Kit you wouldn't recommend

[Paul_B]

Ventile jackets? Oooh, controversial there Rik. I'd be wasting £300 sovs if I went to Westwinds then.

Ventile I'm not too keen on but Ti pots! Are you mad?!! THE best material for UL camping style IMHO. Boile water then rehydrate food, perfect. What you gonna use instead? SS = heavy, Al = heavier or so thin to make it lighter that it dents easily and it sucks heat out of your food quicker to and you can't drink anythinghot out of your Al pot like you can with Ti. Too hot to handle straight from the heat source too.

Hey! All this shows opinion is divided on most items. Anyone made a note of something that has been posted on this thread that noone has disagreed with? Since I started to read this thread I haven't spotted anything that is universally disliked.

3 bushcrafters and 6 decisions. Think that is right.

 

[Husky]

Is there perhaps some confusion about which "Trangia" is being refered to?
I think the methsburner is as good as it gets. The "normal" trangia windshield is superb if you accept the bulk and weight of the thing. The "Mini trangia" is for heating milk for infants in a powerout and not for outdoors use. On my latest winter trip http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=70537 I was forced to use one as a backup and it only worked if I put the tent up as a windshield but then I could get a liter of hot water in less than an hour.

 

[Paul_B]

Nope not me Husky, I was using either the 27 or the 25 civvie one and couldn't get a boil despite the meths burning out completely 4 times. Just not enough power in the fuel for its position and probably not helped by heating up the bloody big windshield and not the pot with the 600ml of water in it. It was cold but the meths was warmed by my body heat although by the end I had very little of the body heat left hence bugging out to the pub. The beer and spirits I had there were solely medicinal to warm up and help me forget hunger. The countless packs of crisps helped too of course (food was stopped serving by then).

Of course others get a good burn out of it so it is likely to be the user not getting on with it. Like most stoves and fuels you have to get to know how to get the most out of them. Even simple can top burners can be used more efficiently if you know to turn the burner down rather than have it at full burn to boil as quick as poss. Slower is often better with gas burners IME. I find the trangias could be good IF I could be bothered getting the best out of it but the caldera cone/clone is so better for using meths efficiently. Trangia lovers do seem to be stuck in the past with them IMHO and could do with looking around at other options.

Like others and myself have said its all opinion so "arguing" about other's opinions is pointless (not arguing but couldn't think of another way of saying it better - questioning that's it).

 

[Doc]

I managed to make something out of mine by adding some extra closures with paracord and velcro but still pretty much don't use it. Talking about packs how come people are so anti-highlander? I find the forces range of packs to be brilliant, so much so I have 3 in different sizes and for the money they can't be beaten.

Spot on.

Highlander kit is budget kit, but their Forces packs are indeed excellent. I have one giving good service after 7 years of regular use. The Highlander thermarest copies are also pretty good.

 

[John Fenna]

Nope not me Husky, I was using either the 27 or the 25 civvie one and couldn't get a boil despite the meths burning out completely 4 times. Just not enough power in the fuel for its position and probably not helped by heating up the bloody big windshield and not the pot with the 600ml of water in it. It was cold but the meths was warmed by my body heat although by the end I had very little of the body heat left hence bugging out to the pub. The beer and spirits I had there were solely medicinal to warm up and help me forget hunger. The countless packs of crisps helped too of course (food was stopped serving by then).

Of course others get a good burn out of it so it is likely to be the user not getting on with it. Like most stoves and fuels you have to get to know how to get the most out of them. Even simple can top burners can be used more efficiently if you know to turn the burner down rather than have it at full burn to boil as quick as poss. Slower is often better with gas burners IME. I find the trangias could be good IF I could be bothered getting the best out of it but the caldera cone/clone is so better for using meths efficiently. Trangia lovers do seem to be stuck in the past with them IMHO and could do with looking around at other options.

Like others and myself have said its all opinion so "arguing" about other's opinions is pointless (not arguing but couldn't think of another way of saying it better - questioning that's it).

Debating?

 

[calibanzwei]

Another thumbs up for Highlander here - Forces 55 - can't fault it for the price.

 

[Hoodoo]

Nope not me Husky, I was using either the 27 or the 25 civvie one and couldn't get a boil despite the meths burning out completely 4 times. Just not enough power in the fuel for its position and probably not helped by heating up the bloody big windshield and not the pot with the 600ml of water in it. It was cold but the meths was warmed by my body heat although by the end I had very little of the body heat left hence bugging out to the pub. The beer and spirits I had there were solely medicinal to warm up and help me forget hunger. The countless packs of crisps helped too of course (food was stopped serving by then).

Of course others get a good burn out of it so it is likely to be the user not getting on with it. Like most stoves and fuels you have to get to know how to get the most out of them. Even simple can top burners can be used more efficiently if you know to turn the burner down rather than have it at full burn to boil as quick as poss. Slower is often better with gas burners IME. I find the trangias could be good IF I could be bothered getting the best out of it but the caldera cone/clone is so better for using meths efficiently. Trangia lovers do seem to be stuck in the past with them IMHO and could do with looking around at other options.

Like others and myself have said its all opinion so "arguing" about other's opinions is pointless (not arguing but couldn't think of another way of saying it better - questioning that's it).

It sounds to me like you were not using a proper windscreen. I find alcohol stoves to be absolute blowtorches compared to Esbit fuel and with the right windsceen, I've never had a problem getting water to boil with Esbit. The screen should give you a 1/4" clearance or so, go most of the way up the pot, and be properly ventilated at the base.

 

[Rabbitsmacker]

maglite LED conversion made by nite ize. utter rubbish, suffered from shorting out, and was over all bad. have kept the led part, after a tweak of the bulbs to stop them shorting the circuit and making it smoke. then put it back to a twist to turn it on type, removed the button base and went back to the original. the hybrid works well. wouldn't bother again tho.

hi-tec kruger walking boots, look good, very comfy, wet feet tho!

 

[Mikey P]

Because they work, 100% reliable (so long as you have fuel), fantastic windshield and overall design, used by thousands of Scandinavians often in camping/weather conditions few of us will encounter, certainly on a regular basis. I'm talking about real Trangia's now, not the Army PITA/POS Put a Nova burner in one and ...WOW, just about the best stove combo you can imagine.

Ooo! Can't let this one go!

They make your kit stink of meths as the bottles invariably leak.
They are far more dangerous if you knock them over or spill fuel.
They have poor burner control which makes it more difficult to cook.
On this occasion, I firmly believe that thousands of Scandinavians are actually wrong!

 

[rik_uk3]

Nope not me Husky, I was using either the 27 or the 25 civvie one and couldn't get a boil despite the meths burning out completely 4 times. Just not enough power in the fuel for its position and probably not helped by heating up the bloody big windshield and not the pot with the 600ml of water in it. It was cold but the meths was warmed by my body heat although by the end I had very little of the body heat left hence bugging out to the pub. The beer and spirits I had there were solely medicinal to warm up and help me forget hunger. The countless packs of crisps helped too of course (food was stopped serving by then).

Of course others get a good burn out of it so it is likely to be the user not getting on with it. Like most stoves and fuels you have to get to know how to get the most out of them. Even simple can top burners can be used more efficiently if you know to turn the burner down rather than have it at full burn to boil as quick as poss. Slower is often better with gas burners IME. I find the trangias could be good IF I could be bothered getting the best out of it but the caldera cone/clone is so better for using meths efficiently. Trangia lovers do seem to be stuck in the past with them IMHO and could do with looking around at other options.

Like others and myself have said its all opinion so "arguing" about other's opinions is pointless (not arguing but couldn't think of another way of saying it better - questioning that's it).

How could it not boil a kettle? Sorry, either the holes in the burner were blocked or you were burning something other than or weak alcohol,,,they just work, its all they do. As thousands of folk use them down to sub zero temperatures you were doing something fundamentally wrong, what I don't know but you were at fault and not the Trangia. Stuck in the past? LOL you really don't me at all do you lol

Not the best video but it did melt snow and boil it that day (they both did)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gj5cc8xBB04

You'd be better off with this perhaps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQHyl1RHVWE

What would I take on a solo trip, Nova?, Omnifuel?, MSR XGK, Booster, Whisperlite,? I have (or have had) them all so which? A Trangia because they work all the time.; I stick a Nova in for the winter though if I had to melt many litres of water a day

 

[resnikov]

Ooo! Can't let this one go!

They make your kit stink of meths as the bottles invariably leak.
They are far more dangerous if you knock them over or spill fuel.
They have poor burner control which makes it more difficult to cook.
On this occasion, I firmly believe that thousands of Scandinavians are actually wrong!

I've had the same trangia since I was 16, now 33 and it has never leaked! Kits never stinked of meths. Think this is turning in to a PC / Mac debate. No one will win, no one will back down.


Sporks - Kind of. In my rucksac they are rubbish. In my lunch box for work they are brill.

 

[Nohoval_Turrets]

Another vote for Trangia here. I've used various other meths burners - Brasslite, Vargo, various drinks can versions, but I always come back to the Trangia:

- Indestructible, but still not that heavy (I'm talking about the burner here)
- Stable with the right setup - I use a Clikstand, but the big Trangias are good too, the Mini is indeed just pants
- You can store it with the leftover meths, I've never had one leak. You don't have to know exactly how much you're going to use.

I don't know what people are doing wrong that they're not getting a boil, I use it all the time, and this year I've even used it sub-zero. No bother.

Anyhow, this Trangia thing is turning into a bar-room brawl, maybe we need a separate thread so we can engage in Trangia-related fisticuffs in comfort?

 

[mountainm]

Another vote for Trangia here. I've used various other meths burners - Brasslite, Vargo, various drinks can versions, but I always come back to the Trangia:

- Indestructible, but still not that heavy (I'm talking about the burner here)
- Stable with the right setup - I use a Clikstand, but the big Trangias are good too, the Mini is indeed just pants
- You can store it with the leftover meths, I've never had one leak. You don't have to know exactly how much you're going to use.

I don't know what people are doing wrong that they're not getting a boil, I use it all the time, and this year I've even used it sub-zero. No bother.

Anyhow, this Trangia thing is turning into a bar-room brawl, maybe we need a separate thread so we can engage in Trangia-related fisticuffs in comfort?

My Stainless Steel Tatonka is waaay better than your Trianga!

 

[sapper1]

My Stainless Steel Tatonka is waaay better than your Trianga!

And my evernew set is better than your SS tatonka.

 

[mountainm]

And my evernew set is better than your SS tatonka.

Aye, 3 times better if I recall the price

 

[rik_uk3]

My Stainless Steel Tatonka is waaay better than your Trianga!

Actually no its not, does not get to full bloom as fast, nice idea but I tried mine and sold it; well made though like all the Tatonka kit.

"They make your kit stink of meths as the bottles invariably leak.
They are far more dangerous if you knock them over or spill fuel.
They have poor burner control which makes it more difficult to cook.
On this occasion, I firmly believe that thousands of Scandinavians are actually wrong!"

These don't leak
http://www.google.co.uk/products/ca...=X&ei=wLalTbqvPM-x8QOStqi5Dw&ved=0CCUQ8wIwAA#

Not in the habit of knocking stoves over but they are very stable. Get a Trapper (Optimus) if your worried, fuel is soaked into a wad and you can play football with it and not loose fuel

When you know how to use them, the simmer lid is very effective

We on mass are right, you chap are wrong

Yes I am a fan

 

[bilmo-p5]

Being another Trangia supporter I am curious as to what the Trangia's detractors consider to be a good all-round alternative.

 

[myotis]

Because they work, 100% reliable (so long as you have fuel), fantastic windshield and overall design, used by thousands of Scandinavians often in camping/weather conditions few of us will encounter, certainly on a regular basis. I'm talking about real Trangia's now, not the Army PITA/POS Put a Nova burner in one and ...WOW, just about the best stove combo you can imagine.

Back to the original question
'Commando' wire saws
Ventile jackets
Anything that has 'Tactical' in its description
Titanium pots

I have already nominated titanium pots, and agree with your comments on Trangias, indeed a little puzzled by the bad experiences people seem to having with Trangias, but I'm rather fond of ventile

Graham

 

[Paul_B]

Hoodoo its the Trangia kit, whole kit and nothing but the kit. Why would Trangia sell the wrong windshield with their nesting kit? Right windshield, right burner, right pots, wrong stove IMHO. For me at least.

 

[Paul_B]

Anyone heard of caldera cone? Its a highly fuel efficient burner/windshield comination that is optimised for the stove and pot used so that you get the most efficient use of meths. It is also anything from 34g to 50g depending on the pot used. IMHO it is a better option than a trangia.

AS for those annoying Trangia fuel bottles they seize up. You undo the pressure release then screw it off a little bit to pour or screw it right off to fill, right. Except mine doesn't screw off no matter how I release the pressure. It is jammed up so I can not fill it again. Not sure if the meths has done it or what but a waste of a £7or £12 it cost me. I guess I have not had any luck with trangia. Their kit just doesn't want to work for me. Plus I hate the weight of their stuff. The bulk too.. just think there are more modern and better kit out there nowadays. And Rik you might be modern and up to date with your other kit but if the Trangia is your go to piece of kit for cooking with then I think you are not up to date on that type of item. Of course you really are because you're a stovie aren't you? Don't know why you don't give a caldera cone a try.