I am trying to put together a Philmont trip for 2018 for my son’s Boy Scout Troop. We just had two crew come back from Philmont and I am trying to capitalize on the buzz created upon their return to the troop.
In the spirit that buying the right solution the first time is better than upgrading later, I am looking at buying a stove for both Philmont and winter camping. This would be for a personal purchase although offered to the troop for use during both winter campouts and Philmont.
I have come to these two stoves for the following reasons:
- The scouts are familiar with canister-type stoves already.
- Both these stoves can hold larger pots required for both Philmont and melting snow in the winter.
- Both these stoves are comparable.
- Both these stoves can use the canisters inverted for winter use.
- Both these stoves have been recommended by scouts coming back from Philmont.
It appears as though the Optimus stove is just a hair lighter than the MSR. Any opinions on either? One thing I like about the Optiums is the legs to invert the cansiter are integrated to the fuel line head and not a separate piece which could get lost by the scouts as in the MSR stove.
Any experience or feedback here?
– ATG
