Reviewing Dual Fuel Stoves

Sunday, 07 December 2008 22:28 Article by Stephen Coleman

Article by Stephen Coleman

While I'm not a true Bushcraftsman I am an avid Carp Angler and often spend weeks at a time lakeside in the middle of nowhere and thus I've come to rely heavily on stove cooking. I used to use a propane stove but having to carry enough propane to last a 3 week fishing trip can prove an issue so I decided to take a look at dual fuel stoves.

Here's a short review of the two dual fuel stoves I own

Coleman Dual Sportster II

RRP £49.99

• 42 oz. fuel capacity

• 1.75 hours burn time on high, 6.5 hours on low

• Boil time 3mins (1 litre)

• Size 12x15cm

• Weight 874g

• Limited 5 year guarantee

For a while this proved to be the perfect addition to my fishing kit. I did however run in to problems with the pipes blocking, one time leaving me stranded without a cooker for a week. Spare parts also proved to be a problem and at the time I was completely unawares of the 5 year guarantee. I ended up buying a complete replacement stove just to get a new fuel jet, not once but twice! However, I must put this down to human error, the store I purchased the stove from failed to tell me about the guarantee.

Be careful and don't drop it, the top of mine cracked and I was unaware, spewing petrol everywhere when I attempted to cook my dinner.

If you're on a budget, size and weight isn't an issue and you make sure you take care of it then this stove is a good buy.

Mountain Safety Research XGK EX

RRP £99 (Fuel bottle sold seperately)

• 11, 22, 33 oz. fuel capacities

• Up to 10 hours burn time with diesel

• Boil time 2.8mins (1 litre)

• Fits in a 1.5ltr MSR pot

• Weight 374g

• Lifetime guarantee

Now this is the daddy of all stoves, I love this piece of kit. It's so small it fits into my Camelbak, perfect for hiking.

The stove features a built in blockage prevention.. just shake the stove and a small rocking pin unblocks the jets.

Preheating paste is no longer needed here, simply turn the stove on for a couple of seconds and light the wick below, 1 minute later and your stove is ready for cooking in even the coldest of temperatures.

If you're an avid hiker and like to brave the cold temperatures then this is the stove for you, I can not fault it anywhere along the line.

Article by Stephen Coleman

Comments (4)

If you use Coleman Fuel you will not have a problem any problems with the generator tube clogging. The only problem is the cost of it.
Use Aspen 4T and your problems are at an end. Buy a 5 litre container and then just take what you need when you go on your journey.

http://www.aaoil.co.uk/environment-Aspen-4T-alkylate-petrol

I have an older style XGK stove I have used it for years, I must say it is the most reliable stove I have and I have quite a few, I have burned all different types of fuel with it from paraffin to diesel and it all sorts of temperatures down to -45 C and it still worked. Although old and battered for use I still think as my best stove.

i,ve got coleman dual sporster 2 for about 2 years and i use it alot and i,ve never had any trouble with it . i do drain it every so often and i keep it in a large icecream container

Dear Stepen, Hope you r well. Regarding Coleman Duel fuel unit #533, I too tryed out that stove with both fuels, & after a time I experienced the problem of cloging. The actual fault was with inner coating to
prevent rusting & whatever ,however, you must empty the fuel every so often, especially when camping season ends!!

The "Coating" will break down & mix with left over fuel,producing kind of a yucky mixture-substance
that will "gum up" all the lines, & even if you change generators, the stove be "un useable"!!

The Coleman people stand behind their products, & were so nice as to send me their multi-fuel stove! Good Luck with your site!! Irving