Let's talk backpacking stoves

[V I Archer]

I know the canister stoves are light and efficient but I prefer the white gas models myself.  I like that I can visually see how much fuel I have and I can top up before heading out.  The canisters just seem wasteful to me.  

My whisper life has brewed a lot of coffee over the years and recently I upgraded to a titanium pot. Only downside is that it does not simmer, full boil or off.

[AkDan]

I havent read a lot of this but I do have some experience with a few of the stoves mentioned, both personally owned or used with buddies on mulitple hunts over the years and have some thoughts to consider.

I own the snowpeak gigapower stove and 2 whisperlight shaker jets. I have used the jet boil and a few other stoves over the years.

So some questions really need to be asked before you can figure out what stove works fits your need, IF one alone does that.

First, temperature, coldest temp you're in period
second, weight, how are you hunting
third, size

I rate  them in this order.

First, a isobutal/propane stove WILL NOT work in extreme cold!!!   My snowpeak has failed in minus digits.  My whisperlite will work and work and work and work...but at a cost, weight, and lastly size. (though I opt for a stainless pot when I use this stove)

For a guy wanting a small stove for say coffee, mt house on the trail or something similar whose not going to experience uber cold ever, the snowpeak or msr version (or the host of copies out there of these two stoves), works well! its something that you can easily carry in a fanny pack, and doubles as a great, light weight option for a serious backpack stove.  Its my go to on non winter hunts.  repeat no serious cold stuff here!  I havent figured out the absolute bottom on temps.  If its a chance I move to my whisperlite.  

For the guy traveling to 3rd world countries, or hunting in extreme conditions and temps, you wont go wrong with a shakerjet ever! I dont care for the new pumps, they have little replaceable parts.   I've broken a few pumps in the past including one this year but they are still useable (the cap busts that holds the plunger in, at almost 40 bucks a pump you'd think the climbing industry would get on msr to fix this issue). The no simmer issue mentioned leaves out some foods, which is a minus in my book!  

size is an issue...where do you plan on keeping it?  are you back packing, floating, truck camping, horses or just day/bivy.   these can and would factor into my stove pick as well.   A whisperlite with enough fuel for 2 weeks IS NOT light!   It is NOT compact with 2 bottles of fuel.  I havent moved up to a large titanium pot for my whisperlites yet, stainless pots are NOT light again, factor in the bottle or two of fuel and you're not in ulta light backpacking.

Ultimatly weight will be a derivitive of the other two factors.   Snowpeak or msr is light compact.  Whiserlite with a large canister IS NOT!  Jet boil is somewhere in between.

The jet boil or msr reactor (which is even faster than a jet boil btw), are nice.  but they are heavier than the snowpeak gigpower or msr pocket rocket and bulkier!  I have a msr reactor on the to buy list but at this point have no need for it.  

I prefer a snowpeak titanium pot (I believe its the 900)...I can fit my snowpeak gigapower stove and a large canister of fuel and be under a pound which is enough for the way I cook for  6 or more days on a backpack hunt.    

Their are other stoves...many other stoves,
which one is right for you is going to be determined by what you're doing, where, and when.

[ozy clint]

short trips- small canister stove like the snow peak giga with titanium pot.

trips over 6-7 days- jetboil. so efficient it ends up being lighter because you need less fuel.

[gringol]

Msr makes a stove that can run of white gas or a canister.  It's basically a fancy whisperlite.  There are a lot of stoves out there, but msr had been making a version of the whisperlite for at least 20 yrs because it works.  A lot of people, probably millions, use it and are happy with it.  As far as I'm concerned they are the industry standard.  Their customer service is good too.  I had a dried out o-ring on a 15yr old stove and they shipped me new rings (which weren't made anymore) for free.  Can't beat that.

[jeb]

Another vote for the Svea 123, very simple design and made of brass.  Mine has never failed to work.  Bought one used at a garage sale for 2 bucks and it included the cook kit as well.

[pitt98]

Jetboil!!

[DarkTimber]

Originally posted by ozy clint:
short trips- small canister stove like the snow peak giga with titanium pot.

trips over 6-7 days- jetboil. so efficient it ends up being lighter because you need less fuel.

Exactly what he said.   If I could only afford one, I'd probably get the jetboil.  But it's not rocket science...it's just boiling water.  Just get one you like,go hunting and tell us the story

[achigan]

AkDan, Thanks for clarifying my post. I've never had to deal with AK type temps. I should have said "colder".