A few things,
1.) Looking for the best way to cook in the BWCA other then a open fire.

2.) For going out and about camping, state parks, with the family and such, where I can carry more weight, propane camping stoves, or gas?

Went to a state park this week with the wife and 7th month old and my Coleman camping stove, that was my dad's, so we are looking at a 30 year old stove at least, wouldn't fire up or work at 30 degrees. It fired up when the temp warmed up outside a good 5 hours later. With that said, it is time for a new one, so looking for suggestions and reasons.

2.) For parks outside the bwdubs I use charcoal ..buy a small camp grate and cook anything from burgers to canned beans..and use your camp stove to heat water for beverages, etc. And then with the coals you can start a campfire easily...no firestarter needed.

you could use a propane adaptor on that two burner Coleman and save some money.they are a simple replacement tube for the generator.
the gas tank and all the fittings come off and the adaptor slides into the manifold with the propane tank screwed on.
easy to light and control and no gas to fill and spill.
check Ebay,i have found them at big box camping stores.

for the BW i have gone to Gaz stoves,for many years i used a Colman Peak gas stove but the new Gaz stoves are easy to use and light in weight.they are nothing more than a burner head that screws on a cartridge.
the ones from China that you find on Ebay work just fine and are cheap.
i would get one with a large burner head to avoid the hot spot you get on the small heads that run like a blow torch.


thats a system i use,it has a burner attached to the propane bottles sold in Asian grocery stores for the table top stoves.
it comes apart and folds into a small case and weights just ounces.

I decided to move all of my stoves to the same fuel type two years ago so I didn't have white gas, propane, and butane/propane cannisters all sitting around. I decided on a windpro II and now use it for car camping and bw camping. It's by far the best cooking stove I've had. Consistent flame, highly adjustable, stable, works in cold weather, high altitude, etc.

The only time I dont use it is for backpacking since it's just a little on the heavy side for that, but you didn't mention backpacking so I won't open that can of beans. ;)

That 30 year old camp stove of your dads is probably a 2-burner Coleman camp stove - yes? Those are so easy and inexpensive to repair that I would do that. Here is a site I found a while back with good instructions for rebuilding them:
www.oldtowncoleman.com/tech/re2stovea.htm

If you dont want to repair/rebuild yours, (around here) you can often find the 2-burner camp stoves at garage sales and flea markets for $5-$10 in good condition.

White gas versus propane is a personal choice. I like white gas because I use the same fuel for car-camping stoves, backpacking stoves and lanterns. Ive used the little 1lb propane bottles for a stove - they are a hassle, expensive and in my area not always available. Seems like using a 5lb or 20lb bottle would be variations on the same hassles.

For cooking in the BWCAW I use a single-burner backpacking stove. I have used the 2-burner camp stove in the BW but found the size and weight a hassle, and it got kind of banged up.

Cleaning up and rebuilding the suitcase Coleman stove is easy and inexpensive, a new generator tube and pump cup will probably be the only parts needed. For car/truck base camps Coleman white gas gear is a good choice, propane setups almost as good. I didn't care for using the propane adapter on a white gas stove and went with Coleman 2 burner propane. 5/10/20 bulk tanks are much cheaper to use in the long term and make a great camp set, bulk tank distribution tree extension hose. Propane sets are easier to use but a bit bulkier depending on disposable/refillable fuel tanks. White gas sets more compact with tanks included, cheaper fuel in large quantities, but fussier to use.

For the BWCA I like both isopro (3 season), and white gas (cold/freezing temps), remote fueltank stoves. MSR WindPro and Dragonfly are 2 good models with great flame adjustment and pot/pan stability.

Not a straightforward answer to the question, I will admit to using white gas fueled lanterns and stoves more, switching to canister fuel gear only when it's desired for easier use (by other camping partners).

butthead

1. I would look at the various canister type stoves for the BWCA. Match the size of the burner head to the size of the pot or pan your are going to sue on it. Use a large burner head for a wide pot and a small burner head with a tall narrow pot. Larger burner heads for fry pans so you don't get a hot spot in your pan. The Canister stoves are easy to operate. The only down side to them is the weight of the canisters and disposal of them and they don't work well in very cold temps. Otherwise they are light weight and small.

2. As for the Coleman stove it sounds like it may need to be cleaned some or you didn't let it pre-heat enough or maybe didn't have it pressurized enough. Hard to tell since I wasn't there when you were trying to get it to work. White gas stoves do well in cold temps like you were experiencing so it should have worked well. Again it comes down to if you want to use a stove like that what type of fuel you want to use. Propane or white gas? White gas takes some working with whereas propane all you have to do is turn it on and light it and it works. The downside to propane is it not working well in cold temps. White gas works better in cold weather. So figure out what temps you will mostly be camping in and go with that stove that works best.

For car camping I have a really great set up. I have a 3 burner Coleman Stove (that third burner really comes in handy often, especially when cooking breakfast...bacon, eggs and coffee all at once).
I have it hooked up to a 20 lb propane tank with a Coleman "tree" which allows me to also hook up my small propane bbq and stick a propane lantern on top. I certainly would never bring this into the back country but for car camping it is a really nice system.

We had one of those "trees" for our Boy Scout troop camp outs when we car camped at things like camporees. It was nice to have the light there and the outlets to hook the stoves into.

I have 7 stoves of various types and qualities, and used many others.

If I could only chose one single stove for everything, it would be the MSR Dragonfly. It is not the best at anything, but the only stove more stable would be a big 2 burner suitcase. Again, not the best at anything, but it does everything well. It's only real drawback is that if you crank up the heat, it roars.

I started my BWCA career with Wal-Mart car camping equipment and a single Duluth Pack. The best gear is the gear that get's you there.

For car camping i still us my cheap Wal-Mart 2 burner propane. I've grown confident with white gas. Not everyone I camp with is as confident. Propane is simple and quick.

I agree with ec on the Dragonfly. I just finished first trip with it fitted with the Dragontamer and not only now a great stove, no roar and better low heat control. The Dragontamer does require starting with an alcohol primer but then it will need less maintenance. Trying to decide if I want a second for car camping.

Just a clarification on the silent cap Dragontamer, it can be primed/preheated with white gas. Just more potential for soot to build up. Biggest change in starting is to fully extinguish the preheat flame and light the hot burner from the top. Lighting from below the burner cap can light a flame inside the cap itself and cause possible damage to the stove.
preheat and lighting with gas the Omnifuel has the same style burner and lighting process as the Dragonfly.

butthead

quote butthead: "Just a clarification on the silent cap Dragontamer, it can be primed/preheated with white gas. Just more potential for soot to build up. Biggest change in starting is to fully extinguish the preheat flame and light the hot burner from the top. Lighting from below the burner cap can light a flame inside the cap itself and cause possible damage to the stove.


butthead"

I only know what Bernie Dawg - the Dragontamer developer - told me. The alcohol was easy once worked out.I did have a learning curve getting it all down but great now.

I've always used white gas for car camping and BW. I like the white gas because its inexpensive and versatile. I wonder about the amount of btu you get bringing liquid fuel vs bringing a pressurized propane tank that you can't refill. Intuitively, I feel like one small tank with white gas will last longer than one propane tank of the same size. But someone with direct knowledge should challenge me on that.

As far as the 30 year old stove, those are great. But you MUST change the tube. I would buy the complete tube with needle all in one. Its key to the proper lighting procedure. I got one for a wedding gift a decade or two and just replaced that tube assembly. It starts right up without the yellow flame.

I use the MSR XGK from the 90's in BW (for rainly days).

Used to have the old pump it up white gas coleman stove. Now on my second propane two burner, auto start stove and would never go back. The convenience and functionality is so much better. IMO.

For BWCA trips though they are not practical although some bring them. There are so many nice lightweight backpacking stoves out there that work so well. You can spend $20 or $120. The expensive ones seem to be sort of a status symbol among these folks but me and my buddy invested in the cheapest out there, the Primus Classic Trail Stove which you can find for the $20 I mentioned. Durable, wider flame pattern and very effective and reliable. We bring two and place them on a flat spot with a griddle over them for great bacon, egg and pancake breakfasts.

I have different car camping tents, sleeping bags, pads and stoves from what I bring to the BWCA. Tough to find equipment that is optimal for two very different applications.

Personally, I'm throwing my +1 in the group trying to fix the old Coleman. Those are really great stoves. If you'd prefer to replace it rathern than fix it for car camping trips, then I'd get a new Coleman that uses the little green propane bottles.

For the BWCA, I'd pick up a lightweight fuel burning stove.

I use my propane Coleman at the State Parks and bring my MSR Dragonfly to the BWCA.

"I feel like one small tank with white gas will last longer than one propane tank of the same size."
Pretty much oz for oz, the same heat output, propane/iso-pro/white gas. 8oz of each will cook (put out the same BTUs), in my own experience. BTU outputs for fuel type can also be found at Zen Stoves.

butthead

Thanks everyone great replies! I will have to let you know what I end up doing.

Though not the lightest option, I still use the Coleman "pounder" propane canisters with a single burner stove. I bring two burners and two canisters for trips, they last about a week each and are extremely reliable and simple to use.

I use these because I also use this fuel type for my lantern and heater for ice fishing, so it's convenient. I also like the large burner and pot/pan support it offers. I may eventually switch to a Primus stove that uses the lighter power gas canisters.

A Primus omni-fuel fits about all of your criterium. Can run on iso-butane, white gas, I even have an adapter to attach the small green propane cylinders to it.

Very sturdy, fully serviceable, 15.6oz with pump, 12oz without.

Even though I like the suitcase stoves, I really don't see them as practical in the bwca with all the other lightweight options out there.

I will be bringing the "Coleman Suitcase" 2 burner, propane this year for the first time, party of 5, using the 1 lb canisters. From Saberboys post, it looks like 2 canisters will be enough. Would anyone second this? Does anyone have a total burn time on a 1 lb canister?

Yellowbird: "I will be bringing the "Coleman Suitcase" 2 burner, propane this year for the first time, party of 5, using the 1 lb canisters. From Saberboys post, it looks like 2 canisters will be enough. Would anyone second this? Does anyone have a total burn time on a 1 lb canister?"

How many days? And how many of your meals will you cook.

But probably 2 is good for 5-6 days. Id take three.

8 days/2x day.

I think 2 cylinders is definitely too little for 16 meals for 4. I'd take 4-5 - 20 ounce white gas and iirc a 20 ounce white gas is similar to a 1 pound propane cylinder.

MSR Wind Pro 2, Pocket Rocket for back-up.

I am suprised there are not more people recomending the Jetboils. They are nice compact stoves considering they fit in the pot. Best for boiling watter but cook well with a pan too. That is the most popular with the group I go with.

I couldn't aford one and got the Camp Chief Stryker. It works well but you can see the reasons it costs less. They have a version now that is both iso butane and propoane.

MSR and others have similar designs with the attached pot.

My tripping partner brings his Jet boil for boiling water for coffee and dehydrated meals and I bring my Fire Maple remote canister stove for the real cooking. Works well for 2-4 guys.
Remote canister is more stable and safer with windscreen supposedly than the on top of canister stoves.

Blue Skies!
cc

wetcanoedog: "for the BW i have gone to Gaz stoves,for many years i used a Colman Peak gas stove but the new Gaz stoves are easy to use and light in weight.they are nothing more than a burner head that screws on a cartridge.
the ones from China that you find on Ebay work just fine and are cheap.
i would get one with a large burner head to avoid the hot spot you get on the small heads that run like a blow torch."

I am also moving to one of these type. I just bought this one for my August trip, however, I wish it had four legs instead of three after testing it out some.

TerraHiker Folding Stove


I would recommend it, however.

mgraber: "MSR Wind Pro 2, Pocket Rocket for back-up."

Same setup for me.. Almost. I still have WP version 1. Soon its going to rust out. Its over ten years old.

I still have the Peak I liquid fuel stove with separate tank,.. but I am old and weak and its gaining weight.

I love this single-burner propane/butane stove: https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Portable-Backpacking-ignition-Carrying/dp/B01LW87Z9O?ref=pf_ov_at_pdctrvw_dp Very sturdy, simple, automatic ignition.

Also take a look at this wood/charcoal stove available in two sizes: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HZF9FMG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I take a Coleman white gas single burner and a MSR Dragonfly for the wife and I. I like to cook on one while the other one is used for heating water or making coffee. Before I got my own gear I was fully outfitted on my first two trips. The outfitter sent a single burner propane stove that sat on top of a 1 lb propane tank. They also sent 4 tanks of propane. I really didn't care for all that stuff.

Mike