Had to pick between a $50 Coleman and a $200 MSR stove last weekend

I was at REI in Denver getting ready for a trip to Rocky Mountain National Park and couldn't decide. The Coleman was cheap and familiar but heavy, while the MSR was lighter and boiled water way faster. I went with the MSR because I hike solo and every ounce counts. First morning using it, I nearly melted the plastic handle off my mug cause it's so powerful. Has anyone else switched to a lighter stove and regretted losing the stability of the big ones?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_holly28d ago

Oh man I've totally been there with the mug thing! I switched to a little BRS stove last year and it's insanely hot, you gotta be super careful with the flame control or you'll melt everything. The stability thing is real though. What I did was get a little folding windscreen that doubles as a base, costs like 10 bucks on Amazon. That and a titanium mug that's wider at the bottom makes it way more stable than the tiny stoves usually are. Honestly I don't miss the Coleman at all now, the weight savings is huge for me since I'm usually doing 15 mile days. Just gotta practice with the fuel control on low so you don't blast your coffee cup again.

jordang3228d ago

Is there a reason you didn't just bring a pair of oven mitts and call it a day? Sounds like you traded one problem for another, but at least you're saving weight while you do it. The handle melting is just part of the "I bought expensive gear" initiation, right?