Tips for using Crusader Cooker /Mug

[Toadflax]

Just got myself a crusader mug and cooker unit (thanks to Halo for selling it to me) and tried it out last night to make a mug of coffee at the bottom of the garden. Seems quite a neat bit of kit - I like the way it stacks together - I'll take it out next time I go for a walk in the woods.

Took 20 minutes to boil half a mug of water (1 pint) using a single army issue hexy block. Oh, that smell of burning hexy blocks - I haven't smelled this for 25 years but it took me right back. Happy memories - more often that not, the smell of hexy meant food and rest.

So, as it seems a bit slow to boil, I was wondering how other people use them:

• How many blocks do you use - do you break the blocks up?
• Does the position of the rectangular vent hole matter (e.g. face this into the wind)?
• Can you burn anything else? E.g. it looks like the circular 'cup' in the cooker might be able to hold liquid fuel.

Thanks



Geoff

 

[JohnC]

Ive used meths in the "cup" and alcohol hand gel with success. Shielding the mug from the wind will help the boil time...

 

[Greg]

I use Ethanol Fuel Gel sachets with mine, one sachet takes about 8-10 mins to boil half a mug of water in ideal conditions.
http://www.outdoorcode.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=46_47&products_id=535

And the gel is bio de-gradeable so better environmentally speaking.

 

[gorilla]

i use 2- 2 1/2 blocks broken up to rolling boil a full crusader in about 6-7 mins. get one of those little folding aluminium windsheilds - you can wrap it right round the cup and stove, and it really improves the efficiency

 

[Dougster]

I vote for greenheat gel sachets too. Fantastic kit.

 

[gregorach]

Greenheat is OK, unless it's cold. In which case it's completely pants and will barely burn.

The most important tips in my opinion are:

1. Use a lid.
2. Use a windshield.

Both can be made from foil - preferably the sort of heavy duty foil you can salvage from pie dishes or instant barbeques.

Personally, I use a mini stove made from two Red Bull cans in mine, and wouldn't go back to greenheat. Although I do have a sachet or two for emergencies...

 

[Greg]

Greenheat is OK, unless it's cold. In which case it's completely pants and will barely burn.

The most important tips in my opinion are:

1. Use a lid.
2. Use a windshield.

Both can be made from foil - preferably the sort of heavy duty foil you can salvage from pie dishes or instant barbeques.

Personally, I use a mini stove made from two Red Bull cans in mine, and wouldn't go back to greenheat. Although I do have a sachet or two for emergencies...

So you use meths then, because I'm sure Red Bull doesn't burn!!!

 

[gregorach]

Yeah... Although I'm not sure it makes much difference to the taste.

 

[Greg]

!

 

[clcuckow]

Another vote for an enegy drink alcohol stove (my lastest is coke a cola blak) although I also use greenheat. If you are not familiar with these stoves this is what we are talking about.

(images pinched of the web as I cannot be bothered to get my camera out )

or a pressureised version using the bottom of a hinez tost topper and drinks can. Although the preheat can be a bit of a problem in the cooker.

 

[John Fenna]

I have found Greenheat a waste of time in any conditions in any cook system - though I find hexi foul to use as well!

 

[Toadflax]

Hexy definitely seems to smell more 'fishy' than I remember when in its packaging (I noticed someone else in another thread mentioned this) but, for myself, I quite like the smell of it when it is cooking. Takes me back to what my memory tells me were happy times.


Geoff

 

[buckley]

Hi there,

Buy one of these...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Crusader-Cup-...ryZ16036QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Only one £1.75 and dramatically reduces boiling time.

Also I made a pepsi can stove out of a can of redbull which fits perfectly and again increases the boiling time. I can boil 1/2 a pint in around 7mins. You can also use a clickstand shield.

Good kit!

You can also buy the 58 pattern canvas holder which keeps all the kit together, I got one of ebay for £3.50.

Great to stick in your daysack! For long trips I prefer a trangia and a clickstand set up and a 12cm billy.

 

[Toadflax]

Thanks, Buckley, I've ordered one. Looks a good idea and at that price, you can't really lose.

[Edit]I think that with the lid and only boiling half a pint of water (a pint of coffee just before bedtime was a bit to much!) it should bring the boiling time down quite a lot.


Geoff

 

[Zammo]

I've just ordered one too, thanks for the link.

 

[buckley]

No worries guys

Also if you really can't stand meths, I got hold of same lab grade denatured alcohol it burns perfectly and doesn't have that meths smell! Its also a hell of a lot cheaper. Especially if your buy it in bulk.

Take it easy.

 

[buckley]

Thanks, Buckley, I've ordered one. Looks a good idea and at that price, you can't really lose.

[Edit]I think that with the lid and only boiling half a pint of water (a pint of coffee just before bedtime was a bit to much!) it should bring the boiling time down quite a lot.


Geoff

Ha ha! Yeah I made that mistake at first the cups certainly hold a lot, a pint of tea is a bit too much for me. It is great for a couple of tins of whatever though. The lids are really good quality and I recieved mine in 48hours.

Oh, here is a link to the pouch for your kit. It fits the crusader, lid and mug and the tiny pepsi stove, bit of a squeeze though

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CLASSIC-MILIT...ryZ16036QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

 

[gregorach]

You're better off with the newer PLCE pouch than the old '58 pattern pouch, IMHO... It doesn't shrink when it gets wet.

The great thing about the capacity of the mug is that it's big enough to rehydrate a ration pouch and make a brew off one boil.

 

[Chainsaw]

I use the green gel stuff too, never liked the hexy, too big, too smelly (just like me really!) never seems to get it really boiling though, really hot but never furiously boiling, I need to try it with a lid too I suppose. Another good thing about the gel is that you can use it as a fire lighter if needs be by splodging it over some wood. I face the hole away from the wind, it doesn't need much help in burning.

For a pouch I got a black PLCE waterbottle pouch from a local(ish) shop, Leith Army Supplies. It all fits together nicely, cooker, cup plastic cup and bottle, some fuel and now my homemade hanger goes in the wee separate pocket inside. How would the lid fit inside this, just squished down the side??

Cheers,

Alan

 

[gregorach]

Well, I use a lightweight foil lid that folds in half...