Peak 1 Feather 400 Review

"I know that this stove is probably heavier than some, but it has
always been very reliable. Also, pots are very stable on the stove
and it is very stable when being pumped. One thing to be sure of is
keeping the pump well oiled."

"Good stove at a decent price. Burns very hot, yet can be reduced to a simmer, which is really nice when cookinf rice or noodles, etc, or when you want to keep the water warm for a while. Easy to operate. On the down side, it's a bit heavy, kinda bulky, and if you have a problem, not very field repair friendly. I've only had one problem, caused by contaminated fuel, but it stopped me cold until I got back home. Luckily, we had another stove in the group during that trip. Overall, I enjoy using the stove, and would recommend it."

"This is a great white gas stove. Peak 1 sells a visually identical model that is multi-fuel if you so desire. I have not tested this stove in extreme cold, so I cannot say for certain how it performs. Most info I’ve seen about its cold weather performance seems to indicate that priming paste is needed in extreme cold. This stove can burn very hot, whether its btu ratings indicate that or not. I hardly ever use it on full flame and generally find that simmering is best if you don't pump the stove up quite as much. Simmering is quite easy and allows real cooking to be performed. I was pleasantly surprised that the stove is more stable than it looks and supports pots very well. If you happen to have pots with ridges on the bottom (i.e. MSR Blacklite), they will be nearly immovable on this stove. Also, the stove is not loud at all and is easy to pump even while cooking.

Maintenance on the Feather 400 involves keeping the pump oiled. Stove failure may require replacing the whole generator mechanism (sold in the parts kit), but this doesn’t involve a bunch of small parts. I’d suggest buying the Peak 1 stove stuff sack as it is foam-lined and fits the stove nicely."

"After 3 years the tube cracked and is non-repairable."

"I have had my coleman Peak 1 since 1988 and have had to replace the generator supply tube only once, but I always carry a spare one just in case. I have found that you have to keep the rubber plunger that pressurizes the fuel lubricated or else it will not pump up... has anyone else experienced this..."

"The pump does seem to need TLC. In a number of camping trips in the western US, where the dust is everywhere anbd the humidity generally low, this was a problem. Lubrication from lip salve or neosporin gel, or whatever we could concoct that would not be too "wet" but still manage to seal for pressure purposes was crucial. Watch that closely and be prepared -- you're stuck without something because your pressure is key for starting these stoves."

"I've had my Feather 400 since 1987 and it is rock solid. I oil the pump once or twice per year and have not had to replace anything. I use it on about 6 trips per year in Colorado's Sange de Cristo mountains usually around tree line, and also a couple of trips in early winter. I have used fire paste in cold weather, but I carry that anyway as a survival item. Sure, it's old WWII technology, but my friends have had "other" stoves come and go in the 20 years I've had it so I'm am very happy with it. I've got a propane/butane lantern and I never know how much fuel I have left so I always carry a spare. So, weight-wise I don't think that it can be much heavier than the equivalent propane/butane stove and two fuel cans. It might not be as efficient as other types of stoves."