I was just reading an article on Thru-Hiker about the weight savings of certain stoves over a period of time.

http://www.thru-hiker.com/articles.asp?subcat=2&cid=57

This thread is not to find out which stove is most efficient, lightest, etc. I am just wondering what people use in different situations (winter (cold), rain, mild, etc) Trying to get an idea of what works for different people in different climates, altitudes, etc.

I do mostly three-season hikes.

I used to use canister stove exclusively (MSR PocketRocket, Snow Peak Gigapower), but now use alcohol stove more and more -- especially on shorter trips.

I have several, but actually use my JetBoil much more frequently than the rest (liquid fueled). I give up the few ounces and go for the ease of use, and I use the coffee press often, too. Admittedly I've never gotten into the ultra lightweight alcohol stoves...yet.

John H.,
Is that avatar a picture of you? I'm curious because I would like to know what that shelter is that you are kneeling next to. It looks like a poncho, but if so it is very, very well pitched.

I would venture to say its a TT Contrail.

As for the stove. I do mostly shorter trips and find that at the end of higher mileage days I don't feel like cooking. I try to bring simple no-cook food on those.
When I do cook I like to use my tealight alcohol stove. I have used an MSR Pocket Rocket in the past but love the weight of the tealight. If I decide at the end of the day that I don't feel like boiling water its not too big of a deal since my cookset weighs around 3 oz (I'm at work now so I can't give you an exact weight :)).

Adam

Yes, that's the Contrail in a slightly different configuration. I kept the front extensions in just a bit more than normal, then ran a tensioned line from the end of the beak. Entrance is from the front left side after loosening the velcro. It happens that I was trying the TheraBand tensioners on the side/center points when this photo was taken. I just love to try out different pitches with the Contrail.

So far I'm a 3 season backpacker only (mostly in MN). I've used a homemade RedBull alcohol stove exclusively for every trip in the last 2+ years.

Edited by mn-backpacker on 05/18/2007 13:26:45 MDT.

I have to admit, the convenience of canister stoves beats out the weight savings of alcohol or esbit for me. After just a few incidents of extended fiddling with other options under less-than-ideal conditions, I went back to my SP Giga. The 5 ounce weight savings (factoring in fuel of 3 ounces of alcohol and a full 110g canister) just doesn't do it for me. At the end of a long day, I'd rather have the easy option of twisting on the burner and striking a match. Most of the time, I don't even use a windscreen.

I. too, like the convenience of a canister stove, so I usually use my snow peak giga.

I mostly stay out for 2 and 3 nights. For the last 3 years I have been using a Pocket Rocket in both normal upright setup and in cold temperatures my home modified liquid feed configuration. Earlier this year my walking partner came back from a family visit to the States with a 1.5l pot JetBoil stove.

I have been very impressed by how fast and easily the JetBoil has been to setup and use, how fast it boiled water even in cool windy conditions and how nice it was to use while cooking our gourmet rice and pasta meals, and I found that in our last walk it was used as the first choice stove but I will say that I do not have to carry this stove.


Tony

I use an Anti-Gravity Gear stove now for all 3-season trips. I find it every bit as convenient as my MSR Super Fly. I just fill with fuel until the scribed line inside the stove, light, measure out the water by this time it's ready to go so I place the pot on the stove and forget about it until I hear it boiling just a couple minutes later. Very simple, no fuss and the weight savings.

SGT Rock's Ion Stove. Light. Efficient. Compact. Titanium pot stand. Cool.

If canister:
My Primus, it is very simple canister stove with little to break. I have been using it for 4+ years now. Compare it to say, a Pocket Rocket for size/weight.

Alcohol stoves:
I have both an AGG and a White Box. Love them both!

If somebody else is willing to carrying the stove then I just carry an extra bottle or canister of fuel. For myself, in three-season I prefer my homemade Pepsi-G alcohol stove. For winter, I'm still stuck deciding between the JetBoil (15.1 oz; not so good below +15F), Coleman Xtreme (12.4 oz; requires a cooking platform), or my faithful Svea/Optimus 123 (18.6 oz; compact).

Really varies by the trip but here's my standard go-to stoves:

SUL solo- either a MiniBull Designs alcohol stove or a BPL esbit stove (or nothing if I'm really pushing it)

2 person backpack- AntiGravityGear alcohol stove

family or group backpack- Primus Alpine Titium canister stove (no longer made)

All winter/mountaineering trips- no question here- Coleman Extreme.

F1 Ultralight for normal three-season conditions. Xtreme for colder weather.

light solo overnight=myog esbit holder with (Jhaura inspired) windcreen/potholder

two person multiday=myog wood gasifier stove plus above stove

car camping, fourth season=MSR Whisperlite International
with MSR titanium spoon with stove wrench cut out of handle

Of course it's high time I tried an alcohol stove. The Whisperlight was purchased for cheap at Seattle REI's bargin basement. I love the wood gasifier, made from a tin can, roof flashing, and wire and have used it 2 1/2 weeks straight. My husband finds it fiddlesome and more work than the Whisperlight but it charmed me.

Edited by lollygag on 05/18/2007 21:56:26 MDT.

From March-October (and in the SoCal high desert, in the winter): Esbit, first the original model, then the wing stove, now the bottom of a coke can to hold the tab and a carefully calculated pot stand make out of some metal mesh something or other. It's been great for me over the last 5,000+ miles and I am sure it will do me well this summer for 2,500-3,000 more miles.

I love seeing how much fuel (in tab form) I have left, it makes me not stress about it. I also love how if I need to make a fire with wet wood, I can use it to start the fire and it drys out the kindling so I can get enough heat/warmth generated (I am talking about responsible fire building here)to dry out more wood and keep it going. I've had to do this on occasion for me and/or other hikers who really need to get warm but were very, very wet.
NITRO

Edited by Anitraten on 05/18/2007 23:14:36 MDT.

Mostly I use my 1.5 oz alcohol stove/aluminum cup/foil lid/windscreen setup (I posted pics of it on one of the other threads).

Sometimes I use the Snow Peak GigaPower Ti canister stove.

On kayaking trips I'll carry my white gas setup, a Brunton Optimus with kerosene for fuel.

Canoe trips, and sometimes backpacking jaunts of 5-7 days with 2 people without resupply, in mild weather: canister - just because I have lots of canisters left over from that stage of development.

Backpacking, 2 people, up to 7 days, through winter: alcohol stove, Fuzzy's Little Stove or home-made White Box. Alcohol seems to work better than most vapor-feed canister stoves in cold weather. I have no experience with liquid-feed canister stoves. Reviews on this site indicate they might be more weight-efficient than alcohol in cold weather.

Backpacking: solo, all conditions, especially for long distance, resupplying along the way: Esbit with alcohol option in case of difficult resupply. Esbit is safer than alcohol and lighter than alcohol or anything else. Stinks, though.