Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves

Summary: These simple and light-weight stoves use wood, hexamine tablets, white fuel and gas canisters through one nozzle. These stoves are popular in cold weather, but they can be noisy and lack simmer control.

Some cast iron multi Fuel stoves uk-fuel stoves are hybrids that can burn different kinds of liquid fuel. The MSR WhisperLite Universal, for instance, can burn both white and isobutane canister fuel.

Optimus Nova

The Optimus Nova multi-fuel stove can be used for a variety of liquid fuels. It features a quick priming burner, self-purging aluminum pump and precise simmer control. Its low centre of gravity and wide spreading legs make it a solid stove that can be used on rocky ground. This makes it a perfect stove for base camps for groups kayaking, arctic camp.

Contrary to many other stoves that use liquid fuel, which suffer from a problem where unburned fuel is left in the fuel line and the nozzle of the stove, the Optimus Nova has a shut off mechanism that works by flipping the bottle over. The intake hoses are removed from the fuel and causes them to take in air, which extinguishes flames and depressurizes bottles.

This is an ingenious solution for an age-old issue and it's effective. The Nova can be used with any standard fuel bottle that has an o-ring seal. This includes MSR bottles. It also comes with a fully-featured stove bag that has separate pockets for spare parts, tools as well as lubricant and the fuel pump.

This is an excellent all-round stove for backpacking use in the UK, particularly for expeditions where a wide choice of fuels is essential. The cost is quite affordable compared to other canister stoves that have similar capabilities. Furthermore, the Optimus Nova is easy to maintain and a pleasure to use.

Kovea Hydra

The Kovea Hydra multi fuel stove was first introduced in 2010 and has been a popular choice for backpackers since. Fewer UK backpackers pay it much attention nowadays maybe because they've gotten fallen behind with more popular brands or whatever the latest lightweight offering out of China or Korea is but it doesn't mean the Hydra doesn't still have its advantages.

It's a relatively compact and light stove, that can burn all liquid fuels, including white gas and propane butane, using a single nozzle. It's a standard stove that has a burner attached to a body, which is secured by three support legs that fold out. The pump is on the top of the fuel line and the generator loop runs around the inlet and the flame spreader sits above that. The burner is a slow-moving flame type. This means that it is not susceptible to wind.

It is a nice feature that it can be used with a canister of propane or isobutane making it a multi-functional little cooker. It's simple 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 you use white gas.

The instructions for the Hydra are written in English, but they were clearly not written by native speakers of the language. The instructions caution you against using certain kinds of lighter fluid. If you don't follow the instructions correctly, it can cause an accident and land Kovea in legal trouble. However that any 7/16ths UNEF threaded gas canister from a reputable manufacturer is likely to work perfectly.

Primus OmniLite Ti

Primus Omnilite Ti can be a great choice for those who are seeking a multifuel cooker that cooks with a variety of fuels. It can be used with petrol/gasoline, gas, or diesel, kerosene and aviation fuel. It has separate controls for each fuel type, and you can also alter the size of the flame. The stove comes with an fuel pipe that sits flat on the floor and can be connected to the tank quickly.

While the Primus Omnilite is a fantastic stove, it will require maintenance in order to keep it working correctly. It could be dangerous as it explodes when you are priming. This is a common issue with all liquid fuel stoves that utilize a secondary spindle throttle at the stove's end to vaporize fuel, instead of a generator coil.

It is also important to know that every fuel type requires a different jet. This means that if you cook 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 is one of the lightest, slimmest and most affordable multi fuel stoves. It is also easy to repair in the field. It can be used with liquid gas or canister fuel and comes with attachments for each. The new model is lighter by 10% than its predecessor, and the burner has been revamped for improved heat distribution. This is a great option for backpackers on a tight budget or those who are just beginning.

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

This is the reason MSR has designed the Dragonfly stove to be an efficient simmering burner. It's designed in the same way as the whistler, but it is more compact and has superior performance. However, it's not as cheap multifuel stoves as the whistler Lite. The Soto Amicus stove and cookset is a fantastic alternative that provides a similar setup at half the price. You can also get a Whisperlite International or Universal for isobutane canisters as well. Both versions have the same design and style, but 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 gets the job done. It's strong compact and self-contained, with the tank at the bottom and the burner up the top. This makes it simple to use and an excellent option for those who are new to backpacking, who want to reduce weight and for those who like to keep one or two spares in the van.

This stove is designed to burn Coleman's proprietary fuel (naptha which is also referred to as "white gas") however it can be used with unleaded gas too. A gallon of gasoline can last as long as a typical Coleman liquid fuel cylinder, which means you'll save money on fuel with this option.

Liquid fuel stoves have a learning curve since you'll need to pressurize and prime them before you can get a nice blue flame going. If you do it wrong the fuel could spill out, splash beyond the burner or sputter. Do some practice outside before going on your next trip to learn how to do it.

This stove does give up some performance or odor reduction with non-coleman fuels however that's a trade off for the additional flexibility it provides. Be sure to buy unleaded gas and not something that's enriched with alcohol or methanol. These kinds of fuels can cause the unit's performance to degrade and even explode.

ATG Jiko

The ATG Jiko contemporary multi fuel stoves fuel stove made in South Africa (formerly known as the Jiko) is an ultralight multifuel stove specifically designed for harsh conditions such as Africa. It's a compact, robust stove that burns solid fuel tabs, gels and alcohol with only one nozzle. It is a minimalist, ultralight design that costs less than other multifuel stoves. The fuel is also less expensive per liter compared to gas canisters.

Some multifuel stoves also have an individual nozzle for each kind of fuel. This makes them difficult to change in the rain or without gloves and can add to their overall weight. The latest models of multifuel stoves have discovered an option to use the same nozzle to ignite different fuels, making it easier. These stoves can be described as hybrids or compressed fuel multifuel stoves. They are also known under other names like white gas, isobutane kerosene and unleaded gasoline/car petrol.

A 5kw defra multifuel stove stove kit can be bought to transform your Trangia burners into multi fuel cookers. They are usually available from specialised camping stores and are available internationally. They're a great choice for Trangia fans. They're capable of burning all liquid fuels except diesel, and when fitted with the right equipment can even cook.