Customer Reviews

Coleman Exponent Denali Expedition Stove

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is an excellent stove and is made specifically for backpacking. Like the majority of backpacking stoves it requires priming (preheating) to start due to the range of fuels this stove can use. These fuels include Coleman fuel, unleaded gas, kerosene, E15, jet fuel, and the inverted butane/propane canister (adapted included). It is also lightweight at 11oz excluding canister.

It is not a remarketed Fyrestorm Multi-Fuel stove which uses Reflex technology where there is is a valve system controlling fuel and air automatically based the heating of the generator. Again, the Denali and the Fyrestorm are totally different stoves.

There are other options and stoves. However, I don't think that the majority of backpackers are going to lug around a green heavy steel propane canister to light their stove. Most will use a Coleman fuel or gasoline or some type of butane-propane canister for the sake of weight reduction.

I have used the Denali and the Fyrestorm and they both are excellent. Both held up well. They do light differently. The Denali does take a bit more finesse to light. I would encourage one to practice lighting their stoves before embarking on their trip. . I would not hesitate in buying either one. Again, these are backpacking stoves and are made to be lightweight. One has to base their decision on weight, fuel type and availability, altitude, cold weather, and heat production.

I've had this stove for over a year and have used it in at least 50 occasions.

Pros:
*Sturdy. it can withstand almost anything (except for the burner control, see cons for that)
*Super light weight
*Versatile. will burn pretty much ANY fuel out there. Most stoves will not burn kerosene. the advantage of kerosene is that it is FAR safer than gasoline or coleman fuel, and it is easily available anywhere in the world. (and MUCH cheaper than coleman fuel)
*Easy to light (meanning "just as easy as any other stove that requires priming to vaporize fuel", in fact there are no "easy" to start stoves in this segment, from any manuyfacturer, peroiod, unless you use butane which is expensive and non refillable, you have to practice a little bit and you must come prepared to shield it from wind or your priming will be a difficult experience just like with every other liquid fuel stove.
*Powerfull. Will boil a liter of water in under 3 minutes. (beware this is also in CONS).
*SAFE. Has wide legs, this means any large pot can sit safely on top. this is a big plus when you have boiling hot stuff you don't want spilled on yourself.
*WindProof. Once it's lit it takes a hurricane to put it off.
*Very easy and clean to refill (when using liquid fuels).
*Small and easy to carry. Separating the canister from the burner means you can hide this stove anywhere. I always carry it with a full load of fuel and it has never spilled a drop.

CONS:
*Extremely powerfull. I've had this issue with all my liquid fuel stoves, they operate like a blow torch. you better watch your food or you will burn it!
*Loud. it sounds like a jet engine. Specially when burning liquid fuels.
*The burner control is a cheap wire that loosely snaps to the knob. This is bound to come off (it's happened to me a few times) and eventually you will loose it. no big deal you can use pretty much anything to replace it.
* simmer? you can choose between F-15 afterburner hot and 747 at max speed. your best bet is to play with the shut of valve until you find the right setting and/or to just not place your pot directly on the stove (but this last option means wasting fuel).


CONCLUSION:
I bought this stove because I got an excellent price (paid US140 trough a promotion with tropicana) but if I was going to pay full price I would seriously look into competing brands. I saw a video on youtube of a competitor brand that could be turned off just by turning the liquid fuel can around so that the tube inside would pull "air" instead of liquid fuel and therefore empty the whole system. this is a very important feature because when you shut this stove off, the remaining liquid fuel in the line burns dirty and clogs the system and leaves soot in it and then there's some fuel that will not burn and will instead drip from the hose (may be 5 of 8 drops, but if you're using gasoline or kerosene it will smell). PS: I could achieve this same effect on the denali but only if I fill it almost at half capacity.

This is the same, "exact" Re-marketed version of their exponent multi-fuel FYRESTORM SS Stove only $70 more expensive and marketed for "Denali expeditions". I bought the FYRESTORM light-weight, high-priced, multi-fuel stove as a backpacking/car camping/emergency multi-use stove. When I got it I found you can't use the ubiquitous 16.4 oz green propane canisters. You have to purchase a "special" Coleman propane/butane mix sold only in specialty camping stores not 7/11s, grocery stores, CVS etc. like the the 16.4. The screw-in connection is of non-standard diameter. This makes this multi-fuel stove worthless. You have to buy and lug around their specialty fuel. OK I guess if your plan was to use this stove to climb Mount Everest in the Himalayas, but as a light weight, multi-fuel, multi-purpose stove forget it! save your $199!

I have always loved the practicality and functionality of Coleman products but don't waste your money on this one.