Trangia is a no,... for sure a no , or set aside w/potential reconsider? ie canister/propane burner option in a Trangia (credit Lennart). Trangia still seems like a good option. Next ! ... Svea 123 in Tourist? propane will need to be an option. 502, 400, and 8R, and was promptly shot down. 400 vs 8R very different outputs. you are considering smaller outputs. If by chance you went for range still low but more output on hi than 8R, 123.... propane only Coleman 5452 finding a Coleman along those lines may not be easy (I have 1, I'd like to have 3). ---------------------------- Full-on frankie? OFTEN suggested, not done as i recall. Of your pile of suitcases, pull main burner, get propane adapter, fab up a, much smaller propane only, 1 burner case for it. 1 reason suitcases are so big is the gen attached to the tank. A propane version can be made much smaller, big time full heat range burner. And potential upside, you get the prototype when you upgrade / gift her the ver.2 in SS. omc thinking outside the box (or outside the suitcase). ----------------------------------------- EDIT: Thank you Hunterstovie, I have edit time to respond to him (comment below): he is correct. As with all remote tanks, there is a delay if adjust takes place atop of tank. There may be more to it but I am happy with mine. On outings with many younger people, they don't know the difference (not a slam, they just don't) and there is a preference for conveniences and familiarity of propane.
@OMC My wife actually has one of those, but has never used it because of all my other stoves. Also flame adjustability is not as good as the Apex stove. @Marc If something like this interests you pm me. Mike
How about the Optimus 81 - Its like a trangia, but with a more effective and adjustable burner (from a knob/slider outside the pots)?
Understanding this is near blasphemy but in this situation Jetboil. A little body heat should be enough to get it going. Ease of use, safe and stable for the infrequent user. Built in Cosy cup.
I add another vote for the Trangia. Total simplicity and reliability in every condition, no moving parts, perfect set of integral, stable pots. Fuel always available.
This could be the thing... Coleman Powerpack Perfectflow Single Burner Propane Camping Stove 7,500 BTU It's about a foot in diameter so I'm guessing a Trangia 25 upper windshield could be modded to fit on top giving good wind protection and fitted panset.
If you have hookup. https://productspy.co.uk/portable-induction-hob/ These are becoming a standard fitting in most vans and boats getting rid of liquid and gas fueled stoves.
Thanks again, everyone. Truly appreciate the help. To answer Harder's question, camping for her would be pulling her car into the parking space and walking the maybe few hundred feet or hundred meters to the cabin/camp site. Nothing super compact or light is needed, but she has a small car, so smaller is better where possible. The Trangia would be my first choice as well, and is exactly what I take on most outings. She doesn't want to deal with the snuffer ring and isn't keen on the liquid fuel. So far the remote cylinder propane stoves suggested by OMC, Hunterstovie, and Ian seem to be on the right track. When she googled "camp stove" and showed me pics of what she wanted, the one Ian has suggested was the one she pointed out, as well as one of the boxy butane ones. She's......... just not a stovie. Amazing in so many ways, but not a stovie. She just wants an easy way to make coffee and spaghetti while off in the woods. The delightful little bits of ritual and ceremony that we make out of priming and such, she just sees no need for when "click light cooking" is available. This has already been more thought than she'd have put into buying a stove, absent our input. She does like to do actual cooking, so The Stove Which Must Not Be Named is out. I'll show her the suggestions here and get some input on what she likes. Might be sending Mike a PM at that point. Thanks again, gents.
I wouldn't give my worst enemy a Jetboil (thanks for the tag @snwcmpr ) - or maybe I would! How about one of our own @redspeedster outfits? Multi Cook Solo Cook Kit - speedsterstoves
Liquid vs. gaseous? A gas is just a liquid under pressure, true? Indeed, should our air pressure fall below a certain point, our liquids would become gasses. Yet gasses now require specialized high-pressure vessels, much associated technology, etc.... So-- liquid fuel is good, in so many ways. Including its-- liquidity.
If weight or backpacking is not a criteria, my wife and chief cook has been using a two burner Coleman propane stove for the past 30 years; bullet proof, simple, lights with the flick of the Bic. She doesn't want to mess around with liquid fuel. On camping trips as in most other situations, if the wife / cook is happy, everyone else is happy..... Paul
Maybe slightly contentious but how about the venerable old Optimus 111? Simple, bulletproof, one tank will do for a couple of days use, whats not to like? Alec.
Folks, I do apologize, I may have accidentally sent you all on a wild goose chase. I showed my girlfriend my King's Grill gassie (here) as an example of what I had in mind for her, just with a couple other features. She loved it, and has no caring for a preheat loop or any kind of liquid fuel ability. "If it's that cold, I'm not going out anyway." So I guess that's that. It's been an interesting lesson in how a non-stovie chooses a stove. Edit: For potential emergency use in her car, she can take one of my other stoves, which she's 100% capable of using even if she doesn't want to. Her car's a diesel, so the XGK is probably the best bet there.
I knew I would catch hell for mentioning Jetboil but here is my reasoning. Marc has already admitted that his girlfriend just isn't into stoves as we are. While I have a considerable classic stove collection if it comes to my wife or daughter trying to light a stove in an enclosed space like a vehicle they would most likely not be in a low stress situation. Any potentially loose and spill-able fuel including alcohol is just making the issue higher risk. I don't want them fumbling with matches or even a Bic lighter if not necessary. As mentioned in previous posts it is difficult to actually see an alcohol flame. Also would the fuel be pure ethyl alcohol or would it include methanol which is not the best fume wise in an enclosed space? No I do not have a Jetboil nor do I intend to buy one for myself and I do have several Trangia's and love them. Just not in favor of putting my personal stove experience and preferences ahead of practical.
Around here, most times that Jetboil is mentioned, the MSR series is brought up and it blows Jetboil away. The MSR Reactor or Windburner.