MSR Whisperlite Internationale
The folks at Mountain Safety Research know the outdoors. Having used their MSR Whisperlite Internationale multi-fuel portable stove since 1994, I can tell you that this stove is one tough hombre. Not only is the design bulletproof, but this stove will cook with nearly any fuel available. MSR recommends using White Gas when possible, but I have personally cooked with 87-octane gasoline and ate like a king. Switch out the IG jet (preinstalled) with the included K jet and you can cook with diesel fuel or Kerosene. Weighing in at less than 16oz, this stove puts out some serious heat and will boil water faster than you can say, “Man, it’s cold!” I’m on my second Whisperlite and that’s only because my 1994 version was stolen. The fuel bottle has never leaked in my pack, nor has the stove ever failed to ignite. Sometimes it takes a little getting used to how much pressure you need in the bottle, but you can pick it up pretty quick based on the type of fuel that you are using. If I had a complaint about this stove, it would be the difficulty in getting a good simmer setting, but I solved this by removing the folding aluminum heat saver that surrounds the stove during operation and bleeding off some pressure from the bottle. When the flames start to die at this low heat setting I would give it 1 or 2 pumps on the fuel bottle and it’s back in business. However, 95% of the time I operate it wide open and that’s where it really shines. At less than $80 from internet discounters such as Amazon you can’t afford to miss out on this portable cooking monster.