User Review: Coleman Fyrestorm Ti Stove

Well let's start with a comparison to the stove the FyreStorm replaced, the Apex II. (See the review on the Apex) This does everything the Apex did but better with the exception of two things. It is lighter weight, has an improved pump, a better (replaceable) fuel line (which disconnects at the pump), very wind resistant burner, taller profile (less burned fingers adjusting the stove valve), a heat shield and puts out more heat than the Apex. But this thing won't burn kerosene (not an issue for most campers) and is a pain in the xxx to prime and light.

I have tried everything, followed the directions (yes I said it), pumped it up high (too lean and blows out), pumped it up low (floods), filled above 2/3rds (loses pressure quick), filled below 2/3rds (takes too many pump strokes), and open the pump valve slowly (floods), quickly (blows out), on/off all with limited success.

The only thing that works consistently is to prime with 1/16-1/8oz of alcohol poured right on top of the cold burner. Pour the alcohol right on top (not enough to drip out the bottom, cold burner only, never manual prime a hot stove), light, wait until the alcohol burns almost out and then open the pump valve fully. This works every time (and I don't have to pump another 40+ strokes).

Coleman went to great lengths to design a pretty neat lightweight liquid fuel stove that lights without the mess and aggravation of filling a bowl with fuel to preheat. But more often than not, she primes too lean, quickly drops pressure in the tank and goes out. An Olympic gymnastics exercise of fiddling with the pump valve, lighting and pumping during priming and with some luck you can get one lit and running. Once lit it will burn hot or turn down real low. You can boil fast or simmer with great flame control.

This not an inexpensive stove, list is about $150, if it primed more reliably it might be worth it, it has a lot of other things going for it. If I had to choose between the FyreStorm and an Apex, I'd go with the Apex, but the Apex is discontinued. When I take my FyreStorm I bring a few ounces of alcohol to prime.