the downside of MSR, is their pump still using plastic. While Primus & Optimus has it mostly metal, more tougher. I have Omnilite, only. I think it is still the best. Have you buy your stove?
I have used Nova in several arctic winter expeditions. I would recommend it over the others for the following reasons: 1) Nova follow mils spec: The stove has a nozzle optimized for Kerosene/lighting fluid/EC-918-481-9 and (and other heavy fuel). So you can find the perfect fuel cheap in every supermarket/gas station and even some night shops. Such fuel has higher energy density, is less volatile and will not dry up o-rings and pump leather like gasoline/aspen alkylate petrol. Optimus Polaris have different nozzle to accommodate gasol and will not burn as clean on heavy fuel. 2) It has fewer parts and is easier to work on if shit hits the fan. 3) The nozzle can be cleaned during cooking without even removing the pans....very valuable feature in difficult cold weather conditions. 4) No fragile plastic parts that can break in cold weather. Modifications: Nova works perfect as it is. Do not try to integrate in Trangia or shit. It is likely to overheat. Trust me, I have tried and almost had a meltdown. However, useful tweaks are. 1) Check the filter at the tip of the fuel straw in the bottle. If it is brass its katadyn military grade and good. If it is white replace it with some fluff from a cotton swab. The white mouse tampons are inferior and known to cause many problems such as complete fuel block or pulsating flame. 2) Cut away inside pockets of storing bag, permanently close zipper and attach the multi tool with a string. Then it works great as storing bag. Otherwise you will have lost half the stove in the snow before you finish the first coking.
If you want to cook proper meals, simmer etc the Nova rules them all! If you are a boil in the bag or just want to melt snow it’s the MSR and anywhere in between it’s the Polaris! Hope that helps, regards from deepest Dorset 👍
@@macmaster9840 yep, preacticing target behaviour in something close to your target enviroment is adviceable, if you dont want to have to start adapting for solutions once really need to perform. I do have 2 questions though: 1. Did you use the trangia or optimus adapter cup for the nova, when you almost had a meltdown? 2. If the dimensions allow for it, could one not just put a nova nozzle and cleaner needed into the optimus burner , and this way more or less get a nova like performance out of the Polaris, yet still maintain gas burning capacity?
Yes and it sucks. They are loud stoves. A silencer cap stops the pulsing and really quiets the stove, but kerosene doesn’t work very good with the silencer. Never burns clean and is sometimes tough to get preheated
@@Saltfly In the time since asking the question I acquired a silencer and agree with everything above: quietens it to a degree, but mine certainly doesn't perform on kerosene the way it did on white gas. Thank you!
@@kristiantenerife you’re wrong on this one. These stoves pulse with the stock flame spreader. No matter what you do. If you can get one to run on liquid without having a pulse somewhere in the power I would like to see a tutorial on that.
![Optimus Nova / Optimus Polaris [ How to use on a REAL arctic expedition - 5 secret tricks ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gIKLZ_PKlww/mqdefault.jpg)
I like the SOUND.
So what we learn here? Im considering to buy optimus nova, polaris or msr whisperlite. Im wonder optimus, made in Sweden or Romania?
the downside of MSR, is their pump still using plastic. While Primus & Optimus has it mostly metal, more tougher. I have Omnilite, only. I think it is still the best. Have you buy your stove?
I have used Nova in several arctic winter expeditions. I would recommend it over the others for the following reasons:
1) Nova follow mils spec: The stove has a nozzle optimized for Kerosene/lighting fluid/EC-918-481-9 and (and other heavy fuel). So you can find the perfect fuel cheap in every supermarket/gas station and even some night shops. Such fuel has higher energy density, is less volatile and will not dry up o-rings and pump leather like gasoline/aspen alkylate petrol. Optimus Polaris have different nozzle to accommodate gasol and will not burn as clean on heavy fuel.
2) It has fewer parts and is easier to work on if shit hits the fan.
3) The nozzle can be cleaned during cooking without even removing the pans....very valuable feature in difficult cold weather conditions.
4) No fragile plastic parts that can break in cold weather.
Modifications: Nova works perfect as it is. Do not try to integrate in Trangia or shit. It is likely to overheat. Trust me, I have tried and almost had a meltdown. However, useful tweaks are. 1) Check the filter at the tip of the fuel straw in the bottle. If it is brass its katadyn military grade and good. If it is white replace it with some fluff from a cotton swab. The white mouse tampons are inferior and known to cause many problems such as complete fuel block or pulsating flame. 2) Cut away inside pockets of storing bag, permanently close zipper and attach the multi tool with a string. Then it works great as storing bag. Otherwise you will have lost half the stove in the snow before you finish the first coking.
If you want to cook proper meals, simmer etc the Nova rules them all! If you are a boil in the bag or just want to melt snow it’s the MSR and anywhere in between it’s the Polaris! Hope that helps, regards from deepest Dorset 👍
@@macmaster9840 yep, preacticing target behaviour in something close to your target enviroment is adviceable, if you dont want to have to start adapting for solutions once really need to perform.
I do have 2 questions though:
1. Did you use the trangia or optimus adapter cup for the nova, when you almost had a meltdown?
2. If the dimensions allow for it, could one not just put a nova nozzle and cleaner needed into the optimus burner , and this way more or less get a nova like performance out of the Polaris, yet still maintain gas burning capacity?
Do they all pulsate like this?!
Yes!
Yes and it sucks. They are loud stoves. A silencer cap stops the pulsing and really quiets the stove, but kerosene doesn’t work very good with the silencer. Never burns clean and is sometimes tough to get preheated
@@Saltfly In the time since asking the question I acquired a silencer and agree with everything above: quietens it to a degree, but mine certainly doesn't perform on kerosene the way it did on white gas. Thank you!
The guy has put in too much air in the fuel mix. Even at low fuel level he should have pumped no more than 10..
@@kristiantenerife you’re wrong on this one. These stoves pulse with the stock flame spreader. No matter what you do. If you can get one to run on liquid without having a pulse somewhere in the power I would like to see a tutorial on that.