Optimus introduces the Polaris Optifuel stove

The Optimus Polaris Optifuel stove, introduced in 2015, was designed to work with gas, kerosene, gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel, making fuel easier to find on trips around the world.

Its range of fuel options allowed use across seasons and weather conditions. The supplied windscreen sheltered the flame in exposed places. Short, integrated support legs gave the stove a low center of gravity and stable footing, reducing the chance of a pot tipping the burner over.

The Polaris used a Flipstop pump, described in the launch material as clearing fuel from the burner and helping empty the fuel container without waste. The pump’s threaded connection matched the gas-canister connection, making it possible to switch between gas and liquid fuel without loose adapters to misplace.

When running on gas, the canister could also be inverted for cold-weather operation, when a conventional upright gas setup was less reliable.

Like the related Nova stove, the Polaris had a magnetic cleaning needle that could clear debris from the burner jet during use.

The stove was intended for use with an Optimus liquid-fuel bottle in a 0.4, 0.6 or 1-liter size. These bottles were designed to store and pressurize liquid fuel. Their hardened construction and epoxy-coated interiors also made the bottles suitable for storing alcohol fuels; this was a bottle specification, not a statement that the stove could burn alcohol. The cap was child-resistant.

Stove specifications

• Output: 4,200 W with liquid fuel; 3,300 W with gas.
• Weight: 475 g including pump.
• Packed dimensions: 140 × 80 × 65 mm.
• Boil time for 1 liter: Approximately 3.4 minutes with liquid fuel or 4 minutes with gas.
• Fuels: Gas, gasoline, white gas, kerosene, diesel and aviation kerosene.

Bottle specifications in the original announcement

Supplied equipment

• Burner with a gas/liquid-fuel connection.
• Flipstop pump.
• Lubricant.
• Spare parts.
• Windscreen.
• Carrying bag.
• Instructions.