@gieorgijewski Don't you really mean the Phoebus 625? If so, I agree that would also be an option. It's been used on some high altitude mountaineering expeditions, and is generally a trouble-free and hot stove. The 725 is also a great stove, but I wouldn't be as confident relying on a self-pressurizing stove in hard winter conditions. ....Arch
Gentlemen, I am not interested in using a stove that burns anything but Coleman fuel. It is a matter of availability. If a small village has a store, it will have Coleman fuel. If I run out of fuel, I can use the gasoline from my snowmachine. It uses regular unleaded and we don’t have gasohol in Alaska. The highest altitude I will be in is about 4000 feet above sea level. I don’t want to use diesel because it could gel at some of the temperatures I will be in (-50F).
The big downside of a 111 is the difficulty of servicing the burner should it clog. There’s a cleaning needle for the jet, but Beyond that it requires tools and substantial effort. The xgk is much easier to service in the field. If you’re burning regular unleaded in quantity this becomes a concern for clogging the vaporizer. With the xgk you just pull the cable out the end of the fuel line, clean it off and reinsert it. The 111 would take a line wrench and a torch to clear. Likewise the xgk nrv can be serviced with a coin, unlike the 111. The old 111 is an excellent piece of kit, elegant and reliable. The xgk-ex has been honed over the last 50 years to be the ultimate mountaineering/arctic adventure stove in the world, and they’ve got pretty close.
XGK or Whisperlite can be serviced with the same ease. Coleman fuel or gasoline. Easy maintenance in the field. I did it on Rainier years ago. I love the 111 stoves, but the points above are valid.
First off let me say that I have never been below -20°F myself. I see many valid points above and some solid advise that I would heed if I were to endure those temps mentioned. A 111B would definitely be on my list as well as the XGK although I do not have experience on the XGK. I would also seriously consider my trangia 25 with nova burner since the built in wind design and ability to burn any fuel found along the way without having to change jets in the cold (or loose them). Of course the alcohol burner would also go with me just in case. If I had a borde bomb along with the experience of using it I would consider it from what I have read about them. My best advice is to use the stove that you choose many times before your trip. Make sure that it is 100% reliable and carry extra parts. The "Fiddle factor" would be a large consideration on my choice. I would also carry a reliable ferro rod with me for a back up ignition source in windy situations ensuring that it was large enough to be used with gloves/mittens on. It would be secured to me in a way that prevented loss and allowed easy access without removal of items such as tied to my waist and in my pocket. I would pre-blacken the base of my cooking pot also for maximum thermal transfer and consider the use of a heat exchanger design cooking pot for efficiency. The use of a reflectix pot cozy would also be on my list of items.
The service tool provided with MSR today should do everything you need, but I think it could be too weak if a thread becomes stubborn so I would bring a small adjustable wrench and a small pliers just to be safe.
@ArchMc internal pump ->NRV with "working" viton part Viton® temperature range The temperature range of Viton® (FKM/FPM) is considered to be between -20°C and +205°C depending on the grade. It can take even higher or lower temperatures such as -30°C / -45°C and +230°C, but for short working periods. https://www.barnwell.co.uk/temperature-range-of-viton/ Phoebus 725 type of shape, imo is the best choice for heatback ratio if it is not enough rising heatback : 1 - remove heat shield 2 - tank side, bottom insulation 3 - SVEA 123 type case -------------------------------------- of course - fuel cap "winged" version stabile, low pot position, windproof roaer burner ------------------------- 625 is too high ------------------------ extra preheating - with flat tank bottom, with edge....? roaer could be better then loke Optimus 85 Loke
I hear that people really like that stove. The Arctic pump, and a spare, may be a good idea based on your usage. I have never seen/used one myself Ken
We use the MSR XGK-EX for the Army and SOF for Cold weather Ops. (Can see one almost new for sale here in Denmark (only stove) for around 77$)
I also bought an Optimus 111B and a Svea 123. Now I will start replacing the seals in the Optimus stoves.
