Good Stoves Range From $60 To $100

Sun., Aug. 20, 2000

What’s the best camping stove for cold weather? I’m considering a stove to be used for hiking trips which will last typically 5 days. The stove should work at 0 degrees Celsius. I’m torn between a gas canister stove (Coleman butane/propane stoves) and MSR-type priming stoves. Multi-fuel feature would be good. Could you please recommend a good buy for each type of stove after considering reliability, maintenance, boil time and fuel efficiency.

Alan, Singapore

Gear Guy: Of course, 0 degrees Celsius is right at freezing, which isn’t all that cold from a stove’s point of view. Even butane - the worst fuel in cold weather - functions reasonably well at that temperature. So you really aren’t constrained by fuel considerations.

Given that, my first vote goes to Peak 1’s Xpert stove ($60). It uses a propane/butane fuel mix that is a very reliable performer in cold conditions. It’s also extremely easy to use. The only drawback is that the Peak 1 fuel canisters are not as widely available as some other models. But they can be shipped, so you can stock up on a year’s supply if need be.

Another good canister-fuel stove is the Primus Model 3243 ($60), which also uses a propane/butane mix and has a more common connection setup than the Peak 1. In liquid fuel stoves, a choice that remains hard to beat is the MSR Whisperlite Internationale ($70). It’s a proven, reliable stove that’s as easy as any liquid stove to operate. It burns kerosene as well as white gas.

Finally, if you really want the best of all worlds, the Primus Model 3288 ($100) burns both liquid AND propane/butane fuels. The drawbacks are its relatively high weight (1 pound 3 ounces) and cost. But if it burns, the Model 3288 can cook with it. Except wood chips, I suppose… .

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.