Anyone here have any opinions on this stove?

Silas

Silas

Joined
Jul 22, 2004
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I know there have been multiple threads on this topic. I went back quite a few pages and couldn't find any of them. If someone could link to any of the existing threads I would greatly appreciate it.



http://www.trailspace.com/gear/primus/omnifuel/

I've been looking to get a good hiking/camping stove. I'm set on getting a multi-fuel stove for sure. I've looked at the MSR Wisperlite International, the Optimus Nova, and the Primus Omnifuel.

The reviews on the Primus Omnifuel seem pretty good and it's the one I'm leaning toward. It can use almost any liquid gas and can also use canister fuel. The price range on it is $130-$160 so I want to get as many opinions/reviews as I can before dropping the coin. And ofcourse BladeForums has the best opinion so here I ask. :thumbup:
 
I have the MSR Whisperlight international, great stove for what I use it for, but with any multi, you get trade offs. My bud has both the international and the regular, and the regular one runs much longer for the same heat output, when they are both on white-gas. I'm not sure about the weight difference between them, but I can say that I've very rarely used my stove in a day hike situation, too much to carry. I like that my MSR is very easy to fix, but I have no idea how the primus ones are, so I can't compare.
 
I have had the Whisperlite International since around 95? and have had no problems with it besides a rebuild with the $12 parts kit. I bought this stove when I became interested in Backpacking and never really used anything in it but white gas. It's a bit much for a day hike IMO due to it's weight and size. A couple years back I switched to the MSR pocket rocket which uses a disposable cannister. I have used this stove on a couple of 2-3 day outings and it's small enough for me to bring it on the occasional day trip.

Primus has a great reputation for stoves but most of my Backpacking buddies all use MSR.
 
I have an Omnifuel. It's not a bad stove, but I either use a Jetboil or another canister based stove these days. They are just so much easier and cleaner to use. The Omnifuel is a great and very high quality stove if you do decide to go that route though.
 
I think the Multi Fuel thing is very cool.

And Primus is the absolute leader in stoves, everyone copies them, not to say that other companies don't innovate, but Primus does it, and usually before anyone else. In fact, in many cases, the knock-offs win awards.

I have an Optimus Nova and it rocks out with it's rooster out. I would be happy to answer any questions you have about it.

They are quite nice.

My advice, buy it from a company that will take it back if you don't like it.

Marion
 
I purchased a MSR XGK stove not too far back and recently used it at PWYP. It is a multi-fuel stove also and in the same price range as the others. I have a MSR Whisperlite (non-International) that I like but it's not very stable to me.

The one thing that caught my eye about it was the fact it was really stable and the fact they claim that Kerosene burns hotter. While I was at PWYP I exclusively used Kero, but I found I had to use Fireribbon to prime it as I couldn't get it to light with a match or butane lighter. Perhaps there is a certain way to do it, but I haven't found it yet.

BTW the boil times for 16oz of water using Kero was usually between 3 - 3.5 minutes. Which to me is pretty darn good. Noisy, but a pretty good stove.

Forgot to add I used K-1 Kerosene (clear) that you can buy at places like Lowes in a 1 gallon container. Costs around $10, but it's cheaper than a what a quart of MSR white gas is going for these days.
 
I've had three MSR Whisperlite International's (WI) since the early 90's (still have them all and they still work great). I've not used the Primus so can't comment on this model, but the WI is the only one I personally trust enough to take on multi-day trips (and to place in my helicopter survival packs at work).

The International model will burn just about anything; white gas burns the cleanest and is the easiest to light, but I've also successfully used kerosene, gasoline, diesel, and Jet-B, the latter three work fine but leave a black residue on cookware.

The WI is easy to clean and maintain (I keep the $10 maintenance/spares kit with each stove); overall a very tried and true design. It's only shortcoming, is that it does not simmer all that well, but I am usually boiling so it's not all that big of a deal to me. I also have a MSR Firefly, which simmers better, but I find I don't use it all that much as it is slightly larger than the WI and doesn't fit into my pot set.

The WI also functions flawlessly at low winter temps, although priming paste is recommended. For winter use in the snow I would recommend a base for the stove, MSR has the Trillium base for the Dragonfly and WI, I've not tried this one, I've got an aftermarket one (I can't recall who makes it) that holds the stove and fuel bottle but is essentially the same idea as the Trillium.
 
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I don't have that stove, but it looks and is spec'd very similar to my MSR Dragonfly, which I like quite a bit.

As far as the white gas versus canister stove debate, there are plenty of other threads on that, and that was not what you were asking about. Each stove type has advantages and disadvantages, and you need to pick what works for the outdoor stuff that you do.

B
 
The only MSR stove I have is a 15 year old XGK...great stove but I hate the plastic pump. The biggest disadvantage with MSR is the cheap pump; the good news is that you can find and buy a spare pretty easily.

I have the older Optimus Nova and recently picked up the Omni-Fuel. Both are the most robust stoves I've ever used and the aluminum/steel pump gives me a big comfort boost (I did have an MSR pump crack and fail on me in the field). Primus makes great stoves and I really like the ability to choose between the convenient canister and liquid fuel. It's a little pain in the butt to change out the jets, but simple enough. Both the stoves can regulate a little instead of being just a boil-or-off type.

My reasoning for getting the omni fuel was that my wife carries the small Crux butane stove (another great Primus stove), and it's nice to have a little redundancy...our last trip, my Nova's leather pump was shriveled and I couldn't get any pressure (kicking myself for not doing my PCC/PCI's:o), we were able to do most of the cooking with just a Jetboil, but as stated before the Jetboil sucks at cooking anything other than Ziploc/foil wrapped entree's and not very good for a family of four.

The butane canisters are great if you just want to quickly (and quietly) boil some water for tea in the evening or coffee in the morning. My wife has some great backpacking recipes that typically work better over hot coals but with the burn bans in TX, you have to use a stove. The liquid fuel works better in colder temps and requires some priming and is typically louder than butane. Butane is the bee's knees for simplicity in warmer temps, quieter and quick to put into operation.

For us, I now carry the Omni-Fuel and my wife carries the Crux with a single butane canister...works like a charm!

ROCK6
 
Thanks for all of the replies everybody! :thumbup:

From what I've read about the Primus Omnifuel it's built like a tank. I also like the idea that you can use liquid or cannister gas, And that it can simmer.

The plastic pump is what discouraged me about the WhisperLite, and that it doesn't simmer. I'm sure it's still a great stove, I would just rather have more metal and less plastic.

I'm going to do a little more research before taking the plunge, just to make sure I get whats best for my needs.
 
Check out craigslist for Svea123. You can pick them up as low as $15 in great shape. You cant use canisters with them.. But they are small enough for backpacking Nothing to fail. I like them more for the reason that everything is togher. Nothing to lose and nothing to break. A tank full is good for 45+ min of burn. I did look at other stoves and if i had to buy one it would be the Primus omnifuel. Just cause its made to last. The only reason i didnt get it was that i couldnt justify it over the hunterR8 and the Svea123 that i already own.

Sasha

Sasha
 
Silas said:
I'm set on getting a multi-fuel stove for sure.
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Could I ask why multi-fuel? The real advantage of the multi-fuel stoves (IMO at least) is for someone doing long-distance hiking, or hiking in another country, where en route fuel resupply could be problematic. Is that what you are planning?

For the weekend camper, or even the week long tripper, who can bring all their supplies with them from home, it never made much practical sense to me. There are certainly "uni-fuel" stoves of comparable quality for less money available.

Of course if you are just a gear-head who wants a multi-fuel stove, never mind what I said! :D
 
mdauben said:
Could I ask why multi-fuel? The real advantage of the multi-fuel stoves (IMO at least) is for someone doing long-distance hiking, or hiking in another country, where en route fuel resupply could be problematic. Is that what you are planning?

For the weekend camper, or even the week long tripper, who can bring all their supplies with them from home, it never made much practical sense to me. There are certainly "uni-fuel" stoves of comparable quality for less money available.

Of course if you are just a gear-head who wants a multi-fuel stove, never mind what I said! :D
Click to expand...

This is a good point. I did by my MSR XGK and Nova for use with JP8 - military fuel. I did get a couple opportunities, and that stuff burned pretty dirty, but worked just fine. Unless you're specifically getting an Alcohol stove for simplicity, ease and budget, I don't think you'll get much more effecient than whitegas. Sure, it's nice to know you can burn kerosene, JP8, diesel, unleaded gas, etc...but until the world ends and the 21st century Road Warrior begins, I'll stick with either whitegas or canisters (unless I'm doing the whole alcohol/trioxane fuel thing).

There are reasons for multi-fuel stoves and when traveling overseas, they can be an advantage...

ROCK6
 
honestly are you camping in very cold weather? i use my svea 123 for cold weather but if its anywhere near freeing and not like 0-20 F then im strictly using alcohol stoves they save me weight and i only really boil water... even if i have to do other stuff i can simmer etc just not as easily.
 
I understand that what you guys are saying about not "needing" a multi-fuel stove. I just like the idea of it. Rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

Your right about the svea 123. It is definately a sweet stove that just about can't be beat. It is on my list of things to get as well. :thumbup:
 
its a matter of the trade offs, for mine, having the multi capability is critical, so I'll sacrifice a bit. I also have the trillium stove base for mine, well worth it! but as with most gear, there are too many options to not be happy with what you have.

Although, I might add a plunger to my kit if I do any long term stuff with my WLI.
 
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