When selecting a backpacking stove, or one to be used for mountaineering, most people look at the features that the stove offers and the weight of the cooker itself. In many cases they will pay more to buy a model made from exotic materials such as titanium because it will be a few grams lighter than a rival model. Yet few people take time to look at how fuel efficient the stove is, a factor that plays a far greater role in how much weight they will have to carry when hiking a long trail.
This is because backpacking and camping stoves vary considerably in their use of fuel with some using close to twice as much fuel to boil a given quantity of water compared with more efficient models. The choice of fuel is also important as some are far richer in energy than others. Choose wisely on both and you may end up having the weight you have to carry on the trail that is dedicated to cooking your food and preparing your coffee.
A study by university researchers in South Africa into the efficiency of four popular backpacking stoves found, for instance, that two models by the same manufacturer (in this case MSR) varied considerably. The MSR Expedition model managed to extract little more than 50% of the potential energy from the fuel it burned while DragonFly stove made by the same company extracted 70%. A rival model made by Primus meanwhile managed to achieve almost 90% efficiency. The impact this may have on the final weight carried on a trail is considerable since one would usually expect to carry some 600ml (weighing fairly close to 600 grams excluding the fuel bottle) for about two hours of cooking. A difference of efficiency of the order revealed by the research would lead to a difference of 200grams for a short hiking trip of just a day or two for a small group.
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 Optimus Svea Hiking Backpacking Brass White Gas Stove US .99 |  OPTIMUS NEW SVEA BACKPACKING HIKING STOVE US $84.99 |
 OPTIMUS STOVE 111 TANKSSCRATCH DENT SALE US .99 |  Optimus 99 Portable Gasoline Camping Stove US $53.00 |
 Optimus 8R Gasoline Stove Camping Backpacking Vintage US .51 |  OPTIMUS SWEDEN 155W DUAL BURNER KEROSENE MARINE STOVE US $301.00 |
 RARE OPTIMUS 22 B 22B DOUBLE BURNER CAMPING STOVE US 6.00 |  VINTAGE OPTIMUS 99 CAMP STOVE COMPLETE LOOK US $48.51 |
 Optimus Crux Lite Stove Camping Backpacking Stove NIB US .95 |  Optimus no 154 swedish kerosene stove Camping NOS US $91.00 |
 VINTAGE OPTIMUS No 00 PARAFFIN CAMPING STOVE SWEDEN US .78 |  Optimus Camping Stove Parts for 8R 123R 1000 199 NEW US $28.99 |
 SIGG TOURIST COOK SET OPTIMUS SVEA 123 STOVE US .51 |  Cleopatras Camp Stove primus optimus tank holder US $.99 |
 Optimus Camping Stove Parts Ext repair kit Nova Hiker US .99 |  Vintage Optimus 8R camp stove US $10.99 |
 SVEA OPTIMUS BACKPACK CAMP STOVE SWEDEN EXLT US .00 |  Vintage Optimus 99 Backpack stove made is Sweden US $38.00 |
 OPTIMUS NOVA PLUS FUEL BURNER COOKING STOVE NEW US 9.95 |  VINTAGE SEA SWINGOPTIMUS STOVESWEDENHOLDER ONLY US $9.99 |
 Optimus Model 80 Backpack Stove US .50 |  SVEA Optimus 123 Camping Cook Stove Instructions US $4.44 |
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 Vintage Optimus Stove Parts111 Fuel Tank US .00 |  Optimus Crux Stove Free Stove Seater Game Board US $49.95 |
 Optimus Crux Stove w Throw Bag 50 Line Stuffsac NIB US .00 |  Primus No96 stove optimus US $199.00 |
 Optimus Crux Stove Camping Backpacking Stove NEW IN BOX US .95 |  Optimus Hiker Plus Single Unit Liquid Fuel Stove NIB US $148.99 |
 NEW OPTIMUS CRUX ULTRALIGHT BACKPACKING CAMPING STOVE US .95 |  Vintage Optimus 8R Camp Stove Fuel Bottle Gasoline US $24.50 |
 OPTIMUS 80 BACKPACKING CAMP STOVE NR US .99 |  Optimus 111 Camp StoveBrass Tank SILENT BURNER US $125.00 |
 Vintage PRIMUS OPTIMUS KEROSENE STOVE 2 Flame Rings US .95 |  Vintage PRIMUS OPTIMUS KEROSENE STOVE Hexagon key US $5.00 |
 Vintage PRIMUS OPTIMUS KEROSENE STOVE 1619 nipple key US .50 |  Vintage PRIMUS OPTIMUS KEROSENE STOVE 1624 key US $5.00 |
 Vintage PRIMUS OPTIMUS KEROSENE STOVE 206 Burner US .50 |  OPTIMUS NEW CRUX CANISTER STOVE US $39.99 |
 OPTIMUS NEW CRUX LITE STOVE TERRA SOLO COOK SET US .99 |  OPTIMUS NEW CRUX LITE CANISTER STOVE US $33.99 |
 OPTIMUS NEW HIKER PLUS SINGLE UNIT MULTI FUEL STOVE US 2.99 |  Optimus Hiker Camping Stove NEW US $164.99 |
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 Brunton Optimus CRUX Foldable Canister Camping Stove US .95 |  Optimus Svea Liquid Fuel Camp Stove NEW 123R US $99.95 |
 Optimus Crux Lite Stove Terra Solo Cookset US .95 |  Optimus Crux Lite Backpacking Stove or Camping US $51.00 |
 ANTIQUE 50s OPTIMUS 80 GASOLINE CAMP STOVE WITH KEY US $.99 |  NEW Katadyn Optimus Crux Lite Stove US $40.16 |
 Optimus Terra HE Cook Set Crux Lite Stove NEW w GIFT US .95 |  Optimus Stove Pot Supports 111 International Others US $6.99 |
 Camping Stove Optimus Stella NEW IN BOX GREAT VALUE US .99 |  Optimus Nova Camping Stove NEW US $169.95 |
 BRAND NEW Optimus SVEA CLASSIC GAS STOVE US .00 |  Camping Stove Optimus Funnel with Fuel Filter NEW US $7.00 |
 OPTIMUS STOVE PARTS 111 HIKER 8R WRENCH US .99 |  NEW OPTIMUS SVEA CAMPING HIKING BACKPACKING STOVE US $99.95 |
 OPTIMUS CRUX CANISTER CAMPING BACKPACKING STOVE NEW US .95 |  Camping Stove Fry Pan OPTIMUS UltraLight FAST SHIPPING US $24.99 |
 OPTIMUS HIKER PLUS SINGLE UNIT MULTI FUEL HIKING STOVE US 9.95 |  Camping Stove Kettle Optimus w Mesh Bag NEW IN BOX US $21.75 |
 Replacement wick for Optimus Svea stoves 123 8Retc US .50 |  NEW OPTIMUS NOVA CAMPING HIKING ULTRALIGHT STOVE US $139.95 |
 Optimus Crux Canister Stove 2 Piece Cutlery Set NEW US .95 |  Optimus StoveFuel Tank Cap US $12.50 |
 Katadyn Optimus Hiker Stove Hot Item US 3.99 |  Optimus Svea Camp Stove NEW US $99.95 |
 OPTIMUS SVEA BACKPACKING HIKING STOVE NEW US .99 |  OPTIMUS CRUX CANISTER STOVE NEW US $47.99 |
 Optimus Stoves Parts Nova Nova Trangia Adapter NEW US .99 |  OPTIMUS CRUX LITE STOVE TERRA SOLO COOK SET NEW US $58.99 |
 OPTIMUS CRUX LITE CANISTER STOVE NEW US .99 |  Optimus Nova Camping Stove NEW US $139.95 |
 OPTIMUS HIKER PLUS SINGLE UNIT MULTI FUEL STOVE NEW US 9.99 |  Optimus Crux Camping Stove NEW US $69.95 |
 Optimus Optimus Crux Lite Single Unit Stove Christmas US .99 |  New Optimus Crux Lite Stove w Terra Solo Cook Set US $65.99 |
 OPTIMUS 80 Vintage backpacking stove Complete US .99 |  Vintage Optimus 8R Camp Stove Sweeden US $9.99 |
 Optimus Crux Lite Single Unit Stove Durability NEW US .99 |  Optimus Backpacking Stove in orig box w instructions US $41.50 |
