Hiking stoves

I have used almost all hiking stoves - the first being an optimus 8R bought in Aliwal Street, Durban (Outdoor Inn - long since gone). See vid here of an 8R:

The list includes many gas stoves, meth stoves and, for the last 15 years, the benzine MSR pressurised stoves. None has ever failed me. In the beginning I even carried two stoves in case one broke - an example of early, misguided decisions.

I have done trips where we forgot matches (Bell Cave) or forgot the stove (Bell Traverse and down Tseke). Both those trips featured major snow falls and everything was frozen on the latter. We were thirsty when we got to Tseke hut!

Theoretically the most reliable is the meth stove as it has no moving parts. Time to boil is not such a big deal unless there is a really strong wind or if one has to melt snow. Under those conditions the MSR type liquid fuel bottle would be my choice. Under other conditions, a 20% increase in time-to-boil wouldn't worry me much as there usually isn't too much on the agenda once you're at destination. Putting a lid on a pot makes an important difference though.

My general use is GAS burner during summer months, and MSR XGK-EX during winter.

Choice depends on how long I'm out for vs. how many with me vs. season vs weather.

Most times I just carry my MSR, quick to get going on benzine/unleaded, light, and will cook or boil anything in under 2 minutes, being careful not to cook yourself or the grass hillsides around if you not careful hehe. It being pretty frugal on fuel too unless you cooking for a small army.

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

Thanks

Another thing to note... its really worth doing a little homework around what fuel burns the cleanest when stove it as operating level, and also how it burns when you starting up.
Usually the most soot is produced when lighting the stove and during warmup.

I generally try use the cleanest burning fuel available so that soot production is kept to virtually nothing. Then to light the stove I use meths. Burns VERY hot and sootless

I have also been through the various stoves - gas, meths, optimus, MSR, but I always return to my Coleman Feather (Benzine) for the most efficient burn and for its reliability. I have been using it since the early 90's with a couple of pump and generator replacements, but it is still going strong. I have estimated that one tank can last for about 2-3 days for a single person, similar to the old Gaz gas stove, but with tons more performance and a lot cheaper on fuel. At about 700-800 gms, it is worth it.
I have also attached a picture of a light alternative for a wind-shield. It is light, but supported with a few strategically placed rocks, provides good protection. It is made from the light aluminium sheets used for printing plates.

That Coleman is one of the few (only?) stove I know that tolerates burning petrol. I've used mine a lot in the Sahara where Benzine is hard to find. My MSRs have defintely had a grudge against petrol but the Coleman laps it up. I expect the tolerances in the Coleman are not as precise as the MSR although the performance difference when running the two stoves on benzine is marginal.

It's been a Jet Boil for me over the last few years. Not the lightest and a little bulky, but it boils water really quickly and efficiently. Not good for cooking, but I am quite happy eating dehydrated foods in the "just add boiling water" category, of fresh stuff, and we do just love our tea. I have never had a problem in the Berg, even well above 3000m. It's just a matter of keeping the gas a warm as possible all the time. At night, the next day’s gas bottle come into my sleeping bag with me. During the hike the gas is then usually snug in my pack along with my woollies and only taken out when needed..
All our gas is a propane /butane mix.
A lot of folks come short with gas because they use it cold. When the gas is really cold, then only the propane burns off ( enter a chemist to please explain this) so it burns like a bastard for the first few uses, then you only have butane left and this burns badly on its own, and hardly at all at 0 degrees or below. So then for the rest of the bottle we glare at the stove and swear never to buy that brand of gas again, or change to a new bottel and start the process again.

Oh yes, I just remembered, different gasses vaporise efficiently at different temperatures, and the propane component vaporises below the butane component, temperature wise, and this is why it burns off quicker at low temperatures. (We may still need a chemist to intervene please).

This is why the new inverted gas burners are catching on. The “mix” stays mixed in liquid form until it hits the burner, then it has no choice but to burn, and, if I remember they have a little super heating loop to heat the gas liquid gas in the line just before it vaporises (and burns) at the jet.
Nice technology, and probably my next stove, but for the meantime just keep you gas warm and you won’t have any problems, in the Berg at least.
This does not exonerate badly designed gas stoves prone to wind and to falling over. You need to come to the party with a good stove to start with.
And here endeth the lesson- Phew.

Hi
Please can anyone tell me if i can get gas cylinders for Coleman F1 Spirit in South Africa?