Optimus No 111C Hiker Multifuel Expedition Stove

Advantages: Small, portable, high heat (but controllable), reliable
Disadvantages: Price of fuel

...I purchased a Coleman Peak 1 camping stove about 12 years ago, when I embarked on an expedition to walk the Penine Way. The stove is lightweight, portable, and best of all - reliable. It gives a good heat, boiling 2 pints of water in less than 5 minutes (try doing that with your standard Calor Gaz stove!). Although the power output is high, it is also very controllable. There is a small lever to adjust the flame, and it can be lowered to a simmer if that is all that you need. Safety has also been taken into consideration such that, even though the stove is fuelled with petrol, it can be tilted, turned, and even inverted without flaring up in your face. The fuel made by Coleman is rather expensive (around 9 pounds for a 1 litre tin), although the newer models can now use standard unleaded fuel of the type you put in your car... Read review

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Advantages: Robust and light
Disadvantages: Availability and the screw lid can become stiff

..., contamination and fire risk) is the fuel needs to be kept in a sturdy container, this is where the Optimus Fuel bottles come into their own. What are they like? Optimus make these to work with their own range of cookers, however they really are the best on the market for storing fuels for all types of liquid burning stoves. They come in three sizes 0.4 litre, 0.6 litre and one litre. The man body is in one solid piece of aluminium, once you feel one you will realise just how strong they are, because they are made of aluminium they are very light the one litre bottle only weighs 159gms and that is including the cap. The cap itself is made of solid plastic and comes complete with a rubber washer to make sure of an airtight seal. The top of the cap has a ring that is big enough to get a finger through, this makes it ideal to use if you wanted... Read review

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Advantages: Fast, cheap to run, fuel widely available - globally
Disadvantages: haven't found any yet - except not really lightweight

...I have used a range of different camping stoves over the years, having been involved in outdoor activities with young people I have had an ongoing debate around the safety/efficiency issues. I have personally used a coleman stove for 15 yrs - the special delight is when you are camping with Trangia fans. I like to set-up the stove and kettle, in the time it takes to boil I can get my tent pitched and then go round with mugs of tea whilst my friends kettles are just getting up to a simmer - smug doesn't even enter into it. So why else am I convinced? You can control the stove from a gentle simmer to a full rolling boil, the fuel - unleaded petrol - is widely available, a tank full is plenty to cook a meal for two, with extra brews as well. The stove has a fairly wide base an is stable in most conditions, it is easy to light and soon... Read review

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