Stove Advice

[ATX-Hiker]

I accidentally posted this earlier in the Gear Review Forum. :eek:

I'm trying to decide on a new stove and I was looking for input. I'm wanting a liquid multi fuel stove (white gas, unleaded, kerosene). No alcohol for me, except some good whiskey. I've read about the plastic pumps on the MSR's breaking, so I'm thinking against one of those. Also I've read about people complaining about the noise, my old pocket rocket, RIP, was pretty loud. I've been looking at the Bruntons, Primus, and Optimus models.

So the I guess it boils down to what's a good multi fuel stove that is...

1. solid
2. not too loud
3. and not too heavy, I know the alcohol are the lightest.

Thanks in advance everybody.

[Yukon]

I have the MSR Whisperlite International, no problems with the pump as of yet, and I don't understand how you could break it, you'd have to really use it incorrectly or something? Anyway, I love the stove and won't change untill I have a good reason too. I love the versatility of being able to use different fuels.

[jersey joe]

I'm a big fan of the MSR Whisperlite International too. Though, i've only used white gas with it so i'm not sure how useful the "international" part is for me.

[_terrapin_]

MSR Whisperlite, 1988 vintage, still working fine. I have a Simmerlite as well, but relatively new and unused.

If the stove is left unused for a long while, the pump gasket can dry out. It disassembles by hand. The gasket in question is made of leather. All it took to revive it was a few drops of oil.

[Peaks]

MSR changed their pump design a few years ago, so that may have fixed the pump failure problem.

[Tipi Walter]

I just greased my pump cup today, about 2 hours ago. Been using the thing for years and haven't broken it yet. Sometimes ya gotta ream out the long tube with a gasoline flush, but not all the time.:)

[Ranc0r]

Primus and Optimus are the same company now.

I have a Coleman Peak-1 dual-fuel from 10 years ago or so. 22 oz with a full tank, no priming required, lights every time, any weather. I've used white gas and I used unleaded in it once, but it worked fine.

I also have the Primus MF. Much lighter, but you have the fuel bottle/pump to factor in. I think I had it at 20 oz. with bottle/pump. You also have to prime it, and you have to swap out fuel nozzles (tool is included) to change fuels. I've used Primus isobutane and white gas so far. OK, with isobutane mix, you do NOT have to prime. Haven't tried it with unleaded, but that's a third nozzle jet to tote around.

The Primus is louder than the Peak-1. YMMV.

Ranc0r
.

[BigBlue]

I gotta join the MSR Whisperlite International chorus.
I've had mine a long time and used it a lot and never had a problem with it, pretty indestructible.