Backpacking stove.

[Dannyboy Leather]

Post expired.

 

[lambertiana]

I prefer the Snow Peak Giga to the Pocket Rocket because it works better for simmering.

I also have an MSR Windpro that I use with a Jetboil GCS pot. With that combination I have much better pot stability, the ability to use a windscreen and turn the canister over for liquid feed in cold weather, and the very high efficiency of the GCS pot.

For liquid stoves I have a few; my Optimus Nova usually gets the nod. And for a classic with a long reputation for reliability, the Svea 123R is hard to beat.

I have a few alcohol stoves, but for longer trips the weight of the fuel more than offsets the lower stove weight, and it is a pain to do any real cooking on one. Canister stoves and liquid fuel stoves are much easier to use if you like to actually cook rather than just heat water.

 

[FwdHO]

Pocket rocket is good - Soto stove is smaller and better, but costs about $20 more. Soto stove will empty an entire cannister while the rocket will not - has to do with a regulator thing in the guts of the Soto that keeps the vacuum all the way to the end.

 

[Flipincanadian]

I really love my MSR pocket rocket, since i can fit it and a fuel canister inside my MSR pot set. So far i have really only used it for boiling water and doing scrambled eggs, but it worked excellently.

 

[ROCK6]

My take on backpacking stoves:

I look at backpacking stoves in four categories:

1. Liquid fuel stoves (white gas, unleaded, alcohol, etc.)
2. Canister stoves (isobutane)
3. Solid fuel stoves (Esbit; hexamine or trioxane fuel tablets)
4. Natural fuel stoves (Bushbuddy, Sierra stove, etc.)

Alcohol stoves are simple…some can be a little fragile. While people talk about fuel availability, you really need to just plan enough for your needs if you’re out or trying to get to your location. Alcohol is a little tricky…really just figuring out how much you need, having a good wind screen. Its biggest advantage is almost zero sound and very little odor…excellent for a very low profile stove. Also, these stoves are extremely cheap and can even be made in the field with a little practice and resources found in a garbage can.

There are a plethora of liquid fuel stoves; some with internal fuel tanks (Svea 123, Coleman) and several others use external tanks. These stoves work well in most locations, excelling at higher altitudes. Those that are “multi-fuel” can easily use standard unleaded gas along with the typical “white” gas; most require a change out of the “jet”…basically the gas port where the gasified fuel is ignited. The stoves I have with these come with a small tool to swap out, but it’s something to note if you’re in the field…you can’t just use any fuel with any jet…performance will be affected and possibly screw up your stove or not work at all. Most of these types of stove require an initial “pre-heating” session where you need to release a little pressurized liquid fuel into the stove and light…this will burn openly to heat up the jet for gasification. Having good seals on your valves is important.

Isobutane canister stoves are excellent for very short trip durations and in more moderate temperatures. They are typically quieter than the liquid fuel stoves (except alcohol). Other than the fuel canister, these can be quite compact; very simple and fast to put into operation. Since most of these stoves sit on top of the canister, you really need to make sure the stove is protected from the wind = wind screen! Some other varieties are out there such as the Jetboil and my Primus Omnifuel stove can also used isobutane canisters.

I’ve used a few different solid fuel stoves. They are probably the most robust. Like alcohol, they burn quietly and with a little odor, but not bad. I’ve only been able to get a canteen cup sized cup to a rolling boil, but enough to purify the water or make a hot meal. Calculating fuel tablets is a must. Some can be quite compact like the Esbit or Vargo stoves.

I don’t have much experience with some of the natural fuel stoves out there. Some use a small battery (usually 9volt) to operate a fan and increase the oxygen input. They typically use small twigs and pieces of wood to burn.

I use my Optimus Nova for my “bug out bag” as it seems to be the most robust. I like the MSR stoves, but their pump assembly is the weak link.

I’ve really enjoyed my Primus Omni-fuel stove for backpacking. While I carry liquid fuel, if I have issues, my wife carries the diminutive Optimus Crux which uses an isobutane canister which I can use as well.

My most compact stove is the Vargo; it uses alcohol and my older version fits in the middle of my Crusader cup canteen stove. One filling will get a cup of water to boil.

As already mentioned, you can’t go wrong with the old Svea 123…it’s a very tough stove; heavy and loud but extremely reliable.

ROCK6

 

[dextersp1]

Pocket rocket is good - Soto stove is smaller and better, but costs about $20 more. Soto stove will empty an entire cannister while the rocket will not - has to do with a regulator thing in the guts of the Soto that keeps the vacuum all the way to the end.

Do you own the Soto? If so what is the coldest temp and altitude that it worked?

I'm thinking about getting it or the Brunton Vesta. I have the Brunton Raptor and it works like the Pocket Rocket.

 

[hollowdweller]

I have an old Coleman Peak 1

A wood burning Sierra Zip Stove

2 "White Box" Style Alcohol stoves.

I also use the fire to cook a lot.

Like everybody says it's all what you want to do. If I have the time it's just as easy to use the fire.


If it's really cold and I'm cooking a multi course meal the Peak 1 is great because you can cook so fast all is ready and warm at the same time. The pain is carrying the fuel.

The wood burning stove is great but requires more time to cut the fuel and stuff.

I like the Alcohol ones a LOT. Use them more than the above 2, but they are not as good for cooking and simmering.

 

[stingray4540]

I personally find the Pocket Rocket to be fast and fairly light, the Alky stoves to be slow and very light, and the liquid fuel stoves to be heavy and robust.

This is how I used to think, until I recently did some experimenting. I built a couple different alcohol stove designs, and found one, that actually beat my Pocket Rocket in a boil test!

I did a boil test comparing several Alky stove designs pitted against my Pocket Rocket, because, well, I want a lighter kitchen, but I'm not willing to wait 10 minutes for my water to boil.

I used a Fluke 87v meter with the temperature probe and a stop watch for my experiment. Using cold tap water, I think it was around 67F if I remember correctly, I timed how long it took each stove to reach 212F.

SuperCat Stove: 4minutes 30seconds (not bad, I could probably wait one more minute to save a pound of pack weight)

Pocket Rocket: 3minutes 11seconds (The time to beat!)

Zen pressurized top burner: 3minutes 10seconds (I couldn't believe it! This has to be the fastest alcohol stove I have ever seen! RIP Pocket Rocket...) http://zenstoves.net/BasicPressureBurner.htm

Only problem with the zen is that you will HAVE to use the threaded rivet. I tried epoxying on a nut with JB weld, but that only lasted one burn test, then I couldn't remove the bolt because the epoxy released due to heat and it just spun around inside. The 3 pin holes in the center just takes too long to fill and defeats the purpose of having a fast stove, and the spring loaded bolt was just impractical and didn't create a tight enough seal.
Now I just gotta figure out how I'm gonna get ahold of a threaded rivet tool, without having to drop $100+...

 

[TKAZ]

Brunton makes some nice choices.

I use this Vesta from Brunton -

 

[eomeo]

I have the pocket rocket - it is fast and light, and for me was a good upgrade. My previous stove was a big, heavy, propane one that you screw onto the propane canister - I think it costs about $15 at Walmart. That works fine for car camping, but it is too big and bulky for backpacking. I imagine in a few years I'll probably experiment and upgrade again to an alcohol stove, but for now I'm satisfied with the PR.

 

[FwdHO]

Do you own the Soto? If so what is the coldest temp and altitude that it worked?

I'm thinking about getting it or the Brunton Vesta. I have the Brunton Raptor and it works like the Pocket Rocket.

I do own a Soto. So far only up to roughly 4k ft.

 

[BOOMSTICK]

I use the pocket rocket almost every backpacking trip I go on. I think it is the best made lightest stove ( that you can trust) out there. the biggest downfall people say they have is having half used fuel cans. the way I deal with that is by writing on the can with a sharpie. first I write the date, what trip I was on. On a five day trip I use 2 small snowpeak cans in the spring. (for myself). If you know you are going camping later, (kinda like pulling up your car and parking camping) bring the used cans to make coffee in the morning or tea at night.
here is my cooking set up. I carry a ti, snowpeak pot, coffee mug, and spork.

notice the date and where.

 

[AugustChief]

I generally cook exclusively in with wood and Bushbuddy Ultra is an integral part of my equipment kit that focuses on simplicity of form and function.

Backpacking Light Bushbuddy Ultra / Firelite 1100 Ti Pot Combo

Simplicity

Boiled one liter of water 8 minutes

Enjoying my Java

Check this video out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdwoYrRkf0k&feature=player_embedded
My backup or in extreme elements

All-in-one design, combining burner and cooking vessel in one compact unit. Everything you need is stacked and stored inside the 1.0 liter cooking cup. The system lights with the click of a button and within two minutes provides two cups of boiling water

Hope this helps.

W/R
Jonathan

 

[Any Cal.]

This is how I used to think...Zen pressurized top burner: 3minutes 10seconds (I couldn't believe it! This has to be the fastest alcohol stove I have ever seen! RIP Pocket Rocket...) http://zenstoves.net/BasicPressureBurner.htm

That is cool that you found one. You ought to figure out what the weight breakdown is. You are probably burning a LOT of alky to produce that much heat. I typically get 2 cups of water to boil w/ about 1/3oz of fuel on the Pocket Rocket, plus the weight of the canister, which is about 4 oz, or the Snowpeak one which is closer to 3 I think.

There is probably a trip length where you could save weight with your design, depending on how you did your cooking.

I have a jetted stove that works well, but I figure that by the time I carry the stove, windscreen, fuel bottle, and fuel, I am only saving a very minor amount of pack weight to carry it for 6 boils or more, and I think the Pocket Rocket is probably quite a bit more robust. To throw something in a daypack though, the Alky stove would rule!

 

[AugustChief]

I have had a pocket rocket ever since they first came out. They work great. I also use a JetBoil, which is even simpler to use since it is all contained in one unit. I have had good luck with a Trangia alcohol stove as well as a soda can alcohol stove. Snow Peak makes a great stove that is the equivelent to the Pocket Rocket. Fits in their Ti cup.

The next stove I want to get is the Bush Buddy. That seems like a great stove and you don't have to haul fuel around with you.

Anyone use a Bush Buddy?

I have used this stove for over three years and absolutely love it! It wieghs less 5.1 ounces. It's a proven performer:

"First custom made for Ryan Jordan of Backpackinglight magazine, for his Arctic 1000 trek in June of 2006, this stove features the same efficient combustion design as the regular Bushbuddy, but in a lighter weight (5 ounces, instead of 6.5 ounces for the regular model). The two stoves are identical in size. "

When cooking exclusively with wood Ryan used his Bushbuddy, read:

http://www.ryanjordan.com/photos/arctic_1000/imgp1345800.html

Great video depicting its composition, size, secondary combustion system and ease of use by Pablo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdwoYrRkf0k

Bushbuddy boiling 1.5 quarts of water:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIE_uOnXoMQ&NR=1

The Firelite 1100 Titanium pot was designed specifically to fit the Bushbuddy Ultra within.

I usually make two feathered sticks, collect a handful of small dry twigs or split some fine kindling. Light one of the sticks and place it in the firebox so the flames will climb up the shavings. In a couple of seconds, once the fire is burning well, I place thumb size pieces of wood. Remember, that although the stove can be fed with nothing more than twigs broken up by hand, bigger solid pieces of wood will be found much more satisfactory, burning longer with less feeding of the fire.

Hope this helps,

Jonathan

 

[Kismet]

I'd probably be more favorably-inclined to the cannister fed stoves if the canisters were refillable.

I've got a SVEA 123 and a "Precise Phoenix Backpacker," which is an Optimus clone...and has never failed in..jayzuz...40 years of use, motorcycle camping.

 

[Joezilla]

I like the pocket rocket for its handyness as a go to stove. I have the bug and have quite a few stoves, but when I want no nonsense for a backpacking stove, or am just cooking for myself on a weekend trip, I'll grab this guy cause it is fast and compact.

not to mention I watched them last 4 years as rental gear in the college outing club, and boy do they know how to break stuff . I have a few other stoves that I like, but for no nonsense, durability, speed, and value the pocket rocket is hard to beat.

 

[deanomartini]

I have used many stoves and currently own; the Optimus hiker 99 and 111 and Nova, all use white gas as does my MSR whisperlite. A pepsi can homemade job and swiss trangia stove - use denatured alcohol. And my Snow Peak Gigalite and MSR pocket rocket for canisters.

For lightweight backpacking I did use the MSR pocket rocket but found the pot stability poor as it held the pot too high. I now use the Gigalite as it is lower than the PR (more stable) and has better flame control. It is also lighter (Ti) and more compact, fitting with a fuel canister, spork and lighter inside a .7 pot. I like this stove so much I've bought 3 place in emergency kits for the cars. Cost for the Giga Lite runs about 60 retail. If bought at REI during a coupon sale, that can get below 50.

 

[hollowdweller]

I'd probably be more favorably-inclined to the cannister fed stoves if the canisters were refillable.

That's me.

 

[A.W.U.K.]

I'd probably be more favorably-inclined to the cannister fed stoves if the canisters were refillable.

How hard could it be?