Coleman Fyrestorm SS Stove

Underburn is a great problem.

The setup is reasonable easy. It is pretty easy to light up and the pre-heating sequence is better on Coleman than most others I have tested. The flame control is not as easy as on the APEX and when I use it on low flame (simmering), it has started to burn inside the burner (underburn) several times. You hear that noise and have to turn it off quickly and relight it at once. It is pretty silent.

When I don't get trouble with underburn it is effective, but simmering is not working well.  Works with a windscreen when needed, but wind makes the risk of underburn increase.

It is more stable than many other stoves and packs well. The legs are brittle.
I have used this stove only a few times during the last 15 years, burned about 1 bottle of white gas, and one canister.

To compare, my noisy Optimus Nova is much more trustable, and my old Apex is much better for simmering cooking. Soto Muka is a later product, but not simmering so well. Soto Stormbreaker is probably well inspired by the Fyrestorm, but has a more centered flame.

All makes have had their up and downs, and what can you trust today? I would still consider makes of MSR, Optimus, and Primus as long-life stoves, but if you want to use it for a period of time, and when it breaks down it is time for something modern, there are lots out there to consider. Some may be dangerous, so look carefully, and share your experiences. 

Background

I have used this stove only a few times during the last 15 years, burned about 1 bottle of white gas, and one canister.

I've used both the propane/butane canisters and the white gas on this stove. The propane/butane canisters are easier to light but one goes through fuel fast (3 days on one canister), the white gas is more fuel efficent but the start up is a flame up experience that you need to warn other campers to stay away when when lighting it. It takes about 3 minutes to settle down to a steady flame but you won't be bothered by mosquitoes during this time.

The setup is easy in both canister and liquid fuel usage.

However watch out in moving the support legs on the propane/butane canister holder, in very cold weather these can snap off easily.

Need the wind shield when cooking as flame goes out easily in the slightest of winds.

Can heat water realtively fast (6-7 minutes).

Packs easily and small.

The pots not always really stable on the burner unit.

I found it goes through the propane/butane canisters fast (3 days, 1-2 uses/day) while a 500 ml of white gas can last 4-5 days.

The Triangia Multi-fuel stove is probably a better stove due to the flame shielding and pot support. This however packs into a much larger size than the Coleman stove.

I purchased the Coleman Fyrestorm based on MFG claims and first impression at store. It was hard to dish out $149, especially for a Coleman product, but I did. Once home my views changed.

The pump is a pain to install due to fuel pickup tubes I could see myself breaking when conditions are extreme, those times when all you want to do is get the darn stove lit and not be fumbling with it. The plastic parts of the pump looked fragile (especially the tubes), but I like the metal plunger since I heard other brands with plastic plungers breaking. The fuel lines and stove itself where well design and seemed quality.

After fueling I expected the pump to feel like larger Coleman products but it did not. It felt poorly made and too much resistance from the get-go. The stove lit well and went right to blue flame which was very impressive. After about 30 seconds it went to yellow and never again went to blue. I was using new Coleman white gas so I know fuel was good, re-read directions and was doing nothing wrong. I tried changing pressures and fuel level but noting worked. Finally called it quits when it started throwing tiny fire balls.

Now, this stove might had been defective (sure it was) but would I trust another that might fail after 2 or 3 uses and while camping? Not me. If stove was half the price I might have exchanged, but at $149 I wanted my money back, which the store did.