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Main Boards => Gear => Topic started by: Litehiker on 22:24:09, 12/11/19

Title: Your winter stove?
Post by: Litehiker on 22:24:09, 12/11/19
Some prefer inverted canisters for winter.


-> I prefer white gas and have an MSR Whisperlite Universal (which also has inverted canister mode). In white gas mode the Universal is very reliable, whereas the inverted canister stove at around 10 F. and lower has problems. (Yes, I'm aware of the copper "Moulder Strip" and have made one.)


-> The Trail Designs Sidewinder Ti woodburning stove is great for melting snow. with the Inferno gassier insert it is hottt! And as long as finger sized wood is available I don't have to carry a lot of white gas to melt snow.


I once owned an MSR Dragonfly adjustable stove that was great for baking B/C its simmer ability was amazing. But I sold it B/C it was so heavy.


Eric B.




Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: richardh1905 on 19:09:40, 14/11/19
I have a Primus Omnilite titanium multi fuel stove. No way would I spend £180 on a stove though - it was a retirement present!
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: Owen on 19:59:33, 14/11/19
For years I had a Colman peak 1, stove but where the leg was brased on came apart so that was that.


I've now got a MSR Whisperlite Universal, like you. Not used it with white gas yet. I mainly got it to use on a trip to Northern Scandinavia that I've been planning for while now. The problem is I need a month or so off work to do it. If all else fails I retire in four years. I've a very light little gas stove that I use for summer camping so I've hardly needed the MSR really.
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: zuludog on 23:06:38, 14/11/19
For years I used an Optimus 96, a half pint paraffin stove all year round
When the screw on cartridge top stoves became available I used one of those in summer, and kept the 96 for winter

Then when hose connected gas stoves became available I changed to using one of those all year round, which was fortunate as by that time the 96 had become rather leaky and tempremental
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: fernman on 09:01:48, 15/11/19
by that time the 96 had become rather leaky and tempremental

They were ALWAYS leaky and temperamental!  :D
I had one since - well, since before some people on here were born. It smelt of paraffin, you had to carry a little bottle of methylated spirits that you poured into a small circular 'trough' and lit to preheat the burner, then you gave it a few pumps. If you were lucky it lit with a nice, blue roaring flame, if you were unlucky it went whoomph! and you got a stinking yellow burning column capable of setting fire to your tent if you had it in the porch. Apart from that, it was the weight of half a house brick.
My current stove is a Chinese BRS-300T,  cheap to buy, tiny, very powerful and only 25g weight.
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: zuludog on 11:23:26, 15/11/19
FERNMAN - All that you say is true!

As I was getting more frustrated with the 96 I considered a Trangia for a while, and borrowed one for a weekend or two
I have friends who love them, but I just couldn't take to it, so I settled on a hose connected gas stove. In fact I've had a couple by now - A Coleman which was steel; A Primus Gravity; and an OEX
I've forgotten the model of the OEX, but it has a pre - heating coil
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: alan de enfield on 16:49:04, 15/11/19

My current stove is a Chinese BRS-300T,  cheap to buy, tiny, very powerful and only 25g weight.

I bought 'quite a few' of those (but the 45gram ones) when there was a 'price war going on.
The 1st one was about £5, then I bought a couple at £2 and when they got down to 99p I bought several more.

Set up for life !!

(https://i.postimg.cc/4YxGhKfB/s-l640.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/4YxGhKfB)
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: Apache on 22:45:41, 15/11/19
It hasn't got that cold for me. So far my MSR windburner using MSR or Jetboil fuel works well. I do have a Coleman which I run on Aspen fuel but that is more for car camping than backpacking. If it gets that cold that canister gas with a regulator can't cope I am probably staying home.
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: alan de enfield on 06:40:55, 16/11/19
It hasn't got that cold for me. So far my MSR windburner using MSR or Jetboil fuel works well. I do have a Coleman which I run on Aspen fuel but that is more for car camping than backpacking. If it gets that cold that canister gas with a regulator can't cope I am probably staying home.

Keeping the gas cartridge in your sleeping bag with you ensures it 'flows' OK.

With the 'screw-on' top mounted stoves - Once lit, the heat reflected from the bottom of the pan and from the windshield is enough to (generally) stop the gas temperature getting too low.
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: Sleepy on 06:46:28, 18/11/19
I don't remember ever having a problem, down to about -10°c I think that's as cold as I've gone though.


I've tried a good few stoves, I think my favourite was my msr dragonfly after I modified it to run reliably on diesel - but it was so loud when flat out, you may as well have struck up a little jet engine!! Which wasn't ideal for the morning cuppa on a campsite, especially if you had an early start.


I use an msr windburner now, I love it apart from the regulator which takes a lot of getting used to  :-\  I don't think I've used it below freezing yet though so can't comment on its ability in the cold


My biggest gripe with gas stoves is the lack of spread on the flame, many (most) you might as well use a blow torch! You end up with a spot about an inch wide on the bottom of the pan that's near red-hot and just burns any kind of food - their only real use is for boiling water  ???  I suppose you could do a spot of plumbing with them if you had to  ;D
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: alan de enfield on 09:11:14, 18/11/19

My biggest gripe with gas stoves is the lack of spread on the flame, many (most) you might as well use a blow torch! You end up with a spot about an inch wide on the bottom of the pan that's near red-hot and just burns any kind of food - their only real use is for boiling water  ???  I suppose you could do a spot of plumbing with them if you had to  ;D

That is a problem with some of the very small 25-45g lightweight stoves.
Depending on what I'm doing I have a number of different stoves, this one, for example has a 2" diameter burner, and works well with the smallish frying pan (Bacon & Eggs - Hmmmmm)


(https://i.postimg.cc/GTpCfgF8/A1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/GTpCfgF8)

(https://i.postimg.cc/V0wgg5CD/B4.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/V0wgg5CD)


Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: Sleepy on 11:23:47, 18/11/19
It does seem to be the lighter you want to go, the more likely it is to have a blow torch, I don't really see why it should be like that though- it would only involve a different shaped burner
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: alan de enfield on 21:07:28, 18/11/19
It does seem to be the lighter you want to go, the more likely it is to have a blow torch, I don't really see why it should be like that though- it would only involve a different shaped burner

It depends on how important weight is - my little burners weigh 45 grams (1" burner size, OK for boiling water), my bigger burner weighs 290 grams (2" burner, OK for 'cooking' food)

That's a huge difference, if using dehydrated food then all you need is boing water so the lightweight stove is ideal.
The difference is more than the weight of a gas cartridge (210g)
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: fernman on 22:33:46, 18/11/19
It depends on how important weight is - my little burners weigh 45 grams (1" burner size, OK for boiling water), my bigger burner weighs 290 grams (2" burner, OK for 'cooking' food)

That's a huge difference, if using dehydrated food then all you need is boing water so the lightweight stove is ideal.
The difference is more than the weight of a gas cartridge (210g)

And boiling water is all I ever use one for  O0
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: Sleepy on 01:01:35, 19/11/19
Thing is though, I'm convinced a domed burner or ring of holes (instead of a flat plate with vertical holes) could be incorporated into the tiny lightweight stoves to make them more useful - adding 2 or 3 grams. But for some reason they just don't  :-\  even my msr pocket rocket (with a relatively hefty price tag) is next to useless for actually cooking anything!


I have one actually, the alpkit Krakau - also sold as little bee etc etc. If I can get one for a couple of quid I'll see if I can confirm my theory with a little tinkering  ;)
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: Mark101 on 14:27:34, 02/12/19
Just purchased one of these for £6. Very lightweight and compact (with 2 x fuel blocks).
Now for a cook set lol
(https://www.campingworld.co.uk/Images/Models/Full/3530.Jpg)
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: Sleepy on 14:47:46, 02/12/19
Rectangular military pans; it's what it's made for  O0
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: Mark101 on 15:01:09, 02/12/19
Thanks. I'll buy one that the folded stove can fit inside, then just a mug for coffee and noodles  :) Watched a YouTube video on how to make dozens of wax waterproof fire starters from make-up pads and a scented candle. Have my flint so I'll soon be ready to brew on the mountain
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: KimE on 18:21:10, 02/12/19
A kelly kettle hobostove(wood) for cooking, a military alcohol burner with a homemade windshield for daytrips/weekends and a trangia alcoholstove for snowmelting and cooking on longer trips.
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: Litehiker on 23:33:32, 02/12/19
richardh, I looked at photos and a video of the Primus OmniLite but could not find one showing the iso-butane canister setup. Is the canister inverted on a stand like the MSR Whisperlite Universal?


Mark, I have found the best fire starter is cotton balls rubbed with petroleum jelly (Vaseline, etc.) I keep several in a Ziplock bag in my survival kit and stove kits along with a "fire rod" magnesium sparker and striker. These suckers start fast and burn for several minutes.


Eric B.
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: Mark101 on 09:41:47, 03/12/19
Mark, I have found the best fire starter is cotton balls rubbed with petroleum jelly (Vaseline, etc.) I keep several in a Ziplock bag in my survival kit and stove kits along with a "fire rod" magnesium sparker and striker. These suckers start fast and burn for several minutes.
Another great tip. I'll give them a try  O0
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: zuludog on 11:49:29, 03/12/19
MARK101

I think you'll find that lighting wax with a flint or firesteel  is not easy; try it at home before you go out and use it for real

Solutions are -

tear the waxed pad so you expose rough/fuzzy edges, and aim the sparks at those edges
When you wax a pad leave a small area untreated and aim at that so it acts as a wick
Use a firestarter that is easier to light with a spark - as mentioned, cotton wool & vaseline, or cotton wool or small scraps of fabric soaked in meths or petrol and kept in a small jar
Or make some Char Cloth

The solid fuel blocks as supplied with MOD stoves are also surprisingly difficult to light, so again, try them out first

Search Google and YouTube for 'Crusader Cooking Systems' and you'll see there are several types of mugs, pans, supports & holders that can be used
Yes, the stove is designed to use the rectangular army mess tins, but I doubt if you can find the genuine ex - WD ones now, though modern copies are available
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: Owen on 12:26:19, 03/12/19
Cotton grass and thistle heads light well with a firesteel as long as their dry.
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: vghikers on 13:13:43, 03/12/19
Quote
Watched a YouTube video on how to make dozens of wax waterproof fire starters from make-up pads and a scented candle. Have my flint so I'll soon be ready to brew on the mountain

I have to ask: is this an exercise to investigate and acquire skills for interest's sake?. Otherwise why not just use a cigarette lighter?.
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: jimbob on 13:49:35, 03/12/19
A couple of squares off a firelighter cut up into quarters and a cheap Bic lighter kept in in a lozenge tin beats all that kerfuffle.
Carry two lighters they are less weight than a good fire steel.
If you do use vaseline then do not keep it in the same zip lock for trip after trip. It eats polythene.

I no longer carry a stove, I use a flameless system. It's OK for heating pot noodles or that type of stuff, and makes a cup of hot chocolate from the one chemo bag.
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: Mark101 on 14:00:18, 03/12/19
I have to ask: is this an exercise to investigate and acquire skills for interest's sake?. Otherwise why not just use a cigarette lighter?.
To acquire skills and save money - frugality. I watched a few YouTube videos on bushcraft and this came up. Two face pads pressed together, dipped in melted candle wax. Diced in four when dry, then torn to expose the inner fibers upon which the flint is struck  :)
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: vghikers on 15:29:53, 03/12/19
Interesting techniques there to be sure. Just on the offchance you don't know about it, the Bushcraft forum (https://bushcraftuk.com/) has some hardcore articles on this sort of thing in the Fire section, plus interesting stuff about living off-grid.

Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: Mark101 on 19:25:49, 03/12/19
Great link. Many thanks. I'm looking at bushcraft and prepping channels to try to improve my self sufficiency. I have a water filter and now a stove and flint. Crusader cook set next...
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: Litehiker on 19:56:43, 03/12/19
Mark,


Those Youtube bush crafter videos got me kinda/sorta getting some bush craft "tools" myself so beware of their lure. Jus' sayin'...
1. my wife bought me a HELLE GT hunting knife
2. I bought a US made Council Tool Wood-Craft axe with a 19" hickory handle for canoe and car camping
3. my ancient triangular SvenSaw will soon be supplanted by a Boreal buck saw


Eric B.
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: richardh1905 on 15:39:14, 04/12/19
richardh, I looked at photos and a video of the Primus OmniLite but could not find one showing the iso-butane canister setup. Is the canister inverted on a stand like the MSR Whisperlite Universal?

Eric B.

No - not inverted, Eric.
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: Mark101 on 15:51:26, 04/12/19
Those Youtube bush crafter videos got me kinda/sorta getting some bush craft "tools" myself so beware of their lure. Jus' sayin'...
Too right. I've also bought a water filtration system and a machete, but as a keen allotment holder, metal detectorist and beach angler they will come in useful when off-grid  :P
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: Bhod on 11:38:40, 16/01/20
Depending on where I am and what I am doing I have a choice of three stove kits to take with me.   Trangia 27 non-stick, Trangia 25 and a Jetboil Minimo.  For the Trangias I have both the Meths burners they came with and I also purchased a gas conversion kit which I swap between the two, also invested in the Trangia winter attachment for the meths burners, pre-warming the meths with it certainly does reduce 'blooming' time for the main burner.
Title: Re: Your winter stove?
Post by: Jim Parkin on 22:18:48, 16/01/20
Thanks. I'll buy one that the folded stove can fit inside, then just a mug for coffee and noodles  :) Watched a YouTube video on how to make dozens of wax waterproof fire starters from make-up pads and a scented candle. Have my flint so I'll soon be ready to brew on the mountain
I've not used the hexiblocks in a long time (about 30 years) but do recall that they were pretty smelly.  I'm not sure I would like to put my stove in my mess tin. 

Most of the time I simply use a cotton wool ball with no wax as tinder for my ferrorod.  I also use some sisal twine that I dipped in melted wax as a wet tinder - you do need to tease the strands out more than if it's dry.