Re: [Paddlewise] Lightweight backpacking stoves (was: Introduction)

I used an Apex until its spectacular fiery demise from a fuel line leak.  I
am now in the market for a new stove and very much undecided.

As you say the liquid fuel units burn every time even in the rain or -20 F.
Their weight/btu is unmatched.  The dual fuel units also run on kerosene
which can be found about anywhere in the world.  In the US the Coleman fuel
is available about everywhere.  With the fuel additives these days I would
never use unleaded gas in a stove.

Unfortunately these stoves are on airline hit lists and shipping them ahead
has not always been a convenient option.

The propane/butane stoves have cold weather problems and poor btu/wt ratios.
Fuel availability ranges from good - fair in the US.  Not sure about other
parts of the world.  Since the fuel containers are throw away, airlines
aren't an issue as long as you can buy them where you are going, but I've
never figured out what to do with partially used containers at the end of a
trip.

Alcohol has low heat output but the fuel is available almost everywhere.
The invisible flame can be a severe safety issue.

At the moment I'm leaning towards buying a liquid fuel unit for the bulk of
my trips that don't require flying and getting a MSR Pocket Rocket for when
flying is involved.

Of course if the flying situation doesn't improve, shipping the gear ahead
may become much more attractive.  I'm watching a friend whose stuff was
ransacked on a recent flight.  The airlines blame the federal agency that
has taken over the screenings, and the federal agency won't return phone
calls.  Airlines have also quietly dropped checked baggage allowances.

> I've used MSR stoves since I was but a wee one. I still have their
earliest
> multi-fuel which is basically a small on-off switch flame thrower. Their
new
> series is much more user friendly in regard to simmering, When you're
> freezing, hungry, dead tired, and sometimes numb from the elbows down and
can
> manage only one or two finger movements at best, and can't absolutely,
> positively, cannot wait, for a hot sugar laden drink, they come through
every
> time. Pump, open spigot, ignite, blessed be you have flame. Didn't
mention
> they will do this completely wet. Kevin


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