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Primus
VariFuel Stove
A fuel efficient and robust stove
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Outdoor Adventure Canada
 Spring
has finally arrived! The excitement grows as we bring our gear
out of storage for the season. This retrieval, from the deepest
and darkest recesses of our closets comes with a symphony of clangs,
clacks and rattles. As you test each piece of gear you realize
that your stove is about ready for the gear graveyard. Now you
must start thinking about a new stove.
I had the
pleasure of testing the Primus VariFuel stove. This unit is compact
and reliable. The VariFuel will run on white gas, unleaded auto
fuel, diesel, paraffin, kerosene and even jet fuel. The wide choice
of fuels, the ability to run this stove efficiently at high altitudes,
and the fact that the VariFuel seems unaffected by extreme temperatures
make it favorable to mountaineers and global travelers.
The VariFuel
weighs in at 428 grams (15 ounces) and pumps out a blistering
10, 000 BTU (2800 W). The burner is fed from a separate refillable
fuel bottle and pumped through a braided stainless steel line.
Primus has incorporated a check valve system into the pump which
allows excess fuel to be burned out of the line before shutting
down, thus virtually eliminating clogs.
This model
runs very conservatively by burning only 1 litre of white gas
in 2.5 hours or 1 litre of kerosene in 3.3 hours. This fuel efficiency,
coupled with the ability to boil a litre of water in about 4 minutes
means that one fuel bottle may be all that is necessary on a short
trip.
I've used
this stove in varying weather conditions including snow, sleet,
rain, wind, heat and extreme humidity without any difficulties.
I've also used this stove to simmer with my outback oven. Its
ground hugging design and serrated stands held my pot firmly,
never surrendering my dinner to the dirty forest floor.
Although this
stove is a little heavier than some of its competitors, it is
a robust product that is easily repairable in the field. I would
not hesitate in recommending the Primus VariFuel to anyone and
I will continue to use mine for many years to come.
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