Re: [pct-l] Stove Choices

[Owen Kittredge <owenk@quiknet.com>]

Well said, the Svea 123 and Optmus are great stoves, My Svea 123 was overhalled
last year after 25 years of service.

Owen K

Montedodge@aol.com wrote:

> I own 2 alcohol burner stoves. ( one is a 30 year old sigg ) These are
> no-brainer's to use and about as light as any stove made. Use hardware store
> alcohol or Marine alcohol which is around 7 to 8 bucks a gallon. I have also
> used plain old rubbing alcohol in a pinch which is cheap but burns dirty and
> not as hot. Downside to alcohol is finding fuel in some areas and low
> horsepower. Other stoves maybe heavier but have an advantage in cooler
> weather with more BTU's. Choices 20 plus years ago were few but some are
> still good choices today. The Svea 123 or the optimus 8R are still solid
> performers that burn coleman fuel or unleaded gas ( low octane ) and have few
> parts to lose or wear out. These stoves as well as the MSR models offer the
> BTU's for snow camping or where higher performance is sometimes needed. Jim
> Whitaker's ( First American up Everest ) all-time favorite stove is the
> Optimus model" 00" which is a straight kerosene model. These are only
> slightly more complicated than an alcohol burner with a set screw on the
> filler cap to control flame and sound as loud as a MSR XGK. The only
> maintance is a little oil on the pumpcup each month and a cleaning needle
> down the jet. Many under forty hikers may have not seen these great old
> stoves ( used on Everest in through the sixies ) Again kerosene is spotty in
> some areas of the PCT and alcohol or paste is needed to prime them. If hiking
> the PCT next year and rating lightness above performance, go with alcohol to
> Weldon.  At Weldon trade to white gas or ( blasfamy. canister) then back to
> your alcohol.  Some like the ease and convinience of a cannister stove. Fuel
> cost is of course much higher and depending on the model chosen, cannisters
> may be spotty. Shipping may be questionable as well. I used an Optimus 8R on
> my thru-hike which still works great and would use again. Of course many
> other thu-hikers used different stoves which worked flawlessly for them. Each
> stove has an advantage and a downside. Just a few thoughts on choices
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