Canister Stove Advice

zman308

zman308

Joined
Sep 3, 2007
Messages
831
Well I am ready to mothball the old Peak liquid fuel stove and switch to a compact canister fuel stove. I need advice on which is the best one to buy. I would like something rugged but compact to fit inside a mess kit, nice stable top to hold pots and kettles, and possibly a built in ignition device. I bought my Wiggys sleeping bag because of advice on this forum and know your recommendations are always right on. Thanks, Zman
 
I messed around with a few one's and deceided on my favorite.

Vargo titanium canister is the one that is simply my favorite. Strong, rugged, stable top, super light, and small. No self ignition but that's no biggie with me.
 
Snow Peak has a new 2oz cannister stove out.

You only need a "remote" cannister if you snow camp and will therefore need to invert the cannister for purposes of liquid feed.
 
If you want nice and compact try the MSR Pocket Rocket. I've been very pleased with mine and right now REI Outlet is having a combo sale of the PR with a Titan Kettle for just under $60. The nice thing about this set is that the fuel cannisters 4 or 8oz will fit inside the kettle for easy compact storage; the 8oz is great for extended trips and the 4oz it nice and lite for short trips. Here is a link to it
http://www.rei.com/REI-Outlet/product/770295
 
Bare Rib said:
...If you want nice and compact try the MSR Pocket Rocket....
Click to expand...
:thumbup: The Pocket Rocket is awesome for its price... Can't get much cheaper. Mine works like a champ. Coleman F1 is another one worth checking but it is more expensive and doesn't look as rugged. There are some fancier models crafted in titanium but the weight saving is not that impressive while the price tag IS quite impressive.

Just a little advice: craft a windshield out of thin aluminum (think disposable baking oven pans). That will help you out to reduce boiling time and save up on fuel. Don't worry about keeping the canister inside of the windshield. MSR says that you shouldn't do it but so far I never heard of anyone having his canister blew up for that reason... Paper clips work like champs to keep the whindshield shut around the canister and pot.

Mikel
 
I have a Coleman canister stove. I don't remember the name, but it is similar in size and design to the Pocket Rocket (maybe it's the F1?). I have used it for two summers with no problems - just remeber to put the canister in your sleeping bag with you at night - they don't work great when it's cold.
 
Now I use the MSR Windpro. It is a remote stove, and a few ounces heavier than most of those being recommended. But it is so much more stable than the canister-mounted stoves. And using the Jetboil GCS pot with the windscreen, I get terrific fuel efficiency with it.
 
I've had good results with the whole Jetboil GCS package. Perhaps not the most stable system ever created but my dog hasn't knocked it over yet, even when he poached some beef stew :D A little on the heavy side (19 ounces) but a very convenient setup overall.
 
another vote for the pocket rocket :thumbup::thumbup:



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How about the Swedish Army Trangia? Check this vid out: http://youtube.com/watch?v=VpzHLic1A0Y&feature=related

I personally don’t like to use canister stoves, because in cold weather, they are crap, and you need to depend on society to replenish them. I would opt for using the pocket cooker found here: http://www.campingsurvival.com/fopocost.html

You can also watch it in use here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=cbR5nhLM2i0.

I say just go primitive. It is a simple and LIGHT WEIGHT method, effective and you don’t have to worry about refueling. Mother Nature takes care of that (provided you respect her laws).
 
I have no basis for comparison, but I do like my Pocket Rocket.

FWIW, REI Outlet still has a killer deal going on the Pocket Rocket plus the titanium Titan Kettle Combo. The Pocket Rocket alone usually sells for $40 if I remember correctly.

Kit pictured below. The gas cannister fits perfectly in the titanium mug/pot.

http://www.rei.com/REI-Outlet/product/770295


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Edited to add:

I missed this post. I could have just typed, "What he said."

Bare Rib said:
If you want nice and compact try the MSR Pocket Rocket. I've been very pleased with mine and right now REI Outlet is having a combo sale of the PR with a Titan Kettle for just under $60. The nice thing about this set is that the fuel cannisters 4 or 8oz will fit inside the kettle for easy compact storage; the 8oz is great for extended trips and the 4oz it nice and lite for short trips. Here is a link to it
http://www.rei.com/REI-Outlet/product/770295
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
mystical woodsman said:
...I say just go primitive. It is a simple and LIGHT WEIGHT method, effective and you don’t have to worry about refueling. Mother Nature takes care of that (provided you respect her laws).
Click to expand...

Absolutly right!!!! .... As long as you don't go above tree line.

I agree with you about LPG stoves not being proficient enough in cold temps. Most of them don't work well below freezing (well, they do as long as you have propane in them!). Then is when LPG stoves able to burn liquid LPG come to mi mind (the ones that have a generator tube to gasify it)... Coleman MAX is one of them.

Anyway, if you are going above tree line with cold temps you still have some choices. When going light and fast, go with LPG but keep some of those warm chemical packets handy just in case warming up the canister inside your sleeping bag or parka is not enough. If you are going to be melting a lot of snow... don't take any risk. Go with white gas and a multifuel stove. MSR XGK, MSR Dragonfly, Primus Multifuel, Primus Omnifuel, etc. I own the last one and works like a champ but if you use auto gas you have to take it appart after every outing and clean it up. Otherwise you will have cloggin problems in the jet nipple and won't be able to simmer at all. Won't have any problems using it at full blast but you will end up burning your pot and scorching food.

Mikel
 
I picked up the MSR Pocket Rocket/Titan Kettle kit a few weeks ago at Campsaver.com for $49.95. I see they have jacked the price up to $59.95 now. Still a good deal, and it qualifies for free shipping.

The MSR Pocket Rocket is nice, but of my three canister stoves, it is the slowest to boil 2 cups of water. My Markhill Hot Shot weighs more than twice what the Pocket Rocket does, but it folds up smaller and boils water faster using a similar size burner head. The Jetboil PCS is definitely the fastest to boil 2 cups of water, and it is the easiest to use, but it is also the largest setup I have.
 
hikeeba said:
I picked up the MSR Pocket Rocket/Titan Kettle kit a few weeks ago at Campsaver.com for $49.95. I see they have jacked the price up to $59.95 now. Still a good deal, and it qualifies for free shipping.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot. Just what I needed... another discount outdoor store. :D

That was a terrific deal on the combo. About what I paid as well since REI-Outlet allowed me to use a 20% off coupon. I didn't get free shipping though.
 
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