Trangia or Primus stove?
Discussion
Hi, does anyone have any experience of the above? I'm looking at getting a stove for multi day hiking/general camping use. I like to get the best I possibly can (I'm of the persuasion that the more expensive kit generally lasts longer). Any opinions on the above? Or are there other stoves I should be considering? Weight, packed size and ease of use are the main factors for me.
I have both amongst my collection.
The Primus is the Gravity SE, and it's amazing. I really like having the option of fuels, particularly in winter. The wind shield is effective, variable burner is pretty good - primus pans were crap though, Optimus are much better.
The trangia is great in that it's so simple, I have six of the things for my scout troop because they do what they say on the tin, but can be bulky when solo as the solo set isn't great.
Not so great in winter either, so I have the gas burner attachment for mine.
At work, I have a jet boil, a Kelly kettle and use the primus gravity with gas canisters alot too.
Check out the MSR range, I have a whisperlite, a dragonfly and a pocket rocket too...
(I like gear and spent my Uni years working in a gear shop...)
The Primus is the Gravity SE, and it's amazing. I really like having the option of fuels, particularly in winter. The wind shield is effective, variable burner is pretty good - primus pans were crap though, Optimus are much better.
The trangia is great in that it's so simple, I have six of the things for my scout troop because they do what they say on the tin, but can be bulky when solo as the solo set isn't great.
Not so great in winter either, so I have the gas burner attachment for mine.
At work, I have a jet boil, a Kelly kettle and use the primus gravity with gas canisters alot too.
Check out the MSR range, I have a whisperlite, a dragonfly and a pocket rocket too...
(I like gear and spent my Uni years working in a gear shop...)
ben_h100 said:
Cool the primus sounds the best then. Are MSR & Primus different brands of essentially the same thing?
Pretty much. MSR are usually more pricey. I'm not sure who the uk distributer is now, but their aftercare was shocking. Where as Primus told me exactly what size o ring I needed for the pump seal (via email, after a general enquiry) and where I could find one in Sydney, which blew every other brand out the water for ages!
Depends what you want to use it for, like Geordieracer, I have a variety in my collection:
- I'm a DofE supervisor/assessor and all the kids use trangias because they are so simple, although they are a bit heavy, and can take a fair while to actually heat anything;
- I use various MSR products most of the time, again depending on use - whisperlight for 'normal' backpacking, and pocket rocket for mountain marathons;
- Primus multifuel for when I'm not sure what the availability of fuel will be;
- Firebox when fishing - because it just tastes better;
- Caravan for family holidays.
Get one of each - you can never have too much kit!
- I'm a DofE supervisor/assessor and all the kids use trangias because they are so simple, although they are a bit heavy, and can take a fair while to actually heat anything;
- I use various MSR products most of the time, again depending on use - whisperlight for 'normal' backpacking, and pocket rocket for mountain marathons;
- Primus multifuel for when I'm not sure what the availability of fuel will be;
- Firebox when fishing - because it just tastes better;
- Caravan for family holidays.
Get one of each - you can never have too much kit!
I have a Trangia which I first converted to gas then replaced all the pans for non-stick versions. It makes a hell of a difference to what you can actually cook with them because you have more control over the heat and can wash them clean within seconds rather than never.
I also have a Jetboil Helios which is pretty awesome however I bought that before I converted the Trangia and it's now rather redundant. It might get more use if it too came with a kettle but the Trangia is so complete I simply don't need the Helios any more.
This is what you do with your left over "normal" Trangia pans and meths burner (well, my "then" 6yo boy made it, with my help):
I also have a Jetboil Helios which is pretty awesome however I bought that before I converted the Trangia and it's now rather redundant. It might get more use if it too came with a kettle but the Trangia is so complete I simply don't need the Helios any more.
This is what you do with your left over "normal" Trangia pans and meths burner (well, my "then" 6yo boy made it, with my help):
Primus do more than one stove... The basic trangia is slow and fairly bulky for it IMO, but we use them for the scouts as they are relatively benign. Coleman petrol burners are good, very quick and pretty tough too.
I really want a primus multifuel or msr internationale, because they'll burn anything, but can't quite justify the cost!!
I really want a primus multifuel or msr internationale, because they'll burn anything, but can't quite justify the cost!!
Camp Bistro is good from the car, but then you don't have the option of carrying it on a hike.
The primus/MSR stoves are excellent, but I would personally consider them overkill for the UK. The main advantage of those multifuel systems are that they can be used at any temperature or altitude. I've got a whisperlite, as well as a primus multifuel stove and the only time I use them is when I go to the alps.
I have a Trangia non stick that I use for pretty much everything, including a pleasant glamping trip with my girlfriend, and a 3 day yomp in the lake district. I have the gas conversion, which brings it into the 21st century.
Another alternative would be the jetboil helios. They really are brilliant, but obviously lack the sheer amount of kit the trangia packs in. You don't get two pots, a frying pan and a kettle, although the pot itself is quite large, and the efficiency of the thing is fantastic.
Prices:
Trangia basic is around fifty pounds. Can't go wrong for that money, a tenner on the ebay will net you a non stick frying pan. The full non stick is 85 pounds, and the hardanodised is 100. If it were my own money and a long term investment, I would go with the hardanodised. The gas conversion is supposed to be 53 pounds but blacks have them at 30. So you can spend between 50-150 on a trangia.
Primus omnifuel stoves are about 145 pounds. I think you need to buy seperate pots and the such, but if you shop around they can be had for pennies.
Jetboil helios is 140, but some shops have them at 100 pounds at the moment.
Like I said, I use the trangia for the majority of my trips. I've got access to pretty much whatever equipment I want, so that speaks volumes for the trangia.
The primus/MSR stoves are excellent, but I would personally consider them overkill for the UK. The main advantage of those multifuel systems are that they can be used at any temperature or altitude. I've got a whisperlite, as well as a primus multifuel stove and the only time I use them is when I go to the alps.
I have a Trangia non stick that I use for pretty much everything, including a pleasant glamping trip with my girlfriend, and a 3 day yomp in the lake district. I have the gas conversion, which brings it into the 21st century.
Another alternative would be the jetboil helios. They really are brilliant, but obviously lack the sheer amount of kit the trangia packs in. You don't get two pots, a frying pan and a kettle, although the pot itself is quite large, and the efficiency of the thing is fantastic.
Prices:
Trangia basic is around fifty pounds. Can't go wrong for that money, a tenner on the ebay will net you a non stick frying pan. The full non stick is 85 pounds, and the hardanodised is 100. If it were my own money and a long term investment, I would go with the hardanodised. The gas conversion is supposed to be 53 pounds but blacks have them at 30. So you can spend between 50-150 on a trangia.
Primus omnifuel stoves are about 145 pounds. I think you need to buy seperate pots and the such, but if you shop around they can be had for pennies.
Jetboil helios is 140, but some shops have them at 100 pounds at the moment.
Like I said, I use the trangia for the majority of my trips. I've got access to pretty much whatever equipment I want, so that speaks volumes for the trangia.
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