For Emergencies: Which Stove? Which Fuel?

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Preacher Man

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I'm thinking of getting a 1 burner stove for emergencies to use at home, and maybe while camping. When camping, I usually cook on an open fire, but it would be nice to have a back up. What I'm not sure about is fuel.

I'm considering either a propane stove or a dual fuel stove (white gas / unleaded gasoline). I'm leaning toward the latter because of the easy accessibility of fuel in / during an emergency.

I don't want to spend more than necessary. I'm not looking for a light backpacking stove, but I wouldn’t want something so big or heavy as to make it impractical as a backup camping cooking method. It has to be reliable and easy to maintain. Right now I'm considering the Coleman 533A700G Dual Fuel Stove. I've seen some good reviews and it’s not expensive. Part of my problem is that I don't know enough about the pros and cons of each fuel, nor am I knowledgeable on what's out there on this kind of equipment.

Ideas, opinions, recommendations?
 
I have always used the Coleman Peak 1 Duel Fuel backpacking stoves and I love them. I haven't used the exact model you are looking at but it appears my two stoves are older versions of that same basic model. If that is the case, I believe you would be very happy with it.

I have also used propane stoves, mainly the green Coleman ones that look like a brief case, and those work well also. I don't think you could go wrong with either, but I prefer the dual fuel for the reason you listed.
 
The dual fuel stoves are nice. The propane stoves are very easy, but are typically fairly large. This is good at home but bad if you are lugging it around. Don't matter too much for car camping. If you get a whisperlite international, it will burn white gas, unleaded, kerosene, and diesel. That is good in case of any extended emergency, as you are not so reliant on the same little green bottles everyone else is.

There is a primus stove that works like a pumpup white gas stove, that has an attachment to accept camp gas bottles. Not the green propane, but the isobutane stuff. That seemed like a neat idea, though I have not used one myself.
 
i like alcohol burners like the trangia...

i can burn methyl alcohol... or just plain rubbing alcohol which is plentiful in my house.

it has many fuel sources readily available in emergency situations.
 
http://backwoodscampingsupplies.com/stoves.html

I have used this little stove for over 30 years. It just keeps doing its thing year after year. To my way of thinking, nothing beats it. It will fit in a two pound coffee can with a little room to spare. Mine just uses white gas because they didn't have the unleaded fuel back when I got mine.
 
Any Cal. said:
The dual fuel stoves are nice. The propane stoves are very easy, but are typically fairly large. This is good at home but bad if you are lugging it around. Don't matter too much for car camping. If you get a whisperlite international, it will burn white gas, unleaded, kerosene, and diesel. That is good in case of any extended emergency, as you are not so reliant on the same little green bottles everyone else is.

There is a primus stove that works like a pumpup white gas stove, that has an attachment to accept camp gas bottles. Not the green propane, but the isobutane stuff. That seemed like a neat idea, though I have not used one myself.
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I have the exact stove you are talking about.

It really is a beautiful stove in the fact that it is a multi-fuel stove. It does take white gas cans, can also run on butane/propane, kerosene, and even gasoline. There are a couple different sized tips you have to use depending on the fuel you are using. (smaller for the white gas/butane/propane, bigger for the gasoline and kerosene).

Everything that doesn't come in its own can has to be poured into an external bottle must be pumped from the bottle, and the stove conveniently comes with a pump.

The problem with this stove is that its LOUD. Sounds like a freaking jet engine when you are using it.

Whats awesome, is that I keep it in my BOB, and if SHTF, I will be able to use lots of different kinds of fuel. This stove is also recommended for hiking overseas, because a lot of the fuel we might have here, might not be available, so being able to burn gasoline is a major plus.

You can probably find the multi-fuel stove cheap now that its a bit older.
 
You could go with the MSR Pocket Rocket. You have to use the butane canisters, but for the money its the best stove you can buy IMHO.
 
I've got:
SVEA123 stove (white/unleaded)
Coleman Apex II (white gas)
Optimus Hunter 8R (white/unleaded)
Coleman F1 canister stove

As you can see I mainly use white gas/unleaded stoves. They work, even when it's extremely cold. They are loud but they work. The canister (butane/propane) stove works fantastic too. It's easy and simple to work with. It's great for cooking indoor.(do ventilate!)

I prefer the white/unleaded type because they are just bombproof, especially the SVEA123. It's a wonder of simplicity, and is alsmost unbreakable.

CZ
 
First, How often do you think you will be using it?
Then how long do you expect to need it in an emergency? What are you planning for, 1, 2, 3, weeks ? If that is your expectation then I would suggest a canister stove. Granted you will need cannisters to use the stove but you will also have a simple stove for anyone to use and no liquid fuel to store or spill. One large canister will easily last for a 5 day backpack trip so allow 2 per week for home use. A large cainster will only cost a couple dollars more than a small 1/2 size canister so just get the big ones. The best deal going now is a coleman peak one canister stove from Wal-Mart for $19.99. Yes you can buy lighter stoves for more money but this one is fairly light, cheap, and it works well.
Also for any stove you will need a wind screen, they will help keep the canister warm in cold weather, save fuel, and help to heat the pot faster. Be careful not to over heat your canister tho, they can go boom if they get to hot so don't fully enclose the stove with a windscreen.
 
I have
Meth: Optimus Tor 91, Swedish army Trangia, Old swedish camping kitchen
Propane: Primus Techno Trail
Tabs: Tommy cooker, Esbit camping cooker
Wood: Kelly kettle clone
MRE: some heaters and stuff.

So i guess I will survive for a month on just the propane.
 
Preacher Man said:
I'm thinking of getting a 1 burner stove for emergencies to use at home, and maybe while camping. When camping, I usually cook on an open fire, but it would be nice to have a back up. What I'm not sure about is fuel.

I'm considering either a propane stove or a dual fuel stove (white gas / unleaded gasoline). I'm leaning toward the latter because of the easy accessibility of fuel in / during an emergency.

I don't want to spend more than necessary. I'm not looking for a light backpacking stove, but I wouldn’t want something so big or heavy as to make it impractical as a backup camping cooking method. It has to be reliable and easy to maintain. Right now I'm considering the Coleman 533A700G Dual Fuel Stove. I've seen some good reviews and it’s not expensive. Part of my problem is that I don't know enough about the pros and cons of each fuel, nor am I knowledgeable on what's out there on this kind of equipment.

Ideas, opinions, recommendations?
Click to expand...

I've been using a 2-burner Coleman dual fuel stove. It's been used both at home during power outages and on larger camping trips (Scouts, extended family trips, etc.). Keep a few 1/2 gallon containers of Coleman fuel on hand and it will be more than enough for a couple of weeks. The two burner is great for family cooking, and having the option to use unleaded gas just gives you a more options in the fuel department. The single burners are great for backpacking but unless you are stocking just freeze-dried (instant/add water) meals, a two-burner gives you a lot more flexibility.

I like nodh's idea of having a few more options such as a wood burning Kelly Kettle and even a few MRE's with their integrated meal heating options.

ROCK6
 
For home use I use a 2 burner coleman propane with an adapter to use 20 LB bottles. My BOB, which is pretty much my edc, has a trangia packed into a MSR stowaway pot with pot stand and windshield. I really like the alcochol stoves because when I deploy or I am in the midle of BFE I can usually always find alcohol, even if it is just rubbing alcohol. IMO the trangias with the simmer ring do a fine job and are as bulletproof as it gets. Chris
 
My favorite is a MSR Dragonfly. its small enough to backpack with but large enough to support large heavy pans. Fully adjustable flame level, and will run on just about any flammable liquid (important if you may be scrounging fuel). Also excellent instructions that show how to disassemble the stove down to every part, and available parts kits to cover any normal wear items.
 
I have a Coleman white gas stove that I use have for emergencies at home. It also goes on some picnics and car camping trips. I'd get the dual fuel version now if I was buying today.

The small gas outdoor grills work well for emergencies also. I use them frequently for general grilling at home and on picnics. It is my first choice for grilling. The Coleman stove is more flexible.
 
runningboar said:
For home use I use a 2 burner coleman propane with an adapter to use 20 LB bottles. My BOB, which is pretty much my edc, has a trangia packed into a MSR stowaway pot with pot stand and windshield. Chris
Click to expand...

I use something similar. A large briefcase style coleman propane at home, for car camping, or when I need to cook for multiple folks at picnics ect., and an older MSR whisperlight that I take during backpacking. The whisperlights and other multi-fuel backpacking stoves are great for their size and versatility of fuels (although I've always used white gas in mine). They do take more set up time and maintenance though and only have one burner that isn't nearly as stable as the boxy colemans. I.e. you balance your pot on the little stoves.
 
I don't do a lot of camping, however being one who choses to prepare (OWCTP) ;) I have always had an emergency stove (or 2) on hand for the home. Originally I had a Coleman white gas stove, but I worried about the shealf life of the white gas fuel. Then I moved to a Coleman dual fuel, but again the issue of fuel shelf life disturbed me. I have come to believe that a propane stove is optimal for home emergency use because propane storage life is unlimited...or better said is limited only by the life of the propane storage tank (something like 12 to 18 years I believe). So I purchased a Brinkman stainless 2 burner stove at Home Depot ($39.00 on sale) and I have three (3) 20-pound propane tanks on the standby. I also purchased an adapter hose that allows the stove to be fueled by the bulk tanks. :thumbup:
 
My suggestion is one of each. I would get a propane stove, and a large tank and adapter for it. A few small tanks for travel. Also a small dual fuel stove as well. I don't think gasoline will be as prevelent in an emergency as you think. We had gas shortages here in the NE after Katrina, and we're thousands of miles away. I think our gasoline/fuel infrastructure is the most vulnerable to interuption of all our services, and it seems to be the one we always count on to be there. No power I can deal with, no heat will kill you in some places.
 
For home back up use I think propane is the way to go, for the same reasons already posted by others: safe long term fuel storage, no spills to worry about, clean burning, easy for everyone to use.

A couple 20lb. propane tanks will go a long way, store indefinitely, and there are adapters available that will allow you to re-fill the small 1 lb. bottles for your lantern or if you want to be mobile once in a while.
 
Since this is to be a not-often-used spare or backup method of cooking, have you considered eliminating manufactured fuels altogether?

How about simply making a hobo stove from a gallon tin can. Or for a cheap price you could get one of these fold-out firepans that use the same convection principle as the hobo stoves.

If money is no consideration, for around the same $$ as the multi-fuel stoves, you could get the battery-powered Sierra Stove that uses forced-air combustion.

With these various stoves, you can burn whatever is handy.
 
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