Stove advice - Primus Omnifuel vs. hobo stove
 

My wife and I are looking into getting a new stove for future travels. When travelling we camp whenever possible, and we also cook our own dinner pretty much every day. The stove we've used so far is an old Campinggaz stove I bought several years ago, and it has served us well. However, as you all know, finding gas cartridges outside of Western Europe can get quite tricky, and since we travel two-up the prospect of lugging around one does not necessarily fill us with joy, to say the least ;)
Thus, we've decided to ditch it and get something new.

The bottom line is this: while we do live in and frequently travel through Western Europe, we already have and plan to travel less developed countries, too. After some research the stove I found to meet the requirements best is the Primus Omnifuel, since it works with both gas and fuel (petrol and diesel). I have to admit that I was a bit shocked by the price tag but sales clerks keep telling me that it's the greatest invention since sliced bread. However, I've also read that fuel stoves tend to clog and I'm curious whether someone could enlighten me as to how Primus deals with this problem. I kept looking around and started considering a hobo stove. The biker in me likes the fact that it's light and small, and we don't need to carry around a fuel bottle or gas cartridge. The German in me dislikes the fact that open fire is illegal in most countries in Europe, and that that last thing we want is to cause any trouble.

Thus, it boils down to these very basic questions:

• What exactly justifies the Primus Omnifuel's 170€ price tag?
• What are the benefits of a fuel stove compared to a hobo stove?
• Does someone know whether or not a hobo stove is considered open fire?
• Did someone get into trouble for using a hobo stove?

I have an omnifuel.

I like it for the same reason: versatility, and it is sturdy. Yes fuels can clog, but if you use demantured alcohol ( think that's what it is) aka camping fuel, you can use the pressued bottle and it will burn perfectly clean. Having said that the units are easy to clean your self using the multitool and manual provided.

My only gripe is that the unit seems to seep fuel at the coupling when you connect it to the fuel bottle. Only a little, so after a minute or so it has evaporated and you can light safely. Ditto for when you disconnect. Almost as it the valve opens just before the o-ring seals and vice-versa. I should pointout it did not do this when I got it: only on a couple of recent trips did it start doing this.

It was not cheap and that leak does bother me, more so when the price is considered. However, I am pleased with it overall and I do think it is a well made piece of kit.

Is it better than the Hobo? In some circumstances, yes: but for run-of-the-mill camping, I'm sure you can do without: all depends if you'll be in the back end of beyond and need to run on bike fuel, etc!!

Finally, you can get it for less than €170: just hunt around a bit.
Primus OmniFuel Stove (with fuel bottle) - Rough Gear UK

Primus Omnifuel stove (with fuel bottle) by Primus - Purity Equip

Do you happen to know anybody else with that same problem? What I'm trying to figure out is whether this is a general problem or specific to your stove. Because a stove that expensive should not suffer from defects such as this. And the 170€ price tag is accurate for Germany - I've seen'em online for ~160€ plus S&H. And since we still have a 190€ coupon (returned a North Face jacket that turned out to be anything but waterproof) for a spots equipment store that happens to carry camping and hiking equipment as well, we'll probably get it there.

I'm still not convinced though, and still not sure I'm willing to spend that much money on something as basic as a fuel stove. The cleaning part does relieve me a bit though, I don't mind cleaning it every now and then as long as it's not twice a week ;)

I use a little camping gaz stove but use bigger cartridges (470 instead of 270) They only cost a little more and are good for me for 3-4 weeks or more. If i were to buy a liquid fuel stove, it seems silly to me to not buy one that uses the same fuel as my bike. On the other hand, if is to be used with either a diesel or petrol engine, then it makes sense to have a cooker that will run on either. $170 does seem to be a lot of money though.

i used a gaz for years, but on a longer trip cooking 2 or 3 times a day and the odd cuppa along the way its a real pain using up those 270 cans, the 470 made the thing too tall for my windbreak and it was a bit wobbly. so i went the other way and used a coleman sportster which had no fuel problems because there was always some in the bike. it was a great stove but a bit dirty, smelly and bulky compared to the gaz. then i went all survivalist and used a pepsican stove and homemade kit for a bit, i liked the simplicity but its a bt too simple, great for heating a pint of water on the side of the road for a cuppa but not a meal so much.
now im sort of between the three, using a small 27 series trangia. i love the practical design, and how it swallows the fuel, and an awful lot of utensils, food and spices when packed up (without the kettle. why have a little kettle when you got two 1ltr pans?). it still runs on meths which is fine but i think in the new year i will invest 50quid on the multifuel burner so i can use petrol from the bike again.

Svea
 

I have used one of these stoves for over 30 years. Yup still the same one. I bought my 3 kids each one about 20 years ago and they are all still using the same one. I like it because I can just get some gas out of my motorcycle and cook when I want to. There is just a needle jet that is easy to take out and clean. It will burn almost any liquid fuel and works by pressure like an old blow torch. Everyone I have gone camping with has had a new something else and ended up throwing theirs away it seems because they quit working. Svea 123 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I have no idea if this is specific to my stove or not; I've never asked, but as it started a while down the line, I'm sure it's a case of adjusting, cleaning or replacing a single piece. Otherwise it would have been a problem from day one!

If this is an issue for you, you could have the best of both worlds: a small gas burner for the more well stocked places that have canisters, like a MSR Pocket Rocket, or Primus Mimer. They are very small: the canister being the majority of the bulk and then have a woodburner for other areas...

There was one stove on here a while back that looked like a large tobacco tin. You opened at hinged points and it turned into a wood burner with a pot platform. Together they would still be about half the price of the Omnifuel...and about the same space...

I am happy with my Primus, and I can live with the quirk as I know I'll get it sorted when I finally get my act together...but that is not to say that there aren't plenty of alternatives.

I did some further research and found out some rather disheartening facts. Warthog, your problem seems to be very common. I found several customer complaints about a leaking coupling, apparantly due to really cheap o-ring seals. In addition, the fuel pump has some more of these super cheap o-ring seals built-in and constantly fails below a certain ambient temperature (I found everything between -5°C and -30°C). Thus, I have to assume that those are both not individual cases but rather common. If you ask me that's inacceptable for a 170€ stove.

I'm also rather crestfallen that pretty much every other stove carries its own baggage, too. Cheap pastic fuel pumps (MSR), cheap o-ring seals (all Primus stoves), noise level (MSR, Juwel), etc. And I'm not willing to spend 100 bucks or more on a stove that I already know is a) going to break, b) going to leak, c) going to fail below a certain ambient temperature (e.g. when you *REALLY* need it), or d) wake everybody up.

To be honest, I'm rather discouraged and a bit disoriented at the moment. I'll check out the Svea next, but the hobo stove looks more and more promising.

Well, it is a shame to hear that. I must say that I can work around the issue but,yes, at the price, it's a bit disappointing. I had corresponded with Primus: they had given good advice that resolved the leak on dismantling the coupling after use, but not the leak before which is the mmore hazardous...

If you want simple: look here!

fire spout Mini

I don't need one, but like the look for sheer simplicity. But, when you are in the middle of nowhere, if it is raining, your twigs will be pretty worthless....

svea stove
 

That is why the Svea is so nice. no moving parts to ever fail. If it get some crap in the fuel it comes with a key that you use to take it apart and just blow the junk out and it is just like new. I have used mine over 500 times and cooked for groups as large as 10 with it. It takes a while because it is just one burner but it really blows out the heat. Any temp it will work and in fact the colder it is the better it works because of the simple principle that it works. 'There are no pumps that can fail. It is as foolproof as gravity. It is pretty much bomb proof as that article said. I have had mine fall out of horse packs to the ground and that did not hurt a thing. Hundreds of backpacking trips. Rain on it. No problem. Gas will light even if it is raining on it.

I tried my Swedish Army Trangia outside at -31c yesterday .
It worked OK and brought 500ml of water from 5c to boiling in just over 12 minutes .The fuel was methyl hydrate and was at room temp .
The burner was lit outside and the pot placed on it immediately ,no warm up ,just light her and go .
All in all a fair performance for a very cheap and simple stove in adverse conditions.
Might be something to think about .

I'd love to try a Svea 123 as well ,they look a very nice unit .

I have used the Primus for several years and never had any problems with it but I never operate the coupling when it’s pressurized.
It’s the best burner I’ve used.

I have a SVEA 123 and Colman 533. Both work well.

Coleman® backpacking stoves, Exponent, butane/propane, packable, light weight, ultralight, Fyrestorm

John

Hinged cooker you could put wood in? Dead cheap, but won't last months with continuous use!

YouTube - How to use a Hexi cooker.

I have this meths "white box stove", which is either lit or not, no simmer, but for a couple of coffees first thing its ace. Really light, burns for about 12 minutes per fill, pan sits directly on top, no moving parts, meths/alcohol available everywhere as long as you didn't drink it all the night before! :eek3:

White Box Stove


Same site has a number of other minimal stoves, including wood fuelled.

We also have petrol fuelled Coleman twin burner and a Peak One stove which are good.

I have looked at these (svea 123r) and virtually everyone who had one liked it. BUT,
White gas ( coleman fuel) is more expensive a liter than a 470 cartridge and not easy to find locally. Will it work ok on unleaded petrol? Secondly,, when you finish using it, how do you stop it from leaking the remaining fuel.. cant find a sensible answer.

Svea 123
 

If I am just taking my Svea along for cooking I use just unleaded fuel and we also use gasahol in my state. Both work fine. If I am taking my lanturn along for light at night then I usuall take coleman fuel and use that. When I am done using it I just turn it off and it goes out and it will hold pressure for several months. I have never talked to anyone that had one that did not love it. If it was not this late I would go find it and do the water boil test as I know will keep up with the best of them. It burns with a blue flame and roars like a jet engine. It generates it own pressure and I have used it to make coffee in the morning for 8 or 9 guys. It keeps up pretty good even making that much. Just a happy user. I really like something that works forever and does what it is supposed to.

I have had mine since 1974 and have always used whatever fuel us in my tank, so in the early days, it was leaded:innocent:
Once it's cooled, I release any remaining pressure using the filler cap, wind the needle up and put the whole lot in a plastic bag. Never had a fuel leak.

I'm sure you could find a "tupperware" type box that is a snug fit for it if you were concerned about it.

John

thanks for the information... always better to talk to an owner or two.

All these SVEA fans saying how good a roaring flame it produces, can I ask how controllable it is for lower temps? Simmering etc? Some stoves do b####y hot very well but can't simmer a stew for an hour :)

The Svea does indeed look very interesting. What's the noise emission? I found some fuel stoves that look great but sound like a jet engine.

747 :eek3: but great for waking up other campers with the early coffee brew.

John

Quick update: we purchased a stove today. We took a look at the Primus FuelEx, too, but in the end decided to go with an MSR Whisperlite. It was the smallest and lightest of all stoves available (remember, we had a 190€ coupon for that store so our choice was a bit limited) and its 120€ price tag also seemed very convincing. I read a few good and a few bad things about it, and it seemed to be the lesser evil.

In addition I'll build a basic and compact hobo stove myself and give it a try on our next trip. The ones I found on- and offline seemed way too expensive - four steel plates and a few hinges should NOT cost 70 bucks.

Had one before the omnifuel.

You are limited to liquid fuels, but is still a nice, dependable stove: We liked it and it served us well across S. America

Svea stove
 

I had compared it to a noise of a jet engine but even though it sounds like that kind of noise it is not all that loud. It does turn down to a simer if you are cooking something that you want to simmer for several hours. This stove does come with caution. Do not and I repeat do not attempt its use inside like a tent. Also you should practice with it so you know how to light it and put it out. You should also practice at home with it in taking it apart and putting it back together so you are very familiar with its use. Like any fine tool you have to use it right. You first light it by poring gas on the outside of it. That in itself needs to be done with caution and then you never attempt to light it with a open can of fuel near. I have seen people put to much on which is not a big problem if you do not get up and kick over the open can of fuel that you left right by your foot. I said it is simple to use but unfortunatly it is not idiot proof. Enough said.............

I found this thread very interesting! I bought a Svea 123 in 1969 and have used it as cold as minus 30, it is a little hard to pressurize at that temp so if you have a camp fire going you just set the stove on the edge of the coals to preheat the unit and then it fires right up!! It is the model with the pin jet cleaner.
I look at others when I am in the gear stores and can't see why I would want to retire the 123!!

We thought about that, long and hard. And in the end we figured that it's fine, since we're not going to carry around a gas cartridge and a bottle of fuel. We ride two-up with full camping gear, so space is very limited. And in case we ever decide that a gas stove would be the smarter choice, like for a short two- or three-day trip, we still have our old Camping Gaz stove.

On the bike, I take a Coleman 533 because I don't want to carry an extra bottle of fuel when I have a tank full. It's a bit fierce & needs careful shielding from the wind if you want to simmer. But generally a very good stove.Note: Although they're not really designed to run on leaded petrol, they will, but take a spare generator.

Backpacking - Trangia. Very controllable. Almost windproof. Also if you spill Meths (denatured alcohol) your kit won't stink for all eternity.

Hexamine stove - ideal for emergency kits but you can't really 'cook' on it, just heat things up.

Primus multi fuel never again.
 

Primus multi fuel never again.:thumbdown:

I initially was very excited about the Primus multi fuel. As it is lightweight and burns most oil based fuels. However shortly after I bought the stove it started leaking at the coupling. So I contacted Primus and they informed that this was common problem with the older pumps and they posted me anew repalcement one. The new pump started leaking within a few hours of use. I personally never want to use one of these high tech looking multi fuel stoves again. They are prone to leaking and have many flimsy parts that cause problems when you least expect it. I would stick with an old school sturdy stove like the SVEA123, a gas cooker or for small trips maybe even haximine tablets or just make a wood fire. I found out that with stoves and outdoor cooking in general simpler is better.

This is an old thread, since its start I bought a primus omnifuel. I dislike it intensely and now leave it ar home and prefer my £10 Gaz stove. It wont simmer, and takes too long to setup and disassemble plus t he preheat time. much quicker and cleaner with the gaz. of course if I was to spend months in deepest wild places my opinion might change. On my Trip to poland via Italy it was such a nuisance to deploy I reverted to only cold drinks instead of my usual brew ups aside the the road.

If anyone wants to buy the omni fuel used about a dozen times only, drop me a line. I shall be sticking to Gaz for the foreseeable future.

OldBMW- if it won't simmer, it needs servicing - as something isn't right- mine does beautifully-
If it's this one you have, (same as mine) you simply change the jet for the gas-
Jet number 45 is for gas, 37 gasoline/whitegas and 28 for diesel/kerosene.
It is a very good stove and should you run out of gas but have your bike, you won't be stuck for a brew-up

servicing? the thing is new. will not simmer slowly. I know about the jets, but why use it as a clumsy gaz stove when my £10 wonder is 10 time better? Incidentally I started using it on kerosene and thought that poor. in fact it works better on kero than anything else :(
trying to cook my first curry it went out as i tried to lower the flame, the heat exchanger is just too small to work at low throttle openings. I had to switch to the gaz stove to finish cooking our supper in the snowy Pyrenees.

Will probably buy another gaz stove as it takes up no more room than the fuel bottle and that means i can deploy two cookers at once if needed. Without leaking as i connect or disconnect the fuel. ( I leave the gaz canister permanently connected).

Oldbmw , "Why use it as a clumsy gas stove?" ermm well I don't consider it clumsy- it roars or whispers whichever fuel I use and give me maximum choice of fuels-" Diesel isn't quite 'as nice' to cook with but works fine-
I am guessing that the fuel filter in yours is blocked / partly perished -it's a really tiny white part- look in the pictures- that would probably account for it not simmering.
Without wishing to come across as a clever-clogs - it may help if you are shown how to use it- Last biker I met in southern Morocco was about to chuck his away in the bin in complete frustration- when I cleaned it and showed him 'how-to' he was the happiest bunny on the prairie and was amazed how brilliantly his stove really was- (btw- I hated mine until I was shown how-to as well!)

When I go further afield and rely on petrol & I use the Optimus Nova stove- which uses a QD to the fuel bottle (no more leaks on disconnection -see pic)- they both need pre-heat -which takes no time at all- but are very strong cookers and quite small weight.

Below is the Nova- with saelf cleaning needle operated by a magnet-clever- reducing field cleaning massively-
Tip- if anyone wants to buy the Nova PLUS- consider this- I had one and the fuel pipe is the simmer / full burn control- Because of its curved shape it is a real nuisance to operate so I sold it- picture below is the standard Nova with foldaway handle which a solid and reliable piece of kit-
My 2 pence!
Oldbmw, if you ever swing by Kent, bring it round & I'll try to fix it for you:chef:- I've cooked many a tasty meal on that cooker and still do! would be a shame to dump it-

mine never leaks when i connect the fuelbottle to the stove.
when im done cooking i will first close the bottle, then i let the stove burn out, no leaking what so ever!

Just my opinion ... We used the Primus MultiFuel about 2 years. I guess, I took the stove about a hundred times apart and had to clean it .... in the end almost after every use :thumbdown:

Right now, we are testing a new setup for our longterm travelling and btw. we are cooking and boiling at least twice a day (breakfast and dinner)

We have 3 stoves and they are simple and work always :D

1. Hobo Stove, made by Künzi ... used also as a small and nice campfirehttp://lh6.googleusercontent.com/pub...fdiv9p7g=s90-c :thumbup1::thumbup1::thumbup1::thumbup1::thumbup1:

about 500gr. and folds into the size of an postcard

2. Meth Stove, which we put into the Hobo for wind protection and pot stand, like you see in the picture (similar)


http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/pub...YrBXAVVA=s90-c



3. Propan Stove, as a back up or second stove for the big party :thumbup1:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/jpg...74-i62211b.jpg the cannister is with a screw, so for transport you take it apart


I know, maybe it`s an overkill .... doh but now we can choose between propan, meth or just any small wood lying around every campground and there are no parts which can break.

We also use the Grillput

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...pAqKeKMUhX/9k=
:innocent::innocent::innocent::innocent::innocent: :innocent::innocent:

I just like good food and freshly made together with somebier

I have completed another trip using my cheap gas stove.

If anyone wants to buy a multifuel used less than 10 times, pm me.

Rocket stove for pennies and free fuel anyone?
 

Home made rocket stove? - I'm a newbie to this an still planning my trip, but there's no way I'm paying out what I consider silly money for a stove and then carry on paying for the fuel.
shoot me down, but I'll be taking something like this with me, as long as it cooks my grub and makes a brew, i shan't be consulting any scientists or advertising executives.

YouTube - ‪ERUPTOR 2 WITH FIRE‬‏

I personly used a colman multi fuel cooker Featherlight 442 looks like this Coleman UK - Unleaded Sportster® II my old 1 got 'lost' in gulf 1

I have just got this cascadedesigns.com/en/msr/stoves/expedit...ternationale/product £40 reduced in blacks as no box!! sorry couldnt resist, (the GF don't know )

I have tryed it out at home in the garden, and quite happy, I only got it as it was lighter & packs up smaller than the coleman.

For the next few short trips I will carry both, to see if I have any underlying problems, as I do not want to be in the middle of no where & find the stove is buggered