10 Things That Your Family Teach You About Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves

Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves

Summary: These simple and lightweight stoves burn wood, hexamine tablets, white fuel and gas canisters through only one nozzle. They're popular in colder weather but they're loud and don't have a simmer control.

Some multi-fuel stoves can burn various types of liquid fuel. The MSR WhisperLite Universal, for instance, can burn both white and isobutane canisters of fuel.

Optimus Nova

The Optimus Nova is a multi-fuel stove that can be used with a variety of liquid fuels. It comes with a quick-priming stove and an aluminum pump that self-purges and a precise control of the simmer. Its low center of gravity and wide spreading legs make it a sturdy stove that can be used on hard ground. This makes it a great stove for group base camps, kayaking, and arctic camp.

The Optimus Nova is different from other stoves with liquid fuel that are plagued by unburned fuel lingering in the fuel line or nozzle. This can be fixed by flipping over the bottle. The intake hose is then removed from the fuel, causing it to suck air that extinguishes the flame. It also depressurizes the bottle.

This is an ingenious solution for an age-old issue and it's a good one. The Nova can be used with a range of standard fuel bottles that seal using an o-ring, such as MSR bottles. It comes with stove bags that include pockets for spares, tools as well as lubricant and the fuel pump.

This is an excellent all-round backpacking stove that is suitable for use in the UK especially for long-distance trips where a wide choice of fuels is necessary. The price is reasonable when compared to canister stoves that have similar capabilities. Furthermore, the Optimus Nova is easy to maintain and enjoyable to use.

Kovea Hydra

Since 2010 since 2010, the Kovea cast iron multi fuel stove Fuel Stove has been a favorite among backpackers. A few UK backpackers seem to give the stove much attention these days maybe because they've gotten caught up with better known brands or whatever the most recent lightweight stove from China or Korea is but that doesn't mean that the Hydra does not have its merits.

It's a relatively compact and light stove, Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves that can burn all liquid fuels including white gas and propane butane with one nozzle. It has a fairly typical stove design, with a burner bell bolted to the body, which is then anchored by three support legs that fold out. A pump sits on the top of the fuel hose and the generator loop is positioned around the inlet, and the flame spreader is up above that. The burner itself is a low velocity flame which helps it to be less impacted by winds.

It is a nice feature that it can also be used with a canister of isobutane or propane, which makes it a versatile small cooker. It's simple to simmer with propane or isobutane and burns all fuel types at a decent level but is slower than other stoves when you use white gas.

The instructions for the Hydra are written in English but they were clearly not written by native English speakers. The instructions caution against the use of certain types of lighter fluid, which if mistaken for what is intended could cause an accident that could land Kovea in lots of legal hot water. That said, any 7/16ths UNEF threaded gas canister made by a trusted brand will work fine.

Primus OmniLite Ti

The Primus Omnilite Ti is a great option for those looking for a multifuel stove that can cook with a variety of fuels. It can be used with gas, petrol/gasoline or diesel, kerosene and aviation fuel. It has separate controls for every fuel type and allows you to adjust the flame size. This stove also has an fuel line that is flat on the ground and is easily connected to the tank.

While the Primus Omnilite is a fantastic stove, it does require maintenance in order to ensure it is operating properly. It could be dangerous as it gets flaming when priming. This is a problem that occurs with all liquid fuel stoves which use a second spindle throttle at the stove's end to vaporize fuel, instead of a generator coil.

It is also important to know that each fuel type needs an individual jet. This means that if cooking using kerosene, the jet hole must be smaller than when using gas. It's a minor inconvenience however it's something to be aware of.

MSR Whisper Lite

The MSR Whisper Lite is one of the lightest, smallest and most affordable multi fuel stoves. It is also easy to repair in the field. It can be used with canister fuel or liquid gas and comes with attachments for each. The new model is 10% lighter than its predecessor, and the burner has been revamped for improved heat distribution. It's perfect for beginners or backpackers with a budget.

The whistler Lite takes a little time to set up and prime, then boil water, but it is a reliable stove that won't let you down. The flame is strong and can easily boil one liter of water within two minutes. The only downside is that it does not simmer like other stoves.

MSR created the Dragonfly to be a better burner. It has a similar design to the whistler but is more compact and provides superior performance. However, it's not as cheap as the whistler Lite. The Soto Amicus stove and cookset is a great alternative that offers the same set-up for half the price. It is also possible to purchase Whisperlite International or Universal for isobutane containers as well. The same design is used for both but the Universal version can also be used with canister fuel in addition.

Coleman Sportster II

Like many Coleman stoves, this is a basic model that is rough and ready that just gets the job done. It's strong, compact and self-contained with the tank on the bottom and the burner up the top. This makes it easy to use and is a great option for backpackers, beginners looking to reduce weight and those who have spares in the van.

This stove is designed to burn Coleman's exclusive fuel (naptha also known as "white gas") but it can be used with non-leaded gas as well. This option can save you money since one gallon of gasoline could last as long as the standard Coleman liquid fuel cylinder.

Liquid fuel stoves have a learning curve as you'll need to properly pressurize and prime them before you can get a nice blue flame. If you get it wrong your fuel may spill out, splash beyond the burner or splash out. Practice outside before taking it on your next trip to learn how to do it.

The stove will sacrifice some performance or flame odor efficiency with non-coleman fuels however that's a trade off for the additional versatility it offers. Make sure you purchase unleaded gas, and not one that is augmented with alcohol or Methanol. These types of fuel can cause the unit's performance to degrade and even explode.

ATG Jiko

The ATG Jiko multi fuel wood burning stoves Fuel Stove from South Africa is an ultralight multifuel that's been designed for harsh environments like Africa. It's a compact and reliable all in one system that burns alcohol, solid fuel tabs and also gels through only one nozzle. It's an ultralight minimalist design that is priced less than other multifuel stoves. It also comes with low cost of ownership with fuel being cheaper per liter than gas canisters.

Other multifuel stoves feature a separate nozzle for each type of fuel. This makes them a little fiddly to change over in cold weather or using gloves, and adds to their weight. Multifuel stoves of the latest type utilize a single nozzle to burn multiple fuels, which makes it easier. These stoves are called hybrids or multifuel compressed fuel stoves. They are also known by other names such as isobutane, white gas, kerosene and unleaded gasoline/car fuel.

A multifuel stove kit is available to convert your Trangia burners into multifuel cookers. They are sold in camping stores that specialize in outdoor equipment and can be bought internationally. They are a good option for Trangia fans. They're capable of burning all liquid fuels, with the exception of diesel. If equipped with the right accessories can even cook.