Carrying and using a backpacking stove in the wilderness is an environmentally wise choice. It is also much more convenient than having to search for wood to burn and lighting a fire after a long and tiring hike. Besides, to reduce the risk of forest fires, the United States and Canada have restricted the use of campfires in much of the backcountry.
There are many things to consider when choosing a camping stove. In this post we will limit our discussion to the issue of the type of fuel that your new stove will burn. Of course, choosing a type of fuel also means choosing an appropriate type of stove to burn that fuel.
Making the proper choice of a backpacking stove based on the fuel that it burns depends on various circumstances that you anticipate encountering. This discussion will be structured around these circumstances.
Convenience: Stoves that connect to a canister are very convenient. The fuels that they contain, butane, propane and an isobutane blend, ignite easily, burn hot immediately and do not need priming. The flame is easily adjustable from a high heat to a low simmering flame.
An inconvenience of this type of stove and fuel is the problem of disposing of the fuel canisters. They are also not the best for cooking in temperatures below freezing.
The convenience of multi-fuel stoves lies in their ability to burn many different types of fuel. This convenience is counterbalanced by their higher cost.
Global Availability: If you plan to do any extensive backpacking outside of the United States or Canada, you might consider a stove that burns unleaded gasoline. That's right, the same fuel that you burn in your car. The same fuel that you can find practically anywhere in the world. That's the advantage, international availability.
But, there are plenty of inconveniences with this type of stove and fuel. Number one, you may be dealing with frequent sessions of unclogging your stove due to the fact that unleaded gasoline burns dirty. It's also smelly and very volatile. So consider this option only as a last resort, like when you plan to hike in a really remote area of Africa or Asia. Caution: never use oxygenated gasoline. It will eat the rubber seals of your stove.
Kerosene is another option for international backpacking. It is readily available in nearly every country of the world. Some negatives of using this fuel are its characteristics of burning dirty, being smelly and evaporating slowly when spilled. In addition, it requires priming and can also gum up stove parts.
Another option for international travel is a multi-fuel stove. The extra expense that they entail may be worth it for the convenience of using nearly any fuel available.
Keeping Expenses Down: One of the cheapest fuels is unleaded gasoline. An inexpensive and safer alternative to this type of fuel is kerosene. Both of these fuels are available internationally.
Safety: Canister fuels (see above) are among the safest. Denatured alcohol has a low volatility and burns very quietly. Another advantage is that it is environmentally friendly.
Need for High Heat: Some hot burning fuels are kerosene and white gas.
Winter Backpacking: White gas can be used in a wide range of ambient temperatures including very low temperatures. However, it requires priming.
Note: We have not addressed the issue of ultralightness. That will have to be the subject of another article.
So, if you're in the market for a backpacking stove, analyze the circumstances of the your near-future backpacking to make an informed decision about which stove to buy.
 MSR pocket rocket backpacking cook stove W case  US $14.50 |  MSR Whisperlite Camping Backpacking Stove NEW in Box US $40.00 |
 MSR Windpro Camping Backpacking Stove NEW in Box US $60.00 |  MSR Whisperlite Internationale Backpacking Stove NEW US $46.00 |
 MSR Pocket Rocket Backpacking Stove NEW in BOX US $26.00 |  MSR Whisperlite Camp Stove Works Good US $99.00 |
 MSR camping stove US $46.79 |  MSR camping stove gas bottle 22oz US $8.29 |
 MSR Dragonfly camping stove US $46.78 |  MSR Dragonfly Camping Backpacking Stove and Bottle US $45.00 |
 NEW IN BOX MSR Dragonfly Stove US $79.99 |  MSR Simmerlite Backpacking Stove New White Gas US $26.00 |
 MSR DRAGONFLY STOVE BACKPACKING STOVE NEW US $80.00 |  MSR XGK 11 stove MSR Mini Works Ceramic Water Filter US $61.00 |
 MSR DRAGONFLY BACKPACKING STOVE US $75.00 |  MSR Dragonfly Stove w Extras US $69.99 |
 MSR Pocket Rocket Ultralight Hiking Stove NEW in Box US $17.87 |  MSR XGK stove USED PLUS Extras US $50.00 |
 MSR XGK EX Stove w 20 ounce bottle new GSI 3LPot US $57.26 |  Very NICE Vintage MSR XGK Expedition Stove w MORE US $50.00 |
 MSR WhisperLite Internationale 600 Stove 31160 US $8.99 |  MSR BACKPACK STOVE WHISPERLITE DRAGONFLY WITH BOTTLE US $9.00 |
 MSR Dragonfly Stove Brand New US $37.00 |  MSR WhisperLite Internationale Camp Stove With Extras US $26.50 |
 MSR XGK EXPEDITION CAMP STOVE PARTSCOOKWARE 2 BOTTLES US $15.50 |  MSR WISPER LITE PACK STOVE US $5.74 |
 MSR Firefly Stove SUSPENSION KIT NOS NIP US $19.00 |  b MSR Whisperlight Internationale Portable Camp Stove US $13.77 |
 Excellent Condition MSR Pocket Rocket Stove US $20.50 |  2 MSR WHISPERLITE INTERNATIONAL BACKPACKING STOVES US $65.00 |
 MSR Stove Lot EARLY one Plus 2 Later Ones THREE US $49.99 |  MSR WINDPRO CAMPING STOVE REMOTE CANISTER NEW US $45.00 |
 MSR WhisperLite Internationale backpacking camp stove US $11.51 |  MSR WhisperLite Internationale Camping Stove w extras US $29.01 |
 MSR WHISPER LITE INTERNATIONALE 600 CAMPING STOVE NICE US $19.95 |  NEW MSR Pocket Rocket Camping Backpack Stove hiking US $15.00 |
 MSR Dragonfly Stove Camping Hiking backpacking 0 US $1.04 |  MSR Superfly Stove Hiking Camping Ultralight US $.99 |
 MSR Dragonfly Multi Fuel Camping Hiking Stove NEW US $.99 |  MSR Reactor International Stove US $50.00 |
 MSR Firefly Stove Used and Needs a Pump US $.99 |  MSR Ascent Titanium Hanging Kit for MSR SuperFly stove US $35.00 |
 MSR XGK II Mountaineering Stove US $60.00 |  MSR Whisperlite Stove US $9.50 |
 Tilley Lantern and MSR Stove Leather Pump Cup 5PIECES US $9.99 |  MSR XGK EX Stove NIB US $65.00 |
 Brunton Backpacking Stove Windscreen For MSR etc New US $5.99 |  MSR Reactor All Condition New Efficient Stove System US $1.29 |
 MSR WhisperLite Stove MSR Alpine Pot Set US $49.99 |  MSR Simmerlite Liquid Fuel Camping Hiking Stove NEW US $.99 |
 MSR Whisperlite international backpacking stove US $40.00 |  MSR Camping hiking kayaking Dragonfly cooking stove US $109.95 |
 Dragonfly MSR Camping Hiking Liquid Fuel Cooking Stove US $110.00 |  MSR Fuel Tube Bushing for Stove Fuel Pump 4418205 US $1.50 |
 MSR WHISPERLITE INTERNATIONAL BACKPACKING STOVE NEW US $89.00 |  MSR Pocket Rocket Backpacking Stove US $32.50 |
 NEW Gas canister Adapter for MSR Gasoline Stove US $75.00 |  MSR Fuel Bottle 30oz for Liquid Fuel Backpacking Stoves US $16.95 |
 MSR REACTOR BACKPACKING LIGHTWEIGHT STOVE SYSTEM NEW US $159.00 |  MSR Pocket Rocket Backpacking Camp Stove PocketRocket US $39.95 |
 Gas canister Adapter for MSR Gasoline Stove DRAGONFLY US $72.00 |  MSR Superfly Stove with Autostart 119311 2 US $49.95 |
 MSR Whisperlite Intl Liquid Fuel Backpacking Stove US $74.95 |  BACKPACKING CAMPING HIKING CLIMBING STOVE MSR PRIMUS GO US $39.99 |
 MSR Simmerlite Compact Liquid Fuel Stove US $89.00 |  MSR KGK EX Extreme Condition Camp Stove NIB FAST SHIP US $119.96 |
 MSR SUPERFLY CAMPING STOVE NEW NO RESERVE US $49.99 |  MSR DRAGONFLY LIQUID FUEL CAMP STOVE US $124.99 |
 MSR Dragonfly Premier Multi Fuel Simmering Stove NEW US $119.95 |  MSR Fuel Bottle 11oz for Liquid Fuel Backpacking Stoves US $11.95 |
 MSR WhisperLite Stove US $79.95 |  MSR SuperFly AutoStart Stove Igniter US $14.95 |
 MSR SuperFly Stove w AutoStart US $69.95 |  MSR WINDPRO STOVE BACKPACKING CAMPING STOVE NEW US $89.00 |
 MSR SUPERFLY STOVE BACKPACKING STOVE NEW US $59.99 |  MSR Pocket Rocket Stove 11792 US $39.95 |
 Vg MSR RapidFire IsoButane BACKPACK STOVE backpacking US $74.76 |  MSR Reactor Stove System Backpacking Stove US $159.95 |
 MSR Fuel Tube O Ring Green for Dragonfly Stove 418703 US $1.00 |  MSR REACTOR STOVE SYSTEM MODEL 11205 BRAND NEW US $136.99 |
 MSR Stove Annual Maintenance Kit 11814 US $14.95 |  MSR Superfly Backpacking Stove US $45.00 |
 MSR REACTOR STOVE SYSYEM CAMP STOVE US $154.99 |  MSR WHISPERLITE STOVE NEW US $64.99 |
 MSR WHISPERLITE BACKPACKING STOVE SHAKER JET NEW US $79.00 |  MSR Whisperlite Stove 11782 US $79.95 |
| Powered by phpBay Pro |
