Backpacking stoves?

[Superu]

You can't beat the penny (popcan) stove.
-It's lighter than anything you could possibly buy.
-It's free.
-They're extremely easy to make
-They work extremely well, and they're fun to use (even at high altitude)
-You can run them off everclear so extra fuel won't be wasted.
-You can also run them off denatured alcohol which you can find at pretty much any hardware store. (try finding a new little msr bottle at the little town by the trailhead)

All you need to know about the penny stove!

[UNI]

Lost Canadian Posted: If you camp out of country, or in areas where there are no big chain outdoor shops around, a multi fuel stove is the way to go.

I agree with Lost Canadian, we also have the MSR Dragonfly. It will flat out boil water, simmer and folds down fairly compact. We use the stove for backpacking, canoeing, etc.

Alan

[R_Lefebvre]

I was looking at the Dragonfly on the weekend. Definitely the best of the compact stoves I looked at. I get the desire "ultralight", but some of the little bity stoves seemed unusable. Certainly not safe with little rugrats running around. The Dragonfly seemed much more stable at least. Seems like it gets great review, but how loud is it, really? I see the phrase "Like a jet plane" used a lot.

[Rallyroo]

Seems like it gets great review, but how loud is it, really? I see the phrase "Like a jet plane" used a lot.

They do sound like a mini jet. Two of my friends have them. When they're using their Dragonfly, all I hear is the loud roar of the stove. Once their stove goes off, I sigh in relief, hey, I can actually hear. But the Dragonfly does have the advantage with the ability to simmer. My Whiperlite is quiet, but it basically operates at mid to full power with no simmer ability.

[01tundra]

I've had a MSR PocketRocket for years and it's always done a great job, but ever since I got a Jetboil and started using the Backpacker's Pantry style food pouches the MSR has sat in my garage........

The Jetboil seems large at first glance, but considering that the stove and gas canister pack inside the cup, it's really a pretty compact set up overall. And boiling water comes with the quickness .

[Lost Canadian]

Seems like it gets great review, but how loud is it, really? I see the phrase "Like a jet plane" used a lot.

Have you used a coleman propane lantern on full blast before? My highly tuned ears want to say it's a little louder than one of those.

[R_Lefebvre]

Yes, I have a propane lantern. Definitely loud, but not too bad. But if the stove is louder than that... wow. Somebody mentioned it's good at keeping the bears away. I guess there is that!

[pskhaat]

Seems lame, but when hiking the Canyon (2-4 days) I always bring a couple cans of sterno and a little metal grate. Is light and has worked just fine.

[UNI]

pskhaat,

Nothing wrong with a Sterno stove, I've used that before backpacking myself.
We will still use it occasionally, when we need to keep something hot.

Alan

[paulj]

Esbit fuel tabs are also popular with ounce pinching backpackers. Here's a titanium 'stove' for Esbit
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-...ing-stove.html