Advise on camping burners?

August 2, 2007 6:27 PM

I'm trying to find a cheapish single burner stove for camping, and a local store is selling the Primus Classic Trail burner, BUT has run out of Primus gas cylinders. Is it possible to use it with another brand? The girl in the store said it wasn't recommended, but how bad will it be: is it the "doesn't work well" type of not recommended, or the "might explode" type of not recommended?

I want warm food and water, but also safe cooking. And cheap.

posted by easternblot to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (16 answers total)

I use Primus fuel with Snowpeak and MSR stoves, and MSR fuel with a Primus stove. Just make sure you don't use GAZ (different type of fuel altogether, bright blue canister) with your Primus. So "doesn't really make a difference" type of not recommended.
posted by spinturtle at 6:35 PM on August 2, 2007

to expound further, it's like using gas from Mobil vs. Exxon. No noticeable difference other than the brand (in which case GAZ would be diesel, which you would NOT want to use in your unleaded car).
posted by spinturtle at 6:37 PM on August 2, 2007

Spinturtle is correct.
Note if cheap is important for your stove, ebay has similar no name stoves for less than half the price.
Another money saving tip is that you can now get an adapter to allow these style stoves to run off the aerosol style gas cylinders the size of a spray can used in those little suitcase stoves, which seem to be under $2 each at Kmart.
posted by bystander at 7:27 PM on August 2, 2007

Thanks!
eBay is not an option though, due to my last minute planning...
posted by easternblot at 7:34 PM on August 2, 2007

In case you are not 100% settled on that particular model, I really like my JetBoil stove. The store we both linked to is selling it for about $90, but I bought mine on sale for much less than that. The advantages are basically light weight, very efficient heating (scary fast boil times), and it packs into the included 1 liter pot. It isn't the stove to buy if you want to do lots of complex cooking involving simmering and multiple pots, but if you want light weight and don't mind eating the kinds of food that only require hot water, then it is a good option.
posted by Forktine at 7:41 PM on August 2, 2007

I have a Primus stove (they are great!) and have never used Primus fuel. I use the inexpensive GIGA brand available at REI. It's got a bit more soot than the other brand that I used before, but it's $2 cheaper per 225g small can (as per image you provided), and cooks my meals and boils my water just fine. That 'uses only Primus fuel' is just an expensive marketing trick ;) not in your favour.
posted by seawallrunner at 7:41 PM on August 2, 2007

I've also used MSR fuel with this stove. Works just fine.

These things aren't perfectly standardized. The GAZ ones mentioned above have a different kind of attachment. They don't have threads to screw them onto the stove at all. Also, some have valvas placed slightly deeper in the canister. I've gotten no name stoves that I've had to screw on extra tight to get the valve to work.

Just give it a quick test when you buy fuel you're unaccustomed to.
posted by thenormshow at 8:06 PM on August 2, 2007

If you're buying a stove, one thing I cannot recommend enough is one with a wind shield. I have (not with me, otherwise I'd give more detailed info!) a collapsible stove with a windshield - folds down to about the size of a CD case, although obviously thicker (about as thick as a paperback).

So ridiculously useful, even with a mild breeze. I remember sitting on a moor, shielding a different stove with my body. With a wind shield, wouldn't have been an issue.
posted by djgh at 8:25 PM on August 2, 2007

You know, it never even occurred to me to only buy matching fuel, and we've certainly used different brands with our primus stove without trouble. I just made sure the fuel content description matched the previous cylinder (so I'm burning the same thing) then grabbed the cheapest. Have had several happy camping trips so far.
posted by shelleycat at 10:24 PM on August 2, 2007

I'd use an MSR Whisperlite personally.
posted by so_ at 11:28 PM on August 2, 2007

All the gas canisters listed use the same type of valve to screw on to your stove. The real difference is the blend of fuel. I personally recommend the Primus blend of fuel to people, because the gas in the canister separates at a lower tempature than the MSR fuel. If you read the canisters, the Primus one blends 3 fuels and the MSR blends 2, it's a nitpicky thing, which really only makes a difference when it's 20 degrees and you're hungry. That said, it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere, so you're probably good with just about any canister that fits your stove.
posted by Phoenix42 at 5:34 AM on August 3, 2007

A very effective windshield can be made from a couple of square feet of doubled-up tin foil. I've never seen reason to buy one. So worth doing though. In exposed, windy conditions, it can halve your cook time (and save half your gas).
posted by bonehead at 6:26 AM on August 3, 2007

I have always just used a couple folds of heavy duty aluminum foil as a wind screen...just make it into a loose cylinder and slip it over the gas can/stove...and foil is endlessly useful for trail cooking.

Also, if you havent used a vertical can stove combo before, they are annoyingly unstable. I use something that looks like this to get a little more stability and its great for cooking over a small open fire if you are in a place where they are permitted.
posted by cyclopz at 6:38 AM on August 3, 2007

My primus stove has lasted 10 years of hard use with all sorts of different types of cans. Phoenix42 is right, though - the Primus cans are the best mix if you want the stove to work on a cold morning or at high altitude.

I have tried various multifuel stoves, such as the aforementioned Whisperlite, and while they are indeed more flexible than having to carry pressurized cans with your, they are not reliable in my experience.
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 8:43 AM on August 3, 2007

I absolutely love my MSR Pocket Rocket and it runs just $40. Its very simple and hasn't failed me yet.
posted by andythebean at 9:01 AM on August 3, 2007

Follow-up: Back at the store, other people were having the same problem, and another store employee confessed that he himself mixed and matched stoves and fuel.
I ended up taking the last two MSR cannisters in the store, only used one tiny one, and it worked perfectly.
posted by easternblot at 9:31 PM on August 14, 2007