Tramping would take either the dragonfly or coleman 442. Both are light and powerful. If camping outside the dragonfly is more stable and weather resistant. If using huts the 442 doesnt require ear muffs. Car camping could be either the Primus 77 or coleman 4m The coleman is in less collectable state and lights a little quicker but otherwise both are quite equal stoves. Also take a spare single burner probably coleman. If going solo then the 8r,123r or radius 42 might get an outing
Odd thing I'm noticing here. I'm seeing a lot of 8R's, 123R's, some 111's, and a smattering of Coleman stoves, but only one or two people have listed a MSR stove or similar stove. All the MSR stoves look like a problem looking for a place to go wrong--separate pumps, specially threaded fuel bottles, burners that look like a cross between a soup can and some 'effed-up coat hangers. IMO, there is no "soul" to these POS. Murph
MSR stoves are indeed over-rated IMO. Just the way the fuel line connects to the pump is old and dated. MSR is next to have a recall I believe. My go to stoves right now are the Radius 43E and Optimus 99. The 43E is better in the colder temps we are having now. Jeff
Car camping with my Scouts, my trusty old mil. surplus 111T. The scouts love that stove. Just me, my Primus Himalaya MFS on either propane or coleman fuel. Sometime I also use my Camping Gaz Rando 360. I really like the setup for a quick water boil. I got lots and lots of carts. for it. Tim
The MSR dragonfly is a fantastic stove. Powerful, simmer-able, and ferocious - and mentioned a couple of times in prior posts in this topic. Definitely not a POS. The MSR G, GK, XGKs are excellent and very durable - not POS, just not the first "go to", second and third on my list. Have taken them on trips. Rock solid. Would use on an Idaho winter expedition... Whisperlight - I don't even own one of these anymore... ok, slight POS, but it won't stick on your shoe... Primus Omni, Varifuel - engineered like the ancients, couldn't get any better than this. Just not first on the "go to" list. Definitely expedition stove. Right up there with the dragonfly, older Novas, and XGKs, a little bit ahead of the XGK EX (not one of my favorites). sam
Now, Murph, tell us what you really think. Did an MSR stove run over your cat when you were young? HJ
I have a Coleman 550 with the tin in my truck, and a Bund 9061D? in my car. I think my fave is the Trangia 25 with my Nova installed... or the Nomad... or...or... Decisions, Decisions
'go to'? the one i use the most? if so, it would have to be a two-burner Punker in semi-permanent setup... for the truck, right next to the bike tools, there's a 123R w/a Crux Lite backup for a Mountainsmith Tour bag on one bike, it's the small Esbit cookset w/half-penny meths stove for another, smaller Mountainsmith bag, it's the foldable Crux in a Vargo Ti-mug for cold weather and a fast brew, it's a 111, baby!
G,,day in my emergency tucker box, i have a M-1950. but for planned bbq,s my nomad.(rotary shelter box stove) forgot to say, offroad vehicle use. cheers kerry
Car camping it'll be my usual combination of German Heinze military, and British military No.12. Big devils, but I enjoy using both, and they have pretty large fuel tanks. At Newark I also use a British No.2 MkII (Modified) just to show Ross what great stoves these are For a hike it's a 1950s Optimus 96 or if it's just for a quick brew up while walking it's my old Campus 3 (123's older, smaller brother). For brewing up an espresso in the garden I always reach for my Methex. To my mind spirit stoves provide the gentle heat required for a good coffee. I also have a RM one pinter in the shed for a winter Bovril brew up as well. CHeers, Graham.
Greetings, All, Well, it would be very hard to pick ONE "go to" stove, over the many that I love to use! If forced to choose just one, well I guess it would have to be one of my long tried, and always true, MSR G, GK, or X-GK stoves. In all the years I've loved and used these stoves, they have NEVER let me down. Not a single time!! They always work, and work well, and whilst (there's that word again!) they are not the best at simmering, I can most certainly use them for that, with a proper simmering plate. Easy to repair in the field, and little to go wrong with them, in truth, they would certainly qualify as one of my most favorite "go to" stoves!! I trust them over many others, for many reasons. The Dragonfly is also good, well used, and very trusted. Just not as much as my earlier MSR X-GK family of stoves. Also in the running would be one of my older Optimus Nova stoves, or my Primus Omni-fuel, as I trust and love them both! If I had to choose a classic brassie, it would be the SVEA 123, Primus 71, or Radius 42, for Coleman fuel, and an Optimus 00, or Primus 210, for kerosene. For Meths, it's an easy choice: It would be a tie between my beloved Optimus Trapper 81's, or one of my much trusted and loved Trangia stoves, either the 27, or the 25. So, there you have my "go to" list, Friends! Sorry, I could not decide on just one stove. Too many trusted friends in my collection, and all of them great stoves!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Morning, Murph, I read your post on MSR stoves with much enjoyment and laughter! But I DO wonder why on Earth you would think that MSR X-GK stoves were a POS??!! Those stoves have proved themselves, in the absolute WORST conditions, over, and over, and over again, on huge expeditions, and small ones, for probably longer than you have been alive!! 8) Most certainly NOT a POS design, and far more reliable than many other stoves I could name. But, hey, if you don't "like" them, that's perfectly OK with me, my Friend. Each to his/her own, as they say,and there are tons of other nice stoves out there to make you happy, I'm sure. Personally, I would trust a good X-GK, or any of it's predecessors, with my live, as they have always come through for me, in every single demand I've made of them!! Larry Penberthy designed them that way, originally, and he did a very good job in doing it!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Hi all: I would grab the Coleman 500 for car picnics and the Coleman 520 for hiking. No need to check them no matter how long since they have been used. They are always ready to go, and will do whatever is needed. Mike...
It used to be easy. For many years, back when I had just 1 stove, it was the 8R. Not so easy anymore because I have 1+n stoves. But I do mainly day hikes these days, so the choice is more of a whim -- I seldom take the same stove on consecutive hikes.
Since my collection is small, the choice is easy. My Dragonfly would be my go to. In fact, it lives in the Cruiser. Takes a little to set up, but it does all I want save for an extra burner. So I also carry a Whisperlite. Don't know about you, but when I 'car camp', I usually over pack. Last year I finally scored a 2 burner propane stove that has a hose to the bottle. Never did like that hard tube set up. Wasted room on my tail gate when deployed. I have a 500 series Coleman, a couple of 123r's and a couple of M1942 but alas, all need some fetteling to be reliable. 8) p.s. what Doc Mark said about MSR, ditto!
Note "Go To" stove.......NOT stoves!!! So, currently its the one in my daypack which is a Radius 20 together with conventional cast iron flame spreader and Gary's Midi-cap. Cheers, Rob
Like Rob says, it's stove, singular. In the last five summers, about 4 backpacking trips per, I have never left my 123 with Sigg set behind!
The only backpacking I do is on the way to my snowmachine or boat, so weight isnt so important to me(space is though). The 111t is the only stove I take anywhere now. I carry it in my pack & wrap my coleman 222b lantern in my -40 bedroll so nothing gets beat up. 100 miles a day on a sled can really rattle things apart.
Grab & Go ...... 111 & 2.5 litres kero, 8" pie tray for a bund , a kettle & a saucepan .250ml meths & a disposable lighter. Nick
