Lightweight Camping Stoves

Gas Stoves

All of the lightweight gas stoves sold in Australia attach to the standardised screw threaded disposable canisters which are readily available in most camping stores. There are still some clip-on (bayonet) and puncture canisters available for the few stoves out there still using those attachment types but these can be hard to come by.

The gas canisters which these stoves attach to are available in three different sizes (100g, 230g, 450g) and most use a mixture of iso-butane and propane gas.
Special cold weather mixtures of these two gases are available for very low temperatures, though generally these are not needed in Australian conditions.

These stoves are sold in various sizes , and can be found as an individual item (just the stove),or as part of a complete cooking system which may include pots, frypans, carry bags, etc. The components in these sets are usually designed to nest into one another and be as compact as possible.

Gas stoves are generally compact, easy to use, and lightweight. They burn with a high heat and can be precisely adjusted for simmering if needed.
The most common criticism however, is that they are very susceptible to wind. This can be easily resolved with the use of a windshield or by finding shelter for the stove before lighting. The other criticism is that the canisters are disposable and not re-usable, although the steel is recyclable.

Gas Cooking Systems

One of the newer styles of all-in-one gas cooking systems is the JetBoil range. These stoves are sold as a complete cooking system and often include a cooking pot in which the whole stove and gas canister packs inside of. One advantage of the JetBoil system over other gas stoves is the ring around the bottom of the cooking pot. This ring solves the main issue gas stoves face by protecting the burner from the wind. It also directs more of the heat towards the pot making them more efficient in gas consumption.
The MSR Reactor stoves also use a similar system Optimus also produce a stove and pot set with a similar system.

White Spirits, Kerosene, and Multi-Fuel Stoves

These all have fuel tanks or reservoirs either built into them or as a separate bottle. Liquid fuel needs to go through a process called 'priming' before they can be used.

Start up usually involves pressurising the air in the fuel tank/bottle via a pump, and then having the fuel forced into a tube where heat is applied (traditionally a small bowl of fuel is often lit under the tube for the initial start up). The heated and vaporised fuel is then forced out a very small hole (jet) as a mist which is lit to become the cooking flame.

White Spirits (also known as Shellite) is a favourite fuel for these stoves as it burns clean and at a very high temperature. Some White Spirit stoves have the ability to run on unleaded petrol as well, though it’s advisable to flush the system by cooking with the cleaner white spirits every so often. These stoves are often referred to as Multi-Fuel stoves. Not all liquid fuel stoves are multi-fuel stoves.
Kerosene stoves have different jet diameters so they can’t use alternate fuels.
These stoves burn with a very strong heat in nearly any weather and are popular for harsh conditions and remote destinations. These stoves are generally very reliable, however they do require a “process” to start them, and have moving parts which sometimes require maintenance. 
Most of these do not come with cook sets.

Methylated Spirit Stoves

Basically self priming, these stoves generally use a circular brass burner with a vertical cavity wall around the outer edge which is topped with a series of small holes.
Methylated spirits is poured into the central cup of the burner and some flows out through gaps in the bottom of the wall into the vertical wall cavity. The pool of spirits in the central cup is lit and this flame acts as the primer to the fuel surrounding it in the vertical wall cavity.
When the vapour is formed in the wall, pressure builds and it shoots out the holes around the top where it is ignited by the central flames. Surrounded by a ring of stronger flames the central cup is starved of oxygen and goes out.

This style of stove is most well known as the Swedish Trangia 'storm cooker' set which has remained almost unchanged since the early 1900's and is still popular today.
These are complete cook sets which can include pots, frypan, kettle, handle grips, and a clever windshield design that enables cooking in virtually any weather. Though not everything needs to be taken on every trip, these do usually end up slightly heavier than the other stoves, especially when you take into account the amount of fuel required.

Methylated spirits does not burn as hot as either gas or the other liquid fuel stoves and the heat is not easily adjusted. Despite this, Trangia's clever wind shielding and heat retention often gets water boiling just as fast as the more wind effected gas stoves (if timing boiling water is that important to you!). And with no moving parts they are totally reliable, robust and long lasting.

From here you get to our favourite setup - the Trangia Gas Conversion.
This utilises the amazing wind protection, heat efficiency, and versatility of the Trangia Stormcooker sets and adds the power of a gas burner. This speeds up the cooking time and saves weight in your pack as you no longer need to carry a bottle of fuel, just a small gas cartridge is all you need!