Backpacker Magazine
2001 Editor's Choice
Optimus Nova
"Versatile, highly efficient, and nearly indestructible, this
multifuel stove primes fast, cranks out the heat, and (gasp!) even
simmers.
"If you need a four-season stove that can travel
anywhere in the world and provide blowtorchlike [sic] heat almost instantly,
but also simmer delicate sauces, the Opimus Nova stove is your ticket. During
our Grand Canyon trip and other hikes, the Nova impressed us with its
quick firing up and near instantaneous relighting, even after long
dormancies. The flame adjusted easily via a long, mitten-friendly
handle, going from a surprisingly quiet high setting to a low, steady
flame that baked (not burned!) many quiches and cakes for our gastronomically
pampered crew.
"Thanks to the Nova's unique burner construction,
fuel consumption was impressively low. Despite lots of time-intensive
frying and baking, six of us used only 2 liters of white gas in 6
days of moderate winter weather. Later, a crew of seven used
even less kerosene on a weeklong pack-testing foray.
"The Nova employs a unique cleaning system
that allows you to remove soot from the fuel nipple while the stove
is running. Simply wave a separate, magnetic 'wand' under the
burner and like-polarity forces the cleaning needle up through the
fuel port. (We're still waiting for one of our two clean-burning testing
samples to clog.) Although the wand adds a bit of weight, it
doubles as a wrench for maintenance and field repair. Locking legs
and serrated pot supports provide excellent stability and nonslip
pot gripping.
"The Nova started readily in near-zero-degree
conditions, and worked surprisingly well with kerosene. Though
priming was a bit sootier with kero, the Nova kept cooking when another
popular multifuel stove sputtered to a stop. That performance,
plus its tough, bend-resistant construction, makes us confident that
the Nova is one of the most durable stoves on the backpacking market."
--Steve Howe, Rocky Mountain Editor
Backpacker Magazine, April 2001, page 84
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