So, where can you get a cheap deal on a stove? Well, eBay of course. Some of the stoves on eBay are unbelievably cheap -- pretty much too good to be true. But are you really going to risk your trip on a cheap, no-name stove? I wouldn't.

But maybe there's a better way. What if there were a good but relatively unknown brand available, a brand that would afford you some Cheap Deals on Good Stoves?

Please join me in today's post as we examine just such a brand.

HJ

Following up Jim's story, please do not post ads you see for stoves here. No ads for stoves (or anything else) anyone thinks are good deals should be posted in the forums except in the Buy/Sell forum. Pointing out eBay listings that are your personal gear or posted by someone else is okay, but any such post should be in the Buy/Sell forum.

Hi, Tom,

I wasn't pointing to any specific ads but rather saying Kovea might be a good buy and that eBay was where it could be found since they don't sell direct.

In other words, I was suggesting a general approach and not linking to any specific ad(s). Does that run afoul of the rules?

If so, no problem and I can (or you can) delete the post.

HJ

Thanks! I might buy a Kovea Fire Fly. It looks a lot nicer than the Coleman F1, weighs less, has a reflector and hang-cord, and I found it for under $40.

I found a seller (Ebay) located in Riverside, CA.

Sorry Jim, that was not aimed at you. I should have explained it better. Another member posted an eBay ad right after your post and I didn't want the thread to become just a list of stoves people saw for sale. I'm moving that post to the Buy/Sell forum.

PDA, if you are wondering where your post went, it's in the Buy/Sell forum now. BTW, that stove in the ad looks like a knock off of an Optimus Nova. I have a real one I bought off eBay a few years ago.

Cool. Hope the post was useful.

Let us know if you get it how it works out.

HJ

OK, thanks.

HJ

Apologies for posting incorrectly. Agree that the stove in question looks like a copy.

No worries. When I got my Nova a few years ago on eBay, it was brand new in the box. I think I paid around $80 and retail was somewhere around $120. I've seen some poorly made stuff come out of China and a stove that might leak or worse is not a risk I would be willing to take when name brand gear, often almost new, comes up for sale fairly regularly.

Those Kovea stoves looks pretty cool. Looks like I need to look into them, especially with their price tag.

My feelings exactly.

And why would you when there are plenty of good stoves from reputable brands that are available at reasonable prices -- if you're willing to do a bit of leg work. You can go the used route and get something that's only been used a few times often at a substantial discount over new OR you can go with a lesser known but still good brand (e.g. Kovea).

HJ

Patience. I picked up a new Dragonfly cheap with a broken pump, then another came up used once with a good pump, same price. I thought I was patient enough, considering it is my second Dragonfly. Love them. I can set one up for gas with my Dragon Tamer cap and one for kero in roarer mode now.
Duane

Jim makes an excellent point-do your homework and don't be enticed to buy something just because it is cheap.

One way to check out a stove is to see if it is sold by one of the major outdoor retailers, like REI or Backcountrygear.com. If a major retailer carries a stove, you can be pretty sure it is well made and safe. REI for one, takes back anything defective and consumer protection laws encourage retailers to only carry gear that will be safe to use.

Not everything made in China is suspect, of course. I'm sure we all have plenty of Chinese made goods at home-everything from inexpensive clothes to running shoes, to electronics like the iPhone to tents and other outdoor gear that are just fine, but brand names offer something that knock-offs do not-accountability for poor quality.