Hiking stoves

I also own an original Trangia from Sweden which is like the one above. They are great in their simplicity and robustness. But look at the weight and bulk - this is something I'm very picky about. The Jetboil weighs less and is less bulky even with the fuel cartridge.

As for the multi-fuels, Whisperlites and the likes....they don't whisper at all! How often don't I have to tolerate my friends using one and feeling like the cave is right next to an airport! And on more than one occasion they've presented serious mechanical problems.

@ Boerkie, whilst this is not the lightest, this more heavy duty alumininum shield ,sold at camping stores, works pretty well and helps stabilise the pot on the small burner head.

elandman wrote: So far ive never had issues with MSR. I'm maybe a little fastidious about keeping it clean though

I think that's pretty key with those kinds of stoves. Welcome to the forum, by the way!

@mnt_tiska: I have one of those Optimus stoves. I was given it by my mountaineering buddy in Canada. He has a bunch of old gear, some it still in use (like an ice axe with a wooden shaft). The stove served him well over many years - he swore by it - and was used once by the two of us together. During that particular trip it gave up the ghost and we just could not get it going in spite of totally dismantling, cleaning and fixing what we could, and it even stopped responding to the trick of holding a lighter under the fuel chamber to build up pressure. At least we had a limited amount of tepid water to rehydrate our food that evening and late the next evening we just made use of the long daylight hours and walked out. From the first day I saw the stove and the few times I saw it operated, it had me in stitches, and added much fuel to the teasing I generally direct at him for his gear. After he purchased himself a new gas stove recently, he gave the old one to me as a souvenir and I keep it for laughs.