Hello everyone, new to this forum, and it seems an amazing reference to classic camp stoves, particularly Coleman. I do have a question though. I have just now purchased an Apex Peak 1 (ie the black Apex) separated stove system, as well as an Exponent multifuel stove 550B (Copper coloured). I couldn't decide which system I would prefer (separated or integrated), so I picked a pair which more or less use the same burner so I could possibly use wind screens or accessories on both. My concern though, is you never know if one of these two would be the absolutely ideal stove, so I'm tempted to buy the 400/440/442. Then of course there's the 502, and maybe the 508, as well there's the Fyrestorm SS/Ti, the Mini and Micro butane models, and a whole host of back packing lanterns (Peak 1, the small butane one with frosted glass globe, the small butance one with metal mesh globe). And on top of all that, many of these come in green, silver, black, copper, etc versions of the same model! So how do I stop from buying them all?
Buy a brass european kero stove polish it up and you will stop buying coleman stoves (ok the real truth is that you will still buy the Colemans plus 20 primuses 30 sveas a handful of radiuses etc)
It's great fun! It can't hurt to buy a few more... The 502 and 508(with simmer control) are some of my favorites. 502 is easy to maintain. 508 is very powerful. You can get them relatively cheap even in Canada. But don't stop there, there other brands, like the Svea 123 that will knock your socks off! One of the most dependable backpack stoves in the world that burns white gas/Coleman Fuel. Few moving parts, easy to maintain, and easy to acquire. sam
when you're carrying your stove either in a cyclepannier/canoe/rucksack, then you'll need a primus 96. when you're car camping, an optimus 22 is required. no collection could even begin to go by the name without a trangia. and a nice discus thing like svea 106/optimus45 or similar. 8rs and 123s are also lovely. hope that helps
Welcome to CCS. I am sure you will find this a great group. You get this pox through the eyes. You see one and need another. Ken in NC
Good lord I just bought another Apex 1 in new condition.. my excuse is it was cheaper than buying a bunch of spare parts
Skorpiius, this is how the stove addiction starts! You buy one for parts then fettle it back to life and then still need another for "parts".
haha, that's exactly what I was thinking. The first Apex 1 was used, so my thought was "oh I'll use this NIB one, and the used one can be my parts stove". But then I thought "why would I dirty up this mint new one?" At least I'm successfully (so far) not shopping for an older stove like a 502 or a GI stove 520/530. And so far I'm also not shopping for the 400 series since I don't see the point of having a brown or black or silver or copper peak 1 feather when I have a 550B on the way. But then again with a peak 1 feather I could have the matching lantern. Oh dear.
Hey, Skorpiius, Go for the pair of Model 400, and 222 lantern, both brown. Best of the litter, IMHO. We bought ours, brand new, many long years ago, and both items are still working just like new!! They've been "there and back", and never given us even a tiny bit of problem. Some of the later mini-lanterns have turned out to be less the satisfactory, which includes, IMHO, the Exponent version of that same lantern. For what it's worth.... Have fun, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc Here are our pair of Coleman Champs, taken at CASG1, many years ago:
Good info, I've often wondered if later similar model's "improvements" were more than cancelled out by cheapening other components.
Hello Skorpius, Thing is, this vile stove pox is a bit like vampirism. You've been bitten, Stoves are now a necessity and you WILL continue to acquire them. You will find that color will become of no particular consequence, if it's a stove, you will have to have it. There are new one, old ones, nearly useless ones, and stoves that stand and have stood the test of time. Stove pox is insidious, no pain, no pangs of desire. From now on when you see a stove you've never seen before your billfold will be in your hand and money will be exchanged, seemingly of it's own volition. You will not be able to control it. Your wife, children and others in your life will simply cluck their tongues and wonder what's happended to you. You will begin bandying words like, Svea, Primus, Solus, Optimus, Borde, Meva and Sigg about, and spending hours on the intarwebz especially E-bay and Craigslist, boxes will arrive at your door. I'm now 69 and began my descent into madness at the age of seven in 1951. My cousin Skip, more of an older brother, gave me an old pre-war Boy Scout handbook which I've still got. The foul thing has drawings of camp stoves made from empty tin cans, and several different campfire configurations. My first real camp stove was a Sterno Stove. Again, I've still got it. I originally used a Buddy Burner in it, then "Real Sterno" followed by war surplus cans of alcohol fuel, ultimately a Trangia style burner. I was not discouraged in this nefarious activity as my parents thought it amusing that I stayed home mostly out of trouble constructing tin can stoves, prowling Goodwill, St. Vincent DePaul, and Salvation Army store seeking cooking utensils and lanterns then ;oghting fires in them in the back yard, and later on for over fifty years in the Cascade and Olympic Mountains. So you see, resistance is futile, you are being painlessly absorbed into the hive. On the other hand some (most, actually) of the stoves that are now a vital part of your life are attractive even to unbelievers, others are very pretty while being useful. And the vast majority are not expensive. You will begin tp notice stoves that you never knew existed and you will acquire them, from a $3 Esbit, to elegant Optimus 22 and 22B's that will be priced at more than $200 and just as needful, with dozens and dozens in between. The occasional real bargain like a Svea 123 in a Sigg Cooker for $10 or $15 or the wonderful little Optimus 00 or Svea 121 or Primus 210, all nearly identical and in their gorgeous tins. in no time you will have roomfuls of stoves and boxes of parts and tools. The cute little 123's will steal your heart. As will the Primus 96. You also have here a particularly friendly and helpful cadre of new friends and mentors. Just relax and enjoy a very addictive new interest. Give in, enjoy, it is great fun. Camp stoves do not eat much and their droppings are not at all unpleasant. Gerry, AKA Nordicthug
What's funny is I was actually a bit predisposed to this, as about 6, 7, maybe more years ago I had started camping at a 'walk in' site, where you park and then walk 5-15 mins into 9 campsites with a lake and rocky mountain view, and it was then I realized I needed something smaller than a full sized Coleman lamp and 2 burner briefcase stove. I remember trying to decide between the various Exponent Powermax stoves, and the Apex II, and possibly the Exponent 550B was out then too. Anyway, they all seemed pretty expensive and I never pulled the trigger. After a long absence, I'm camping again and sure enough ended up a similar but shorter walk walk-in site and that reminded me of all those stoves I couldn't really afford and never bought, so right from the get go I was in the mindset of looking at those stoves from a while back which I Wanted But Could Not Have, and well, now I make more money haha. Thanks for the warm welcome everyone I have to admit I was tempted to even buy one of the powermax stoves if I could find one, even though the fuel is discontinued, just to satisfy my unfulfilled desire for one years ago, but so far I've resisted. Although the 2 burner Xpedition is pretty unique..
As someone else new to the Stoving Addiction, I can attest that they grow like weeds in my shed. I've got four working and two under repair and I can never resist a quick polish or cup of coffee. And now that darkness falls earlier, I try and light up a Vapalux or two while I'm at it. I'm even trying to scare up the courage to grab a blow lamp and start brazing. One of my burners leaks and it doesn't seem like a difficult repair. As for recommendations, I can shamelessly vouch for the older brown Peak 1 stove and lantern. The stove is the 400 and frankly, I forget which model the lantern is. I purchased a pair in the early 80s and they still work perfectly. Up until I moved to England (without them, sadly), and discovered brassies, they were my primary camping kit. All I've ever had to do was oil the pump and swap out the generators one time.
