Tiny stoves

[UrbanDesert1812]

For a nice, relatively compact, and self-contained stove: Jetboil, hands down. Boil time is fast, it's well made and user friendly, and there are a host of Jetboil accessories available for it (companion cups, larger cups, pots, frying pans, utensils, etc). I love my Jetboil and it's my go-to stove...if my cooking only requires boiling water.

While the Jetboil frying pan is awesome in theory, the Jetboil is like an afterburner which creates a hot spot in the center of the pan. This makes a mess of eggs. I've unsuccessfully tried making adjustments, but the Jetboil was really designed to boil water. It'll burn milk too lol.

Another great canister stove is the Snowpeak Giga Power Stove, which has many aftermarket option for nesting cups/pots, like GSI products.

I'm probably going to start looking into multi-fuel liquid stoves for times where I want to do some actual cooking as opposed to dehydrated meals. Strongly considering MSR's offerings...

 

[HillbillyfromAL]

Hmm I never thought about using Multi fuel because of the hassle. I could carry some white gas and dump that in the bike in a pinch. Back to the Internet. I really only want to buy one stove. Are the white gas stoves much hassle?

I have several MSR Whisperlite Internationals. They are what I consider my go to stove, and even have them for the boys when they get older. If you want one stove to suit everything get the universal edition, it'll run canisters too. Liquid fuel stoves have to be primed but once you figure that out they are easy. Don't go out buying priming paste though if you wind up going with a liquid stove and want some pointers let me know.

 

[NothingClever]

I wouldn't discount the array of alcohol stoves out there from storebought to cottage industry solutions.

 

[Driver-Navigator]

I have many friends that swear by their Jetboils, but personally I too love the MSR Pocket Rocket. It's cheap, simple, light, and durable. It also boils water fast. You can fit a small Bic lighter and a packet of aluminum foil (for use as a windscreen) inside the small plastic container. I use it on backpacking trips, sometimes on long hikes, and on drives where I don't want/need my full Coleman 2-burner stove. It's so small I even bring it as a backup to the Coleman stove, because it takes up virtually no room.

 

[Christophe Noel]

The smallest actual stove is the Optimus Crux. It's so small, it fits in the concave hollow of an isobutane/propane canister. Or, as my sales rep has proven, it fits in his mouth. Ya, weird demonstration, that one. One of my favorite tiny combos is an Optimus Crux, an MSR 100 gram fuel canister and then I slip it all inside an MSR Titan Tea Kettle. That system is about as compact as you'll ever get. However, you can reduce the diameter of that system if you use the Crus stove, a 100 gram Jetboil canister and then fit that into a GSI Halulite Minimalist cup/pot thingy. That works out to be about the size of a can of soup.

However, the new Jetboil Solo Titanium now rivals the smallest and lightest of these systems. I've been using the Sol Ti for about a year now. Once again, Jetboil killed it. It's only 8oz, boils .75 liter in about 90 seconds, and with the fuel and stove in the pot, is pretty damn small. MOST IMPORTANTLY: This is the only Jetboil stove (Sol and Sol Ti) to include a pressure regulator. In fact, it's one of only a couple such stoves to have a regulator. This permits the stove to burn the last bits of fuel with more efficiency. It also improves burn efficiency in colder temps. The Jetboil Zip, Flash and Sumo do not have a pressure regulator. It does make a difference.

MSR has a new Micro Rocket that's pretty sweet, but I still think the Jetboil Sol Ti is the ultimate uber light system. If the price is hard to swallow, they do make the Sol in a less expensive aluminum version.

The only other thing I'd put on the table is the newer, lighter MSR Reactor stoves which will be available in January. Not as light as the Jetboil Sol Ti, but extremely efficient, ad I might say a tad beefier in construction.

 

[bluejeep]

'The Source' (ie - Master Sheppard - VDEG) is fairly complimentary on the Coleman Peak 1-Apex 11. That is if you've the space and want something that simmers down nicely. It's a multi-fuel. Used on Ebay sometimes go for more than what new used to cost.

 

[Stumpalump]

I have one of these and love it!
http://www.rei.com/product/785338/soto-od-1r-micro-regulator-stove

It has always worked flawlessly! I have used it the most on Ski trips. So it works great at elevation. In fact I never even use my MSR whisperlite any more. Nice thing is depending on your pots and pan set-up you can put it and a small bottle of fuel inside the pots to maximize space.

I headed to REI today to buy a Jetboil and at least look over the other stoves. Jetboil is Made in China. We all have China stuff but the build quality on the working parts like the valve looked like typical China stuff. The aluminum threads that screew onto the bottle really looked like a problem down the road. Next up was MSR and Snow Peak. Korea and Tiawan. They looked better but then about that time an experienced REI rep stopped by and also sugested the SOTO OD-1R like Sawyer did. He said he liked the flame the best for its adjustability and size and said it had the best igniter. Made in Japan and probably why it's made more like a watch than a camp stove. It just boiled a cup and it should do what I need it too. Fwiw I picked up a Snow Peak titanium coffee mug that won't burn your lips and a Snow Peak fuel canister. Once again under close inspection they were a little nicer and also came from Japan. Funny that their stoves did not but my experience with Japanese products has been better often enough to buy the SOTO.
Thanks a lot for all the replies!

 

[mandingo]

Another option to consider. http://huckberry.com/brands/448

 

[Hill Bill E.]

Anyone use any of the stoves from 'Primus'?

I just won a 40% certificate for anything from them. Look like decent stoves and lanterns.

 

[HillbillyfromAL]

The Primus Omnifuel is a good multi fuel stove but its big and it uses a proprietary fuel can. It simmers easily and is all metal with a leather pump cup. I had one but I sold it because it was just too bulky.

 

[AeroNautiCal]

The only thing better than the JetBoil PCS is the JetBoil Sol Ti... I love it, but I also love my other stoves too!

As your preferences may differ, perhaps consider looking at some owner's long term reviews, here, here, and here.

A stove that uses the same fuel as your motorcycle may be of interest, as may the superb Backcountry Boiler, here.

 

[AA1PR]

For multifuel use I highly recommend a MSR Whisperlite internationale

for the small compact I say the MSR pocketrocket

I dont prefer titanium cookware, you really have to watch it more carefully

the jetboils are ok & all but are really meant to be used with dehydrated foods that you add some water too & cook in a few minutes for example

go with stainless steel it may be a bit more weight but the added ruggedness it far outweighs that

 

[INSAYN]

When I was researching small stoves for my kayaking trip, I ran across Tinny from Minibulldesign.com's youtube channel.
He makes some really small, lightweight alcohol stoves.
https://www.minibulldesign.com/productcart/pc/home.asp

His Youtube channel.
Be sure to check out his baking videos, he totally has baking in a pot down pat.

http://www.youtube.com/user/minibulldesign

 

[Stumpalump]

I was all set on a multifuel stove for the gasoline option and even considered alcohol because of the weight. Thanks to this thread somebody asked the stupid question on what I was going to use it for. I thought about it and realized that on the slow cold mornings I like to make 3 cups or more of weak instant coffee. I drink 1/3 real and 2/3 decaf so it takes 3 to get a cup. The ease and fast use of butane will make that a little easier. I can see why some wind up with a few different stoves.

 

[Surfy]

Here is an option that has not been mentioned. A small woodstove that runs on twigs. It cooks well and is really compact.
http://www.emberlit.com/

That one is really cute!

I have too to find a solution for cooking for an 2 month overlanding trip - and using the cooker 2 times a day.

We will cross africa - and we dont know, if we can restock coal, or if we everytime will find wood for fire. And too it may be to dangerous to light a fire in some areas, because the smoke is visible.

So we had planned to take a 5l gas bottle and a gas grill / cooker. But where could we store the bottle? Inside of the car looks dangerous. A rearbox we had planned - but had to cancel that plan - too expensiv just for a kittchen rearbox.

What do you suggest for this szenario? Use something like this:



because the transport of the small gas portions isnt that dangerous?

That multifuel burners or fuel burner cause problems on the long run (many long term africa travelers report their problems in their blogs) - and the handling seems too not that easy.

Thanks a lot for any suggestion!

Surfy