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I bought this Optimus stove back in the 80's when I was more into backpacking. It's been a trustworthy stove all these years and still works flawlessly. It's a simple stove that is lightweight and compact. It uses Bleuet butane cylinders, which provide approximately 3 hours of cooking time. The setup is quick, takes about one minute, and provides a stable cooking platform, thanks to the plastic support which holds the Bleuet securely and makes a wider base. There is no priming this stove, and it lights easily with the strike of a match. I've used this stove at sea level and at altitudes over 7000 feet, and at temperatures over 100 degrees and below freezing, all with no difficulties. This model didn't have a wind screen, as newer models do, so I had to improvise a few times in windy conditions. Once lit however the stove worked with no problems.

This particular model is no longer available, but similar styles can be found by Camping Gaz, Optimus, Peak and other manufacturers. The fuel cylinders are somewhat bulky, but I've never needed more than two on any given outing. I like this particular stove because it's been reliable and I can be drinking hot tea within five minutes of thinking of it. I paid $20 for this stove way back when, but you can still buy a comparable stove today for $30-$50. Although I'm now a typical car camper and use a standard two-burner propane camp stove, I still carry the Optimus stove along as a backup. If you're into solo-camping, even though you're just car camping and not backpacking, this type of stove may be enough for your purposes.

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(Photo copyright 2001 David J. Sweet, licensed to About, Inc.)