Backing packing stove tests

S

spareparts

Joined
May 12, 2010
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I haven't been out hiking or camping for a while so to annual PM and to get my fix I decided to test some of my stoves. I love stoves! I am approximately 200 feet above sea level on the CA coast, used tap water with a temp in the low 60's. Since the Jetboil only has a 16oz fill line all tests were done with 16oz to keep the playing field the same. Used a Coleman 1 qt aluminum cup for all stoves except the Jetboil.

Figures are time to boil from the point I put the pot/cup on the burner to roiling boil. Weighed fuel canisters before and after on a digital scale. I have adapters that use the butane aerosol canisters commonly sold at Asian markets, so references to "Butane" refer to those. I like them because at lower elevations and non-freezing temps they work just as well as the proprietary canisters but much less cost per oz.

1. Jetboil with isobutane
Time: 2:16 mins
Fuel consumption .14oz

2. Jetboil with butane
3:08 mins
Fuel consumption .18 oz

3. MSR Pocket Rocket with isobutane
2:36 mins
.24 oz

4. MSR Pocket Rocket with butane
2:42
.26 oz

5. Unknown backpacker with isobutane
5:56 mins
.26 oz
(you get what you pay for)

6. same as above but didn't bother with the cheepy butane because of the long time observed with first test.

7. MSR Simmerlite Coleman Fuel
3:20
.42 oz

8. MSR Whisperlite International with Coleman Fuel
2:28
.42 oz

9. MSR Dragonfly butane (used high pressure fuel line to fabricate and adapter)
Gave up after 6+ mins with no boil
.30 oz
Notes: loud as a jet plane, difficult to prime and light, burns any hydrocarbon, though, except biodiesel...found out the hard way but MSR customer service is such that they sent me free parts.

10. MSR Dragonfly with Coleman fuel
Will test later. From past experience it takes quite a while to reach a boil and is freakin loud. I keep it around only because it will burn anything from JP5 to gasoline to kerosene.

11. Coleman Dual Fuel with Coleman Fuel
3:10
.28oz
Note: it's been a love hate relationship with this stove. When it works, it works well. In this case it didn't work well with the first lighting, produced an orange flame that wrapped around the pot/cup after priming and coming up to temp, kind of engulfing it. Had to shut it down and restart to complete the test. IMO this option has always been a bit tempermental. Totally let me down at Yosemitte a couple of years ago at base camp.


Problem with all the stoves above is that simmering is almost non-existing. So I approached these tests form my standpoint of just heating water for drinks or freezedried food packets.

I thought about cooking the same food in each one but after just boiling water I realized that it would be quite a task to figure out a food group and duplicate it for each stove.

IMO, my go to for high elevation and cold temps is the Whisperlite International with Coleman fuel. For lower elevations, and/or warmer temps it the Pocketrocket with the aerosol butane can.
 
No statistics for the Optimus Svea 123 or the Trangia ?

The classics...
 
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Good review. A group picture maybe? On "getting what you pay for", the best deal I have found on a dependable stove has been the Coleman Max Micro (commonly found at Wally-world). It has excellent control and will simmer or blowtorch as I need it to. I'll have to check the boil time to compare though.

[video=youtube;CFPyA82JSDM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=CFPyA82JSDM&feature=fvwrel[/video]
 
I have one of the Early MSR Fireflys that uses Coleman fuel and I timed it bringing a quart of water to boil in 3 1/2 minutes at near sea level. I know what you are saying about them sounding like a jet engine spooling up but it did get the hot drinkers up and out of their bags cause they knew hot water was going to be ready if they wanted any, no verbal communications needed.
 
neeman said:
No statistics for the Optimus Svea 123 or the Trangia ?

The classics...
Click to expand...

Not yet. They are on my list, though.

Will get some pics, including the butane adapter, when I get a little more time. My 18mo daughter keeps me way too busy.
 
spareparts said:
IMO, my go to for high elevation and cold temps is the Whisperlite International with Coleman fuel. For lower elevations, and/or warmer temps it the Pocketrocket with the aerosol butane can.
Click to expand...

I think you're pretty much right on here. I've used plenty of "canister stoves" [e.g. isobutane] at moderately cold temperatures at altitude and they're crap. I'm not a huge fan of the MSR Whisperlite Int., but I generally use an MSR XGK EX for anything involving snow/cold temps. A week ago, I was camped at about 6500' for 2 days and had to melt snow for water, I was glad to have the XGK, it's completely at home in nasty/challenging conditions. I wouldn't call the Dragonfly "slow to boil" either, it's a very powerful stove, much like the XGK, but can simmer. My MSR Dragonfly [while admittedly not getting much play time anymore], would smoke any canister stove I've ever used. The one downside to the XGK is it's the stove equivalent of an SUV - it loves the fuel. Last weekend, being very cautious with fuel, my buddy and I barely had enough fuel [700 ml] for 2 days. We were running on vapour by the end. When all your water is derived from snow it's kind of critical. Will double-up fuel bottles or go to a 1000 ml bottle for next trip.
 
I used my Optimus 99 with a pressure pump at temps as low as -40
Worked fine

(similar to the Svea 123)
 
The XKG is well known as a snow melter. That's what they were built to do, Huge amounts of heat, burn anything that you could pump, and bomb proof. The Whisperlite is just that, quiet. My buddy has both the reg, and the international, and he found that the regular, on gas boiled faster, and was more efficient than the international on the same fuel. But, given that the International is just slightly less robust than the XKG, its a good pick if you are unsure of what fuel will be available. Everything has its place. I'll be looking at canisters stoves here in Oz, as cold temps is not something I'll have to worry about.
 
neeman said:
I used my Optimus 99 with a pressure pump at temps as low as -40
Worked fine

(similar to the Svea 123)
Click to expand...

Yeah, I had one of those for years and used it year round with no problem. Until the seals went bad. Then it ran away and became a fireball. I didn't like having to carry the liquid fuel bottles either. They could and would leak on my gear. But that was last century. I am sure fuel bottles have improved. And doing better stove maintenance would have extended the life of my Optimus. Still, the stove was heavy and bulky compared to my current Max Micro gas stove. And I don't do high altitudes. I've never had cold weather pressure problems with it either.
 
Always had the impression that backpacking stoves were made to boil water. Never tried to simmer anything on one; seems like an exercise in futility.
 
Daddyo16 said:
Always had the impression that backpacking stoves were made to boil water. Never tried to simmer anything on one; seems like an exercise in futility.
Click to expand...

Some do have much more flame control than others. Mine for instance, a cheapie, has almost as much flame control as a home cook stove. Not everyone only boils water to sanitize it and rehydrate FD meals. I like cooking fresh food when out. And a stove with only a blowtorch setting doesn't work well for me. The water-boil time is a good test for max heat output, but only that.
 
I recently picked up an MSR Pocket Rocket. It seems to work pretty well, but I've only made a pack of Top Ramen with it so far. (lol, not that it ran me out of money so bad) ramen then a spam single on top to simulate food rationing/ lite packing.
 
MSR Dragonfly with the butane adapter next to it. Back row is Coleman Dual Fuel, Jetboil, and a can of cheepy butane. (sorry for the focus, should have increased my F stops on the camera)
DSC_5883.jpg



MSR Simmerlite, Whisperlite, and my cheep no name.
DSC_5885.jpg




MSR Pocket Rocket hooked up to my adapter that lets it burn the cheep butane. On the burner is my improvised detachable wind screen.
DSC_5882.jpg
 
Daddyo16 said:
Always had the impression that backpacking stoves were made to boil water. Never tried to simmer anything on one; seems like an exercise in futility.
Click to expand...

I cook real food
I go to the supermarket and buy regular food for backpacking trips
When I am going out, why should I subject myself to very expensive semi-artificial freeze dried 'food'

My staples are rice, pasta, flour, lentils, and oatmeal
Supplement this with carrots, garlic and onions, and dried fruit and nuts that do not spoil

So I need a slow low light to cook bannock, pancakes, pasta, stews and porridge
 
The MSR Dragonfly, Superfly, and Windpro are very good at simmering, as is the Optimus Nova. I have used the first two quite a bit, my brother has used the latter two quite a bit. I cook, too, not just boil type meals.

The MSR Whisperlite, on the other hand, I can get to turn down, but it is not even close to a simmer. The pocket rocket turns down fairly well, but the burner head is small enough that even with the turndown it is not the ideal stove for more delicate cooking.
 
Yes, my MSR Windpro and Optimus Nova (original version, not the Nova+) both turn down well for a good simmer.

My Snow Peak Giga does surprisingly well for simmering, considering its small burner head. I haven't used it much for that purpose, but I have seen a backpacking friend use his for pancakes to good effect.

For older stoves, my Optimus 199 simmers well, too. Good luck finding one, though.
 
Neeman - I agree with you. When camping I want food - not simply/exclusively rehydrated whatever.

I use a Primus Trail Stove. Can simmer like a champ as well as burn anything in a cookpot to a cinder. It will even "roast" marshmallows.
 
I have an old Coleman Peak 1 that is similar to the current dual fuel. I like the one piece design and it can do pretty well from blowtorch to simmer.

Not too sure why you were having problems with lighting it. I've used it from freezing cold to hot summers.

I never turn the stove to high when lighting it. I turn it on low and wait for the generator to heat up then let it rip. You shouldn't have orange flames once the generator is hot unless it's leaking fuel or something

I also like that white gas works much better in the winter, although I have some no name butane stove and have used it in the cold. We would just toss the butane canister in the foot of our sleeping bag the night before
 
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