I've used an Esbit and I've built a can stove for solid fuel (works better than Esbit) - save that stuff for tinder!

For stove cooking you can't beat alcohol, IMO. For years (and I mean years!) I used an Optimus hiker (gasoline). Great stove - still have it and it works great. Then I went to Whisperlite for years - still have it and works great. Then I learned how to make an alcohol stove from a cat food can! Never going back! For one person (two stoves=two people, etc.) on the move there is absolutely nothing like it. The great virtues of alcohol - doesn't explode, doesn't stink if spilled on gear, buy everywhere in the world, evaporates and doesn't linger, has other uses, stove setup weighs 1/10th gasoline types, zero maintenance, instant priming - need I go on?

Spill? I use little Nalgene bottle - 1 oz. per meal (one pot + tea) - 4 oz. bottle goes a weekend. Hasn't leaked yet.

Boils one pint water in 4 minutes flat. I can make a cat food stove (Google "Atlanta Alcohol Stove"), priming pan and windscreen in 30 minutes. Cost = $0.50 (if you buy everything except cat food - add $0.50 for cat food). Guess you can tell - I love these things! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />