13 Things About Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves You May Not Have Known

Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves

Summary: These simple stoves that are lightweight can use hexamine, wood white fuel, white fuel, and gas canisters using only one nozzle. They're popular in cold weather, but they're loud and don't have simmer control.

Some multi-fuel stoves are hybrids that can burn different types of liquid fuel. The MSR WhisperLite Universal, for instance, takes both white and isobutane fuel in its canisters.

Optimus Nova

The Optimus Nova is a multi fuel boiler stove-fuel stove that can be used with various liquid fuels. It comes with a quick-priming stove and an aluminum pump that self-purges and precise simmer control. Its low center of gravity and broad legs make it a sturdy stove that is rock-solid. This makes it an ideal stove for group base camps kayaking, Arctic camp.

The Optimus Nova is different from other stoves using liquid fuel that have a problem with unburned fuel remaining in the fuel line or nozzle. This can be resolved by flipping the bottle. The intake hose is then removed from the fuel, and forces it to suck air that extinguishes the flame. It also depressurizes the bottle.

This is a pretty ingenious solution for an age-old issue, and it works. The Nova can be used with a range of regular fuel bottles that are sealed using an o-ring, such as MSR bottles. It also comes with a fully featured stove bag that has separate pockets for spare parts, tools and lubricant, as well as the fuel pump.

This is an excellent stove for backpacking that is suitable for use in the UK. It is especially useful for expeditions, where many fuel types are required. The price is affordable compared to other canister stoves with similar capabilities. The Optimus Nova is also easy to maintain and fun to use.

Kovea Hydra

The Kovea Hydra multi fuel stove was first introduced in 2010 and has been a favourite choice for backpackers since. The Hydra isn't as well-known among UK backpackers any more, perhaps because they have caught up to better-known brands or the newest lightweight offerings from China or Korea. However, that doesn't make it any less effective.

It is a small and light stove that burns all liquid fuels including white gas, propane butane and white gas using one nozzle. It's a typical stove with a burner attached to a body which anchors three fold-out support legs. The pump is located above the fuel line, while the generator loop is wrapped around the inlet, and the flame spreader is situated above. The burner is a low-velocity flame type. This means it is less susceptible to wind.

It's a versatile little cooker because it can be used with isobutane canisters or propane canisters. It is easy to simmer with propane or isobutane and burns all fuel types with a decent amount of heat, but is a bit slower than other stoves when using white gas.

The instructions for the Hydra are written in English, but they were not written by native speakers of the language. The instructions warn against the use of certain kinds of lighter fluids, which if mistaken for what was intended, could result in an accident that could land Kovea in a lot of hot legal water. Any gas canister that is 7/16ths UNEF-threaded of a reputable brand will be fine.

Primus OmniLite Ti

Primus Omnilite Ti can be a great choice for those who are looking for a multifuel cooker that can cook using a variety of fuels. It can run on gas, petrol/gasoline or diesel, kerosene and aviation fuel. It has separate controls for each fuel type and can also be used to alter the size of the flame which is a wonderful feature. The stove comes with an oil pipe that is flat on the floor and can be connected to the tank in a snap.

While the Primus Omnilite is a fantastic stove, it requires maintenance in order to ensure it is operating properly. It could be dangerous as it gets flaming when priming. This is a problem that occurs with all liquid fuel stoves that utilize a secondary spindle throttle at the stove's side to vaporize fuel, instead of a generator coil.

Another issue is that it requires different jets for each type of fuel. If you are cooking using kerosene, then the jet hole will be smaller than if using gas. It's a minor inconvenience however it's something to be aware of.

MSR Whisper Light

The MSR Whisper Lite stove is one of the smallest, lightest and most affordable multi-fuel stoves. It is also simple to repair in the field. It can be used with canister fuel or liquid gas and comes with attachments for both. The new design is lighter by 10% compared to its predecessor, and the burner system was revamped to improve the distribution of heat. This is an excellent choice for backpackers on a tight budget or those who are just beginning.

It takes a bit of time to set up, prime and boil water, but the whistler Lite is a reliable camp stove that will not disappoint you. The flame is strong and can cook a liter of water within two minutes. The only drawback is it's not as effective for simmering as some other stoves.

MSR developed the Dragonfly to be a more capable burner. It has a similar design to the whistler but is smaller and has superior performance. However it's not as affordable as the whistler Lite. The Soto Amicus stove and cookset is a fantastic alternative that gives you the same configuration for a fraction of the cost. Whisperlite International and Universal can be utilized with isobutane. The same fundamental design is used in both, however the Universal version can also be used with canister fuel as well.

Coleman Sportster II

This is a basic and basic Coleman stove that does its job. It's compact, self-contained and solid with the tank on the bottom and the burner on the top. This makes it simple to use and a good choice for those who are new to backpacking, looking to save weight and those who have spares in the van.

Designed to burn Coleman's own exclusive fuel (naptha gas, also referred to as white gas) The stove can be used with non-leaded gasoline, as well. A gallon of gasoline will last as longer as a standard Coleman liquid fuel cylinder, so you'll save money on fuel using this alternative.

It takes some practice to get a good blue flame on a stove with liquid fuel. You'll have to pressurize the stove and prime them correctly before you can do this. If you do it wrong, your fuel may be sprayed, pool, or splash over the burner or sputter. Practice outside before taking it on your next trip to master it.

The stove will sacrifice some performance or flame odor efficiency when using non-coleman fuels, but this is a trade-off in exchange for the added flexibility it offers. Make sure to purchase unleaded gasoline and not something that is enriched with methanol or ethanol (alcohol). These types of fuel could cause the unit's performance to degrade and even explode.

ATG Jiko

The ATG Jiko multi fuel stove from South Africa (formerly known as the jiko) is an ultralight multifuel stove built for harsh environments such as Africa. It's a compact and robust stove that burns solid fuel tabs, gels and alcohol with only one nozzle. It's a light and minimalist design that costs less than the majority of multifuel stoves, and also has low cost of ownership and fuel is less expensive per liter than gas canisters.

Other multifuel stoves feature a separate nozzle per fuel type. This makes them fiddly to change over in the rain or without gloves, and could increase their overall weight. The newer types of multifuel stoves have come up with a way to use the same nozzle to ignite different fuels, making it easier. The latest versions of these stoves are known as 'hybrid' or 'compressed fuel multifuel stoves' and there are a variety of names for them such as isobutane canister fuel white gas, kerosene and unleaded gasoline/car petrol.

A multifuel stove kit can be bought to convert your Trangia burners into multifuel cookers. They are sold in camping stores that specialize in outdoor equipment and can be bought internationally. They are ideal for Trangia enthusiasts. They can burn all liquid fuels, apart from diesel and, with the right accessories they can even simmer.