I have been putting most of my back step brewup runtime onto my Optimus Nova+ to test its reliability. It has been 100% since the new pump and o-rings so the next step is to take it out somewhere...
Mine is my trusted 8R. I hike it in in my back pack and the fuel lasts the weekend. If I car camp it is my 111T because I use a kerosene lantern so only one fuel to carry (except meths). Dave
Hi, Sam, Perhaps you've posted your remarks elsewhere, and I've missed them, but I'd be interested in hearing your insights into the XGK EX, particularly how it compares to the XGK/XGK II. HJ
Depending on what type of fuel I have on hand: My first Enders 9061 My first 111 Tango Murph, I can only wholeheartedly agree with you!
It does say stove singular but as so many of us do so many things and no 1 stove fits every bill we have to name more than one and specify what type of use. Why else do we collect dozens of stoves
RE: MRS Stoves, I've read the posts, complaints of multifuel capabilities that didn't deliver, compairing pump colors to see if you got one of "the good ones", jets that were screwed up from the factory, and the like. Each model appears to be a contest to see how little metal they can use to do a job, and how many parts you can break it down to--usually meaning more parts to lose, and at the worst time more often or not. I went over to one of the local outdoors outfitters to look at the MSR like and their ilk, and their consensus was, "If you're carrying in everything and it's dog, and shaving off weight, it's alright, but the Colemans and European classics became that way by going 20, 30, even 50 years with no repairs", with hearing stories of the old'uns firing up with fuel that's older that my fifth of single malt Scotch. The military issue stoves we see here--Enders, Trangia, Primus stoves for civil defense shelters, the US Army back in WW2 had a joint venture to produce a GI issue stove, hell, I'm not even sure if the armed forces even have an issue stove anymore! IMO, they aren't something I'd want to bet my life on, just too many things to go "tits up" when you really need it to deliver. ONLY my tuppence worth, mates! Murph
Evening, Murph, Hey, each to his own, I always say. But, in my experience with the X-GK, they ALWAYS come through, or at least they have for me. I've taken mine to some pretty extreme places, and even in deep Winter, at high elevation, they have always worked, with no problems at all. So, to me, the proof is in the pudding. But, if you think they suck, then please don't use them. It's pretty much that as simple as that. I HAVE trusted my life to the X-GK's, and they have come through for me, every single time, for more than twenty years of use. So, I'll just keep on trusting them...... Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
XGKs were to noisy for me, And i didnt like not having a simmer, but they are still a good stove. My go to stoves seem to be the turms but im hardly taking them to extreme places, One type of fuel and silent, no pumps or hoses, I like hear things around me more than noisy burners. But if i were looking for trusty bullet proof stove for harsh conditions then the 123 or trainga 27 would prob be it.
"I went over to one of the local outdoors outfitters to look at the MSR like and their ilk, and their consensus was, "If you're carrying in everything and it's dog, and shaving off weight, it's alright, but the Colemans and European classics became that way by going 20, 30, even 50 years with no repairs", with hearing stories of the old'uns firing up with fuel that's older that my fifth of single malt Scotch." Remember my post of a 14 year old coleman 442 with a rusted out font. Also the other 2 single burner Colemans have had to have all there O rings replaced. None of the modern stoves are built as solidly as the classics and even though some classics did need a little more maintenance at least you could do it in the field. A leaky 123 or kero burner most likely needed a nut tightening and unless it was a big leak you could still use the stove anyway You just had a small extra flame. Loose an o ring and you have a big leak straight away which means big fireball and unless you have spare parts no stove
Talking about stove reliability, I admit I have no experience whatsoever with MSRs and the like, so maybe I am doing them some injustice. Still, I cannot see how any stove could be simpler and more reliable than the classic small petrol stoves - 123, 8R, 42, 71, 80. Yonadav
Some how this question strikes back to the old thread Barrabruce put up a couple of years (or more) ago, "What Is In Your UTE?" It also seems to me in a ideal world our "go to stove" is that which is ideal for every occassion. While my Colemans have worked for me every time once fettled to proper function they do not fulfill my "go to" needs for every function. And while "The Classic Brassies'" of Europe are fine when i want to use them they too do not fulfill my every need. There is a Coleman 425 suitcase stove in my ute, There is also an Enders 9061 military stove. Are these my "go to stove"? It would depend on conditions and intended trip. Currently i am working on making up a kit for a brassie which will include fuel, cooking waters, utencils, even some miminal spices for the food. All contained in a nice aluminium "suitcase" i found at an antique store. There will be pictures when done, i just have to decide on which stove and in one case fettle that stove into a useable piece of kit. And i'm really beginning to like this kit because it seems to have everything in one package, except for the cooking and eating utencils. As many of you suspect, if i had to bail out because of natural catastrophy then my "go to stove", at least at the present, is an M-1942 military stove simply because it is small enough to carry easily, self-contained, and i can expect years of use with minimal degree of fettling. I would also take the Mountain Ranger cook kit which goes so well with the stove for those times when Goodwife and i want more than "C" rats. And yet with all this said i'm not sure i've answered Manney's question. i sincerly hope so. lance
G,,day Lance i agree with your comments re military stove. i just completed my first full rebuild of a M-1950 it had been put through a dishwasher, and left for some time, only parts needed were the cap seal, and a new seal on top of the main needle. for reliability and fixability. great. i will add that lots of you have a vast more experience than i do. but these are my obsevations. but i do like my "nomad" because it will run on any of the fuels i have in my 4WD, shellite, chainsaw/2 stroke mix, or diesel. cheers kerry
Not sure either. MRE's sometimes have hexamine tabs Buddy I work with was in "Gulf War-I" in the USMC and had a Peak-I 550 style stove issued. Funny, it didn't make it back to supply. R.H.I.P.! What's really funny about these are that they told them(the troops) that they could run aviation fuel(JP-8) or MOGAS but they only supplied the gas generator. Needless to say I got to do some remedial repairs for my buddy to correct failed startups and the results of a flameout due to kero vs gas generator flaming fireballs. AR
Two stroke mix in a stove ? How does that actually burn? I'd imagine it to be a smelly smokey mess - but what's the reality if you've tried it? Cheers, Graham.
The US Army, last I checked, issued the MSR Dragonfly and the Optimus Nova as squad stoves. The US Army Northern Warfare School issues the MSR Whisperlite Internationale to less than squad sized elements (multiple stoves per squad instead of just one squad stove in other words). The US Army was looking at the MSR Capillary Force Vaporizer (CFV) stove at one time. The Army got to the point that prototype CFV stoves were being issued to field units, but stopped there and never adopted the stove. HJ
Morning, All, I've been thinking about this question, since we were supposed to come up with ONE "go to" stove, instead of a list of candidates. As has been mentioned, I strongly believe there is NO single stove that can do all things, at all times, and in all places. Hence, a list of stoves that would nicely suffice in a variety of situations. But, if I HAD to choose just one stove, after much angst and inner turmoil, I guess it would be my Primus Omnifuel. For me, personally, a "go to" stove would HAVE to be a true multi-fuel, capable of burning whatever fuel was available. My much beloved, and much trusted X-GK family of stoves is probably the most reliable I've ever used, and they ARE true multi-fuel stoves. However, they do not burn cartridge gas. So, since the Omnifuel does burn that fuel, as well as many others, I'd choose it, if push came to shove. But, I'd make sure to have my BernieDawg cap for use with that stove, in addition to the regular roarer flame spreader that came with it. A few extra parts, just in case, and two sizes of fuel bottles, should see me through any emergency. In truth, I trust the X-GK's more than the Omnifuels, but that's only because I have a very long history with those stoves, and the Primus I've only had for a few years, and it's been on very few adventures when compared to the X-GK's. So, there you have it, Mates. One stove for all things, or at least "most" things!! Take care, and God Bless! Every Good Wish, Doc
Two stroke mix in a stove ? How does that actually burn? I'd imagine it to be a smelly smokey mess - but what's the reality if you've tried it? Cheers, Graham.[/quote] In the winter of 1974-75 I was using an 8r full time at my trapline cabin, only it & the woodstove. Towards spring I ran out of all fuel except chain saw mix, so used it in the 8r. It ran fine till the day it quit for good. I didnt know how to repair it then which is a shame.
