For warm temps for solo outings i use the MSR Pocket Rocket - simply 'turn-n-burn'. It's almost completely idiot-proof!!!
For warm temps w/company, i use the Primus EtaPower EF. It boils water really fast. It's a bit complicated to set up, but the heat-exchanger is super efficient. I've not had the Piezo igniter problem other folks have reported on the net - mine works flawlessly (but i bring lighters/matches just in case!!!).
For cool temps and below i use a Primus Himalaya Vari-Fuel and it burns freakin' HOT!!! Also, it's ALL METAL design is not susceptable to breakage like the MSR liquid-fuelers. It has a very solid pot-support/base and a nice, long braided-steel fuel line. No cost-cutting there!!! It's been reliable for me on several mountaineering/winter camping trips down to -30F. There may be some new designs (Brunton and a few others) that look pretty awesome, but i'm completely satisfied with my Primus Himalaya Vari-Fuel.
A quick note on my MSR liquid-fuel stoves experiences. I'd broken my MSR Whisper Lite plastic pump-housing 2 times before deciding to sell it. Maybe it was, in general, my fault (if i hadn't been in a huge hurry i wouldn't have broken it), but in the cold i need something that is tough AND works - fast. With it's cheap, plastic pump-housing and use in cold temps you have to 'baby' the MRS liquid-fuel stoves - something i don't always have time for.
I also had a MSR Dragonfly which i believe it to be the best liquid-fuel "cooking" stove around (for backpacking) - except for the plastic pump housing common to all the MSR liquid-fuels stoves. This is a completely short-sighted material choice by MSR and publicly recognized by them as such via an upgraded pump housing (which is STILL polymer based). Simply stupid.
I've used most every style of liquid fuel stove for "backpacking" over the last 25 years and i think the manufacturers have really arrived a great 'design' place with these items. The current offerings are sooooo much more efficient and produce as much heat, if not more, than ever before. Just avoid plastic stoves in cold temps!
For warm temps w/company, i use the Primus EtaPower EF. It boils water really fast. It's a bit complicated to set up, but the heat-exchanger is super efficient. I've not had the Piezo igniter problem other folks have reported on the net - mine works flawlessly (but i bring lighters/matches just in case!!!).
For cool temps and below i use a Primus Himalaya Vari-Fuel and it burns freakin' HOT!!! Also, it's ALL METAL design is not susceptable to breakage like the MSR liquid-fuelers. It has a very solid pot-support/base and a nice, long braided-steel fuel line. No cost-cutting there!!! It's been reliable for me on several mountaineering/winter camping trips down to -30F. There may be some new designs (Brunton and a few others) that look pretty awesome, but i'm completely satisfied with my Primus Himalaya Vari-Fuel.
A quick note on my MSR liquid-fuel stoves experiences. I'd broken my MSR Whisper Lite plastic pump-housing 2 times before deciding to sell it. Maybe it was, in general, my fault (if i hadn't been in a huge hurry i wouldn't have broken it), but in the cold i need something that is tough AND works - fast. With it's cheap, plastic pump-housing and use in cold temps you have to 'baby' the MRS liquid-fuel stoves - something i don't always have time for.
I also had a MSR Dragonfly which i believe it to be the best liquid-fuel "cooking" stove around (for backpacking) - except for the plastic pump housing common to all the MSR liquid-fuels stoves. This is a completely short-sighted material choice by MSR and publicly recognized by them as such via an upgraded pump housing (which is STILL polymer based). Simply stupid.
I've used most every style of liquid fuel stove for "backpacking" over the last 25 years and i think the manufacturers have really arrived a great 'design' place with these items. The current offerings are sooooo much more efficient and produce as much heat, if not more, than ever before. Just avoid plastic stoves in cold temps!
