New MSR Stoves

[wildernesswanderer]

I too have asked a couple of shops about the new MSR stoves, first and for most before they can be sold in Australia they have to pass the Aus Gas criteria.This can take anywhere from a couple of months to well how ever long it takes. Could be 6 months could be longer. So if you want one you need to get it overseas so I started looking at other stoves. My main two I'm thinking of are the Primus models. Omni-fuel and Omni-lite Ti. Does anyone know what other canisters will fit the Primus or are all canisters the same?

[tsangpo]

My main two I'm thinking of are the Primus models. Omni-fuel and Omni-lite Ti. Does anyone know what other canisters will fit the Primus or are all canisters the same?

The fuel bottles are a standard thread, just use any fuel bottle from primus/optimus/msr so you know it has been pressure tested. As for the gas canisters you just unscrew the hose at the fuel pump and screw that into the canister, the same as the standard gas canisters.

I have the Omnifuel as a winter stove and it's great albeit quite heavy, cost me about $150 delivered from the US with a fuel bottle included. Not sure if the newer MSR's have this feature but when I purchased it there were a few things that made it stand out over the MSR offerings; more durable metal pump, flip fuel bottle while stove is still alight to purge the fuel line and a gas feed knob at both the stove and the pump.

[wildernesswanderer]

Yeah I'm looking at US sites as the only place I could find a Omni-Fuel was Anaconda

http://www.anaconda.com.au/Product/Camp ... e#90002242

And even at the sale price they can keep that

[nq111]

http://www.moontrail.com/primus-omnilite-ti.php - great little unit

[Onestepmore]

Here's a comparison table for mult-fuel stoves
http://www.moontrail.com/home.php?cat=483

I've found a second hand omnifuel for around the $50 mark that has only been used a couple of times. May be a good bargain, and save me some shipping hassles. The newer model titanium one sounds better, but for what we want it for it could do the trick

[wildernesswanderer]

Yeah saw that one but I'm gonna get a new Omnilite Ti, now just need to work out pots

[Onestepmore]

now just need to work out pots

Does this help? I love comparison tables

cookset combos
http://www.moontrail.com/home.php?cat=369

pots
http://www.moontrail.com/home.php?cat=370

[Mano]

The Omnilite Ti looks like a great little unit. I'm a little put off by the noise factor however. I couldn't wait for an overseas order as I'm going canoing with my son in a couple of weeks and I bought a Kathmandu branded Fire Maple 116T on special and an MSR cannister stand to make it more stable from Kelly's Basecamp. I'm still tossing up between the MSR Universal and the Windpro. The stiff fuel line on the Universal looks like it could be a small issue. The weight difference in cannister mode doesn't look great. I agree with criticisms of the MSR pump - I've actually managed to break the one that came with my Whisperlite International.

[rucksack]

Mano

If you also wanted to salvage your WhisperLite, MSR can refurbish the stove if you are interested. Just email MSR in the US and ask them about that. And, if you then wanted to go ahead, you mail your stove (not the pump) to them, they will assess it and if feasible bring it back to life for not a lot of money. MSR has a very good reputation for service in this regard and I know walkers and climbers who have very early model MSR stoves in great shape - and MSR has been responsible for that.

Might be something to think about if you are at all attached to your WhisperLite. And yes, some of those early MSR pumps were not the best. I had two of the grey MSR pumps snap on me on consecutive nights in the Walls of Jerusalem one winter trip. Left me with two very useless XGK's for the remainder of the trip and 9 people sharing a single Optimus SVEA 123R. The current model MSR pump (the Duraseal) is a considerable improvement on earlier models.

Onestepmore

I am partial to lists as well and a decent comparison chart too, but the Moontrail one that you cite above has a few bits of important information missing. All Primus multi-fuel stoves can run on LPG gas plus Shellite, kerosene, diesel and, (with a pinch), aviation fuel too. This applies to their OmniFuel, OmniLite Ti and Multi-fuel EX, (which Moontrail might not carry, or at least they don’t include it in their comparison).

The Moontrail comparison does include the Primus Gravity II MultiFuel, but Primus no longer cite that particular stove on their website, so I am assuming that it is no longer in production. The only Gravity model that Primus include on their website at the moment is their LPG gas-only EF.

The last multi-fuel stove included in the Moontrail comparison is the Trangia Multifuel X2, (to give it its full name). This stove is made for Trangia by Primus (who also make the Trangia LPG gas burner, but unlike the gas burner, the Trangia Multifuel X2 is only recommended for use with the larger Trangia 25 cooker set). And, like the Primus OmniFuel, OmniLite Ti and Multi-fuel EX, the Primus-made Trangia Multifuel X2 can burn LPG gas, Shellite, kerosene, diesel, and aviation fuel too. Very handy.

How do I know all of this? Too many stoves! For anyone who owns the larger Trangia 25 set-up and does a reasonable amount of winter walking, (or XC skiing or snowshoeing), the Trangia 25 paired with a Primus-made Trangia Multifuel X2 stove, is a formidable thing; quite fierce in fact, and neither snow nor ice stands a chance. It’s my winter go-to stove these days, when I am walking with others. The X2 can burn LPG gas or Shellite with the same jet, so no swapping, and it is miserly in its fuel consumption.

Mano

You can reduce the roar of the Primus OmniLite Ti to a pleasant hiss by swapping the burner plate for a silent cap. (Ditto for the OmniFuel and Multi-fuel EX and the X2 too). Silent caps can work wonders when you are camping with others and desperately need an early morning coffee ‘hit’, or a calming cup of tea whilst everyone else is still sound asleep. In such circumstances, a silent cap assists in maintaining friendships whereas a plate burner is capable of putting them under some stress given an early enough hour. Of course, if you are keen to reward others for keeping you up half the night, a plate burner is just fine - at any hour.

rucksack

Last edited by rucksack on Wed 24 Oct, 2012 7:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[wildernesswanderer]

I'm off on a hike in December with the Omnilite and have told the guys i'm going with they better hope I don't want a coffee at 5 in the morning

[etrangere]

The trangia multifuel x2 can be used on the 25 and 27 series models as stated on the FAQ page on the trangia website. The melting 27 windshield issue on spiritburner.com that gets mentioned so often has been shown to be only one isolated case where the person operating the burner spilt fuel on the ground under the trangia stove which caught alight when priming the stove. I have used the original multifuel and new model extensively with the 27 model and never had any issues whatsoever ever.

[Mano]

Who would have thought there were so many possibilities with stoves!

Rucksack
Thanks for the heads up about the MSR refits. I like to keep my gear going for as long as possible on principle. I've just had the zip closer replaced on a 20 year old North Face tent that stubornly refuses to die a graceful death! I'm also trying to keep three Macpacs going after I discovered their harnesses decay.

Your description of the Trangia winter set up was tantalising. I might investigate that further as I need a summer stove, snow stove and a stove for my son to use without blowing himself up. The Trangia in metho mode would be the safe option for him and then we could use it in winter mode together.

[tsangpo]

...and a stove for my son to use without blowing himself up.

As a project have you considered building some alcohol stoves. Simple and lightweight option for non-snow/winter conditions and you get the satisfaction of using something you've built. Metho is pretty safe as long as you've had a play around with it beforehand and realise what it can do (invisible flames, flames sticking to things that are covered with the fuel) and know what to do if something does happen.

Supercat and penny stove (with 5 cent piece) are the two that I've built and they work fine as a three-season one or two night stove. Google turns up heaps of easy to follow instructions.

Gas canister stoves are the simplest and safest but you have to deal with the cost and hassle of carrying the canisters.

[Mano]

tsangpo
That's a good idea. Could even be a good project for him. I watched the Andrew Skurka seminar someone posted about on here and he carries a homemade alcohol stove.

[rucksack]

Very interesting etrangere. If it works for you, then it obviously works for you. When the X2 first came out, Trangia was saying on their website (and in email correspondence too) that their (then) new Multifuel X2 burner was not suitable for use with their smaller Trangia 27 stormcookers. But, you are correct, the current FAQ says otherwise, so I stand corrected. Interesting. They must have changed their mind, or had it changed for them. At 2,000 W, the X2 is well backed off from its Primus 3,000 W OmniFuel and 2,700 W Multi-fuel EX 'parents', but I still regard it as being a rather fierce stove when it is cranked up inside the confined windscreen of my Trangia 25; I would be slightly wary doing likewise in a smaller space, notwithstanding the current FAQ. Just saying, of course. But, if it works for you, all good.

rucksack

[Kinsayder]

I'm hardly one to conduct a full review or assessment but I thought I'd add that I got a Micro Rocket just yesterday and it is brilliant! Boiled around a litre of water on my old lidless billy (I was teaching my three year old daughter about such things) in minutes. Beautiful flame, very light, I think 119g with the container (from memory). Sans an actual field test, I'd heartily recommend!

[deerndingo]

. MSR Universal -
Kelly's basecamp says it will have it in stock 'soon'.

He did mention there was a Kovea multi fuel/canister one available - has anyone used this?
This looks like it here http://www.wildearth.com.au/buy/kovea-b ... e/TKB-0603
Doesn't appear to use unleaded gas

I have the Kovea Booster. Good bit of kit. You could fall down a cliff and it would live. Heavier than a simple gas canister kit, but it roars with white gas. Cheap to run and on a longer haul using white spirit has its weight advantages.

[ryantmalone]

I too have asked a couple of shops about the new MSR stoves, first and for most before they can be sold in Australia they have to pass the Aus Gas criteria.This can take anywhere from a couple of months to well how ever long it takes. Could be 6 months could be longer. So if you want one you need to get it overseas so I started looking at other stoves. My main two I'm thinking of are the Primus models. Omni-fuel and Omni-lite Ti. Does anyone know what other canisters will fit the Primus or are all canisters the same?

I recently bought a Whisperlite from the USA, shipped here via USPS. Was held in customs in Melbourne, and passed within a day.

These stoves are designed for travel, and not just local travel. I highly doubt anyone would have a problem with customs with any MSR stoves, just so long as youre not trying to ship any DG's like cannisters or other fuel with it.