove. One is silent (like the whisperlight) the roarer types sounds like a jet engine…

If you want to ultra simple, light, reliable, but a bit slower, go for the trangia style stoves.

I'll second the Dragonfly. I was with a friend in the Adirondacks and we used one - I liked it so much (easy to operate, nice and stable, efficent and quick) that I went out and bought one. I have since used that Dragonfly on a weeklong trip in the Smokies with no concerns/problems. Though there are stoves that are a little lighter and a little quieter if that is your thing.

Matt

I switched from the "normal" backpacking stove to home made alcohol stoves a few years back. Went from 3-4 pounds to around 1/2 pound for my whole kitchen. You can make a functional stove out in the woods from a discarded soda can in about 5 minutes with just a knife. I use fuel line de-icer (HEET) in the yellow bottle as fuel. Its cheap and found everywhere.

A great alcohol stove resourse: http://zenstoves.net/

When I went from "normal" to alcohol, I chose to go to a method of cooking called "freezer bag cooking" in which you just have to boil water and add to whatever you are cooking.
http://www.freezerbagcooking.com/


Lightweight backpacking sites: hikinghq.net and whiteblaze.net


Going from 60 pounds base pack weight to 30 pounds will do alot for you, believe me.

HEET is 100% methanol and leaves no soot at all. When my pot is cooled down I just put it right back in my food bag. No mess to clean up with freezer bag cooking.

I know i'll get some groans and muffled snickers on this
but a Peak Feather stove has served me well on over 20
years of canoe tripping..the stove got a months worth of
daily use every year and some long weekends..yes its a bit
heavy but think "bomb proof"..the pump is built into the
stove so you not taking it out when re-fueling so there is
no wear and tear on a O ring..and your not pluging a hose
into the stove all the time..every O ring and every connection
is a weak spot that could fail..the tank is large enought for
several meals..more if all you do is boil water for rehydrating meals..i do a lot of simmering and get 4 meals..
i have taken other stoves along as back up and "try outs"
such as a Seva 123,Optimus 71..Wisperlights..MSR GK..
but for ease of use the Peak seems to work out best..
it has a wide burner so you don't get a hot spot..it's quite.
stable..run's well in cold--50's--weather..a Gaz stove i took
on one trip would not run hot enought to boil a cup of tea
on a cold evening unless i put my hands around the tank to
keep it warm..if you ca find the older square case/cook kit
for the stove you will have the pots you need ..
keep in mind i don't hike with this all day so that may taint
my view a bit..i know the ultra-light walkers go for pop can
stoves and such but the Peak is my suggestion for a good solid
Coleman fuel stove..i always direct people to "classic camp
stoves" a website out of the UK for EVERYTHING you wanted to
know about camp stoves..



---or you could use a kerosene stove like this..kero
is cheap and avalable..unlike Coleman fuel and gas it
not flare up and the vapors don't blow up like gas will.
untill gas stoves became popular these were the standard
camp stove and were used in homes all over Europe and in
Asia are still used by those who can afford them..

I love that old stove in the photo!
I used to work in an outdoor store that buys used gear and we would keep any of the really old stoves (and climbing / mountaineering gear) as collectables. We would then display them all over the shop. The place is kind of a museum.
Some of those old stoves will run forever.