nm

Edited by stephenm on 04/16/2013 13:44:04 MDT.

I dig my windpro.

-7oz
MSR quality

I haven't gotten my hands on one yet but the new Optimus Vega should be a great stove. I have a Windpro but this should be better.

Optimus quality > MSR quality IMHO

nm

Edited by stephenm on 04/16/2013 13:48:12 MDT.

very happy w/ my windpro for shoulder season use (use a lighter canister stove or wood for "summer")- the new windpro allows easy inverting

nm

Edited by stephenm on 04/16/2013 13:47:06 MDT.

+1 on the Windpro II (the new one). I like how easy it is to invert canister. Haven't tried the Optimus, but I'm happy with my MSR.

nm

Edited by stephenm on 04/16/2013 13:46:36 MDT.

FWIW, I think you would be hard pressed to find anything lighter weight or cheaper than the KOVEA NEW SPIDER STOVE KB-1109 being sold on eBay for ~US$60.

I've not used one but have been looking at the Fire-Maple FMS-118 - I'm curious if the Soto windscreen - or a modified version would fit the head - that little windscreen is incredibly effective. Add a heat exchange pot and you're good to go.

http://fire-maple.com/products_del.html?news_id=73&c_id=5&cate_id=8

http://www.backcountrygear.com/soto-micro-windscreen.html

I have two remote canister stoves:

1. MSR Windpro

2. Brunton convertable kit - converts any Lindal valve canister-top stove to a remote canister stove. (Mine is a Brunton Crux)
BUT... It is no longer sold. I hear the Chinese make a version (Maple Fire or some such name).

Don't forget a good windscreen. I prefer MSR's windscreens.

Primus Express Spider hasn't been mentioned yet. 7 oz and can usually be had for $50 or so. Roger C review here: https://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/primus_express_spider_stove_review.html

edit: Sorry Stephen, just noticed it had been mentioned...

Edited by brendans on 01/28/2013 22:20:11 MST.

I used my Primus omnilite on a 2 day trip and was horrified to see it almost call consumed 100gm gas\day melting snow and boiling water two times a day. I will be switching to whitegas and surprised to see you going the other way.

I MYOG'd my Windpro about 6 years ago...inverting the canister by using a Jetboil canister stand with mods. The only change I noticed is that it became very sensitive...small changes in the dial led to disproportionately large changes in flame output. That's ok though...I knew my stove well, and what to expect.

I had to also mod the hose configuration too (nothing big...just a tweak in the way it sits).....awesome.

I use it in conjunction with a Jetboil Ti Group Cooking System pot...with the flux ring heat exchanger...which slots in beautifully into the pot stand of the Windpro.

Anyways, with an MYOG Ti windscreen, it works an absolute treat.

I posted a few weeks ago but the fms-118 doesn't cut it for cold weather use. See my blog post for details:

http://blog.hillmap.com/2013/01/fire-maple-fms-118-sputters-in-cold-vs.html

I would have reservations about the Kovea as well as the preheat system looks similar.

Wind pro II gets my vote.

nm

Edited by stephenm on 04/16/2013 13:45:13 MDT.

Can someone tell me what fuel the Spider uses? Would I have to get their cannister only, or is it compatible with some other cannister?

Ryan wrote:
> I posted a few weeks ago but the fms-118 doesn't cut it for cold weather use.
> I would have reservations about the Kovea as well as the preheat system looks similar.

I don't know what Ryan's problems were, but we suspect a partially blocked jet. Both the FMS-118 and the Kovea Spider work perfectly well on my bench. I would trust both of them in the cold.

Cheers

"I don't know what Ryan's problems were, but we suspect a partially blocked jet"

Aha! More evidence that inverted canister isn't as simple as upright : )

I was in a similar position not long ago and narrowed it down to the MSR Windpro II, the Primus Express Spider, and the Kovea Spider.

I ended up with the Kovea Spider primarily because it seemed to be the most compact and lightest of the bunch. It has worked very well on the few outings I've been on since I got it, with the low temperature being around 10F so far. The biggest downside was waiting two weeks for it to be shipped from Korea, but I've been pleased with my choice.

-David