Summary: These simple and light-weight stoves use wood and hexamine tablets as well as gas canisters, and white fuel with only one nozzle. They’re popular in cold temperatures, but they’re noisy and don’t have a simmer limit.
Some multi-fuel stoves are hybrids, capable of burning multiple kinds of liquid fuel. The MSR WhisperLite Universal, for instance, can burn both white and isobutane fuel in its canisters.
Optimus Nova
The Optimus Nova is a 3kw multi fuel stove-fuel stove that can be used with various liquid fuels. It features a quick-priming burner, a self-purging aluminium pump and precise simmer control. Its low center of gravity and wide spread legs make it a sturdy stove that is rock-solid. This makes it a great stove for group backpacking base camps, kayaking, and camping in the Arctic.
Unlike many other liquid fuel stoves which have a problem of unburned fuel is left in the fuel line and nozzle of the stove, the Optimus Nova has a shut off mechanism that works by simply flipping the container over. The intake hose is then removed from the fuel, causing it to draw in air, that extinguishes the flame. It also reduces the pressure in the bottle.
This is an ingenious solution to a long-standing problem and it’s effective. The Nova can be used with a variety of regular fuel bottles that seal using an o-ring, such as MSR bottles. It comes with a stove bag that includes pockets for spares, tools as well as lubricant and the fuel pump.
This is an excellent backpacking stove that can be used in the UK. It is particularly ideal for trips, where a variety of fuels are required. The price is very affordable when compared with other canister stoves that have similar capabilities. Furthermore the Optimus Nova is easy to maintain and enjoyable to use.
Kovea Hydra
Since 2010, the Kovea Multi Fuel Stove has become a popular choice among backpackers. The Hydra is not as popular with UK backpackers possibly because they’ve caught up to better-known brands or the latest lightweight offering from China or Korea. But that doesn’t make it any less useful.
It’s a small and light stove, burning all liquid fuels, including white gas and propane butane, using one nozzle. It’s a typical stove, with an inbuilt burner that is attached to a body that is anchored by three fold-out support legs. The pump is on top of the fuel hose and the generator loop runs around the inlet and the flame spreader is situated above that. The burner is a slow-moving flame type. This means it is less affected by wind.
One of the best features is that it can be used with a container of propane or isobutane, which makes it a versatile small cooker. It’s easy to simmer on propane or isobutane and burns all types of fuel with a decent amount of heat, but is a little slower than other stoves when you use white gas.
The instructions for the Hydra are written in English, but they were not written by native speakers of the language. The instructions warn against the use of certain kinds of lighter fluids that, if misinterpreted as what is intended could cause an accident that could land Kovea in a lot of legal hot water. However that any 7/16ths UNEF threaded gas container from a trusted brand will work fine.
Primus OmniLite Ti
Primus Omnilite Ti can be a great option for those seeking a multifuel cooker that cooks with a variety of fuels. It can operate on gas, petrol/gasoline, fuel oil, kerosene, and diesel fuel. It has separate controls for each fuel type and can also be used to adjust the flame size, which is a nice feature. This stove has an fuel pipe that sits flat on the floor and can be connected to the tank easily.
The Primus Omnilite is an excellent stove, but it needs maintenance to keep it running correctly. It is a risk because it gets flaming when you are priming. This issue is common to all stoves with liquid fuel that use a second spindle on the stove end instead of an evaporator to cool the fuel.
It is also important to note that each fuel type requires the use of a different jet. If you are cooking using kerosene, the jet hole will be smaller than if using gas. It’s not a major issue, but it’s worth mentioning.
MSR Whisper Lite
The MSR Whisper Lite stove is one of the tiniest, lightest and most affordable multi fuel stoves ebay-fuel stoves. It is also simple to repair in the field. It is able to run on canister fuel or liquid gas, and comes with attachments for both. The new design is lighter by 10% compared to its predecessor and the burner system was revamped to improve the distribution of heat. It’s perfect for beginners or backpackers with a budget.
The whistler Lite requires a bit of time to prepare to prime and boil water, but it’s a reliable stove that will never let you down. The flame is extremely powerful and can cook a Liter of water in two minutes. The only downside is that it’s not as effective for simmering as some other stoves.
This is the reason MSR has developed the Dragonfly stove, which is an efficient simmering burner. It’s designed in the same way as the whistler, but it is more compact and offers more performance. However it’s not as affordable as the whistler Lite. The Soto Amicus stove and cookset is a fantastic alternative that offers the same set-up for half the price. You can also purchase a Whisperlite International or Universal for isobutane canisters too. The same basic design is used in both but the Universal version can be run with canister fuel in addition.
Coleman Sportster II
This is a basic low-cost, no-frills Coleman stove that does the job. It’s compact, self-contained and solid with the tank on the bottom and the burner on the top. This makes it easy to operate and a great option for backpackers, beginners looking to save weight and for those of us who keep a few spares in the van.
It is designed to burn Coleman’s proprietary fuel (naptha gas, also known as white gas) This stove can be used with non-leaded gasoline as well. This will save you money as one gallon of gasoline could last as long as the standard Coleman liquid fuel cylinder.
Liquid fuel stoves come with a learning curve as you’ll need to properly pressurize and prime them before you get a nice blue flame going. If you get it wrong, your fuel may be sprayed, pool, or splash over the burner, or explode. Do some practice outside before going on your trip to learn how to do it.
This stove does give up some performance or odor reduction with non-coleman fuels however that’s a trade off for the additional flexibility it provides. Just be sure you’re buying gasoline that isn’t leaded and not enhanced with methanol or (alcohol). This is because these types of fuel will cause the unit to disintegrate, leak, sputter and even explode!
ATG Jiko
The ATG Jiko 8kw multi fuel stove Fuel Stove from South Africa is an ultralight multifuel engineered for harsh environments like Africa. It’s a compact and robust stove that burns gels, solid fuel tabs, and alcohol through one nozzle. It’s a light and minimalist design that costs less than other multifuel stoves and also offers low ownership cost with fuel being less expensive per Liter than gas canisters.
Other multifuel stoves come with a distinct nozzle for each type of fuel. This makes them a little difficult to change in cold weather or using gloves, and adds to their weight. The newest models of multifuel stoves have discovered ways to use the same nozzle to ignite multiple fuels which is much more convenient. They can be described as hybrids or compressed fuel 5kw defra multifuel stove stoves. They are also known by other names such as isobutane, white gas, kerosene, and unleaded gasoline/car petrol.
Another option is to purchase a multifuel stove that converts your regular Trangia burner into a contemporary multi fuel stoves 5kw fuel cooker. They are typically sold at specialist camping stores and are available internationally. They are perfect for Trangia enthusiasts. They can burn all liquid fuels apart from diesel and, with the right accessories they can even simmer.