If you intend on winter tenting or backpacking in temperatures under 15 levels Fahrenheit, it’s best to contemplate getting a liquid gas range that burns petroleum distillates like white fuel or kerosene as a substitute of a canister-based range that burns isobutane gas. Canister fuel gained’t ignite in its gaseous state under 15 levels Fahrenheit, which actually limits its temperature vary.
While there are stoves, just like the Kovea Spider that may burn canister fuel in its liquid type (you flip the canister the other way up), in addition they cease working reliably at 0 levels Fahrenheit, whereas a liquid gas range will merrily burn away right down to 40 under zero Fahrenheit. Liquid gas can also be extra available internationally than canister fuel, which is useful in the event you backpack or trek in much less developed international locations.
Liquid gas stoves include a tank to carry the gas, a pump to create strain within the tank so the gas will stream out by way of the gas line, a valve to regulate gas stream, and a burner the place the fuel mixes with air and burns. Some stoves such because the MSR Whisperlite Universal can burn isobutane in canisters in addition to liquid gas, making them a sensible choice if you wish to capacity to modify between the 2. The Whisperlite Universal has the added benefit of being a distant canister range which implies it may be used with a windscreen to extend its effectivity since there’s no have to screw the range on to the canister the place it may explode if it will get too sizzling.
What is White Gas?
All liquid gas stoves burn a gas referred to as white fuel. White fuel is a really pure type of gasoline that doesn’t comprise any components. Many liquid gas stoves, notably these meant for worldwide (non-North American) use, additionally burn different, dirtier types of gasoline together with kerosene, diesel, unleaded auto gas, or jet gas which can be extra available in locations that don’t inventory specialised tenting range fuels. These different fuels share the excessive warmth output and low-temperature properties of white fuel however could clog your range and enhance the frequency you must clear it. White fuel can also be self-priming, whereas different fuels resembling kerosene require that you simply carry a second extra unstable gas resembling primer paste or alcohol to warmth up your range (by setting it on fireplace, principally) in order that it reaches a temperature the place it may vaporize white fuel a burn it.
Some liquid range producers suggest that you simply use proprietary white fuel formulations with their stoves resembling Coleman Fuel or MSR Superfuel. These are all simply branded variants of white fuel. I exploit MSR Superfuel myself, however primarily out of comfort (to be sincere) because it’s simple to choose up at my native REI.
Liquid Fuel Stove Comparison
There are fairly a number of liquid gas stoves available on the market. I’ve listed the most well-liked, together with their weight (together with range and pump, however not gas bottle), and the fuels they burn.
- MSR Whisperlite | White Gas | 11 oz
- MSR Whisperlite Universal | Isobutane Canisters, White Gas, Unleaded Auto Gas, Kerosene| 13.7 oz
- MSR Whisperlite International | White Gas, Unleaded Auto Gas, Kerosene | 10.9 oz
- MSR XGK EX | Diesel, White Gas, Unleaded Auto Gas, Kerosene | 13.2 oz
- MSR Dragonfly | Diesel, White Gas, Unleaded Auto Gas, Jet Fuel, Kerosene | 14 oz
- Primus OmniLite Ti | Isobutane Canisters, White Gas, Unleaded Auto Gas, Diesel, Jet Fuel, Kerosene | 12 oz
- Primus OmniFuel | White Gas, Unleaded Auto Gas, Diesel, Kerosene, Jet Fuel | 15.6
- Optimus OptiFuel | Isobutane Canister, White Gas, Diesel, Kerosene, Jet Fuel | 16.75 oz
- Optimus SVEA 123 | White Gas | 19 oz
- Kovea Booster | Isobutane Canister, White Gas | 10.8 oz
Some of those stoves present simmering capabilities. It is debatable that that is an pointless characteristic if you’ll simply be utilizing your range to soften snow or boil water. If you intend on utilizing your range within the US or Canada, paying a premium for the power to burn fuels aside from white fuel might be not crucial. However, in case you are touring internationally, make sure that to buy a range that allows you to burn different fuels resembling kerosene and even jet gas, that are available in different components of the world.
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