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Optimus has a long history of making stoves.  They have been used by military forces and expeditions in the most adverse conditions and remain a top choice in liquid fueled portable stoves.  

This is the Hiker III stove.  It is a larger stove most suitable to expedition base camps or when the extra size and weight is not a restriction and is more suitable when cooking for more than one.

This is a brand new modern version of a stove that has been in use for decades.  They also make a smaller version and several other classic and modern versions of camp stoves.  

For more info on this and other stoves visit  Optimus stoves 

The stove set up ready for use.

Ready for use

Folded for storage

Click an image to see a larger view

I wanted a stove capable of burning Alcohol. The dog mushers use alcohol for their 'dog cookers', (no, not to cook dogs, rather to melt snow and cook dog food in).  For years it has been the one fuel that musher have trusted in the worst conditions, and it hasn't failed.   It lights easy in sub zero temperatures, burns hot and fairly clean.   Since I will be hauling alcohol for the Serum Run in support of a dog team, I would rather haul a single fuel source for all stoves than to carry a special fuel for a camp stove.  I will just carry extra bottles of HEAT (the automotive fuel additive type, which is alcohol and what mushers use).   Besides alcohol evaporates quickly and cleanly if spilled, and no fuel odors. 

I also wanted a stove with minimal parts and/or assembly.  Something I could quickly get up and running even with cold fingers in a storm.  I wanted to be able to quickly be able to lash it to the sled and not have to worry about something getting lost or broken bouncing down the trail.  Nothing like being cold and hungry only to find that a stove part has been lost or damaged on the trail, or that the stove is a pain to put together and deal with in the cold.  

The stove survived the shake down run without a hitch!  I loaded it in a Rubber Maid Action Packer and threw it in the cargo sled for a 40 mile bounce down the trails.  At the end of the day I pulled it out, opened it up, pumped it, primed it and poof, it was up and running.  In the morning I again fired it up without a problem and made breakfast.  

So far the stove has been taking a pretty good beating on the trail and proved to be compact and rugged.  

I ran the stove on  Alcohol in the form of automotive 'Heat' fuel additive, and it worked fine.  (The fuel tank will hold 1 full bottle of Heat.)   It burned clean and without a noticeable odor.   It's worth noting that the self contained case creates a very stable base for the stove and acts as it's own spill pan when priming, making it relatively safe for tent use.   Do note that the shaft of the fuel key does get hot when the stove is running and the key is on the valve stem.  So don't pull the key out and grab the metal shaft if it's been attached to a hot stove.