Lightest white gas stove?

Larry,

I appreciate the "never use the stove near the tent" warning. Unfortunately the reality of the situation is that you're not cooking outside your tent when it's -"a lot" and the wind is blowing.

Fireballs scare me so I'll be doing plenty of priming practice.

No way you're going to light that thing in a tent, man. Light it outside the tent and haul it back in to cook if needed. Small fireball is a probably a foot high… just part of the normal priming process. Not a big deal at all, just don't prime/light in the tent.

With reasonable caution I could see lighting it in the center of a 'mid, perhaps?…

If you're going to cook near a tent (I still would not use it with the stove inside the tent) I would suggest the nova. It primes easier and if you know what you are doing the fireballs are smaller. BTW, with good priming you don't really get any "fireball", but you do get at least 6 inch flames while it is priming.

Of course, the Nova is nearly twice the weight of the Simmerlite… the Optimus site lists Nova weight as 15.34 oz. So if we're going after the lightest WG stove, that's distinctly "not it."

"Fireball" is a relative term. Trying to get across the point that there will be large-ish open flame. The flame is generally "gentle," not "explosive," but not sure how much that matters if it's in a tiny vestibule. Yes, you might be able to keep the flame at 6-9 inches even w/MSR, but I wouldn't count on it. But hey, it's your tent!

{So if we're going after the lightest WG stove, that's distinctly "not it."}

Yup, absolutely!

{"Fireball"; is a relative term.}

Yup again. Anyone have a short video of priming any of these stoves? You really need to at least see it to understand. And, of course, enough practice to be able to confidently use one.

No experience whatsoever with these kinds of temps, but after searching the Net I suggested the MSR XKG to a mate that was going to use it in Alaska in Feb (last year) . He had used "white gas" (Shellite here) for about 30 years but never used that stove before. The MSR worked very well down to -40 air temperature. He used a Light My Fire firesteel to light it (Coleman fuel )
The reason for the stove was that he had to melt snow and ice so heat output /speed was the major requirement (that and reliability) .
He had a bivy, did not have flare ups but I would take the suggestion of lighting it outside the tent
My point here is that down to say around 0f or so maybe you can take your chances below that weight becomes irrelevant , it has to work.
Franco

> down to say around 0 F or so maybe you can take your chances. Below that, weight
> becomes irrelevant , it has to work.

Yeah! The Print mag had an article on Skiing in Finland which emphasised this too.

Cheers