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Portable camping stove

slag

slag

Lifer
While camping out, I have a need to quickly boil a liter or more of water to make coffee in the mornings. I am looking for a stove that will accomplish this and not have the potential to leak fuel all over the place. I'm a complete noob and am not sure what I should be looking at. Ideally, it should also have enough space for me to use a small pot to heat some ramen/soup/or something similar, but not at the same time. It must collapse down into a small lightweight package to be put in my backpack.

Some places don't want fires built, but if I could do this quickly and inconspicously, I would be all for it.

What stove would best fit the bill and is regarded as the industry best for this? Price is a concern as well.
 
PixelSquish said:
I can vouch for the JetBoil system. It's backpacker light and boils water in a jiffy.
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IronWing said:
JetBoil is very good. If my circa 1965 Svea 123s ever give up the ghost, I'd probably get a JetBoil.
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Wuzup101 said:
JetBoil... definitely... you can even get a french press attachment for a few bucks....
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Guess I don't need to re-iterate the jet-boil. I've gotten a ton of use out of mine.

There are certainly cheaper, and similar offerings, but I haven't seen one that is nearly as efficient and well put together.

This is the one I have:

https://www.amazon.com/Jetboil-Sol-Advanced-Cooking-System/dp/B004RA2EDU

I use this (clipped onto a snow peak mug) for coffee:

https://www.amazon.com/GSI-Outdoors-Ultralight-Java-Drip/dp/B001LF3ICU/
 
lxskllr said:
I have a Coleman that burns unleaded fuel. I like it because it doesn't require proprietary fuel. Dunno if they still make them. Probably not cause it was too awesome to remain on the market.

edit:
turns out they do...

https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Guid...01&sr=1-1&keywords=backpacking+stove+unleaded
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I love Coleman stuff. It lasts forever and you never need to worry about finding suitable fuel or compatible cartridges. That said they aren't the smallest or lightest things for hiking.
 
IronWing said:
JetBoil is very good. If my circa 1965 Svea 123s ever give up the ghost, I'd probably get a JetBoil.
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Holy Hell. I still have my Svea 123 from circa 1973 and a Sigg Tourist cookset that I got afterward. Awesome little stove. Loved priming it, and if you timed it just right, you could light the burner from the last dying flame from the fuel you poured in the cup rather than lighting the fumes it spewed and creating a fireball. I'll bet those things burned down more nylon tents than could be counted.

The Svea was replaced with a Coleman Peak 1 in the 1980s.

For the last 20 years, though, it's been the MSR Whisperlite. I also have a great little MSR Alpine stainless steel cookset for it.

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The Jetboil sure isn't cheap. I have no experience with it, but maybe the MSR Pocket Rocket or another of the MSR canister stoves would be a more economical choice.

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Carson Dyle said:
Holy Hell. I still have my Svea 123 from circa 1973 and a Sigg Tourist cookset that I got afterward. Awesome little stove. Loved priming it, and if you timed it just right, you could light the burner from the last dying flame from the fuel you poured in the cup rather than lighting the fumes it spewed and creating a fireball. I'll bet those things burned down more nylon tents than could be counted.

The Svea was replaced with a Coleman Peak1 stove in the 1980s.
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My method of lighting the Svea is to open the valve, dump fuel on it, and throw a match at it. Never had a problem. The Peak 1 was another story. We nearly burned down the Black Hills with one when the filler cap failed under pressure, spraying burning fuel all over the place. One of my backpacking buddies kicked the stove onto the bare trail where it could burn itself out.
 
Whisperlite for me. I'm a fan of liquid fueled stoves for the reason that they are versatile. Some stoves can burn gasoline, alcohol etc...practically any liquid fuel. So you don't need a proprietary gas cylinder. I like the whisperlite since the stand is a bit more sturdy than a jetboil. I've put a cast iron pan on mine, perfect for breakfast.

Another reason I like liquid fuelnis because it does not suffer from decreased performance in cold weather. Gas pressure drops in propane/isobutane fueled stoves in winter setting but liquid doesn't.

You do have to pump the valve assembly a few times to maintain gas pressure in the fuel reservoir. There is also a learning curve regarding heat output and the position of the control knob.

If you don't do winter hiking or venture far off the beaten path where finding gas cylinders would be difficult, then you might not need a liquid fueled stove. You therefore might appreciate tje convenience in a gas fueled stove like a jet boil.
 
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A bunson burner, and one of those chemistry stands and a boiling flask. That would be kinda fun to use camping actually... "I'm getting hungry, wanna cook?"


On serious note, a small coleman stove and camping kettle would work. Just uses propane. You can even get an adaptor to use a BBQ propane tank, so you're not relying on consumables. Though stick with the small tanks for better portability.
 
NuclearNed said:
a friend of mine convinced me to buy this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Etekcity-Ult...=1466023774&sr=1-1&keywords=backpacking+stove

For $10, it's worked like a champ for several years, and only weighs about 3oz (not counting the fuel)

Another friend has a JetBoil, and frankly I'm jealous. It cost a whole lot more, but is an awesome stove, even at high altitude.
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I posted this question yesterday and went home. Last night, forgetting I had posted this, I googled a few sites and found this was their highest recommended one at a low price point and placed my order. Also picked up the coleman stainless steel cook set. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005188T90/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thanks all!

I don't camp at high altitudes and wanted something in the $10-$15 range so this fit the bill perfectly.
 
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