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Topic: Cheap Backpacking Stove, Friend on a budget< Next Oldest | Next Newest >
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treelinebackpacker Search for posts by this member.

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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 21 2013, 6:51 pm  Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
I'm looking for a stove for a friend of mine. She's on a tight college budget, so I'm looking for something that is as cheap as possible, while still being reliable.
Any have any experience with any cheap stoves off of Amazon?
I'd prefer to go with a canister stove for convenience.

Any opinions would be appreciated.
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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 21 2013, 7:47 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
Think long-term cheap, not one-time-cheap-with-costly-fuel.

Liberty Mountain Trangia Westwind.

Legendary reliability, easy to use, cheap fuel.

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"Sure as I know anything, I know this - they will try again...They'll swing back to the belief that they can make people... better. And I do not hold to that. So no more runnin'. I aim to misbehave."
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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 21 2013, 8:31 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
MSR Pocket Rocket or Snowpeak Gigapower are fairly cheap if you get them off of ebay. The MSR PR usually goes for around $20 on ebay.
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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 21 2013, 8:36 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
The pocket rocket might be the way to go.
They're popping up pretty cheap used.

Thanks for the suggestion of the liquid stove, but canisters are much more convenient, and that's what she's looking for.
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AlmostThere Search for posts by this member.
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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 21 2013, 8:59 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
I'd give her a snowpeak giga over a PR. Much less carbon monoxide with a giga. also more stable in general.

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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 21 2013, 9:51 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
I use the Giga myself. Great stove. More stable too, imo.
I use it most places, unless I'm cooking something fancy. Then it's the Wisperlite 2.

She ended up going with this actually...
http://www.amazon.com/gp....=507846
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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 21 2013, 10:05 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
Alcohol stove, Pepsi-can style.  Get 'em pre-made with a pot stand for a few bucks on eBay, and the fuel is ubiquitous and cheap.


I guess from your last response she already bought a canister stove, but if cheap is truly the #1 priority, it's tough to beat an alchy stove.

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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 21 2013, 10:08 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
I think she's just going by example. I'm usually the one who leads the trips we take (pretty large group of us) and I always use a canister stove. I think she's uncomfortable trying something different. Even though, a can of fuel is only about 3 bucks around here. Not bad at all.
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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 22 2013, 7:28 am Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
As canister stoves go, the Pocket Rocket is a bargain.  Love mine.
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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 22 2013, 1:34 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
Sterno Stove. $10 on Amazon
Chafing fuel can be picked up at the dollar store and fits in the space.
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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 22 2013, 2:38 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
I started with a Sterno Stove, then moved to Alcohol, then to White gas, and now a cansiter.  I would never go back to anything but a canster stove.

Ben

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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 22 2013, 5:38 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE

(AlmostThere @ Feb. 21 2013, 8:59 pm)
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I'd give her a snowpeak giga over a PR. Much less carbon monoxide with a giga. also more stable in general.

I agree thats why I switched from a PR to a Gigapower.
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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 24 2013, 10:36 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
Primus Yellowstone Classic Stove

http://www.rei.com/product....l-stove

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1blLCYrH480

Very reliable canister stove.  You can cook or boil.  I've used one for over 10 years without any issues and it's still going strong as a car camping stove these days.
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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 25 2013, 1:01 am Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE

(frihauf @ Feb. 22 2013, 11:38 am)
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I started with a Sterno Stove, then moved to Alcohol, then to White gas, and now a cansiter.  I would never go back to anything but a canster stove.

Ben

I went from a campfire to a white gas to a canister to a white gas to an alcohol stove and would never go back.

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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 25 2013, 10:09 am Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE
I went white-gas to alcohol to canister to another canister to alcohol/wood stove.  And I'm pretty sure I've skipped at least a couple in there.  I'm almost certain with my first white-gas stove, I said at some point "I'll never use anything else!"

I use any of the above stoves on different trips these days, so I guess you could say I would go back.  Each have their benefits and drawbacks... I haven't found one yet that has clear advantages over all the others in every single scenario.  Sub-zero winter trips melting large pots of snow (need huge BTU's), white gas is still the goto for me.  Short summer weekends I'll pick up the canister or alchy stove.  For extended multi-week summer trips without resupply I'll go to the hybrid wood / alchy stove to save fuel if I'm somewhere that wood will be available, which I usually am on such trips.

Not that my opinion is terribly relevant to everyone else, but it's worth pointing out that it's more about personal preference than absolutes, at least when asking the question "what's better."

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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 25 2013, 10:32 am Skip to the previous post in this topic. Skip to the next post in this topic. Ignore posts   QUOTE

(treelinebackpacker @ Feb. 21 2013, 6:51 pm)
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I'd prefer to go with a canister stove for convenience.

Define convenience. :)

Nothing is cheaper (or easier to make) than the Super Cat alcohol stove. That is what I still use if going solo or with one of my boys. With both boys I'll take the canister. If it is a cold-weather trip (speaking daytime highs below freezing, not nighttime lows) I'm more likely to take the canister though Andrew Skurka continued to use his throughout his 6 month Alaska-Yukon adventure.
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PostIcon Posted on: Feb. 28 2013, 8:21 pm Skip to the previous post in this topic.  Ignore posts   QUOTE

(treelinebackpacker @ Feb. 21 2013, 6:51 pm)
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She ended up going with this actually...
http://www.amazon.com/gp....=507846

Hi, treeline backpacker,

How does she like that stove she got off of Amazon?   It looks like a Chinese knock off of the Snow PeakLight Max.

HJ

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