camping stoves - Trangia

[DavidJames]

To my surprise my wife suggested we try taking the bike away for the weekend camping (but only if it does not rain) so I am busy looking into what we need. We would like to take basic cooking equipment for making coffee and a simple one pot brekkie so I have been researching stove/cooking equipment. As this is a first attempt at camping, I do not want to spend lots of money on MSR etc, so have been looking at either camping gaz type stoves or the Trangia range has caught my eye. They do some good packages with just the right pots, pans and a kettle for what we want - but I have no idea how the stove works!! It seems as if it uses Meths - is this right? Are they easy and safe to use and are they effective enough for making a cuppa and a fry up? How do they compare with the gas cylinder based stoves?

Any other suggestions would be welcomed.

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

To my surprise my wife suggested we try taking the bike away for the weekend camping (but only if it does not rain) so I am busy looking into what we need. We would like to take basic cooking equipment for making coffee and a simple one pot brekkie so I have been researching stove/cooking equipment. As this is a first attempt at camping, I do not want to spend lots of money on MSR etc, so have been looking at either camping gaz type stoves or the Trangia range has caught my eye. They do some good packages with just the right pots, pans and a kettle for what we want - but I have no idea how the stove works!! It seems as if it uses Meths - is this right? Are they easy and safe to use and are they effective enough for making a cuppa and a fry up? How do they compare with the gas cylinder based stoves?

Any other suggestions would be welcomed.

I've had mine for years now and love it. There is better kit out there but for what it costs and it's size not much comes close.

Top tip; put a couple of cap fulls of water in your bottle of meths to stop soot on the pans

Andres

 

[wully]

Jetboil

The Trangia works ok but compared to the Jetboil it's a faff to use- especially if all you want is a brew.

Then again the Trangia hasn't really got any bits to go wrong and you'll wear out before it does....

Jetboil takes up a lot less space.

 

[Kate]

To my surprise my wife suggested we try taking the bike away for the weekend camping (but only if it does not rain) so I am busy looking into what we need. We would like to take basic cooking equipment for making coffee and a simple one pot brekkie so I have been researching stove/cooking equipment. As this is a first attempt at camping, I do not want to spend lots of money on MSR etc, so have been looking at either camping gaz type stoves or the Trangia range has caught my eye. They do some good packages with just the right pots, pans and a kettle for what we want - but I have no idea how the stove works!! It seems as if it uses Meths - is this right? Are they easy and safe to use and are they effective enough for making a cuppa and a fry up? How do they compare with the gas cylinder based stoves?

Any other suggestions would be welcomed.

Trangia do use meths but you can also now get a green gel which is suppose to be much safer. we used a trangia before with no problems they do go through quiet a bit of meths though, just check where your going to use a trangia as not all countrys have meths as we found and was caught out.

We used a small camping gaz stove and they have also being fine just same again check you can get the gas in the country your traveling to if your going abroad.

We haven't had a problem with these other than when been abroad geting fuel. We now have a MSR and haven't looked back

 

[Big Lee]

Here you go, £20 and you can`t go wrong http://www.fieldandtrek.com/sfile/1...product-Primus-Mimer-Stove-Pan-Set-798057.htm

 

[DavidJames]

We we will be staying in the UK for our first trip, so gas or meths availability should not be an issue. Are the Trangia's OK for cooking a quick fry up?

 

[Kate]

We we will be staying in the UK for our first trip, so gas or meths availability should not be an issue. Are the Trangia's OK for cooking a quick fry up?

Not a problem for cooking a frying up on

 

[sss]

I have the trangia with multi fuel burner, which works quite well.

currently using jet a1 as i did not have any other fuel to hand.

 

[Big Lee]

Here`s how one works! http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-use-a-trangia-camping-stove

 

[JoeC]

As Outtomunch said about watering down meths but no more then 10% water otherwise you will have problems lighting the fuel

Don't forget your 15% Cotswold discount

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=149003

If you can't get to the link then it is probably 'cos you are not a fully paid up Tosser.

 

[DavidJames]

Thanks for all the replys everyone!!!

The trangia does look really good, but my only concern is the safety of have liquid fuel - this would not bother me too much but I think it might bother my wife. I will take here to look at them and get her input.

The group discount at Cotswolds is great as they have a store local to me - but their prices do seem a little higher to begin with.

Anyway thanks again - I am really looking forward to this

 

[stonetown]

The trangia does look really good, but my only concern is the safety of have liquid fuel - this would not bother me too much but I think it might bother my wife. I will take here to look at them and get her input.

Watch you don't kick a Trangia over, had someone do this on an exped once, we were in the middle of South Africa with help hours away. Luckily the stove was outside the tent and set the very dry grass ablaze. If the tent goes it goes fast and you could be in trouble. For inexperienced stove users I would go with gas or bottled liquid fuel stove.

 

[Slowdown]

For inexperienced stove users I would go with gas or bottled liquid fuel stove.

Gotta disagree - Meths has to be one of the best fuels there is - if you spill it you can just throw water on the burning fuel and it'll go out. It's just alcohol, after all.....

 

[stonetown]

Gotta disagree - Meths has to be one of the best fuels there is - if you spill it you can just throw water on the burning fuel and it'll go out. It's just alcohol, after all.....

Assuming you have water on hand? And enough of it and you've just performed an emergency exit from your tent whether its burning or not !!

A Trangia is a good stove and I've used one for years, it's lightweight and robust for backpacking, for car and mbike camping I would say there are better alternatives

 

[chapsworth]

Had my Trangia since '79, admittedly haven't used it much in recent years. It works well, easy to use and all packs away nicely. It is very stable and good in windy conditions. Meths is fine as a fuel, can't flambe a steak with a gas bottle.

Simon

 

[Nate]

but if your packing up, don't screw the lid back on the burner while its warm... it ain't easy to get back off

 

[paul nicholls]

trangia

and if your the one doing the washing up get the non stick frying pan!!!

 

[jonnywave]

sweedish army trangia

there are a few sweedish army trangias floating a round that are definatly worth a look at they are small and compact, but are built to last . they are better bult and are selling for about £8 yes £8 . i have two they both take up the same space as one standard trangia. Two stoves for the price and space of one , dam good for brewing up and making the tea in one sitting.

this is the kit,

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI....759605&tGUID=24dfbcfd11a0a0b5d1734b23fff01eb1

 

[Backmarker]

I bought a trangia with a mate when I was 14 for DofE walking/camping expeditions. Still have it (nearly 30yrs later). Also have a wonderful Optimus Nova multi fuel (but mainly petrol) stove, which I bought about 7 years ago. If I was going away tomorrow on the bike to Norway or Morocco for a month, I would strip the Nova, replace the seals, and do some serious pre trip testing. And then I would use it with extreme caution. If I were going away on Wednesday (I am) in a car, with the wife and kids, and just camping for 3 days so we can visit a safari park, I would take the Trangia (which I am). With two kids, one 4 one 18 months, I feel far safer with the Trangia than with a petrol stove that is (by design) working on pressurised fuel.
The Trangia is also far harder to kick over than any multi fuel stove I have seen, and if it was kicked over, I cannot see how the fuel would spill over much beyond the Trangia itself (and as the pan contents would be knocked over as well, these would almost certainly smother the meths.

Disadvantages are limited controlability of heat (tends to be on or off), doesnt work well (IMHO) in extreme cold or at altitude, and doesnt have the ultimate power of a petrol stove (so takes a bit longer to boil a kettle).

I also have a single gas burner (bought for emergency use) but I rarely use it. Compared to a Trangia it has much better flame control, similar ultimate power , but much less stability, much worse wind protection for the flame, and again, is fuel under pressure.

 

[stonetown]

If I was buying new today I would go for something like the Primus Eta Power gas stove http://actionoutdoors.co.uk/shop/primus-eta-power-stove-ef-p-398.html?currency=GBP&language=en this is where the gas vs trangia debate could start.

Its cleaner than a trangia (no meths getting onto things when the burner hasn't been screwed on properly , no smell, no sooty marks).
The flame is controllable, unlike a trangia.
It has an piezo igniter integrated, the trangia is a faff to light and you cannot see the flame, plus you need to carry/find matches or a lighter.
It looks to be as stable as a trangia, but if it should go over there will be less consequences.
It looks about the same cooking capacity as a trangia.
Its easier to extinguish, the trangia has to be extinguished with the burner cap which is a faff (like lighting it), then you have to let the burner cool down before touching it.
It comes with the usual pans and a bag and probably takes up the same amount of weight/space as a trangia.

Its major downside is cost with 15% discount at Cotswold it would be £68 which is more expensive than a trangia (and possibly the cost of gas is more), but as many have testified, a good stove will last for tens of years and once attached to one, it is a lifelong relationship.

In fact I've just persuaded myself into buying one for my next trip Look around the net there are demos on youtube and reviews etc. I've just noticed they do a multi-fuel version also http://www.primus.se/