[at-l] More stove questions

[icw@xxxxxxxxxxx (Clark Wright)]

Whisperlites have had a history of fuel leaks/major flame outs, but
newer models are much better [i.e., safer].  I still use mine; you can
find snowpeak and other "butane" stoves where the stove weighs only
about 2 oz, and the canisters about 8-9oz; that total weight beats a
whisperlite handily; the alcohol and esbit stoves get a lot of good
reviews, but I've never felt comfortable using them in the really cold
months, which on the AT include march/april if you are NOBO from
springer . . . your other point is well-taken . . . feeding three would
be a lot easier with the whisperlite . . . depending on re-supply
situations, one way to save weight with the whisperlite is to use the 11
oz MSR fuel bottle instead of the 22 oz bottle - I used only the 11 oz
bottle during the march/april period on the AT in 2001 and never had a
fuel problem . . . when it gets hotter, you definitely do not need a
whisperlite on the AT, but you might still want it to feed three people
on a section hike, even in summer . . .

hope this info helps - needless to say, stove preferences are to some
extent a personal choice . . .

thru-thinker

Ken Bennett wrote:

>
>
> I appreciate the stove thread. I am trying to choose a stove for a
> three-week section hike for 3 people. I have a homemade Esbit stove, a
> Primus butane stove, and an MSR Shelter Torch, a.k.a. the Whisperlight.
>
> I use the Esbit when I am travelling solo, and it's fine. But I think
> it's going to be very slow for 3 people, and I'll probably need two
> complete cook kits just to speed things up a bit. Also, the fuel is
> quite expensive. And the weight isn't that much lighter when you start
> adding in the second cook kit.
>
> I am actually leaning toward the Whisperlight, because the total weight
> of stove and fuel is much less than the butane stove, and the fuel is so
> much cheaper. Heck, I have a couple cans of Coleman fuel already in the
> garage.
>
> So I did an overhaul on my Whisperlight, using one of the maintenance
> kits. Replaced all the O-rings, the spring and check-valve, etc. Then I
> notice several large cracks in the pump assembly where the fuel valve is
> attached to the pump -- the only metal-to-plastic joint in the whole
> thing. The cracks seem to be outside the O-ring in the valve assembly,
> so I don't think that they will be a problem, but they worry me. I did
> do a test fire and all seemed well, but I can forsee a time when the
> cracks will mirgrate down past the O-ring and spray fuel all over the
> lighted stove, leading to an unhappy dining experience.
>
> Any comments? Do I need to replace the whole pump assembly? Anybody out
> there successfully feed three people with an Esbit stove?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ken
> BC
>
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