Backpacking Stoves
Reviews of Alcohol, White Gas, Canistered Fuel Camping Stove Models
There are several kinds of backpacking stoves - alcohol, white gas (Coleman fuel), canister fuel. Liquid fuel stoves, are the most popular, and are very reliable.
There are many types of backpacking stoves - alcohol, white gas, Canistered fuel.
Wikipedia has a very good discussion of the different stove types, as does Zen Stoves.
My experience with stoves is limited to burning white gas (coleman fuel) in models designed by MSR. I have an Simmerlite model, which only weighs 8.5 ounces, and an older Whisperlite model. Both stoves work good, but I prefer the Simmerlite , because it weighs less. The only trouble I have had is when the jet sticks. I found it pretty easy to disassemble the stove and unclog the jet with the write in the maintenance kit, while in the field.
I have had some difficulty keeping the stoves burning when it is very cold outside. These problems went away when I began putting my fuel canister in my sleeping bag to warm up for an hour or so before I got up. I backpacked in October, during a snowstorm, January, and now twice in March. My simmerlite stove worked beautifully each time, with my warmed fuel canister.
I found out that Coleman is manufacturing a new backpacking stove that runs on either liquid gas or fuel canisters. The stove should be available in the spring according to Coleman's web site.
An option in the warm months is to leave the stove home entirely and just eat dry food mixes. You save the weight of the fuel and the stove. I have never done this, because I like my warm rice or chili and hot chocolate too much.
There have been some trips where I don't cook in the evening however, while in the Montana backcountry. If you are trying to be inconspicuous to wandering grizzlies, cooking is not a good way to do it. They can smell your dinner for miles with their sensitive noses. I have read that a grizzly has been known to detect a carcass from six miles away.
