Bushwalk Australia

Hey all... I am in the market for a hiking stove. Weight is critical selection criteria, but so is dependency. I'm not very technical minded and easily peeved when something doesn't work like it's meant to. Just need something for hikes up to a week. To boil water, cook simple stuff. I've been told gas is best? is that true? and if so - what brand. I am just starting out on my hiking life - I don't want to spend heaps of money just in case i get bored with it in a few months. But happy to spend a bit for quality...

Unless you need something for seriously cold weather, go straight to Kathmandu and pick up 'their" Titanium Hiking Stove - currently on sale at $39.95.

This stove is a rebranded Fire Maple FMS-116T (monatauk gnat, higear blaze, etc) and is the lightest stove in the world at 48g. It is very high quality and made in China.

+1

Strider wrote:Unless you need something for seriously cold weather, go straight to Kathmandu and pick up 'their" Titanium Hiking Stove - currently on sale at $39.95.

This stove is a rebranded Fire Maple FMS-116T (monatauk gnat, higear blaze, etc) and is the lightest stove in the world at 48g. It is very high quality and made in China.

+!
corvus

While many bushwalkers have had no problems with the Kathmandu Titanium Hiking Stove, my Kathmandu Titanium Hiking Stove failed on me the first time I used it in the field, luckily I could still use it though it had a much reduced flame, I suspect the jet was blocked from poor or unclean assembly, when I arrived home I stripped the stove down and found the jet is not easy to unblock as it has some sintered bronze filter tightly pressed into the jet base, even if I hade a jet removal tool I could not remove the filter in the field and unblock the jet, I will have to destroy the filter to unblock the jet, I have no faith in this stove.

My choice of upright canister stoves is a Elemental Kovea Supalite Titanium Stove I have had mine for a few years now and it has peformed flawlessly.

Tony

I agree with Tony, the Kovea Supalite is a top stove. Every review I read put it ahead of the Gnat.
Consider buying it from http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/140723267482 ... 1423.l2649, it is where I got mine from and I am very happy. Hard to complain with a 55g stove that cost $45!

Tony wrote:While many bushwalkers have had no problems with the Kathmandu Titanium Hiking Stove, my Kathmandu Titanium Hiking Stove failed on me the first time I used it in the field, luckily I could still use it though it had a much reduced flame, I suspect the jet was blocked from poor or unclean assembly, when I arrived home I stripped the stove down and found the jet is not easy to unblock as it has some sintered bronze filter tightly pressed into the jet base, even if I hade a jet removal tool I could not remove the filter in the field and unblock the jet, I will have to destroy the filter to unblock the jet, I have no faith in this stove.

My choice of upright canister stoves is a Elemental Kovea Supalite Titanium Stove I have had mine for a few years now and it has peformed flawlessly.

Tony

G'day Tony,
Are we talking about the same stove here ? I have stripped my FMS 116t and cannot find any evidence of "bronzing or brazing" to my eye it looks like pressing is the main method of manufacture of this stove so perhaps you got a Friday one when the were chucking around sintures for free

corvus wrote:

Tony wrote:While many bushwalkers have had no problems with the Kathmandu Titanium Hiking Stove, my Kathmandu Titanium Hiking Stove failed on me the first time I used it in the field, luckily I could still use it though it had a much reduced flame, I suspect the jet was blocked from poor or unclean assembly, when I arrived home I stripped the stove down and found the jet is not easy to unblock as it has some sintered bronze filter tightly pressed into the jet base, even if I hade a jet removal tool I could not remove the filter in the field and unblock the jet, I will have to destroy the filter to unblock the jet, I have no faith in this stove.

My choice of upright canister stoves is a Elemental Kovea Supalite Titanium Stove I have had mine for a few years now and it has peformed flawlessly.

Tony

G'day Tony,
Are we talking about the same stove here ? I have stripped my FMS 116t and cannot find any evidence of "bronzing or brazing" to my eye it looks like pressing is the main method of manufacture of this stove so perhaps you got a Friday one when the were chucking around sintures for free

Mine has the bronze filter Tony is talking about.

G'day lazza, i'd still go for metho, especially in Qld. Many places still sell trangia (brand) in solo and larger sizes. Integrated pot/frypan etc. Foolproof and relatively light weight. Can be converted to gas later on if you need.

Hey Corvus, don't you have a 118 yet? http://www.fire-maple.com/myWeb/Product ... 0&bigid=11

Yeah I have a Elemental Supalight, great stove, especially while temps are above 0 degrees.

I'd buy a Jetboil Sol if I needed a stove today.

Nuts wrote:G'day lazza, i'd still go for metho, especially in Qld. Many places still sell trangia (brand) in solo and larger sizes. Integrated pot/frypan etc. Foolproof and relatively light weight. Can be converted to gas later on if you need.

Trangias have really been left behind IMO. If going alcohol there are better options these days. Though gas stoves are still cheaper, usually lighter and definitely perform better.

My metho stove is a caldera Cone used with a titanium pot (not 'cheap' and needs care). Iv'e had that top screw shear off the superlight above. I haven't owned a jetboil but our Reactor needed care as well and didn't last long after a few spills and inattention (and they aren't cheap either, especially if complied for Oz).

For the OP requirements a mini (or larger) trangia is still a relatively inexpensive (including running costs..), readily available, 'dependable' all-in-one 'system that can be built on. They are also relatively efficient in real world use (if you have a few spare minutes...)

I wouldn't buy a Mini Trangia as they are insanley slow in any wind, the 27 series are appealing except for the simmer ring system, but okay for boiling water and the like. Nothing like gas for ease of control, but metho is the most dependable.

Strider wrote:

corvus wrote:

Tony wrote:While many bushwalkers have had no problems with the Kathmandu Titanium Hiking Stove, my Kathmandu Titanium Hiking Stove failed on me the first time I used it in the field, luckily I could still use it though it had a much reduced flame, I suspect the jet was blocked from poor or unclean assembly, when I arrived home I stripped the stove down and found the jet is not easy to unblock as it has some sintered bronze filter tightly pressed into the jet base, even if I hade a jet removal tool I could not remove the filter in the field and unblock the jet, I will have to destroy the filter to unblock the jet, I have no faith in this stove.

My choice of upright canister stoves is a Elemental Kovea Supalite Titanium Stove I have had mine for a few years now and it has peformed flawlessly.

Tony

G'day Tony,
Are we talking about the same stove here ? I have stripped my FMS 116t and cannot find any evidence of "bronzing or brazing" to my eye it looks like pressing is the main method of manufacture of this stove so perhaps you got a Friday one when the were chucking around sintures for free

Mine has the bronze filter Tony is talking about.

Tony I must apologise the jet in my 116T has the bronze filter the Stove works well, it must be dissapointing that the Kathmandu version you have is a dud also I need to read and understand posts before I reply .
corvus

Tony wrote:My choice of upright canister stoves is a Elemental Kovea Supalite Titanium Stove I have had mine for a few years now and it has peformed flawlessly.

Tony

Thanks for the recommendation Tony. Was pondering on a lightweight stove to replace my Pocket Rocket - the short supports were making me too nervous... Grabbed the Kovea today.

Just got my Kovea Supalite Titanium 56 delivered from Korea today - AUD$38! WOW! What a great little stove to supplement my Primus OmniFuel. Perfect for the kids to safely use too.