Thanks for the imput. It's an interesting approach many should consider to try, including myself.

But if for some reason you happen to be just camping for a few days in Australia or Europe, where there are certainly less chai stalls on the side of the road (and fuel is not cheap), what could be a good option apart from burning cash (in my experience bills/notes burn more efficiently than coins)?

I've only ever used unleaded in my Whisperlite.

Cost, availability, bulk, and the waste issues of the canisters themselves rule out gas for me.

I don't really see that economics are that important when choosing between liquid fuels, because the fuel consumption/day is so tiny relative to what I'm using in the bike. The fact I've always got unleaded (and if I can't find any I'm in bigger trouble than eating cold food) trumps any running cost difference to using paraffin, etc.

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dashmoto.net

I bought a second hand, old version optimus 8r because it even seems to able to run on water (you know what I mean). There are newer version but they are not as good as..

It's a little bit heavy but it's capable of burning unleaded fuel so I don't have to bring a spare fuel bottle.

Haven't tried it yet but I have great expectations.

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Luc

I'm hypersensitive to a lot of things, petrol fumes is one them (yeah, I know), so petrol isn't an option for my stove. Up until recently I used a combination of an alcohol stove (Evernew) and an Optimus Nova+ which I used lamp oil in.
After experimenting with Etapower pots (they have a heat exchanger), I went for an MSR Reactor stove (the pot has a heat exchanger too).

Heat exchangers save fuel, and the MSR is a fuel miser. Yes, it uses gas canisters, but I puncture the canisters after use, so they can be tossed in ordinary garbage. I still carry my tiny titanium alcohol stove because the stand of it doubles as a wood stove, and the evernew stuff takes up almost no room and certainly no weight. This gives me three options when out and about, but my gas stove sees the most use.

I have made a pot cozy for the Reactor-pot, this way I can boil whatever I want, and then let it simmer in the pot cozy, saving even more fuel.

I try to save fuel generally. Not because of the money (which is miniscule, all things considered), but because it allows me to carry less/cook more days.

I solely use 450grms gas canisters (the big butane ones), because they last the longest per overall weight.

Now, why don't I just buy food at stalls? Well, I like to prepare my own. I like to make my own coffee, I like to camp out and do a bit of writing, and I like to be out there with no people.

This is the reason I also row (on the ocean - think sea kayaking, but with a rowing boat) and do trips like that.

I like the camping experience. If I had to buy everything from stalls, I'd simply stop traveling by motor vehicle or go on rowing trips camping. I don't carry all of my stuff on my back, so there's no need to be dependent on food stalls: I can get my coffee and food how I like it, when I like it.

And when I feel like buying food from somewhere I can do that too. Having camping gear doesn't preclude nice hotels, B&Bs, restaurants or anything else. It merely gives me that bit more choice.

good post twoupfront.

I much prefer my little gas cannister stove to anything else I have. ( omnifuels and a twin burner + grill )

Thanks, Oldbmw

With my unleaded petrol Coleman 533 stove I have burnt pasta as well as beans and rice. Rice gets particularly sticky to remove when washing and it leaves some traces, so I do not recommend to burn it... haven't tried burning other ingredients (sorry for the bad joke, I don't if the it works in English, but in Spanish we say "quemar la comida=burn the food/meal" and could't refrain)

My Korean 8R copy is happy on petrol, panel wipe or Coleman fuel. It will burn white spirit at a push. You can also let off a green heat gel sachet in the lid in an emergency. It won't burn Gun Wash which is a type of extra volatile white spirit. The jet is obviously wrong for this.

Andy