ive had to take a break from stoves. ive got rockets, 1 burners,2 burners, 3 and 4 burners,propane ,charcoal ,white gas, 1 solar cooker,
every time they have a hurricane come close or roll thru everyone buys a camp stove. a year later, they all get sold at yard sales and fleamarkets.all makes brands models and sizes. and i cant turn down a coleman classic 4 burner, or a coleman single rocket, for under 20$ I just cant. last count i had about 23 assorted stoves.all shapes sizes and colors.............its a sickness.......
Ha,
I didn't go that far down the rabbit hole.
When I was around 16 or 17 (1976) I bought my first white gas stove. A self contained Coleman Peak 1 442. At least I think it was a 442. Two of my camping friends mocked it as being too heavy. They both had early MSR Multi-fuel stoves. that would run on white gas or K1.
While it was true they would run on K1, they were a soot factory when they did.
Then there was all the loose parts and separate wind screens that would blow away with a good gust of wind.
More often than not, my Peak 1 got used. It lit easier, simmered better and just generally was easier to use.
Back then, being a hiker & backpacker first. I never saw the appeal of a big Coleman 2 burner camp stove. Heavy and way too big to carry. So I opted for another Peak 1. The second one had adjustable legs for leveling, and ran on unleaded as well as white gas.
As I went higher and further, I snagged an Optimus Svea 123.
Not quite as convenient as the Coleman. But even less moving parts, and more bomb proof. But it needed to be primed.
Years later, I did finally breakdown and buy a propane 2 burner Coleman camp stove. A cheapy for like $40.00.
I left it in the Dacks for the guy who bought my house and his nephew.
Fast forward to today. Still have the old Coleman one burner, the Svea 123, and I added an Optimus Crux, MSR Pocket Rocket, Emberlit Standard and titanium Fire Ant,
White gas like many of us here, seems to be going the way of the Dodo.
In today's outdoor world, things are different. Nobody cooks anymore. Most just boil and stir. It is all about speed, light, and simplicity. Push the button, boil, stir, eat.
Not to mention white gas can be dangerous if you're stupid.
With an entire generation of "Participation Awards" running around, the need arose for safe alternatives.
In my mind, white gas it still the king. It works better in extreme cold. It works better at altitude. You can visually see how much fuel you have. They just work.
Butane fills the needs of the masses.
I also have a few alcohol stoves. Another simple solution.
There are some sexy new stoves out there today. But they aren't cheap, and they don't do anything my old ones can't do.
If I could pick up old stoves on the cheap at yard sales I certainly would. I think Coleman still sells repair kits for most.
But the Adirondacks was sort of a camping, hiking, climbing mecca. So used, decent examples go fast and pricy.