Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves

Summary: These simple and lightweight stoves burn wood and hexamine tablets as well as gas canisters and white fuel through one nozzle. They're popular in cold weather but they're loud and don't have a simmer control.

Some multi-fuel stoves are hybrids, capable of burning multiple kinds of liquid fuel. The MSR WhisperLite Universal can be used with both white and isobutane fuel canisters.

Optimus Nova

The Optimus Nova is a multi-fuel stove that can be used with various liquid fuels. It features a quick priming burner, a self-purging aluminium pump and precise simmer control. Its low center of gravity and wide spread legs make it a stable and solid stove. This makes it an ideal stove for group base camps kayaking, arctic camp.

The Optimus Nova is different from other liquid fuel stoves that are plagued by unburned fuel remaining in the fuel line or nozzle. This can be solved by simply flipping over the bottle. The intake hose is then removed from the fuel, causing it to draw in air, which extinguishes the flame and depressurizes the bottle.

This is an innovative solution to an old problem and it definitely is effective. The Nova can also be used with a range of regular fuel bottles that are sealed using an o-ring, such as MSR bottles. It comes with stove bags that include pockets for tools, spares as well as lubricant and the fuel pump.

This is a great all round backpacking stove for use in the UK especially for long-distance trips where a wide choice of fuels is required. The price is very affordable when compared with other canister stoves with similar capabilities. The Optimus Nova is also easy to maintain and enjoyable to use.

Kovea Hydra

The Kovea Hydra multi fuel stove was first introduced in 2010 and has been a favorite choice for backpackers since. The Hydra is not as popular with UK backpackers anymore Perhaps because they've been able to catch up with more well-known brands or the most recent lightweight options from China or Korea. However, this doesn't mean it's any less useful.

It's a compact and light stove that burns all liquid fuels including white gas as well as propane butane, using a single nozzle. It's a pretty standard stove design with an ignition bell that is bolted onto an aluminum body that is anchored by three fold out support legs. The pump is located on top of the fuel line, and the generator loop is wrapped around the inlet, and the flame spreader is situated above. The burner is a slow-moving flame type. This means that it is not affected by the wind.

One of the best features is that it can be used with a canister of isobutane or propane, making it a versatile little cooker. It is easy to simmer with isobutane as well as propane and burns all fuels at a decent rate. However when using white gas the stove is a little slower.

One important thing to remember when using the Hydra is that the instructions are written in English which was not written by an indigenous speaker of the language. The instructions warn against the use of certain types of lighter fluids, which if mistaken for what is actually intended can lead to an accident that could result in Kovea in a lot of legal hot water. Any 7/16ths UNEF-threaded gas container of a reputable brand will work perfectly.

Primus OmniLite Ti

The Primus Omnilite Ti is a excellent choice for those who are looking for an all-fuel stove that can cook with a variety of fuels. It can operate on gas, petrol/gasoline, diesel, kerosene and aviation fuel. It has separate controls for each type of fuel and also allows to adjust the flame size, which is a nice feature. This stove has a fuel pipe that is flat on the floor and is connected to the tank easily.

While the Primus Omnilite is a fantastic stove, it will require maintenance to keep it working correctly. Particularly it is prone to flare during priming, which can be a bit dangerous. This is a common problem with all liquid fuel stoves that use a secondary spindle throttle on the stove's end to vaporize fuel instead of a generator coil.

Another issue is that it requires different jets for each kind of fuel. This means that if cooking on kerosene, the jet hole needs to be smaller than when cooking with gas. It's not a major issue, but it's 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 very easy to repair in the field. It is able to be used with liquid gas or canister fuel and comes with attachments for both. The new model is lighter by 10% over its predecessor and the burner system has been redesigned to improve the distribution of heat. This is a great choice for backpackers with a limited budget or beginners.

The whistler Lite takes a little time to set up to prime and boil water, but it is a reliable stove that will never fail you. The flame is strong when turned to the max and will easily boil one liter of water in less than two minutes. The only drawback is that it's not as effective for simmering as some other stoves.

MSR created the Dragonfly to be a more powerful burner. It has a similar design as the whistler, however it is more compact and has better performance. However, it's not as cheap as the whistler Lite. The Soto Amicus cookset and stove is a great alternative, offering similar features for half the price. It is also possible to purchase Whisperlite International or Universal for isobutane containers as well. Both versions have the same basic design however the Universal version is also compatible with canister fuel.

Coleman Sportster II

Like many Coleman stoves, this is a basic, rough and ready unit that just gets the job done. It's small multi fuel stove uk, self-contained and solid, with the tank on the bottom and the burner on top. This makes it simple to use and a good option for backpackers, beginners who want to reduce weight, and for those of us who prefer to have an extra or two in the van.

This stove is designed to burn Coleman's exclusive fuel (naptha, also known as "white gas") but can be used with non-leaded gas as well. A gallon of gasoline can last for as longer as a standard Coleman liquid fuel cylinder so you'll save money on fuel by using this alternative.

Liquid fuel stoves come with a learning curve since you'll need to properly pressurize and prime them before you can get a nice blue flame going. If you do it wrong the fuel may pool, spray outside the burner, or even sputter. Try it out in the open before taking it on your next trip to learn how to do it.

The stove will suffer some performance and odor of the flame efficiency if you use non-Coleman gasoline, but this is a trade-off for its versatility. Make sure to purchase unleaded gas and not something that's enriched with alcohol or Methanol. These kinds of fuels can cause the performance of the vehicle to decrease and even explode.

ATG Jiko

The ATG Jiko multi fuel stove made in South Africa (formerly known as the jiko) is a lightweight multifuel stove specifically made for harsh environments like Africa. It is a compact, robust stove that burns solid fuel tabs, gels and alcohol with a single nozzle. It's an ultralight, minimalist design that costs less than the majority of multifuel stoves. It also comes with low cost of ownership and fuel is less expensive per Liter than gas canisters.

Some multifuel stoves also have different nozzles for every type of fuel. It isn't easy to switch fuels in bad weather conditions, or while wearing gloves. This can increase the overall weight. Multifuel stoves that are of the current type use a single nozzle to burn multiple fuels, making it simpler. They can be called hybrids or compressed fuel multifuel stoves. They are also referred to under other names like white gas, isobutane kerosene, and unleaded gasoline/car petrol.

A multifuel stove kit can be bought to transform your Trangia burners into multi fuel cookers. They are usually sold at specialist camping stores and can be purchased internationally. They're a great choice for Trangia fans. They're capable of burning all liquid fuels with the exception of diesel and if equipped with the right accessories can even simmer.