Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves

Summary: These basic stoves that are lightweight can burn wood, hexamine white fuel, white fuel, and gas canisters through one nozzle. These stoves are popular during colder weather, but they are noisy and lack the ability to control the simmer.

Some multi fuel stove ebay-fuel stoves are hybrids, that can burn different kinds of liquid fuel. The MSR WhisperLite Universal, for instance, takes both white and isobutane fuel in its canisters.

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 a precise simmer control. Its low center of gravity and wide legs make it a solid, rock-solid stove. This makes it a great stove for group base camps, kayaking, and Arctic camp.

In contrast to other stoves with liquid fuel that suffer from a problem where unburned fuel is left in the fuel line and nozzle of the stove, the Optimus Nova has a shut off mechanism that operates by flipping the bottle over. This removes intake hoses from the fuel and forces them to take in air, which extinguishes flames and depressurizes bottle.

This is an ingenious solution for an age-old issue and it's a good one. The Nova can be used with a variety of regular fuel bottles that are sealed with an o-ring, including MSR bottles. It also comes with a full-featured stove bag that includes separate pockets for spare parts, tools, lubricant and the fuel pump.

This is an excellent all-round backpacking stove that is suitable for use in the UK especially for trips in which a variety of fuels is required. The price is reasonable when compared to canister stoves of similar capability. The Optimus Nova is also easy to maintain and enjoyable to use.

Kovea Hydra

The Kovea Hydra multi fuel stove was first marketed in 2010 and has been a favorite choice for many backpackers ever since. It isn't as popular UK backpackers seem to give it much attention nowadays, possibly having caught up with better known brands or whatever the most recent lightweight stove from China or Korea is but it doesn't mean the Hydra isn't still a great stove with its advantages.

It's a relatively compact and light stove that burns all liquid fuels, including white gas and propane butane through a single nozzle. It's a standard stove that has an inbuilt burner that is attached to a body which anchors three fold-out support legs. The pump is above the fuel line, the generator loop wraps around the inlet and the flame spreader is situated above. The burner is a low-velocity flame type. This means that it is not affected by the wind.

It's a versatile cooker as it can be used with either propane canisters or Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves isobutane. It's simple to simmer with propane or isobutane and burns all fuel types with a decent amount of heat, but is a little slower than other stoves when using white gas.

One thing to keep in mind when using the Hydra is that the instructions are written in English which was not written by a native speaker of the language. The instructions warn you against using certain types of lighter fluid. If they are mistaken this could cause an accident and put Kovea into legal trouble. However, any 7/16ths UNEF threaded gas container from a reputable manufacturer is likely to work perfectly.

Primus OmniLite Ti

The Primus Omnilite Ti is a ideal choice to those looking for an all-fuel stove that can cook with a variety of fuels. It can be used with petrol/gasoline, gas, or diesel, kerosene and aviation fuel. It comes with separate controls for each fuel type and also alter the size of the flame. This stove also has an fuel line that is flat on the ground and can be easily connected to the tank.

The Primus Omnilite is an excellent stove, but it needs maintenance to keep it running properly. It could be dangerous as it gets flaming when you are priming. This issue occurs with all stoves with liquid fuel that utilize a secondary spindle on the stove end instead of an actual coil to vaporize the fuel.

Another issue is the fact that it requires different jets for every type of fuel. If you cook using kerosene, the jet hole will be smaller than if using gas. This is a minor issue but it's worth mentioning.

MSR Whisper Light

The MSR Whisper Lite is one of the lightest, slimmest and cheapest multi fuel stoves. It is also easy to repair in the field. It is able to run on canister fuel or liquid gas and includes attachments for both. The new model is lighter by 10% over its predecessor and the burner system was redesigned to improve heat distribution. This is a great option for backpackers on a tight budget or beginners.

The whistler Lite takes a little time to set up to prime and boil water, but it's an efficient stove that will not disappoint you. The flame is powerful and can easily boil one liter of water within two minutes. The only issue is that it doesn't cook like other stoves.

MSR created the Dragonfly to be a more capable burner. It has a similar design as the whistler, however it is smaller and provides more performance. However, it's not as cheap as the whistler Lite. The Soto Amicus stove and cookset is a great alternative that provides a similar setup at half the price. You can also get a Whisperlite International or Universal for isobutane containers as well. Both versions have the same basic design however, the Universal version is also compatible with canister fuel.

Coleman Sportster II

Like many Coleman stoves, this one is a simple, rough and ready unit that gets the job done. It's compact, Cheap Multi Fuel Stoves self-contained, and solid, with the tank at the bottom and the burner on top. This makes it simple to operate and a great option for backpackers, beginners looking to save weight and those who have spares in the van.

This stove is designed to burn Coleman's proprietary fuel (naptha which is also referred to as "white gas") but can be used with non-leaded gas too. This will save you money as one gallon of gasoline could last as long as the conventional Coleman liquid fuel cylinder.

Liquid fuel stoves have a learning curve as you'll need to pressurize and prime them before you can create a beautiful blue flame going. If you're not careful the fuel could get into the tank, splash outside the burner, or sputter. Practice outside before taking it on your trip to learn how to do it.

The stove will suffer some performance and odor of the flame efficiency if you use non-Coleman fuels. However, this is a tradeoff for its versatility. Just be sure you're buying unleaded gasoline and not something that is enriched with methanol or ethanol (alcohol). This is because these kinds of fuels can cause the unit to disintegrate, leak, sputter and may even explode!

ATG Jiko

The ATG Jiko Multi Fuel Stove from South Africa is an ultralight multifuel that's been designed for harsh environments such as Africa. It's an extremely compact and reliable all-in-one stove that burns solid fuel, alcohol, tabs, and also gels using only one nozzle. It's a light minimalist design that is priced less than most other multifuel stoves and also offers low ownership cost and fuel is less expensive per liter than gas canisters.

Other multifuel stoves have a separate nozzle for each fuel type. This makes them a little fiddly to change over in bad weather or with gloves, and adds to their overall weight. The newest models of multifuel stoves have found ways to use the same nozzle to ignite different fuels, making it easier. These stoves can be referred to as hybrids or compressed fuel multifuel stoves. They are also referred to under other names like white gas, isobutane kerosene and unleaded gasoline/car petrol.

Another option is to purchase a multifuel stove kit that converts your regular Trangia burner into a multifuel cooker. They are usually sold at specialist camping stores and are available internationally. They are a good option for Trangia enthusiasts and are capable of burning all liquid fuels, with the exception of diesel, and when equipped with the right accessories can even simmer.