I just read this thread, and I didn't think I was in such a minority -- I mean, I've run into other tourers who seem to share my approach.

There are three ways to classify people:

1: (a) "Why would you ride a bike that far?" vs. (b) "I ain't goin' unless it's on my bicycle".
2: (a) "A meal isn't a meal unless it's cooked" vs. (b) "A meal is a meal if I end up full".
3: (a) "Can't live without hot coffee" vs. (b) "Instant coffee in cold water is an effective caffeine delivery system".

I'm a 1(b)/2(b)/3(b) guy.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to cruise the national parks in a convertible, there's nothing like a well-cooked ten-course supper, and I'd sleep-walk for the aroma of fresh-brewed java. But I can do without, especially if 2(a) and 3(a) mean carrying an extra 4 lbs of cooking gear and fuel for four months. I've carried it before, and didn't use it enough to justify the hassle. Especially the fuel part -- I'd rather shop for cookies. As for long stretches without services, sure (been there...), but we just plan on how many sandwiches we need, double it for safety, and make a date for the next grocery store.

That's doesn't mean cold meals/cold coffee are preferable. Not at all. We sometimes use a campfire for simple meals, and I still drool when I smell what the next guy is cooking up. But considering the pains we're going through for 1(b), daily life is already a trade-off. I mean, who would sleep in a tent when you have a nice warm bed at home?

Deep down, you probably don't need a stove. Want one, yes. Everybody draws their line in a different place.

-- Mark

(Note: I'm talking about road touring in North America.... crossing Siberia or the Andes is a different case.)

Gosh it's been awile since I've been camping. (Now that I'm older I like my comforts)
I have the old 8R myself...I'd forgotten the rocket sound. I never had the primer pump though...it looks like it would come in handy.
I'll be passing mine on to my son as well.

My other stoves are the good ol' 123 SVEA (I have 2), a Coleman 533 (a little heavier but it has always been reliable), a Triangia (the larger size), and coke can stoves of various designs.

I actually like the coke can stove if I'm out by myself and use it mainly to heat water for tea, coffee or freeze dried meals. Contrary to others experiences on this post have never had a problem with one in the wind. I've found that once lit they are nearly impossible to blow out (I have a "snuffer" can for that if needed).

If I'm cooking anything more elaborate, I'll take one of the gas stoves.

Did you use the directions that tell you to use the goofy shaped Heineken cans? I want to try one of those, but can't find the cans in the right size anywhere.

I am a big fan of alcohol stoves from Trangia nowadays -gravitated to them after many years of using an Svea 123 and other stoves.

I used to field test gear for MSR until they got sold to Cascade Designs. while I really, wholly endorse and enjoy all their gear (MIOX!!!), find a Trangia much easier and simpler to use than any other liquid fuel stove as long as you don't have to melt snow.

My Primus Omniful is great, I got the recommendation to buy it from an ex-SAS guy in England I met who used one in the regiment, so I figured that was quality advice and he was right for sure.

I built one of those a couple of years ago, really like it. I used the same cans in the directions, looks like a small keg. works for simmering too.http://www.flickr.com/photos/2595972...7594061105607/

I have been coveting this stove for a while but have yet to find it at a price less than retail. I have an MSR Dragonfly which I really like. The Primus Omnifuel seems to have a few advantages that appear to make it the best choice for me:

-The Primus has the ability to change from liquid fuel (gas, av fuel, diesel, kerosene) to LP canisters, making it very versatile. DukeArcher, do you know if you must use Primus LP canisters or can you use those made by other companies?

-The Primus is all metal construction. On our last tour I carried two pumps and the field maintenance kit for our Dragonfly because the pumps are plastic. It turned out to be a good thing. Upon returning home MSR warrantied both pumps. I am tough on my gear and used the stove two or three times a day for years, so I guess this is not unreasonable. I was wondering if the fittings on the metal pump seem fragile. Since I know MSR guarantees their stuff without question I hesitate to make the jump at full price...

http://www.primuscamping.com/images/catalog/732230.jpghttp://www.actionoutdoors.co.uk/shop...onfly_pump.jpg

-Noise of operation. The Dragonfly is loud. I am an early riser. I need my tea first thing in the morning. In close quarters camping, which happens quite frequently, I have to hike to a far-away spot to boil water. Has anyone used both the Primus Omnifuel and Dragonfly to compare the noise produced by the two?

There is a middle ground between cook-less and 4 pounds of cooking gear and fuel, at lest when touring where you don't need to carry much fuel at a time. It is possible to cook with a lot less than 4 pounds of gear and fuel.

We all make the choices that suit our style.

That's quite an understatement. It's like a Harrier jet hanging overhead. I'm not comfortable using it in public campgrounds either. I also had a pump failure on my last trip. Fortunately, I found a small shop carrying MSR equipment and they were nice to break a full stove kit and sell only the pump. I was thinking of using an alcool stove for the first time but with the prospect of many windy beach campsites, I went with familiarity at the last minute. Another thing I don't like about the Dragonfly is that it packs akwardly.

Yeah, it is supposed to fold up in the bag inside a pot. That never really worked for us. I fold up the stove and keep it in a clean peanut butter jar after ours broke.

http://www.vwvagabonds.com/images/MS...nflyBroken.JPG

This was an older version of the stove. When I called MSR they admitted the weakness which they have since redesigned and warrantied it.

You're right, of course. My "4 pounds" experience was 'way back when, when 4 lbs was lightweight for cooking gear. But my present experience is the same: I found out then that I can live easily without hot meals in camp, and that hasn't changed.

My original point was also that it's a personal choice. Just a reminder to the OP that going stoveless is an option, if that suits him then he won't be kicked out of the touring club :)

-- Mark

Making stoveless a little more appealing.

Yes it is the tour you want. For me I don't need hot food every day or hot beverages. I understand that for me cooking sucks even in non-touring life. Why do I want to add more complexity when I am trying to be simple?

You can cold brew coffee or tea. You can also buy your coffee in advance (thermos) or have it cold.
Here is some lightweight options.
http://www.trung-nguyen-online.com/c...ccessories.php


Thanks it makes a lot of sense if you are not on a cooking tour (as I call them)

Ok coffee mentioned that already.
I asked locals, saw signs, or looked at a map. I always keep a couple days of food by default if I didn't see a big town on the map.
A raw diet is actually better for 100 mile spreads, because where your stove, fuel, and cookware goes you can put food there. FYI you can steep Oatmeal and Pasta. I used empty .5 gallon milk jugs.

One example. I spent 5 days in the forest with a filter and raw food.

I disagree I spent 83 days in Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona on mostly raw food to keep cost down from going to restaurants. After riding for 7 hours I really didn't care how my food tasted. Yet that was me. I spent 112 dollars on restaurant food. I had to spend 40 dollars on one meal (which was two separate items). I didn't prepare myself for the 150 mile jaunt in between food stores.

There is so much truth here I can't even begin to tell you. The range of food that doesn't need to be cooked is enormous.


Agreed a lot of our normal life bleeds into touring.

My Stoves have lasted a long time between changes all leading to lighter yet effective cooking kits for varied conditions on bike and kayak tours. I have come full circle over the years.

I bought Trangia stoves in the mid-sixties and liked them but was seduced by the gasoline stove propaganda and tried the other Swedish alternative.

The Optimus 8R and the larger 111B were boat anchors but effective blowtorches for decades. When MSR offered the XGK I was pleased to make the change. It burned almost anything I could find and did it well from sea level to 5000 meters/16500 feet. After 20 years I tried the MSR Dragonfly but found that the design and quality control had been turned over to bean counters at Cascade Designs. CD offers replacement kits for a reason- design and/or production failures.

I returned the stove and returned to the Trangia alcohol stoves I had purchased over forty years ago and had liked because of their silent operation and durability. The speed factor for cooking meant nothing to me anyway.

As I planned for the Divide Ride and looked to reduce weight I came across the Brasslite alcohol stoves weighing barely an ounce or two. It worked amazingly well in all conditions and was durable as well compared to a DIY one. In my more decadent modes I carry both the Trangia and Brasslite to cook for a larger number or for a more elaborate meal. Simple durable and effective. full circle indeed!

Good points.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...m/S4300019.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3...m/S4300020.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../S43000232.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c3.../S43000262.jpg

Made this a while back and it has worked great.

I have not used it on long trips but carry it as a spare when I'm car camping. My propane bottle ran out last summer just as I was starting to make fajitas. I fired this little guy up and carefully balanced a big skillet on the tripod. It had enough juice to cook the steak and all the veggies as well as simmering( although I need to cut another simmer ring because I stepped on the last one!!).

I have a bunch more cans from the 12 pack I bought and have been meaning to make some more one of these days.

Philip

I didn't read all of the posts, and I don't know how you will be returning, but Southwest doesn't allow used liquid fuel stoves in carry-on or checked baggage. Cleaned stoves are okay with the TSA, so it probably varies from airline to airline. Something to consider.

From Southwest web site:
Flammable Liquid Fueled Equipment (white fuel, gasoline, diesel, etc.) : Camp stoves, heaters, lanterns or other flammable liquid fuel camp equipment will not be accepted as checked or carryon baggage unless the equipment is brand new, unused and still in the manufacturer’s package. We will not accept the flammable liquid fuel equipment if there is any evidence that the equipment has been used.

Flammable Gas Fueled Equipment (propane/butane) : Camp Stoves, heaters, lanterns, or other camping equipment that uses compressed gas cylinders will be conditionally accepted as checked or carryon baggage. The stove burner and/or lantern filament may be carried, as long as there is no fuel cylinder. The fuel cylinders themselves must be removed and are prohibited in checked and carryon baggage, whether they are empty or full.


Good Luck!

i use 1981 coleman peak 1 or their current same (1994). dual fuel, or multi-fuel back pack stoves are the way to go!
my 1981 coleman peak 1 white gas stove still works. i have seen simular peak 1 stoves accept unleaded gasoline fine, have dual fuels now but choose to use white gas.

Most airlines are a little more reasonable than that, they'll let you take your stove as long as it has been cleaned out and doesn't smell of fuel. There's always a danger, though, that you'll run into an overly zealous airline employee who won't let you bring your stove no matter how clean and free of fuel it is. Check the airline website, print off the relevant regs, and have a copy with you when you check in.

Yep, I looked at 4 different stores before finding a 12 pack of Heineken cans at Target off McKee Rd. If you still haven't found any, PM me and I'll give you some empty cans.

I use this folding stove. It can use any canned fuel, like Magic Fuel, couglans, or even sterno. Simple and reliable, and i've even used twigs, and other junk as well. It's also very cheap to buy.

http://www.campingsurvival.com/foldingstove.html

http://ep.yimg.com/ip/I/campingsurvival_2051_36085639

Does anybody use gasoline in their MSR Whisperlite? I checked around and I cannot find anything from MSR indicating gasoline is a proper fuel for this stove.

The Whisperlite Internationale burns unleaded gasoline. The old Whisperlite does not.

I have a different MSR stove and have run unleaded in it................. wouldn't want to do it very often though. Soot is bad. Best to run good old white gas.

I do have the Internationale. Therefore maybe I will start my tours with White gas and feel free to use unleaded when I run out and have no access to small quantities of White gas.

TY for the responses.

Los (may I call you Los? LOL), We just bought the primus.
it accepts all canisters, EXCEPT campinggaz canisters (they have a internal threads, whereas the other system has external threads, there may possibly be a converter???)
Noise: We have yet to cook on the primus on the same fuel we used to cook on with our msr xg-k (kerosene), but even on lp gas it's LOUD when you open the throttle(s) full.
but when you're not in a hurry it's only slightly louder then a 'normal' lp gas burner (but still louder)

There are/were two different versions of the Whisperlite. The Whisperlite and the Whisperlite International, they still sell both models.

Unleaded and Kerosene soot up stuff very quickly and require a thorough cleaning of the stove more often than with white gas.

Aaron:)

Mine is the big daddy MSR XGK. Will run on just about anything except water:D

I have seen those run on JP4 on a survival trip...interesting and keep your distance:lol: I looked at one of those and went with the Whisperlite Intl. Now I want a Simmerlite to add to the collection:innocent:

Aaron:)

I do plan on picking up a simmerlite white gas version pretty soon. I have the simmerlite cannister version and like it very much. Works with the trillium base which is nice since I have one for the big stove.

I've been using MSR stoves for ever and they have always treated me well. The big stove is great for melting snow and boiling water when mountaineering....... not so great for touring.

msr dragon fly. a little heavier, simmers like a dream. though on my recent China tour I bought a cheap isobutane stove because I could not find white gas, and did not want to burn kerosene diesel or gasoline in the . dont like the smell.

i only used the isobutane stove for coffee in the morning. villages are close together in most places in Yunnan, always ate in a village at noodle shops or small restaurants (about 60 cents US for a bowl of mi xian noodles) though I carried emergency rations and one small titanium pot. I thought I might need to boil water for drinking if I could not find bottled water - that was never and issue. Lots of bottled water here.