View Full Version : Which stove
Soon I will be hiking a section of AT. I have an obsession with stoves and now can't decide which to take. Will be hiking with another person so that affects decision.
Optimus Svea, Primus ETA lite, Primus multifuel, MSR Reactor, alcohol and a Coleman Peak 1.
Drives me up the wall with too many choices. Want speed to boil as coffee and rehydrating are primarily what we are doing. I am leaning to the MSR Reactor as capacity and also taking my alcohol stove to make evening tea and lunch coffee
I own 3 of your stoves. I'm leaning toward the Primus MFS with a medium Primus canister for two weeks in Wyoming later this year.
If your Coleman is a Peak 1 Apex I might take it off your hands. LOL!
I'm also tempted to take the SVEA 123.
Wayne
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What alcohol stove do you use?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKAFAsPfC4s
Vargo titanium triad and a knock off tragia style.
Feral Bill
04-30-2017, 11:16
Svea, always and forever. Simple, fast, always works. Also style points.39194
Svea, always and forever. Simple, fast, always works. Also style points.39194
There it is. It's time I do a boil off between old and new stoves.
Wayne
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Old Hiker
04-30-2017, 11:59
Not on the list, but Pocket Rocket.
I did liked my Peak 1 years ago, though.
Feral Bill
04-30-2017, 12:53
There it is. It's time I do a boil off between old and new stoves.
Wayne
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I'll do a controlled test on the Svea sometime soon. I expect it hasn't changed much in the 48 years I've used it.
Only problem with pocket rocket (I do have a version if that) is the whole wind screen. I used it once doing trail magic at Wessers Bald and it took forever to make a pot of coffee for a couple of hikers.
DownEaster
04-30-2017, 15:11
I'm considering taking my Peak 1 multifuel on the AT next year. I can't abide the hazardous waste issue of pressurized fuel cans. The Peak 1 has good flame regulation to let me do actual cooking (pancakes!) and I can even run it on unleaded gasoline if needed. Given how important food is on a through-hike, I'm leaning toward a serious stove as my luxury item.
I'm considering taking my Peak 1 multifuel on the AT next year. I can't abide the hazardous waste issue of pressurized fuel cans. The Peak 1 has good flame regulation to let me do actual cooking (pancakes!) and I can even run it on unleaded gasoline if needed. Given how important food is on a through-hike, I'm leaning toward a serious stove as my luxury item.
Hazardous waste? Fuel cans are recyclable, once you poke a hole in them. I found an ice axe does the trick nicely, once they are empty.
I'll do a controlled test on the Svea sometime soon. I expect it hasn't changed much in the 48 years I've used it.
Mine is a virtual youngster at 43 years old. I bought mine originally with the SIGG Tourist cook set. I wish I had the brass windscreen.
Too many stoves, too few trips.
Wayne
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DownEaster
04-30-2017, 22:56
Hazardous waste? Fuel cans are recyclable, once you poke a hole in them. I found an ice axe does the trick nicely, once they are empty.
I'm not planning to take an ice axe on the AT.
cmoulder
05-01-2017, 07:10
Cooking (or heating water) for two, I'd take a canister stove every time.
Solo, I'd take the Fancee Feest for 3-season.
I'm not planning to take an ice axe on the AT.
https://www.rei.com/product/813638/jetboil-crunchit-recycling-tool
HooKooDooKu
05-01-2017, 10:56
Only problem with pocket rocket (I do have a version if that) is the whole wind screen. I used it once doing trail magic at Wessers Bald and it took forever to make a pot of coffee for a couple of hikers.
Anyone considering the Pocket Rocket, I would suggest spending the extra money on the Snow Peak MaxLite.
When deployed, it's the same size as a Pocket Rocket. But where the Pocket Rocket leaves your pot sitting on three spikes, the MaxLite has three flat arms. It seems to add to the pot's stability. The MaxLite also folds down much smaller, and even weights a tiny bit less.
Of course wind can be a problem, so you want to try to find naturally sheltered spots to cook in, and/or {carefully} use a wind screen {to insure the canister doesn't start to heat up}. Having a wind screen on JUST the windward side of the pot does a pretty good job of cutting down the effects of the wind without putting the canister in much danger.
ggreaves
05-01-2017, 11:03
I own a reactor and it's the fastest stove there is. 2 cups of water close to freezing will boil in about 1:30 (I'm about 600 feet ASL). And it's impervious to wind. And it gets excellent fuel economy because a) it's impervious to wind and b) it's pressure regulated and runs on very low pressure - so gets every last drop of fuel out of the canister at full power. It sucks for simmering and you'll need to Jerry-rig something if you want to use a frying pan with it (contact me if you're interested) but if you need a lot of water boiled, like right now - it's the best stove out there.
HooKooDooKu
05-01-2017, 11:05
https://www.rei.com/product/813638/jetboil-crunchit-recycling-tool
In a pinch... a rock with a pointed tip can handle the situation...
Finished up a JMT thru hike last year. I'm in a hotel in LonePine with plans to catch a bus to the airport early the next morning. Can't take the used canister with me, and don't want to toss it in dumpster until I make sure I've rendered the canister safe. So I burn off all the fuel and then look around the parking lot for a rock with a point to it. Took about a dozen whacks of slamming the side of the canister against the rock on the ground, but eventually I managed to puncture the side of the canister. Had to leave it outside of the hotel room door as I could still smell the fuel. Tossed it in an outside dumpster on my way to the bus stop the next morning.
I used alcohol for years, just to slow for me. I like the canister type, Pocket rocket uses fuel to fast, I use the coleman F1 has some control and is very good on fuel. for you the MSR reactor is most likely your best bet.
Secondmouse
05-01-2017, 13:55
Soon I will be hiking a section of AT. I have an obsession with stoves and now can't decide which to take. Will be hiking with another person so that affects decision.
Optimus Svea, Primus ETA lite, Primus multifuel, MSR Reactor, alcohol and a Coleman Peak 1.
Drives me up the wall with too many choices. Want speed to boil as coffee and rehydrating are primarily what we are doing. I am leaning to the MSR Reactor as capacity and also taking my alcohol stove to make evening tea and lunch coffee
if you are hiking with another person you could take similar fuel stoves so you could supplement/share fuel.
I would choose which type by the how long you are going to be out - if you're going less than 10 days, I would use a canister stove. longer than that, I would look at alcohol.
I wouldn't use a petrol stove like your SVEA or Primus unless it was winter...
Secondmouse
05-01-2017, 14:06
Only problem with pocket rocket (I do have a version if that) is the whole wind screen. I used it once doing trail magic at Wessers Bald and it took forever to make a pot of coffee for a couple of hikers.
I'm off the Pocket Rocket, gave one away but kept one to use in my office with a kettle for afternoon espresso.
I really like the SOTO Amicus. SOTO's build quality is second to none and it has the recessed burner of the Windmaster but is cheaper and has a better folding pot stand system with 4 arms.
I tried 2 of the Snow Peak Litemax and returned them both. I suspect the regulators as one would gradually lose pressure no matter how high I had it turned up and I would have to remove it and let it cool before it would run again. and the second one could not be opened all the way up or the flame would shoot out so hard it would blow itself out...
Massdrop.com has Primus Omni Lite Titanium Stove $119 and Primus ETA Spider $75 !!!!!
Won't find them any cheaper !!!