Primus Himalaya Multi-Fuel

Review Date
November 21, 2003

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: cooler(Unregistered User) ,  Day Hiker

Price Paid:  $99.00 at REI

Summary:
This review is for Omni Fuel. This stove is simple, yet well designed, and rugged. The pump is made of aluminium billet, and heavy-duty. Flip to one side, it bleeds the line, and the other side up, and supplies the fuel. The burner construction is simple and makes it so easy to prime. Just open up the valve for a few seconds, shut off, ignite, then open it back up after 20 seconds or so.

The stove comes with three different sizes of jets for the gas canister, white gas, and kerosene. The included multi-tool allows of all manner of maintenance on the trail. A fuel bottle (1 liter) is also included.

The fire power of the stove is impressive. Depending on fuel type and weather conditions, a liter will come to a rolling boil in 5-8 minutes.

If you do not mind the stiff price, its performance will easily justify the expense. Absolutely reliable and very convenient. Only you must put a plate under the stove, if you want to use it on a sandy beach (or in the snow)--otherwise, the legs will sink into the sand. I see no other points to detract.

I have not tried it at extreme altitudes or in severe weather conditions, but I have no doubt that it will carry the day.

Customer Service:
One of the jets was machined wrong, and it would leak an orange flame. I ordered a new one, and they sent one at no charge. Only they sent a wrong one. I called again, and they sent a set of all three jets, at no charge. Cool.

Similar Products Used:
Primus Easy Fuel (for gas canister only).

Review Date
October 24, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2 votes

Reviewed by: SSTGuy(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Cincinnata

Price Paid:  $109.00 at Backcountry Equipmen

Summary:
This review is for a OMNI FUEL STOVE not the Multi fuel This is an awsome stove! Very happy with purchase and would advise for anyone looking for a good compact stove. I looked at a few other stoves, but this one rated much higher than MSR,Optimus etc. I owned a Coleman Exponent before this and the plastic level on the exponent melt so I got the Omni.
If you get this stove make sure that you disassemble the jet with the fuel control on the base, and clean out all the shavings from drilling during assembly. This is a must or it will not work properly. I used a Q-tip and blew it out with air. It boils water fast and you use what ever fuel you can find.

Customer Service:
Have not used

Similar Products Used:
Coleman Exponent( would not recommend)

Review Date
August 27, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Brian (Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I bought it on sale before heading out for 8 months in central and south america. We used it a ton everywhere from sea level tropical beaches to 16000' in the Bolivian Andes and it performed like a rock star. We burned exclusively auto petrol (sometimes leaded when it was all that was available) which was mostly what was available. Never had any problems other than an ocasional need for a cleaning, which is to be expected with all the additives in petrol. An all around great stove, my fav by far of the three different brands I've owned. Loud as all hell though!

Review Date
February 23, 2002

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: Romte(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Baltimore

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Hudson Trail Outfitt

Summary:
Very good stove. It is on the heavy side. The simmers function works but there is a couple second dely between turning the nob and actual flame adjustment. The bleed off feature I really like. I was always getting fuel on me when disassembling the stove. The bleed feature does take an extra minute but it is worth it. I also do car camping and like the canister feature for this (since the stove does not sit atop the canister). You can use bigger than normal pots and pans than usual because the pots supports are decent size and grip extremly well.

Similar Products Used:
MSR dragonfly-good stove-better simmer capabilities but did not have canister option and plastic pump did not inspire confidence.

Review Date
September 16, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Rocky Mtns(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Calgary, Alberta

Price Paid:  $120.00 at MEC

Summary:
I purchased this stove in Oct 99 after calling Primus in California and talking to a technician. I was torn between the MSR Dragon Fly and this one. (Briefly looked into Optimus, but lack of availability hinder a real good look) I use this stove year round, probably have used it more in winter than summer conditions. In the winter I use white gas and in the summer the canisters. Both work extremely well. In the summer, especially when temps reach the freezing point, its a good idea to invert the canister, about 3-4 inches higher than the stove. This way the canister does not cool (decreasing pressure) and a liquid feed of the iso mix is fed to the burner. I find in using this technique that 100% of the fuel is consumed! The nice thing about using the canister is the ease to which you can get cooking started (I'm mainly a boil-and-pour type) and the fact it burns clean, no real maintenance needed in the summer months!
Overall, this stove has not let me down in any circumstance, snow, wind, rain, very cold (-20C), etc. Packs easy, versatile, and efficient. For 3 day hikes, two half canisters meet all fuel needs, and then some, usually come home with 3/4 of the second one.a Even though the larger canister is cheaper, the guesswork is taken out of the equation, by cycling two smaller ones, always have one full, saves space as well with two people.
Warning!! When you dismantle to clean, there is a brass nut at the base of the stove that needs removing to take out tube and nozzle apparatus. Below the nozzle on the inside there is a compression washer. This washer is hard when installed, but with the heat, turns to compact powder and if your not careful this will crumble and you will have to replace it by buying a repair kit at $25 Cdn just for this washer! Tip: don't take it apart, clean while assembled.

Customer Service:
Called to complain about the washer problem, they sent 2 replacements at free of charge within a week! Fantastic!

Similar Products Used:
An old (20 yrs) Peak single burner, still have it, but not using on backpacking trips, retired to car camping.