Suggestions for backcountry stove

Bonecollector

Veteran member
Mar 9, 2014
5,862
3,667
Ohio
Another vote for the jet boil. Small, light, compact, works to perfection at all altitudes. I tired it and my lungs out at 6,500 - 9,500 ft. :)
 

RICMIC

Veteran member
Feb 21, 2012
2,016
1,796
Two Harbors, Minnesota
Eastman's did a review comparison on the efficiency between the gigapower and the Jetboil, after which Guy switched to the Jetboil. It is a heavier unit, but also more efficient. So, in theory, you can bring less fuel to even out the weight difference. I have kept my gigapower with the Titanium pot set. These units and their like are primarily best at one function, and that is to boil water. I often pack in a lightweight 4" X 11" grate to raise and stabelize the pot if you plan to cook a meal. The grate is also handy if cooking over a campfire. No better way for your lucky hunter meal.
We use Whisper Lites when I guide Boy Scouts on wilderness canoe trips in Canada. One stove can cook a real meal to feed 9 guys at a time. I do not bring the Whisper Light on backpack trips though.
 

dead river

Member
Mar 20, 2011
82
0
NC
MSR Whisperlite - I like the fuel canister separate to keep it low profile and not have it tip over. I also have a pocket rocket and it has been great but the whisperlite is a little easier to use all around, still very compact.

I sold my jetboil to a buddy. The tall profile was not for me. My buddy loves it so that worked out....

i use a 1 or 2 pot titanium set and one of the MSR stoves, depending on the trip.

My whisperlite attaches to the fuel cans you buy, not the fuel bottle you have to fill. i had one of the fill bottles leak on a NM summer trip when i was in my teens. I had to ration out fuel for 3 days and changed to the canisters after that. I am sure they could leak also....
 

Fink

Veteran member
Apr 7, 2011
1,961
204
West Side, MoMo
I just weighed my entire cook set. 1 pound with the stove, spoon, lighter, pot and enough fuel to feed me for a week. 1.5 pounds, if I take the optional coffee mug. Sometimes, I like to take the mug, drinking coffee out of a titanium pot sucks, first drink burns your face off, subsequent swigs are ice cold.

Really hard to beat that combo of weight, room in the pack, and overall performance.

DSC00177.jpgDSC00178.jpgDSC00179.jpg
 

dead river

Member
Mar 20, 2011
82
0
NC
You can drop that mug for a fold flat that weight about 1oz. mine is less, but orikoso went out of business. The similar product is available from Fozzils. Its not the convenience of a real mug, but beats the heck out of using the hot pot...easty to clean too. fold it flat and wipe it off with some leaves or grass.

http://www.fozzils.com/index.html
 

Fink

Veteran member
Apr 7, 2011
1,961
204
West Side, MoMo
You can drop that mug for a fold flat that weight about 1oz. mine is less, but orikoso went out of business. The similar product is available from Fozzils. Its not the convenience of a real mug, but beats the heck out of using the hot pot...easty to clean too. fold it flat and wipe it off with some leaves or grass.

http://www.fozzils.com/index.html
How long does the drink stay hot? The little stoic mug keeps it hot for a long time.
 

dead river

Member
Mar 20, 2011
82
0
NC
your hands insulate it! :D

Trade offs...you drink it quick, fold it up and put it away. I will have to take a look at the mug you mention....
 

dead river

Member
Mar 20, 2011
82
0
NC
The stoic mug is 6.9oz, so about 1/3# heavier. I used to not even carry a mug of any kind so the folding cup gives me something without adding more than about an ounce.
 

RICMIC

Veteran member
Feb 21, 2012
2,016
1,796
Two Harbors, Minnesota
The Ti mug that came with the pot can't weigh more than an ounce. I just make a cup holder out of Reflectux bubble wrap, and it keeps things good and hot.
 

Wapiti_Hunter

Member
Aug 8, 2014
108
0
Westminster CO
The MSR Pocket Rocket is by far my favorite and the only thing I have used for 15 years, aside from watching friends use jet boil/whisperlite etc... Not sure if there is anything on the market that is more lightweight or compact but it would be hard to find. And at the cost of $40.00 you wont find anything better. That's what I have found to work the best and I have only had one in 15 years, still works like a champ!
 

Wild Country

Active Member
Jan 29, 2012
221
0
OR
MSR Whisperlite - I like the fuel canister separate to keep it low profile and not have it tip over. I also have a pocket rocket and it has been great but the whisperlite is a little easier to use all around, still very compact.

I sold my jetboil to a buddy. The tall profile was not for me. My buddy loves it so that worked out....

i use a 1 or 2 pot titanium set and one of the MSR stoves, depending on the trip.

My whisperlite attaches to the fuel cans you buy, not the fuel bottle you have to fill. i had one of the fill bottles leak on a NM summer trip when i was in my teens. I had to ration out fuel for 3 days and changed to the canisters after that. I am sure they could leak also....
Didn't want to pipe in....seems were are old school now a days but since you did I figured I could let ya know you are not alone!. I love the fact that I can use it as a heater/dryer too!
 

JMSZ

Active Member
Sep 5, 2012
376
0
Primus Omnilite Ti, http://primuscamping.com/products/omni-lite-ti

Big thing for me was multi-fuel capability, I've used it with both diesel and MSR superfuel (white gas), but Primus also makes a butane mix that you can use with it, too. It does sound like a jet when it's running at full power, but I like the sound.

It doesn't have the super-fufu adjustability so you can simmer quinoa without burning it, it's more off, low and afterburner, but it boils water quickly, which is what I want it to do.

I love the thing, there's a trick to getting it lit when it's cold, but once you have that down, it's pretty easy.
 

87TT

Very Active Member
Apr 23, 2013
593
1,052
Idaho
I have never used the MSR pocket rocket but my go to BP stove is a Snowpeak Giga. It is small, light and works great. If I'm just boiling water for freezer bag meals or coffee, I take the Ti pot that holds the fuel canister and stove. If I want to be comfortable and maybe "cook" something., I have a Ti pot with a pan lid that is just a little bigger. I can steam bake biscuits for biscuits and gravy or make some chicken and dumplings. I haven't eaten a store bought freeze dried meal in years. I have dined on my wife's spaghetti that I dehydrated and Fiesta night which is refried beans, spanish rice, and chili cheese Fritos. The selection is endless but all I needed was the Gigapower. I did make am aluminum windscreen which really upped the efficiency.
I like the idea of the solo stove but with the drought and fire danger. I think I'll pass.
 
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