In your case, I聮d certainly recommend canister-fuel stoves. I do so for several reasons. For one thing, they聮re by far the easiest stoves to use. For another, they generally are the best for simmering, while also offering plenty of heat when you just want to boil water. And really, it聮s not hard to calculate your fuel needs. For two to four day trips, there聮s also no weight penalty for carrying canisters.
Coleman Xpert Stove
Xpert StoveI wouldn聮t say all canister stoves are the same, but they聮re not all that dissimilar, either. Pretty simple technology. The Primus Yellowstone ($30; primusstoves.com), Snow Peak Giga Power Manual ($40; snowpeak.com), and MSR SuperFly ($50; msrcorp.com) are all fairly similar in design聴with the burner atop the canister聴and power output. All take the same cartridges, which use the common lindahl valve.
One problem with these stoves is that they聮re not terribly stable. What聮s better is to keep the burner close to the ground and put the canister off to one side, connected by a short hose. Snow Peak聮s Giga Power Blended Fuel Stove ($80) has this design, as does the Coleman Xpert ($65; coleman.com). I like the Xpert a lot, but the knock on it has been its proprietary fuel canisters. Now, however, you can buy the Coleman Powermax Fuel Adapter ($23) and use Coleman canisters or common lindahl-valve models.
To calculate fuel needs, simply check the stove聮s boil time and max burn time at full power. If a stove boils a quart of water in four minutes, and burns for 30 minutes at full on, then that canister will suffice for three or four meals if all you聮re doing is heating water. It聮ll last even longer if you聮re cooking things over medium or low heat. A four-day trip shouldn聮t require more than two canisters.
For cookware, MSR聮s BlackLite Gourmet Cookset ($60) is a reliable choice, with two pots and a skillet, all with non-stick. I also like GSI聮s Halulite Double Boiler ($30; gsioutdoors.com), which is a two-pot set, paired with a small skillet such as the Open Country 10″ Saute Pan ($22).
You聮ve seen our picks for 2007 Gear of the Year, and now the entire
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