A long-time budget pick I’ve suggested to others, based on reports from people who’ve used it in the field, is the $10 (or less) canister stove sold on Amazon, AliExpress, and other sites.
There are different names and manufacturers for what I can tell is essentially the exact same stove.
Meaning:
- Orange body
- Four pot-rest points
- Piezoelectric igniter
- ~10,000 BTUs, a touch higher than other canister stoves of this type
- 3.5 oz / 100 g
- …and $10 or less
After using it on and off for a year or so, I’m happy to report it’s perfectly fine for a $10 stove. It works well enough and lets me boil my meals during the open-flame bans now common every summer in the American West.
One surprising plus in its favor? The simmer control is very responsive, with a large enough burner head to allow true simmering. Contrast that to the BRS-3000T as a counterexample, with its small stove head and OK simmer control.
Not to say the stove is perfect.
For starters, it’s a touch bulkier and heavier than similar canister stoves (~3.5 oz / 100 g vs. 2.5 oz / 70 g), with the MSR PocketRocket 2 as a base-level model in this category. Some of this weight and bulk may come from the piezoelectric igniter, a feature common on stoves such as the Jetboil or MSR Reactor, but less common on PocketRocket-style canister stoves.
Additionally, I find the four pot rests and overall design less efficient, less stable, and more fiddly than the traditional three-pot-rest system found on similar stoves.
Wind protection is minimal, but that’s the traditional weakness of stoves of this type. A few well-placed rocks (my choice) or a very carefully designed windscreen (LighterPack enginerd’s choice) works well enough.
PZ igniter? YMMV. Useful for some. It’s convenient, and youth groups in particular could find this feature handy. Bring a lighter anyway. At the very least, trip leaders should have some lighters. I find the igniter a nice feature, but not something I need.
Who is the stove suited for?
- Those on a budget, of course. For $10, you get a reasonably light stove that’s easy to use, compatible with isobutane canisters, and seems reliable enough.
- Scouts, youth, or outing groups. You can buy five or six of these stoves for roughly the cost of an MSR PocketRocket 2. The PZ igniter is convenient for youth group use, too. Again, at the very least, trip leaders should carry some lighters.
- Backup, loaner, or secondary stove. When Joan’s using our ever-faithful Optimus Crux Lite, I’ll take this stove on some solo trips, for example.
Another option? Fire-Maple Greenpeak 1: ~$20 and 0.5 oz(14 g) lighter than this generic stove. Fire-Maple is known for making good, solid budget stoves. For another $10, you’ll probably get a stove that compares well to more well-known stoves in terms of features.
Overall? Not a bad little stove for $10. It’s not my first choice, but it’s certainly a solid option and won’t impact your trip much one way or the other, as with most “good enough” choices!