The stoves I am testing…
Optimus Crux (folding model)
MSR Whisper lite (original model, perhaps 20 years old)
Trangia 27 (non stick model)
Jetboil personal cooker
I tested boil times with each unit and measured the amount of fuel (in weight) each unit used to boil 500ml of water from 12 degrees. The MSR needs priming to get started and the fuel used in priming is included in the figure for fuel used. I also tested the Optimus and MSR stoves with both a new alloy billy and a Trangia pot. This showed a great deal of difference in boil times.
Start with the Crux.
It is a very compact unit and with a small gas canister it will fit in the small alloy billy. With the larger fuel can it will still fit in the Trangia pot. The unit is a bit wobbly (due to it’s folding parts) but never really felt unsafe. It would be less likely to tip over using the larger fuel can, but the small fuel can is no big deal.
To boil 500ml of water in the alloy billy took 3:15 and used 10 grams of fuel.
To boil 500ml of water in the Trangia pot took 2:35 and used 8 grams of fuel.
One 100gram net fuel can would feed two for a w/e (I assume a cup of coffee at breakfast, one at dinner and a dinner, 4 boils per day).
The Trangia
The trangia was started from cold.
To boil 500ml of water it took 11 minutes and used 13 grams of fuel.
The downfall of the Trangia (and all liquid fuel stoves) is the possibility of large open flames. Extra care must be taken to be sure the stove is stable, if the fuel spills while lit the dangers are obvious.
The Trangia has a large footprint and is the most stable cooker of all those tested.
A 500ml bottle of fuel will last maybe 4 to 5 days (for 2 people).
The MSR Whisperlite.
The MSR must be primed before use. This involves letting a small amount of fuel out through the valve and lighting the loose fuel in the little tray where it collects. You can also use some sort of gell if you like. As it heats the fuel in the line more fuel is forced out and catches fire. Care must be taken to not have too much fuel to begin with or flames can get quickly out of control. It is a good plan to practice using this stove at home before a trip.
To boil 500ml of water in the alloy billy took 4:10 and used 12 grams of fuel.
To boil 500ml of water in the Trangia pot took 2:49 and I couldn’t measure the fuel because of an accident.
Like I mentioned already, the liquid fuel stoves present special dangers and I was reminded in a big way about one of them today. I had replaced the fuel bottle O-ring yesterday and I was less than attentive when fitting it and didn’t realise it was a pooteenth too big for the job. As I was turning off the unit after boiling water in the Trangia pot the O-ring bulged and fuel under pressure started squirting out the side of the pump-bottle join (and naturally straight at the flame so it would catch on fire
). I was doing the test on the sink and so I was able to grab the unit and sweep it into the basin and prop the bottle upright. There was some good flame happening, it was shooting out the side for about 2 feet. If this happened while out in the scrub, and it caught the tent of your fleece cloths it would be a disaster and possibly life threatening. The lesson is to be sure your gear is in top nick before taking on your walk.A 500ml bottle of fuel contains over 370grams of fuel, enough to do a week (5 maybe 6 days) away cooking for 2
The Jetboil
The Jetboil is a great unit and although it can be used with any pot you like it is designed to do it’s best work with the purpose built cup that comes with the unit.
To boil 500ml of water in the Jetboil personal cup took 5:13 and used 5 grams of fuel.
I didn’t believe this fuel figure so I ran the machine twice more for the same time and got the same fuel use figure.
The small Jetboil fuel can has 100g of fuel in it so I figure you can get over 15 boils out of it, more than enough for a couple of guys over a long w/e.
Anyway
I hope this helps someone
secondly economy of fuel and weight then safety.
Other pots are less slippery but still care must be taken to keep the stove level. A useful modification to the MSR would be to put some burs on the wire pot supports so they were less slippery.