This stove serves specific needs. If your need is to travel really light and fast, are at low altitudes, merely want to heat your food and run, or heat your water and dump it into a grub bag, this is overkill.
There are alternate multifuel stoves both (Primus, MSR Whisperlite, and Coleman) but each has it's own problems. There have been safety concerns with Coleman. Others swear by Svea, but I do not have experience with that one.
The Optimus Nova used to be a Brunton product, and had a full metal plunger and housing. This is my item and I own, and I will put up an image shortly. Mine does not have the convenient hose-twist as the Optimus Nova Plus now does, but it is extremely sturdy. The previous device had a purge application (which I assume is still the case) wherein you lay the bottle on the "off" side to expend gas pressure following use and remove the hose for packing.As others have stated, there are several o-rings and parts which should be carried on the case of failure.
My stove is sturdy and even. I cannot say this for the MSR whisperlight as it was always shaky. Additionally, a simmer adjustment on that stove was a joke. Similarly, this stove rocks over the MSR dragonfly in it's compactibility and performance.
Apparenly, the old pump and priming mechanisms were made better than they are now. I cannot speak to the manufacturing quality since the company was purchased by Katadyn. While I cannot speak on this company insofar as stoves, but have been pleased with their assumption responsibility over the "Pur" water filter brand.
I demand a quality device that rarely fails, and can be repaired if it does. This device will burn almost any kind of fuel, and can be shipped to a destination prior to excursions. Compressed fuel stoves are a mistake in this regard. Stoves that handle liquid and compressed gas rarely do both well. This device is not the lightest, and is loud. However, the simmer control is excellent, and the high power is tremendous.
An argument made against the stove regarding the lack of repair items available. True enough, you need to order these pieces before your trip via mail. One commenter lamented the lack of parts available on the AT at various stops. However, you can forgot having any parts available for any stove in 99 percent of your backcountry destinations.
I did not give the stove 5 stars due to my inability to completely disassemble it for cleaning and repair. There may be a trick I am missing, but I can't quite get the simmer valve stem through the notch. Part of it may unscrew and mine simply does not.
I cook a lot, and demand a fair amount of versatility on the trail. I bring a tin pie dish for fish I catch, and pack a older Evernew pot set (REI bought this company I believe), within which I use a Bake-packer grid and prepare quick breads within glad bags. I need a good stove with sustained and controlled heat. This stove is a proven tool, but you have to know your gear (f your pump leather goes dry you need to oil it, etc.). Good luck.
Click Here to see more reviews about:
Katadyn Optimus NovaProduct Description: Katadyn Optimus Nova By Katadyn
Buy cheap Katadyn Optimus Nova now Get 21% OFF
As I said in my review for the Mutha Hubba HP tent, "Buy the optional footprint but don't try to stretch it tight -- it is slightly undersized and *will* tear if you do so.This tent floor is quite waterproof and does not need edge-to-edge protection from the footprint, which is mostly to keep it from grinding on the dirt and becoming no longer watertight."
