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.
 VTG OPTIMUS 80 CAMP STOVE W CASE KEY MADE IN SWEDEN  US $31.00 |  SWEDEN SVEA 123 CAMPING STOVE WITH OPTIMUS PUMP AND KEY US $39.10 |
 Optimus Camping Crux Stove Weekend HE Cook System NEW US $59.99 |  STOVE MINI PUMP SVEA 123 123R OPTIMUS 8R 80 88 99 US $70.00 |
 OPTIMUS 8R COOK PAN BACKPACK HIKING CAMPING STOVE CASE US $26.99 |  RADIUS SWEDEN No 21 KEROSENE STOVE PRIMUS OPTIMUS US $119.00 |
 OPTIMUS NEW NOVA PLUS SINGLE UNIT MULTI FUEL STOVE US $99.99 |  Optimus 8R stove for gasoline sweden made slightly used US $49.00 |
 10 Heatproof washers to fix PRIMUS OPTIMUS kero stoves US $7.67 |  CAMPING HIKING STOVE OPTIMUS INTERNATIONAL 8 R US $48.00 |
 NICE Original Optimus No 00 Camp Stove Complete US $52.00 |  old OPTIMUS 80 BRASS STOVE SWEDEN SVEA PRIMUS unused US $20.50 |
 OPTIMUS 99 CAMP STOVE US $17.50 |  OPTIMUS 8R CAMP STOVE US $10.49 |
 4 x Lid gaskets to fix OPTIMUS 8r 80 111 camp stoves US $5.50 |  6 x Gaskets to fix OPTIMUS 00 PRIMUS 210 camp stoves US $6.00 |
 Optimus 80 stove with cook kit mini pump and picker US $52.51 |  OPTIMUS MINI PUMP for Primus 8R 80 88 99 Svea 123 Stove US $10.95 |
 Optimus 99 Vintage Backpacking Stove NEVER FIRED US $80.00 |  OPTIMUS NEW CRUX LITE STOVE TERRA SOLO COOK SET US $49.99 |
 Optimus Nova Plus Camp Stove BRAND NEW w FREE GIFTS US $129.95 |  Antique Optimus Camping Stove US $45.10 |
 Optimus Crux Hiking Backpacking Lightweight Gas Stove US $45.99 |  brass Optimus 00 Cook Camp Stove w box misc US $9.99 |
 Camping Hiking Stove OPTIMUS Svea 123R FAST SHIPPING US $88.99 |  OPTIMUS 8 R HIKING STOVE NICE USED LOOKS COMPLETE HIKE US $19.99 |
 New Optimus Nova Plus Camping Stove Weight 15 oz US $125.75 |  Optimus Nova NIB Stove Multi Fuel Backpacking Hiking US $62.01 |
 Vintage Optimus 45 Stove Made in Sweden No Reserve US $9.99 |  SVEA 123 123R OPTIMUS 8R PRIMUS 71 STOVE FLAME PLATE US $11.00 |
 Optimus Crux Lite camping gas stove BRAND NEW in box US $.99 |  Optimus 80 Sweden Gas Brass Back Packing Single Stove US $11.13 |
 OPTIMUS NEW CRUX LITE CANISTER STOVE US $33.99 |  VINTAGE OPTIMUS No 48 KEROSENE STOVE AND ORIG TIN US $18.03 |
 Optimus Nova Plus Stove Brand New Backpacking Stove NR US $31.01 |  Optimus Stove Nova and Nova Service Kit 8520 US $14.95 |
 LOT 2 STOVE MINI PUMP SVEA 123 123R OPTIMUS 8R 80 88 99 US $160.00 |  Optimus 111 Hiker Tripple Fuel Silent Burner Stove RARE US $149.00 |
 Optimus 80 stove with cook kit mini pump fuel bottle US $12.50 |  Optimus Crux Lite Hiking Backpacking Compact Gas Stove US $35.99 |
 VINTAGE OPTIMUS 111 HIKER BACKPACK STOVE ANTARCTICA US $9.51 |  Optimus 111B Camp Stove Vintage US $20.50 |
 VINTAGE PRIMUS 8R BACKPACKING CAMP OPTIMUS STOVE SWEDEN US $10.50 |  Vitage Optimus 8R Made in Sweden Portable Gas Stove US $31.99 |
 Camping Stove Optimus Funnel with Fuel Filter NEW US $6.99 |  Optimus Nova Plus Stove w FREE Firesteel Spork NIB US $129.95 |
 Optimus Crux Compact Pack Camp Stove 3000W US $49.95 |  Optimus Svea Hiking Backpacking Brass White Gas Stove US $99.99 |
 Optimus Plus Multi Fuel Stove US $149.95 |  OPTIMUS CRUX LITE HIKING STOVE W TERRA SOLO COOK SET US $59.95 |
 Optimus Nova Stove US $139.95 |  Optimus Nova Stove Backpacking Stove MSRP$99 US $139.99 |
 Optimus Optimus Nova Stove US $139.95 |  OPTIMUS GAZ BLEUET 206 CAMP CAMPING BACKPACKING STOVE US $9.00 |
 Optimus Crux Stove Camping Backpacking Stove NEW IN BOX US $49.50 |  Good OPTIMUS PRIMUS RADIUS STOVE 5 145mm PUMP CUP US $12.00 |
 Optimus Spanner for jet stuffing box stoves 111 etc US $7.99 |  2 Lead gaskets for PRIMUS OPTIMUS RADIUS STOVE US $11.88 |
 OPTIMUS HIKER PLUS SINGLE UNIT MULTI FUEL HIKING STOVE US $179.95 |  Optimus Crux Stove US $49.95 |
 OPTIMUS NOVA Backpacking Stove and Bottle Brand NEW US $139.95 |  BRUNTON OPTIMUS FLEX BACKPACKING BUTANE CAMP STOVE NIB US $70.99 |
 OPTIMUS NOVA PLUS Backpacking Stove Multifuel NEW US $139.95 |  Optimus Nova Camping Stove BRAND NEW w FREE GIFTS US $109.00 |
 20 x Optimus cleaning needle 2457 for Burner Stove NEW US $149.00 |  old SEA SWING PART GIMBALED STOVE OPTIMUS 45 HIPOLITO US $14.99 |
 OPTIMUS 8R CAMP BACKPACKING STOVE EXCELLENT US $42.00 |  Brunton Optimus CRUX Foldable Canister Camping Stove US $74.95 |
 OPTIMUS CRUX LITE ULTRALIGHT Backpacking Stove NEW US $39.95 |  OPTIMUS NEW SVEA BACKPACKING HIKING STOVE US $84.99 |
 Optimus Optimus Crux Lite Single Unit Camp Stove NEW US $39.95 |  Optimus Crux Canister Camp Stove Outdoor Camping Hiking US $69.50 |
 vintage KEY for SVEA 123 R OPTIMUS 8R 99 STOVE US $9.99 |  OPTIMUS 111 22 8R STOVE SPINDLE CONTROL KNOB SVEA 123R US $12.50 |
 BRASS KEY for SVEA 123 R OPTIMUS 8R 99 STOVE US $9.99 |  OPTIMUS NOVA PLUS FUEL BURNER COOKING STOVE NEW US $159.95 |
 PRIMUS STOVE NOS coleman optimus lantern lamp rare US $299.00 |  Optimus Nova Stove for Camping NEW US $139.95 |
 OPTIMUS 10 LITER LIGHTWEIGHT CAMP STOVE FUEL BOTTLE US $17.00 |  Optimus Crux Lite Backpacking stove US $33.96 |
 OPTIMUS INTERNATIONAL HIKER 111 TRIPLE FUEL STOVELK US $375.00 |  OPTIMUS SVEA BACKPACKERS SELF PRESSURIZING STOVE NEW US $95.00 |
 Brand New Optimus Svea Stove FREE 2 DAY SHIPPING US $109.95 |  Brand New Optimus Nova Plus Stove FREE 2 DAY SHIPPING US $149.95 |
 OPTIMUS CRUX CANISTER CAMPING BACKPACKING STOVE NEW US $44.95 |  Optimus Nova Hiker Camping Stove spare parts kit NEW US $29.99 |
 Peabody Optimus Travel Camping Boat Stove Vintage 1921 US $9.95 |  Optimus Crux Backpacking stove US $42.46 |
 Optimus 111 Camp StoveBrass Tank SILENT BURNER US $125.00 |  Optimus Svea Camp Stove NEW US $109.95 |
