Primus Himalaya Multi-Fuel Stove
By Jeff Porcaro

Primus takes the pack stove to the extreme with the Himalaya Multi-Fuel Stove. It is arguably the most versatile stove available and is worth its weight in gold. What gives the stove this high value? Well, its multi-fuel capability for starters--it is the first stove to burn liquid fuels as well as pressurized fuel canisters. It also handles beautifully and cranks the heat. You'll appreciate those BTUs when your mouth is watering for that Turkey Tetrazini or your body needs the heat from a hot beverage on a cold winter morning.

The GearReview.com staff found the Primus Multi-Fuel easy to use. From simmer to full blast the stove handles well. The stove does not include a fuel bottle, so you'll need to purchase one before you can use a liquid fuel. MSR makes excellent fuel bottles at a reasonable price. Our staff prefers to use liquid fuel for all of our outings as liquid fuel avoids the problem of carrying partially filled fuel canisters and wondering how long they'll last. One downside with the liquid fuel is with the stove's flame adjustment. Because the knob is located at the fuel source there is sometimes a slight lag time when adjusting the flame. With a little practice you can easily get a good simmer without the stove cutting out. This lag time is less evident with the pressurized canister fuel.

On a recent trip to Oregon's Mount Hood we used this stove with canisters. Without a heat exchange on the pan and a windshield for the stove it struggled to melt and boil snow at altitude. We then tried the stove in similar conditions in the Wasatch Mountains in the winter with liquid fuel and were happy with the results. The stove melted snow effortlessly.

The innovation of a truly Multi-Fuel stove belongs to Primus, a long-time manufacturer of outdoor cooking stoves. This combination makes the stove suitable for first timers who want to have the simplicity of canister fuels--attach the canister, light the stove and start cooking. For more experienced users, the flexibility of liquid fuel raises the stove's performance to meet the demands of cold weather and high altitudes.

Fuels: Kerosene, White Gas, LP-Canister, Unleaded Gas, Diesel
Weight: 16.6 oz.
Boiling Time: 3.5 min on white gas
Price: $99:00

Summary:
The Primus Multi-Fuel stove handles the abuse of the serious backcountry user, and delivers both simplicity and performance. It is a favorite of GearReview.com's field test crew. The ability to burn LP canisters and liquid fuels, makes this stove is a must for any serious outdoor traveler's gear list.

Jeff Porcaro is a Contributing Editor at GearReview.com, and co-founder. He specializes in stoves, GPS navigation, mountaineering, and trips to Utah's remote backcountry.

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