re: Do we have any Appalachian Trail backpackers on the board?

I own both the MSR Miniworks and the Katadyne Hiker pro. I prefer the Hiker pro. Pumps water a lot faster, it is smaller, lighter, and less finicky on the trail. MSR being able to clean off the filter is nice in theory but I seemed to have to do that several times on a trip as the flow rate obviously slows down. Katadyne Hiker Pro just keeps rocking away.

I own a MSR white gas stove, a Snow Peak micro size gas stove, and I've made several stoves from Coke cans using a wind screen/pot holder I made from aluminum flashing. The coke can stove is the one I use the most. Smallest, lightest, you can get fuel in any store or gas station, and no half empty fuel cans you have to worry about. I would use pure grain alcohol which you can mix with a little gatoraid if you want a night cap while in camp. Cons. It takes 8-10 minutes to boil a pot of water instead of 4-5. So 4-5 extra minutes. I mean what else are you going to do while you are in camp you don't need to get your food done as quickly as possible Alcohol stoves also don't work as well when it's really cold. When it is at or below freezing you have to stuff your alcohol in your jacket to warm it up so it will vaporize to cook.