petrol camping stoves - pros/cons and best model?

[TigerTiger]

hi there, I'm weighing up what the best thing to do is as regards stoves. Seems to be that the easiest thing to do would be to use a stove that can burn the same fuel that the bike runs on ie unleaded, but I've seen a couple of comments suggesting that the petrol burns in a way that is either dirty (in terms of your food/water tasting of petrol fumes) or bad for your health - is this right? Also if burning petrol isn't such a bad idea, which stove is best? Coleman seems to be a good brand, what makes/models would people recommend?

All thoughts v welcome.

thanks

[TravellingStrom]

Grab a dual or multi fuel stove, these are designed to run off white fuel, but can use unleaded or parrafin(in some cases)

Mine is a Coleman(cant remember the model, let you know when I get the bike out of customs) and I usually just run white fuel, with the option of running unleaded if need be.

If they run ULP then they recommend to use white fuel every other tank, so it cleans the lines out.

There has never been any issue with fuel smell in the food

Cheers
TS

[Alexlebrit]

I've been looking at the latest multi-fuel stove from Coleman which not only burns liquid fuels but will also use gas cartridges. I like the thought I carrying a small gas cartridge for thoseearly mornings when you need a brew and can't bee bothered to pump and prime the petrol stove, plug in a cartridge and have a quick, clean cuppa.

[pbekkerh]

(in terms of your food/water tasting of petrol fumes)

I've run my stove on both unleaded and diesel and there was no bad taste in the food, and believe me, I can taste it if its bad. Ever tried food cooked on yakshit :-(

On unleaded, I had to clean the jet very often but when trying later at home, I didn't have any problems, so maybe I got some dirty petrol, the first time.

Diesel produced a lot of soot on my pots but that was all.

[pare.raviraj]

Hi,
I personally use MSR whisperlite for all my camping. My decision was based on reliability, repair-ability, fuel, cost and availability of fuel in remote parts of the world.
I was biking Africa and Multifuel stove was important. Whisperlite was simple and reliable as long its cleaned once a month and also carried a repair kit with spares.
It works good at high altitudes which was a huge plus for me. On the con side, it doesn't have a fine simmer control and makes a "whoosh" sound when being used. In the lonely desert camp it sounded quite loud, but in urban areas i hardly noticed it.
my 2 cents,
Ravi.

Originally Posted by TigerTiger

hi there, I'm weighing up what the best thing to do is as regards stoves. Seems to be that the easiest thing to do would be to use a stove that can burn the same fuel that the bike runs on ie unleaded, but I've seen a couple of comments suggesting that the petrol burns in a way that is either dirty (in terms of your food/water tasting of petrol fumes) or bad for your health - is this right? Also if burning petrol isn't such a bad idea, which stove is best? Coleman seems to be a good brand, what makes/models would people recommend?

All thoughts v welcome.

thanks

[tmotten]

I bought this last time I was in Japan. Must the cleanest and smallest fuel stove around.

OD-1NP | Products | SOTO

[Threewheelbonnie]

Before you go shopping you need to decide how you will use it. I have various cheap or interesting stoves that honestly are only any use for sitting round drinking tea (Kelly Kettle, wood), for times when the weather is that cold you really do need a warm drink (Swedish Army Triangia, meths), or for getting that first cuppa in a morning (Korean Army Optimus, Petrol). These are a fraction heavier that pocket rockets and the like but at under a tenner are a price I'm prepared to pay. The third night out with one of these you need to find a restaurant.

Only the sort of nutters who enter the death zone "because it's there" are going to tolerate MRE packs (Meals. Rotten. Eat at your peril) for long, so if you intent to camp and cook locally available fresh food, you need to be able to simmer for at least half an hour and get some control when frying. This is where the slighly bigger MSR (I had a Dragonfly until the welds broke) and Optimus come in.

If you are touring in Europe or the USA and won't go high or cold there is actually a lot to be said for the sort of cartridge stove you can buy at supermarkets. They work.

The only thing that doesn't taste right when cooked on a petrol stove is toast.

Andy

[stephen.stallebrass]

Optimus Nova+



Burns loads of fuels. I use petrol. No taste or smell of fuel in food/drinks. Very efficient, effective and packs very small. But quite expensive.

Check out videos of stoves on YouTube.

[mattcbf600]

To echo some of the comments here - it really depends what you want to do when you're on the road.

If, like me, you like to cook properly - really good meals - then you'll need something with a decent amount of simmer control and temperature control - like the MSR Dragonfly or a Trangia with the multi-fuel attachment. The Optimus above is also exceptionally capable.

If on the other hand, and at the other end of the spectrum, just want to boil water for tea & coffee or do boil in the bag food then going for something like a JetBoil or a MSR Rapid Cook stove. I would suggest the Whisperlite sits somewhere between those two things but remember, without simmer control your food will get very hot very quickly.

In terms of fuel it depends, again, on what you're doing. Gas is fantastic - especially in Europe and the States - it's generally easy and cheap to get hold of (can be an arse at times) - it's clean - and it's fast. Perfect for that morning cup of tea as Alex says above. But... if you're looking at cooking meals you can burn through a lot of gas in a short period of time and gas cartridges take up a lot more space than say, a 1lt bottle of paraffin.

If you're looking for true ROW flexibility with fuel then get a multi fuel stove that can deal with petrols, diesel, paraffin... and so on. I tend to carry my MSR Dragonfly with a litre of paraffin - it's clean, burns hot and fast, but is simple enough to get down to a manageable heat. Paraffin is also incredibly easy to get all over the world - BUT - if you do get stuck you can burn the unleaded from your tank - I would only suggest this as a back-up option rather than an all the time option as the additives in petrol can, in some cases, damage your stove, your seals and will almost certainly clog the jets. Having said all of that I've known people who've just used unleaded fuel with absolutely no issues what-so-ever - personally I don't like the smell of it burning and whilst it doesn't flavour the food it's not the most appetising of smells!

I did a short video on stove choice if you're interested:

[Big Yellow Tractor]

There were a couple of factors when I decided on stove. Cost and simplicity.
I have two that I regularly use.
One is a little Camping Gaz twister thingy that is great if you know you can get the cartridges. Anywhere in Europe should be no worries. Clean, small, reliable and controllable.
The other is a Coleman Feather (442 I think) I bought new from John Cross Caravans for 40 squid. Gets a brew on very quickly; no setting up needed, 20 little pumps and the kettle's on. Beats all my mates stoves except the Jetboils. It can simmer OK and it works fine in the cold. Butane stoves don't like it anywhere near 0deg and are totally useless below.
Get hold of a cheap folding ally windsheild and a couple of pots that the stove will fit into and you're sorted.
Fuel from the bike, coleman white gas (bloody expensive) or a Naptha-based panel-wipe all work great. It has even run on 2-stroke from my trials bike (it didn't like it much though)

[Ronvk62]

You have to consider that petrol nowadays is real POISON. A major component of petrol is for example benzene and that's a determinant for cancer. Also the soot on your pots and pans is a big risk. When you clean the outside and inside with the same sponge you have a problem. Not on a instant but later on in your live, the seller from such a device will confirm this when you ASK him but he will never tell you this when your not asking for it.

I have a Primus Dragonfly but I never use it anymore because of the things mentioned above. I have a campinggaz for Europe and when I am out of Europe I can eat or drink everywhere for a nickle.

[stephen.stallebrass]

Another thing to consider, which has been touched on, is ease of use. Mutifuels are easy but require 'preheating', it only takes a minute or two but a PITA if you just want a quick brew (i have a small primus thermos).

I know your original question was regards to multifuels but gas is quite good for quickness and water boiling. Weekend jaunts in which I know I won't cook proper, I take an Optimus Crux. It's rapid and very small: it fits in the concave of the gas canister! Great even for cooking proper but you'll get through the gas quicker and find yourself needing replacements quite frequently.

In terms of cleaning, Matt is correct: they will need it occasionally. Good thing about the Optimus Nova+ is that it's done just by putting the tool, which has a magnet, under the stove to move a pin that cleans the jet. EASY PEASY!




Bit off topic but also consider the pots you're likely to use. When I'm using the Crux I just use a little Optimus Solo pot but I generally use my Nova+ in which case I use the Optimus Terra cookset, which is excellent. It has a neoprene case which means you half cook your pasta or rice then put the pot in the case where it continues cooking allowing you to cook your sauce and thereby saving fuel.

[oldbmw]

All I can say is I thought to "upgrade" my £10 gaz stove with a £100+ optimus multifuel. I took this on two trips only. It is so much hassle to get going on the second trip to the flytrap in Poland I didn't bother to make myself a single hot drink during the day for the entire trip. It wont simmer so you can't cook properly.

Yes it will boil water away, but try simmering a curry for 3/4 of an hour. It would be good for light foundry work (straightening bent footpegs or shoeing horses) but not for me.

For my last five trips I have reverted to carrying my little gaz stove, I can make myself a cup of tea with that before the optimus has finished preheating and I have washed the fuel off my hands. The gaz stove uses 270 or 470 cartridges which are a blend of propane and butane so no problems in the cold that I am likely to meet.

[pbekkerh]

Gas is always the easiest and cleanest way of cooking, if you can get it. You can't take it with you on planes, so it must be available locally.

Multiburners are used in faraway places where there is only petrol or diesel etc. available or in high altitude or cold. My Nova+ will happily start fresh out of the freezer, my gasburner will not.

The Nova and the Nova+ has been made with special attention to simmering and it works.

I have a Trangia 27 (1-2 person) with ofcourse the spirit burner, a gasburner and the Nova+ multiburner, so I can use any of the burners in my one windshield and stove set and adapt it to whatever I need.

I also have a Swedish Military Trangia in my everyday car, you never know when you become a bit peckish ;-)

I used to scorn the spiritburners, but have come to appreciate the silence while making a cuppa and who cares about time when on tour anyway

[Endurodude]

On the advice of mattcbf600 (or his Youtube videos, at any rate!) I bought a MSR Dragonfly stove. It's excellent, versatile (multi fuel) and can even simmer! I have these grand plans of 'proper' cooking whilst on the road; trouble is, I lose interest when it comes to eat Must put in more effort . . . . .

Anyway, excellent stove. Check out mattcbf600's work for ideas; I found his videos excellent for helping me to decide.