Free: Contests & Raffles.
...White gas (actually Coleman Stove Fuel, which is naptha, or generic "camp stove fuel" from other labels, which is basically the same, and this is NOT unleaded auto gas) -cheaper, no cold weather problems, no questions of disposing or recycling the containers, no problems packing out the exhausted containers, you can fill the fuel bottles with just the amount needed, no worry over whether the fuel can is too close to empty so an extra full can is needed, higher heat output ...but - special procedure (specifically priming) needed to light, vast majority of people overprime (indicated by priming flame more than 3 or 4 inches above the burner, also carbons up the fuel feed lines rapidly), requires pumping occasionally to keep pressure up (except a few heat-pressurized stoves which are rare these days), stoves need frequent cleaning, fuel stinks up everything when leaking in pack plus contaminates food the spilled fuel comes in contact with (kerosene is worse than white gas), if spilled fuel is ignited by accident fire is just made worse by putting water on it, stove+pump+fuel bottle is generally heavier than compressed gas stoves ...Compressed gas (usually refers to canisters with butane and/or isobutane with a small amount of propane) -easy to light (either just a match or the included piezo lighter), extremely light (as little as 2 ounces plus the canister of fuel, which means less than most white gas stoves including the pump), very compact (whole stove plus a small canister will fit inside a small cookpot), clean burning (no cleaning unless you spill the soup), no fuel spills (leaks just evaporate and blow away - a hazard for ignition if you violate guidelines and cook in your tent, of course, but same applies to liquid fuels), no lingering odors ...BUT - hard to tell how much fuel is left in the container (you always have to have an extra full canister with you, even on a short weekend trip, unless you like eating dry noodles - with white gas, you just pour the needed amount into the fuel bottle before starting the trip), more expensive per unit heat output (especially in the smallest canisters, which can be up to 10x as much as white gas for equivalent heating), you must carry empty canisters out, you cannot just toss the empty in the regular trash (explosion hazard) but few communities have a recycling program (you can punch a hole in the canister and vent it for several days, then crush it for smaller volume to pack out), serious cold-weather problems (the canisters lose pressure, with many butane canisters losing all pressure below freezing temperatures - there are ways around this, which have been discussed several times in Trailspace, but they are somewhat complex and require extra effort) ...
I'm blown away at how many people haven't had issues with their jet boils. Maybe Im a bit more rough on my stoves
I would second HighHuntin above. That little unit for a few bucks and a small bottle of gas is all ive been running for everything from day hunts to several days out for a few years. never had an issue and self strikes, never had issue with striker. Buy a GSI soloist cup and the whole thing nests together, at least half the size of jet boil or styker and a fraction of cost. I carry an extra collapsable cup as well if im going to be doing coffee and soup.
