Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves

Summary: These simple and lightweight stoves burn wood as well as hexamine tablets, gas canisters, and white fuel through a single nozzle. These stoves are popular during cold weather, but they can be noisy and lack simmer control.

Certain multi-fuel stoves can burn different types of liquid fuel. The MSR WhisperLite Universal, for instance, can burn 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, self-purging aluminium pump, and a precise simmer control. Its low center of gravity and broad legs make it a stable stove that is rock-solid. This makes it a great stove for backpacking groups, base camps, kayaking, and camping in the Arctic.

The Optimus Nova is different from other liquid fuel stoves that are plagued by unburned fuel lingering in the fuel line or nozzle. This can be fixed by simply flipping over the bottle. This disconnects the intake hose from the fuel, causing it to draw in air, which smothers the flame and decreases the pressure of the bottle.

This is an clever solution to a long-standing problem and it certainly is effective. The Nova can be used with a range of standard fuel bottles that seal with an o-ring, including MSR bottles. It also comes with a fully featured stove bag with separate pockets for tools, spare parts as well as lubricant and the fuel pump.

This is an excellent backpacking stove that can be used in the UK. It is especially useful for expeditions, where many fuel types are required. The price is reasonable when compared to canister stoves that have similar capabilities. The Optimus Nova is also easy to maintain and Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves fun to use.

Kovea Hydra

The Kovea Hydra multi fuel stove was first marketed in 2010 and has been a favorite choice for backpackers ever since. It isn't as popular UK backpackers seem to give the stove a lot of attention, possibly having fallen behind with more popular brands or whatever the most recent lightweight offering out of China or Korea is but it doesn't mean the Hydra does not have its merits.

It is a compact and lightweight stove that can burn all liquid fuels including white gas, propane butane, and white gas through one nozzle. It's a typical stove with an inbuilt burner that is attached to a body, which is secured by three fold-out support legs. A pump is located on top of the fuel hose and the generator loop is positioned around the inlet and the flame spreader is situated above that. The burner is a slow-moving flame type. This makes it less susceptible to wind.

One of the best features is that it can also be used with a canister of propane or isobutane making it a versatile small cooker. It is easy to simmer with isobutane and propane and burns all types of fuels at a good rate. However when using white gas the stove runs a bit slower.

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

Primus OmniLite Ti

Primus Omnilite Ti can be an ideal option for those seeking a multifuel cooker that cooks with a variety of fuels. It can run on gas, petrol/gasoline or fuel oil, kerosene, and diesel fuel. It comes with separate controls for each fuel type, and you can also adjust the flame size. This stove also comes with a fuel line that sits flat on the ground and is easily connected to the tank.

While the Primus Omnilite is a fantastic stove, it will require maintenance in order to ensure that it functions properly. Particularly it has a tendency to flare during priming, which could be dangerous. This is a problem that occurs with all stoves that use liquid fuel that utilize a secondary spindle on the stove's side instead of an actual coil to vaporize the fuel.

Another issue is the fact that it requires different jets for each type of fuel. This means that if you cook on kerosene, the jet hole has to be smaller than when cooking with gas. This is a minor issue however it's important to mention.

MSR Whisper Lite

The MSR Whisper Lite is one of the lightest, smallest and most affordable multi fuel stoves. It is also easy to repair in the field. It is able to run on canister fuel or liquid gas and includes attachments for both. The new design is lighter by 10% than its predecessor and the burner system was redesigned to improve heat distribution. This is a great option for backpackers on a tight budget or those who are just beginning.

The whistler Lite requires a bit of time to set up and prime, then boil water, but it's an efficient stove that will not fail you. The flame is extremely powerful and can easily boil one Liter of water in two minutes. The only drawback is that it does not simmer as well as other stoves.

This is the reason MSR has created the Dragonfly stove to become a more capable simmering burner. It's designed in the same way like the whistler, but it is smaller and has better performance. However, it's not as cheap as the whistler Lite. The Soto Amicus stove and cookset is a fantastic alternative that provides a similar setup at half the price. Whisperlite International and Universal can be used with isobutane. The same basic design is used in both, however the Universal version can be operated with fuel from canisters as well.

Coleman Sportster II

It's a simple, no-frills Coleman stove that can do the job. It's sturdy, compact and self-contained with the tank at the bottom and the burner up at the top. This makes it easy to use and a good option for those who are new to backpacking, who want to reduce weight, and for those of us who want to keep a backup or two in the van.

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

Liquid fuel stoves have a learning curve as you'll need to properly pressurize and prime them before you can get a nice blue flame. If you don't do it right the fuel could be sprayed, pool, or splash over the burner, or sputter. To get the hang of this, practice outside before embarking on your trip.

The stove will suffer some performance and flame odor efficiency if you use non-Coleman gasoline, but this is a tradeoff for its versatility. Be sure to buy unleaded gasoline, and not one augmented with methanol or ethanol (alcohol). These types of fuel can cause the unit's performance to degrade and even explode.

ATG Jiko

The ATG Jiko Multi Fuel Stove from South Africa is an ultralight multifuel designed for harsh environments like Africa. It's an efficient and compact all in one system that burns solid fuel, alcohol, tabs, and also gels using only one nozzle. It's a light, minimalist design that costs less than other multifuel stoves, and also has low cost of ownership and fuel is less expensive per liter than gas canisters.

Some multifuel stoves also have different nozzles for each kind of fuel. This makes them fiddly to change over in cold weather or using gloves and can add to their weight. Multifuel stoves of the latest kind use a single nozzle to burn multiple fuels, which makes it much easier. The newer models of these stoves are known as 'hybrid' or "compressed fuel multifuel stoves' and there are many names for them like isobutane canister fuel white gas, kerosene and unleaded gasoline/car petrol.

A cast iron multifuel stove stove kit can be purchased to transform your Trangia burners into multi fuel cookers. They are sold in camping stores that specialize in outdoor equipment and are also available internationally. These are great for Trangia enthusiasts. They can burn all liquid fuels, except diesel and, with the right accessories they can even simmer.