Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Gear Forum :: If you could only have one stove, what would it be?
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keth0601 |
However if I could only have one stove I would probably take an XGK EX. Similar to a dragonfly (same burner), but beefier and easier to maintain and it has a generator tube so it works much better in truly cold weather. Only drawback is the lack of a secondary adjustment valve (which is also what makes it easier to maintain/more durable). This means it's much more difficult to simmer with it (but it can be done!). It's a stove with a learning curve and it's a bit heavy, but I don't think there's a more bombproof or coldproof stove out there. It's probably worth mentioning that while I don't have one, I have considered a whisperlite universal as well simply because it can run the only type of fuel the XGK can't (canister), but what I've heard is that the stoves that will run both liquid fuel and canisters tend to suffer some performance loss because of compromises to make that happen. That and I already have the windpro, an old whisperlite, the XGK, and others so there's definitely some redundancy there already. :) |
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billconner |
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gotwins |
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gotwins |
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gotwins |
Current roster: MSR Whisperlite MSR Dragonfly (I have 2 with burner caps to quiet them down) Beer can stove from antigravity gear Trangia stove and cookset Coleman 533 Sportster Coleman 2 burner suitcase stove circa 1978 Coleman 3 burner suticase stove circa late 1950's Coleman 2 burner suitcase stove circa late 1950's Coleman 2 burner propane stove circa 2005 Primus Yellowstone canister stove with piezo ignighter that sometimes still works, circa 2002 El Cheapo Amazon Chinese canister stove with remote tank and piezo igniter that died afer one use If I could only have one, I'm not sure what I'd choose. I'm curious to think what people would choose if you had to only have one. I'll make the conditions that it's for BWCA use, rather than backpacking, for example where you're trying to save every ounce you can. If I could only have one, it would probably be the MSR Dragonfly. Good temp control, will burn pretty much any fuel, it's loud, but the dragon tamer helps! Plus they are easy to repair in the field. Curious to see what others like. I'd love to take the coleman 3 burner up, but I'd have to hide it my buddie's duluth pack ;) |
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PVnRT |
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boonie |
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SevenofNine |
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Argo |
It made me think that my Primus Omnifuel stove had a great feature in that it will burn almost any available fuel including gasoline and diesel. It's not quiet though. But it's rugged. |
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lindylair |
Currently not available on Amazon, not sure why but hopefully available somewhere. 4.7 stars on 429 reviews, read some for support to what I am saying. It's a great stove, the only one I would own if I could only have one...heck the only one i do own because it's all I need. Primus Classic Trail Stove Oh, did I mention the price? Typically available for 20 bucks. |
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butthead |
butthead |
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butthead |
Although out of all my stoves the hottest burning, fastest snow melting, quickest water boiling, best cold weather stove I have is a modified Whisperlite 600 universal, only stove I have melted 3/16ths aluminum plate over butthead |
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cyclones30 |
But simmerlite and dragonfly aren't far behind |
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Blatz |
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keth0601 |
butthead: "keth0601, The Universal takes care of the AF ratio by using 2 different jets. An excellent performer either way! I was under the impression that the design of the burner head itself may/may not lend itself well to running both fuels, but maybe that's more of a design consideration with the turbulent burners that are dependent on fuel flow rate and flow through the burner itself to control the fuel/air mix like on the svea/optimus/xgk style stoves. No idea how that impacts a whisperlite burner (which I believe is a laminar-flow burner?). |
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gotwins |
lindylair: "Primus Classic Trail Stove. Not the lightest or most compact but sturdy, dependable, effective and efficient. Wider flame pattern to eliminate hotspots. No Piezo lighter, this is a no frills stove that just works. Bulletproof. These are good looking stoves. When I bought my Prius Yellowstone techno trail, it was between it and your stove. I’ve always admired the Classic. Simple design with a nice spread on the flame. |
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HappyHuskies |
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TipsyPaddler |
Blatz: "My Vargo ( Pocket rocket Type) Titanium is all I need. Been serving me well for many years." +1 (specifically a MSR Pocket Rocket II) all the stove I need for my cooking needs. I used an MSR Dragonfly for two seasons but when I stopped running the BWCA equivalent of a food truck it was way more stove than I needed. |
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mr.barley |
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Voyager |
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Savage Voyageur |
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HistoryDoc |
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Windchaser |
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butthead |
The MSR Whisperlite 600 International, a large fuel feed tube with an extra thick heating section and interchangeable jets for kerosene or naphtha. I removed the shaker needle weight assembly installed a slightly enlarged G jet and an extra waffle burner plate for more flame. I use a 5.5 inch 3/16ths thick aluminum plate as a diffuser/hot plate, used to boil water the pot and plate could be removed from the burner to the fire grate would keep boiling for 5+ minutes. After he mods tried some baking at home and melted one of the al disks, turned it into a kinda butterfly looking thing where the al slagged over the pot supports. 9 minutes in length of my 600 assembling priming and running. butthead |
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Banksiana |
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Frenchy19 |
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butthead |
butthead |
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gotwins |
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Banksiana |
If I just had to boil water I would choose my recent vintage Whisperlite International over the Dragonfly. Quieter, a bit quicker and more efficient. |
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Garny |
I use canister stoves for heating water, coffee, etc. But I love the ability to simmer, fry and even bake with no worries of burning the food on the Dragonfly. It sounds like the Nova is a good alternative if it ever gives out. |
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buz |
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TrailZen |
TZ |
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mgraber |
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butthead |
Anyway the fuel no matter the type (liquid gas, kerosene, alcohol, butane/propane) is fully a vapor by the time it hits the burner head. The Brunton Vapor AF was a very interesting and versatile stove, roarer cup style burner with a needle valve in the burner base. Adjustable as a Dragonfly on liquid fuel (and as loud) yet needed no parts to convert to canister fuel. Sold it to a board member when I decided to concentrate on MSR stoves. butthead |
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gotwins |
butthead: "Nice thing is having a choice. But if limited same as you gotwins, a Dragonfly. Do tell us more about this stove! I’m curious! |
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gotwins |
Banksiana: "You can simmer with a Whisperlite but there is significant lag between valve adjustment and flame response- it is cumbersome if most of your cuisine requires simmering. Agreed, Banksiana. I've been able to achieve it, but it's tricky. I wonder if the newer pump that butthead has helps. Mine is the old gray one with a dial instead of the wing thing. |
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gotwins |
butthead: "Another help with Whisperlite simmer/flame control is removing the shaker jet. Mine’s a pre shakerjet whisperlite, so just the regular jet. Another tip is to not pump up the tank too much. I met Will Steiger at a party last year and asked him why he liked the whisperlite over the Dragonfly. He said, well, the whisperlite is a lot more quiet :). We also discussed that he is mainly melting snow and boiling water so simmering wasn’t important to him on the Arctic expeditions. My style of BWCA camping is more like gourmet cooking, lots of fresh foods, not really dehydrated so I like the simmer. Butthead, you had a photo of your food for a one week trip that all fit in a bear canister. What is on your typical one week menu? Mostly backpacking food? I was curious and impressed when I saw that post. |
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butthead |
butthead |
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Oldtown13 |
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Oldtown13 |
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butthead |
butthead |
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blackdawg9 |
if i could only have 1 type of stove, it would be a wet gas stove. my nomination, for the must have is the old svea 123 slant valve stove. from there. if it had to be a seperate bottle stove. it would be a optimus polaris or msr xpg. i like the jet bell burners. i have 2 sveas 123. slant valve and current production msr whisperlite. i dont love it. i think it drinks to much and the pot stand stinks and dont like teh msr pumps. they need to be metal. coleman 442 feather weight $6 iso burner trangia. it is a novelty. i may be looking for a better quality iso burner, i just dont love them. |
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gotwins |
butthead: "I pack food like stocking a pantry. Single ingredients dried/freeze-dried. Starches carbohydrates like potatoes, rice, noodles. Veggies and fruits dried. Milk products most all powdered, sour cream, cheddar cheese, whole milk, buttermilk. Dried meats beef, poultry, pork, fish. Mix with water sauces, spices, drinks, candy. Bisquick mix. I can bake breads, and full meals from beef Stroganoff to andouille sausage/shrimp gumbo with dumplings. One of these trips I'll try the super lightweight style like this. I did it in my backpacking days when I lived out in California in the early 2000's hiking around the Sierra Nevada. Maybe for my someday trip to Angleworm that I dream of trying someday. I'd still probably sneak in a first night ribeye :) |
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butthead |
That's a XGK and the Dragonfly uses the same jet, plate, and bell. Far as the MSR pumps, the newer versions are Composite nylon filled and as strong/stronger than the Primus which still has plastic internal parts. You may be over priming the Whisperlite as both mine use the same amount of fuel on average as my Nova and all the other liquid fuel stoves I have. butthead |
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Lawnchair107 |
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gymcoachdon |
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HighnDry |
(Note: I think I need to go to the Butthead school of tinkering :) That stove mod setup is impressive.) |
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CRL |
OR leather gloves and dead and down jackpine or spruce with loads of 1/2"- 1.5" branches |
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OCDave |
It is not the first stove I grab for most trips but, it is too versitile to not be the first choice if I can own just one. I burn white gas in the winter, canister fuel when temps are more accomodating. I could burn korosene or gasoline post apocolypse. |
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tarnkt |
lindylair: "Primus Classic Trail Stove. Not the lightest or most compact but sturdy, dependable, effective and efficient. Wider flame pattern to eliminate hotspots. No Piezo lighter, this is a no frills stove that just works. Bulletproof. This was always my vote too. When I tried to buy another last summer I couldn’t find one anywhere and I think it might have been discontinued. This GSI copycat is just as good: GSI Stove |
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bobbernumber3 |
Hands down, my favorite stove. |
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chessie |
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mgraber |
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gotwins |
Paddled from Snowbank to Jordan the first day. Time for dinner. My step dad realizes he has forgotten his stove at home, a Coleman Peak 1 model 400. I hate this stove with a passion, but he insists on bringing it every trip. In recent years, I’ve just slipped my Dragonfly into my personal pack as a backup. This wasn’t the first trip where it saved our trip. Paced everything up the next morning and got to our site for the next 3 days on Thomas. Pulled the stove out for dinner and found that the main fuel valve didn’t want to open. Knowing this was our main stove for the rest of the week, I was nervous about forcing it. Finally got it to turn, though I had to use pliers to get it to open. Valve opened, but wouldn’t stop turning open, just kept spinning. I took the retaining nut off and removed the valve. Noticed red plastic on the valve threads. Ugh. Looks like it might be stripped or cross threaded. Managed to reassemble and could get valve to close and open, with some adjustment to get regular flow. The simmer valve worked just fine, so I just left the main valve in the open position and used the simmer control valve for on/off. Thought I was in the clear, then I got lousy burn, it would only burn yellow flames from under the Bernie Dawg quiet cap. Was worried I was getting the “under burn” that I had read about, but couldn’t remember what to do about it (now I know and have committed it to memory!) Turns out, the jet was clogged up with some nasty carbon tar type buildup. I was able to clear that out with the pricker tool, problem solved. Same thing happened after this burn. Step father admitted the fuel I was using might be old. Switched to my fuel and never had the issue again. Finished the trip and all was well. Now back at home, I tore the stove apart for a good cleaning. I’ll replace the pump as I think it’s stripped on the plastic. I’m really happy that I had this stove along, and that it was possible to field repair it enough to keep it working for the trip. The dirty fuel might be the culprit that was causing his Peak 1 stove to not work well, so we can investigate that as well. However, I’ll never stop stashing a MSR stove in my pack on every trip with him! |
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Wables |
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butthead |
Several will fit a Dragonfly. DragonTamer, 5 rows of burner holes, Midcap for US Mil stoves, 4 row of holes, and the XGK EX with 6 rows of holes. I use the Midcap US Military and the XGK EX cap on my roarer burner MSR stoves. Midcap is the only fitting cap on my XGK2's but works with Dragonfly and Firefly. The 6 row EX cap can fit the Dragonfly, it's tight and may need sanding but really throws out the heat, Yeah, I have to be the odd man out and do not use the DragonTamer, instead switch between the lower power Midcap and the extra hot EX. A bit long but running my Dragonfly with the EX cap. butthead |
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butthead |
Newer style nylon impregnated plastic "seahorse" style. butthead |
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gotwins |
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Savage Voyageur |
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gkimball |
With restrictions: a Svea123 I bought for backpacking in 1978. Still going strong! Winter time: Coleman Peak 1 Obviously I'm in the "keep it simple" camp. |
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mgraber |
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gotwins |
Savage Voyageur: "Another great option is the Optimus 8R stove. Compact, steel case, brass body stove and tank, self cleaning needle, only one moving part, tank is part of the stove so no hose to fail, blow torch of a flame. " I’ll be on the lookout for one of these classics. I’ve always admired them. |
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gotwins |
Savage Voyageur: "gotwins: "Savage Voyageur: "Another great option is the Optimus 8R stove. Compact, steel case, brass body stove and tank, self cleaning needle, only one moving part, tank is part of the stove so no hose to fail, blow torch of a flame. " I have a friend in Denmark who has one, maybe 2. We once pulled it out on a visit I made just to make soup on it! |
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Savage Voyageur |
gotwins: "Savage Voyageur: "Another great option is the Optimus 8R stove. Compact, steel case, brass body stove and tank, self cleaning needle, only one moving part, tank is part of the stove so no hose to fail, blow torch of a flame. " I still have mine, but seldom it gets used anymore. It was a workhorse for us on many trips. You can still find then on eBay once in a while. |
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Cc26 |
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Cc26 |
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