Backpack Hiking Stove Choices
Choosing a backpacking or hiking stove isn't complicated, but there are a few important factors to consider.
Canister? Liquid Fuel? MultiFuel? Rocket Fuel?
Let's assume you're among the 95 percent of backpackers who don't want some homemade contraption powered by a candle flame, or a multi-burner monster stove to lug into the backcountry. You want something compact, lightweight, fuel-efficient and reliable. OK, that's easy: almost all the backpacking stoves produced by the major brands fit that description. But you do have one major decision to make at the outset: canister or liquid fuel?Canister Stove
Canister stoves are powered by butane, propane or isobutane contained inside sealed canisters. You don't have to worry about filling up fuel bottles, which is convenient. But you do have to stock up on fuel canisters and carry the empties out with you.
In terms of actual use, canister stoves have some clear advantages. They're easy to light, with no priming required and no liquid gas splashed across your hands or your campsite. On most models the heat output adjusts easily, which means canister stoves are great for cooking if you want to attempt anything more subtle than bringing water to a boil. Some canister fuel stoves like the Jetboil Backcountry Gourmet and Jetboil Personal Cooking System come with stove, cooking gear and utensils integrated into a single compact package.
Why might you NOT want a canister stove? Some people don't like being dependent on finding sealed fuel canisters that will work with their particular stove model. This may be an issue for people who plan to travel a lot, buying fuel as needed along the way. Increasingly however many of the newer stoves are compatible with a variety of sealed canister fuel types available worldwide.
Most canister models are a little heavier than most liquid fuel stoves, though again there are exceptions. (The ultra-light and compact MSR Pocket Rocket is a great example.) You do have to dispose of the canisters--they don't recycle. Also be aware that canister stoves that burn butane or propane perform poorly (or not at all) in below-freezing conditions. For colder weather choose an isobutane model like the MSR Reactor or Primus EtaPower Easy Fuel (EF).
Over the past decade canister stoves have become increasingly popular in the U.S. for their ease of use. Although they do have some significant negatives, none may apply or be too important for the average weekend backpacker.
Liquid Fuel, Multifuel and Dual Fuel Stove
The alternative to canister is liquid fuel. A basic distinction here is between stoves that burn white gas pretty much exclusively versus multifuel stoves that can burn a variety of liquid fuel types. White gas-burning stoves have been the traditional choice of backpackers (at least in the U.S.) for decades. The fuel is widely available, burns hots, and performs well in very cold conditions.
A multifuel stove tends to be more expensive, but provide the major advantage of running on practically anything. The MSR DragonFly for example can burn white gas, regular automotive gas, diesel, aviation fuel and other solvents. Other models like the Coleman Exponent are categorized as dual fuel stoves, burning white gas and unleaded gas only.
The ability to burn multiple fuel types is particularly important for international travelers, since white gas is simply not available in many places. Multi-fuel expedition stoves like the Optimus Novaand MSR XGK EX are designed to perform well on any fuel in practically any conditions.
In shopping for a liquid fuel stove make sure you know which type is which, as the differences between white gas and multifuel stoves are not always obvious. (However MS or AF at the end of a stove's name means it's a multifuel stove.) The MSR WhisperLite Shaker Jet is a white gas stove, while the MSR WhisperLite Internationale is multifuel.
Recently some great new stoves have come on the market which bridge the canister-liquid fuel divide. The Primus EtaPower MF (not the EF) can run on isobutane canisters AND a variety of liquid fuels. The Coleman Exponent Fyrestorm Ti can run on butane/propane canisters or switch to liquid fuel in colder conditions. The Brunton Vapor AF is another butane/liquid fuel-burning hybrid.
The best advice is simply to choose the most compact and lightweight stove that will meet your needs and personal tastes. For a quick comparison of backpacking stove performance and fuel types, check the all stoves considered chart at The Pack Stove Store.
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