Customer Reviews

Brunton Vapor AF All Fuel (liquid and butane) Expedition Stove

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This stove is excellent under two conditions:

1) A backpacker is willing to sacrifice a few ounces to have a stove with great fuel versatility.

2) A backpacker is willing to sacrifice a little additional pack space for that same fuel versatility.

In my case this was a sacrifice I was easily willing to make (a few additional ounces and a couple of cubic inches of space). It will be slightly larger and heavier than the backpacking stoves that screw directly onto the butane/propane can (Brunton's version is called "Bruntane"), however in some cases that's an advantage. This stove has it's own "feet" and sits relatively low. Those which screw onto fuel canisters sit higher and can be less stable when using small diameter fuel canisters. In fact, some manufacturers sell a bracket that fits under the fuel canister for those types of top-heavy arrangements.

Maintenance is relatively quick and easy, and the Brunton refurb kits (sold here and elsewhere) include enough parts to virtually rebuild the stove.

The hardest part to learn on this stove is how to get it going using liquid fuels without creating a lot of smoke and soot during warm-up (using butane/propane requires no warm-up period because the fuel is already arriving at the burner as vapor). When using fuels like gasoline, kerosene, and diesel, the stove has a small fiberglass disc that sits at the bottom of the orange cylinder on the stove. This is designed to absorb the liquid fuel so it can burn (pretty much like a wick) and heat the fuel in the burner area and line to vaporize and pressurize it. You'll want to get some fuel on the disc but soaking it is not necessary. If it starts to run out of burnable fuel, open the valve to let some more liquid fuel onto the disc until it's hot enough to vaporize and operate properly. The design is really pretty ingenious.

For short trips, I carry a small bruntane can. For longer trips, liquid fuel in a .5 or 1L canister will provide for a LOT of use. I've tested it with white gas, kerosene, and diesel. From my experience, I'll avoid diesel unless there are no other options as the burn is lower temperature and dirtier. White gas lights quickly, but I prefer kerosene (despite being a little harder to get going when cold). The kerosene burns clean and very hot and the vapors from kerosene aren't as explosive as those from gasoline. If you have an accidental spill with liquid fuel, kerosene is going to be more forgiving than gasoline around open flame.

Other all-fuel stoves require you to dig out a wrench and extra valve in order to switch from butane canisters to liquid gas. With the Brunton Vapor AF you just twist the orange cup at the bottom of the stove one way or the other depending on the fuel used, and it really does work. It simmers very well too. Very solid construction for all the external stove parts but the pump that goes into the fuel bottles is all plastic so I keep it inside the 20oz fuel bottle that came with the stove. The stand looks flimsy in the product photos but they are very sturdy with small holes on the feet at the three ends so you can stake the stove to the ground with small round stakes if needed.

So far I've tried various butane canisters, Coleman fuel, kerosene, alcohol, and diesel in this stove with good results. Cooking times vary; I didn't time it but there is a difference. I'm just pleased that it actually works with the various fuels because I'd rather have a stove that can use whatever fuel is available and on hand instead of complaining about cooking times. It's also nice to be able to leave the fuel bottle at home and just use butane canisters if I want.

Is it the best stove out there? I haven't got a clue and I really don't care because this one works, it does what I want it to do and that's all I ask. It comes with a little maintenance kit that includes extra rubber seals, a needle to clean the jet and a wrench for doing repairs. The maintenance kit fits inside a sleeve located inside of the nice nylon carrying pouch.

There is no doubt that this stove is amazing. The other reviewers have covered that and I'll leave it up to you to read the other reviewers.

What I wanted to cover in my review is what actually comes with the stove. It seems like from the picture the fuel bottle is not included, and the product description itself is not entirely detailed about what comes in the package. So here's what you get:

1. 20oz (0.6L) Brunton fuel bottle with safety storage cap (the cap freely rotates, so if you do attach it to a carabiner, it won't unscrew itself)
2. Flexible windscreen (folds flat for compact storage in your pack)
3. Select replacement/maintenance parts
4. Versatile stove tool
5. Jet cleaning tool
6. Stuff sack
7. Flip-stop pump (you screw this into the fuel bottle and notice the imprinting on it: if you see ON facing towards you, then the fuel bottle is positioned to fuel the stove, and if you see OFF facing towards you, then the bottle is "flipped" into position for turning off. For example, when the stove is running, you flip the bottle to the OFF side and the stove is fed pressurized air from the bottle, which will eventually cut out the stove flame, which is then followed by pressurized air to help clean the jet)
8. Instructions in English and French

I hope this helps in your decision in finding the right stove.

This is a well made stove. The base is solid and folds closed to reduce size for packing. I have only tried with liquid fuel so can't say anything about butane operation. Product comes with a windscreen (don't think it stated that) so no need to order an extra. They normally will last a long time.

The maintenance kit seems like a good idea. It has everything to keep this stove running. Hopefully they won't be needed for a long time. Products change and parts become unobtainable so buy the kit while you can.

This stove will use anything that is conbustable you cant beat it when your in pinch. It will with no problem cook in a very strong wind. I cooked in a mass blizzard here in Montana with no problem. I recomend this product anytime.

aside from the insipid 'Brunton' incised into the pot supports, this stove offers some flexibility in fuel use; but be forewarned: the isobutane performance is anemic, offering low pressure and low flame output - the stove will blow out with a mere whisper of a breath - and you may not even get it to work unless you remove the rubber washer before attaching the stove to the Lindal valve on your canister

i do have to say the stove works better in this regard than the Primus Gravity Multi-fuel (which is a POS; keep its pump and throw away the stove)

and, like most external tank fuel stove manufacturers (such as MSR), Brunton chose to use a cheap, flimsy plastic pump (unlike the most excellent aluminum Primus Ergopump); you *will* have to eventually replace the pump, and there is no way this stove will hold up to daily use for a year or longer

so what you have is a cheap multi-fuel camping stove that's not entirely fail safe - probably good enough some occasional, but not serious users

nice little camp stove,well made. It'll be even better if the manufactor can put more information about the the maintenance into the user menu.

I love this stove. Works well with white gas, I haven't tried butane yet but I am very satisfied with the liquid fuel.

What can I say that has not already been said:
Well it's noisy. It's a relief to turn it off when you're done. Especially when using butane.
Overall i'm still happy. It's very flexible with fuel use, good temp control.

One other thing, it would have been nice to put some indicator on the stove for gas or liquid fuel mode. Now I have to check the instructions again at the start of each trip.

Can't believe that no one else thinks it's noisy though. Maybe it's just me.

I really like the concept of this stove. It uses the same jet for both liquid and gas fuel. The body rotates around the burner changing the airhole size for gas or liquid fuel. The stove itself (not the pump) is heavy duty. It is simple and easily disassembled for cleaning and maintenence. I am uncertain if Brunton will sell or provide specifications to get replacement o-rings. Some of the specs are on the instructions, but not the missing pieces.

As others have said before the pump is junk. The pump foot valve retention plug broke before I could get it wet with fuel. I called Brunton and they said this stove is discontinued and they could not get parts for the stove or pump. The pump for the Primus Omnifuel will work (better) as a replacement. Too bad the stove concept is great, but is useless if you can't get replacement parts if you need them. The fuel bottle and cap are not very good either. The valve/ connector for gas does not like Coleman brand butane mix canisters. Optimus canisters work great. The instruction manual is somewhat lacking. The exploded view of the stove and pump is clearly missing the foot valve, foot valve o-ring, retaining plug, retaining plug o-ring, and spring. The maintenance multi-tool has two hex sizes on it that are not on the stove. The swivel holder hex head is not on the multi-tool.

After some testing against a butane mix backpacking stove rated at 10,000 btu I have determined the stove does not operate as listed by the manufacturer. I don't know if the one I received is defective, but it took 7-10+ min to boil 25 oz water in a Trek 900 pot. My small backpacking stove took 4-7 min. I am very disappointed and will be sending it to Optimus/ Brunton for replacement.

I like the stove, but I cannot in good conscience recommend it since it is discontinued and Brunton camping products are being eliminated. It appears to me that development on this product was hastily completed given an inferior pump and mediocre quality control. No need to keep a good name when you are planning on scrapping the entire product line. RIP Brunton RIP! You'll have to go with an Optimus Omnifuel and change jets. Don't loose the tool or drop the jets!!!