Who can recommend a stove?

[tj63]

I'm getting set up for some solo camping this year - tent, luggage and other bits already sorted.  I have a spirit stove available (like a Trangia), but I'm thinking a multi-fuel stove may be a better option.

I vaguely remember a post (was it Simon83?) with a link to a decent site with this type of stove at sensible prices, but I can't find it now.  And yes, I did try the search 


Can anyone help?

Thanks


Trevor

[Mark]

This is a really good price if you want a Coleman 442.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/coleman-feather-442-dual-fuel-stove-/330434344796?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_SportingGoods_Camping_CookingSupplies_ET&hash=item4cef6bf75c

Mark

[tj63]

Thanks, Mark

I had a look on Fleabay, but don't really know the good stuff from the bad.  Is the 442 a good one?  I know Coleman are a reputable make, but these things are new to me.

At my age - who'd have thought it?


Cheers


Trevor

[mini-thumper]

Trevor
Can really recommend the Coleman 442. If you can find, and they do come up occasionally, the set of square pans that the stove can be stored inside makes a really neat little package. The only thing you need to keep an eye on is soot build-up in the generator tube (this goes through the burn area and vapourises the fuel) due to additives in unleaded petrol. This can be overcome by the occasional use of expensive Coleman fuel (£8/lt.). Excellent for quickly boiling water and you always have fuel on tap! Easy to strip apart, spares plentiful etc. etc Coleman 533 larger, more common version, that is almost identical but takes up more space and only has plastic storage box.

Some of the more expensive mountaineering stoves, MSR, Optimus are more compact but I don't think any better than the Coleman. Simon Morgan and Crusty have bought a very nice little stove from China for 99p (P&P £30) and they seem very good - if you're lucky they will be along withy a link at any moment. Saw it working this weekend and would buy one myself if I didn't already have an MSR Dragonfly.

Boyd
(Sorry for being a stove anorak. Where's my Land Rover?)

[guest833]

I recommend a pub with rooms to rent or a B+B. They all have excellent stoves and your breakfast is ready in the morning

 

[guest146]

The coleman is a good bit of kit. They get a lot of heat on and use little fuel. You always have a bit of petrol in the tank so never run out.

Ken

[OMEGAMAN]

 Hi Boyd,   should I be getting one of the 442's (Is the one you had a look at US?)

 seems an excellent price....

[mini-thumper]

Hi Boyd,   should I be getting one of the 442's (Is the one you had a look at US?)

 seems an excellent price....

John
Sad to say that yours has got a broken 'prickers'! It's a small wire that cleans the main jet, and will mean the replacement of the whole regulator/cleaner unit. I have looked at a number of Coleman spares sites but haven't yet seen that part listed; for the price it's likely to be it might be cheaper to buy a new stove.

Boyd

[Richard]

I used a Coleman for years but it seemed to have the habit of sooting up at inopportune moments.  I have now gone over to a gas conversion for a Trangia clone which is good, but uses propane/butane cartridges.  You could get a multifuel set up to put in the Trangia for the best of all worlds.

When not in a hurry to brew up whilst camping I tend to stick to my Swedish Army Trangia (alcohol) which is basically unbreakable and I can use the pans over an open fire too.

What about the Jetboil?  Canisters again but boils like greased lightning - pot can be a bit small but if there is only you.............

Richard

[guest40]

Good chioce ,Simmo. I'm going that way these days too. I still have enough camping equipment to fit out a scout patrol. Last pub we(our ozzie club) stayed at was $20 per nite per person with breakfast. The BBQ the night before was $10.00 all you could eat until the food was gone.

[Mark]

Don't buy the Coleman fuel, too expensive, get 5 litres of 'panel wipe' from your local auto paint shop £9-£10, it's exactly the same stuff(naptha). It won't soot up or give out nasty fumes.

I have heard there are to types of panel wipe so just confirm it is the naptha one. Google it for more info.

Mark

[Steffan]

Colemans are OK if a bit on and off crude. I had one - replaced the generator and still had it fail not long after. I have a Optimus nova and have found it great since I gave up using kerosene. Tough as these things come, can be converted to trangia, compact, and you can simmer rice pudding if the need arises - try that on a coleman 422.

I have a jet boil for my bail out bag  (roadside coffee with the family) and for that sort of thing they are the dog's proverbials once you jettison the starter unit and replace it with a light my fire stick and striker. You could cook in it but it would be a bit tight, one small canister will fit in with the burner so you could run with just what you see, but I always carry a back up.
just my 2p

I also have the gas conversion for the trangia, which I haven't used much yet. It takes up the small kettle's spot in the trangia but you have the canister on top. Seems very flexible in operation and quick too but, like I said I haven't had a chance to use it extensively yet.

For bike trips I use the Nova, I take a full bottle of fuel which can be refilled from the tank of the bike if necessary and I take a billy can, although on most Thumper Club Events I have been to of late Jules has  rescued me from my own cooking with some gourmet offering  - the man is a star.

My advice would be get take a Julian and forget the stoves :-)


Steffan

[tj63]

Thanks for all the help and advice, guys.

I've bought a 442 - at £30 it's a bargain.  If I don't like it, it'll just go back on eBay 

Using a B&B would be a bit out of order for the Uttoxeter weekend, when everybody else is camping 


Trevor

[squirrelciv]

sadly I've arrived late to the debate. My advise is forget liquid fuel stoves and go gas. Simple, easy, clean and lets face it, we're not on the north face of the eiger! You can get cannisters everywhere, they don't leak or smell and the stoves just work! I've got a Army trangia converted to gas [by way of a coffee tin lid] and a small cylinder 3" tall, has lasted me 2 weekend camping trips where I've cooked all my meals and made hot drinks [some of which were enjoyed by the petrol stove guys while they waited for the pre heat to work] Anyone who tells you "gas won't work below zero", well... Firstly they do with the modern blended gases, and when in all honesty are we camping in that sort of extreme? I've used mine at the Dragon in subzero temps, even managed to set fire to my socks with one. Trust me, gas is good. Get liquid fuel if you must, just don't ask the gas stove guy to brew up while you cyphon off your petrol [when is that going to happen?? Getting out the tool kit, disconnect the fuel line, petrol p1ssing all over the engine and soaking your hands] and pump up the pressure then burn off your eyebrows trying to get the pre-heat right.

[Steffan]

Steady on Pat. Don't go condemning the kit over issues of user competency. After all if you can immolate your socks with Gas then it is probably better you stay away from liquid fuels 

Steffan