Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves
Summary: These basic and lightweight stoves burn wood, hexamine tablets, gas canisters, and white fuel via a single nozzle. These stoves are popular during colder weather, but they can be noisy and lack simmer control.
Some multi-fuel stoves are hybrids, able to burn multiple kinds 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 stove that can be used with a variety of liquid fuels. It features a quick-priming burner as well as an aluminium pump that self-purges and a precise simmer control. Its low center of gravity and wide spreading legs make it a sturdy stove that can be used on uneven ground. This makes it a perfect stove for backpacking groups, base camps, kayaking and camping in the Arctic.
The Optimus Nova is different from other stoves with liquid fuel which have issues with unburned fuel lingering in the fuel line or nozzle. This can be solved by simply flipping over the bottle. The intake hoses are removed from the fuel and causes them to absorb air which stifles flames and depressurizes the bottles.
This is a clever solution for an age-old issue and it's a good one. The Nova can be used with any fuel bottle with an o-ring seal. This includes MSR bottles. It comes with an oven bag that has pockets for tools, spares along with lubricant and fuel pump.
This is a fantastic stove for backpacking that can be used in the UK. It is particularly ideal for trips, where many fuel types are required. The cost is quite affordable compared to other stoves in the canister category with similar capabilities. The Optimus Nova is also easy to maintain and a joy to use.
Kovea Hydra
Since 2010 since 2010, the Kovea Multi Fuel Stove has been a favorite among backpackers. The Hydra isn't as popular with UK backpackers anymore possibly because they've caught up to better-known brands or the most recent lightweight options from China or Korea. But that doesn't make it any less effective.
It is a lightweight and compact stove that can burn all liquid fuels like propane butane, white gas and white gas with only one nozzle. It's a typical stove, with an inbuilt burner that is attached to a body, which is secured by three support legs that fold out. The pump is on top of the fuel line, and the generator loop runs around the inlet, and the flame spreader is situated over. The burner is a low-velocity flame type. This makes it less affected by wind.
One of the best features is that it can be utilized with a canister of isobutane or propane, which makes it a versatile small cooker. It's simple to simmer with propane or isobutane and burns all fuel types at a decent level but is a little slower than other stoves when using white gas.
The instructions for the Hydra are written in English however they were clearly not written by native English speakers. The instructions caution against the use of certain kinds of lighter fluid that if used in a manner that is not what is actually intended can lead to an accident that could result in Kovea in a lot of legal hot water. But that, any 7/16ths UNEF threaded gas container from a trusted brand will work fine.
Primus OmniLite Ti
The Primus Omnilite Ti is a great option for those who are looking for a multifuel stove that is able to cook with a variety of fuels. It can operate on gasoline, petrol/gasoline, fuel oil, kerosene, and diesel fuel. It comes with separate controls for each fuel type and allows you to alter the size of the flame. This stove comes with an fuel pipe that sits flat on the floor and can be connected to the tank easily.
While the Primus Omnilite is a fantastic stove, it does require maintenance in order to ensure it is operating properly. Particularly it has a tendency to flare when priming which can be a bit dangerous. This is a common issue with all stoves with liquid fuel that utilize a secondary spindle throttle on the stove's end to evaporate fuel instead of an engine coil.
Another issue is that it requires different jets for each kind of fuel. This means that if you cook on kerosene the jet hole has to be smaller than when using gas. This is a minor issue but it's still worth mentioning.
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 is able to be used with liquid gas or canister fuel and includes attachments for both. The new model is lighter by 10% compared to its predecessor and the burner mechanism was redesigned to improve the distribution of heat. It's great for beginners or backpackers who are budget-conscious.
The whistler Lite requires a bit of time to set up and prime, then boil water, but it is a reliable stove that will never fail you. The flame is very powerful when it is turned all the way up and will easily boil one liter of water within two minutes or less. The only downside is that it's not as good to simmer as other stoves.
This is why MSR has designed the Dragonfly stove to become a more capable simmering burner. It has a similar design as the whistler, but it is smaller and has more performance. However, it's not as cheap as the whistler Lite. The Soto Amicus stove and cookset is a great alternative that gives you the same set-up for half the price. Whisperlite International and Universal can be used with isobutane. The same fundamental design is used for both but the Universal version can also be operated with fuel from canisters as well.
Coleman Sportster II
Like many Coleman stoves, this is a no frills model that is rough and ready that will get the job done. It's strong, compact and self-contained with the tank at the bottom and burner up the top. This makes it simple to use and an excellent option for backpackers, beginners who want to save on weight and for those of us who prefer to have a backup or two in the van.
It is designed to burn Coleman's proprietary fuel (naptha gas, also known as white gas) The stove can be used with unleaded gasoline, as well. This option can save you money since a gallon of gasoline can last longer than the regular Coleman liquid fuel cylinder.
Liquid fuel stoves come with a learning curve since you'll need to properly pressurize and prepare them to create a beautiful blue flame going. If you don't do it correctly the fuel may get into the tank, splash outside the burner, or even sputter. Practice outside before taking it on your next trip to learn how to do it.
The stove will lose some performance and flame odor effectiveness if you use non-Coleman gasoline, but this is a tradeoff for its versatility. Be sure to buy unleaded gasoline and not something that is enriched with methanol or ethanol (alcohol). That's because these types of fuels can cause the unit to be sputtering, leaky, and may even explode!
ATG Jiko
The ATG Jiko multi-fuel stove from South Africa (formerly known as the jiko) is a light multifuel stove that's made for harsh environments like Africa. www.fireplacesandstove.com 's a compact and reliable all in one system that burns solid fuel, alcohol, tabs and also gels through one nozzle. It's a lightweight minimalist design that is priced less than the majority of multifuel stoves, and also has low ownership cost with fuel being cheaper per liter than gas canisters.
Other multifuel stoves have an individual nozzle for every type of fuel. This makes them a little difficult to switch between fuels in cold weather or using gloves, and adds to their weight. Multifuel stoves of the latest kind use a single nozzle to burn multiple fuels, which makes it much easier. These stoves can be called hybrids or compressed fuel multifuel stoves. They are also known by other names such as isobutane, white gas, kerosene and unleaded gasoline/car fuel.
Another option is to buy an multifuel stove kit which converts your standard Trangia burner into a multifuel cooker. They are typically sold at specialist camping stores and are available internationally. They are perfect for Trangia enthusiasts. They can burn all liquid fuels except diesel and with the appropriate accessories they can even simmer.