tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post606026086088379588..comments2024-03-21T19:29:24.316-07:00Comments on Adventures In Stoving: Stove of the Week: The Trangia 27Hikin' Jimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01554269915148144573noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post-91191736543197102432020-08-20T07:34:12.679-07:002020-08-20T07:34:12.679-07:00About alcohol failing to ignite at low ambient tem...About alcohol failing to ignite at low ambient temperatures. Trangia do make a simple pre-heater, which fits underneath the burner and clips into the grooves you see around the burner sides (bottom groove for open, top groove for closed/carrying). The idea is that you pour a little meths onto the absorbent pad on the pre-heater, clip it underneath the burner and light. This pre-heats the bulk of the fuel in the burner itself,allowing the latter to be lit. Don't ask me why you can light the meths in the pre-heater but not in the burner, but it does work. My problem is that the pre-heater is always on the burner I left at home!Jonathan Reynoldshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01312002829461982670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post-35695360818735875252017-08-23T11:08:05.654-07:002017-08-23T11:08:05.654-07:00Trangias are as safe as a liquid fueled stove is e...Trangias are as safe as a liquid fueled stove is ever going to be. the trade is that methylated spirit does not burn quite so hot. The design of the windscreen surrounds the cooking pot with hot air on three sides so it isn't quite as slow as you'd think. <br />Trangia's come in various kits and they depend on whether you get various components non-stick & if there is a kettle included. A non-stick frying pan and a kettle are about the most useful of upgrades. I like fried bacon on occasion and a road-side brew stop is what I use my #27 for mostly. English bacon sticks like glue to a plain frying pan unless you watch it like a hawk & so I have bought a non-stick frying pan.<br />If I was using the stove really heavily I would consider getting a second burner. <br />Trangia made an adapter to fit the Optimus Nova multi-fuel stove into the Trangia. I used this with a generic Chinese white-gas/LPG stove.<br />Trangia does have a multi-fuel burner listed, which is a Primus item.<br />They both have roarer burners that are fast but LOUD.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11166096620385240449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post-45793483484457231302016-02-18T14:42:26.042-08:002016-02-18T14:42:26.042-08:00Side note: I have an LPG -> Lindal adaptor for ...Side note: I have an LPG -> Lindal adaptor for extreme cold and versatility but of course those 16.4 oz canisters are heavy as heck. I'm also looking at remote canister systems like the Kovea Spider. Any general idea on the low-end temperature threshold on those?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14947886003732823436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post-67757711894957303462016-02-18T12:40:30.434-08:002016-02-18T12:40:30.434-08:00Thanks for the write-up. I used to use homemade al...Thanks for the write-up. I used to use homemade alcohol stoves exclusively, a Redbull can design with construction mesh stand was my favorite. But I got tired of how finicky they are and went to canister stoves. I just ordered a Windburner for one or two people camping but I have a feeling it won't work well in the extreme cold (my current comfort and safety cutoff for cabin-hopping/skiing/snowshoeing is -20 deg F) I might encounter here in Alaska. I have a Whisperlite International for that, but this is also intriguing. Aside from priming, how would this work when it's not just cold, but very cold?<br /><br />Also, curse you for making me want another system when I thought I have everything I need!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14947886003732823436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post-13578821144186199752015-07-28T17:45:28.207-07:002015-07-28T17:45:28.207-07:00Well, that's the thing of it. People compare ...Well, that's the thing of it. People compare the <i>features</i> of a stove when they buy, but they don't think about the frequency or (typically) the <i>price</i> of failure. Normal (open burner) alcohol stoves don't fail. They just don't. OK, yes, if you run over it with a vehicle and crush it, sure, it will fail, but in normal use, no. There are no seals to harden or crack. There are no moving parts. They're marvelously simple and utterly reliable, and, in the case of the Trangia, very nearly completely windproof. When you need your stove to work, a Trangia is going to do just that.<br /><br />HJHikin' Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01554269915148144573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post-36917928567682354012015-07-26T14:56:17.433-07:002015-07-26T14:56:17.433-07:00I trust my Trangia with my life. Started using it ...I trust my Trangia with my life. Started using it as a kid since it's part of Duke of Edinburgh scheme's recommended kit. It's been with me to glaciers in Iceland, weathered storms all over the UK, taken a beating on the road to Tibet, been trampled on at Glastonbury and is the only stove I have ever owned that actually works BETTER in windy conditions. Lasted over 10 years with no upkeep whatsoever and nothing added or taken away. The stuff of legends and the best £20 I've ever spent.Terriblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06593388311817332285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post-40509286051495044872014-04-21T04:49:54.111-07:002014-04-21T04:49:54.111-07:00Great review and an impressive site all round. He...Great review and an impressive site all round. Here are just a couple of additional points from the perspective of UK centre use. Trangias are brilliant stoves, especially for kids - it's almost impossible to do anything wrong with them. However, using the simmer ring then wanting to extinguish the stove is a pain, as the ring is red hot and can't be handled or even removed easily (flicking it off with a pan gripper is easiest). More importantly, as the stove doesn't run for long on a fuel fill, you may need to refill while the food is half cooked. Alcohol burns almost invisibly so it is not always easy to see whether the stove is actually out, and I have seen children pour fuel into a burning stove by accident. I believe that there has been at least one fatality in the UK caused by flame travelling up the fuel and into an almost empty bottle full of alcohol vapour. For that reason UK groups now recommend flash-proof bottles for alcohol fuel (heavy but safe). I hope this info is of use. Gareth<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12076774069875004690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post-41384267314042382842014-02-27T15:58:27.142-08:002014-02-27T15:58:27.142-08:00Thanks for the review, very helpful, and everyone ...Thanks for the review, very helpful, and everyone should be so lucky to have a good assistant! I am in the market to buy a Trangia stove, but can not decide on which model I should get. I am looking at the 27-1 UL HA and the 25-1 UL HA. It's hard to tell how much it really cook? It will always be used to make food for two rarely three. I'm wondering if you can tell me if the 25-1 can cook enough food second servings? I will be using it for cycle tours, backpacking and car camping. Thanks!PBJ!https://www.blogger.com/profile/11770537224900960053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post-81723134513145061492013-04-17T22:35:31.293-07:002013-04-17T22:35:31.293-07:00Here, here, Treadz. The Trangia is perhaps *the* ...Here, here, Treadz. The Trangia is perhaps *the* most reliable stove system known to man. Robust, reliable -- and yet simmers like a champ.<br /><br />That's a great story about your friend losing his at the beach and then finding it. My Trangia 25 was made in the 1960's. The original burner still works but is corroded. Pop in a new burner, and it's nearly as good as new.<br /><br />HJHikin' Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01554269915148144573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post-38959583174925861372013-04-17T07:47:12.281-07:002013-04-17T07:47:12.281-07:00Not sure how my comp dictionary decided to autospe...Not sure how my comp dictionary decided to autospell TRANGIA wrong. WTF is a trianga lol. Treadzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18203746906421404221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post-69408343925564638002013-04-17T07:42:57.218-07:002013-04-17T07:42:57.218-07:00Nice write up. I do like the old Triangas even ami...Nice write up. I do like the old Triangas even amid all the new technology and designs. Maybe that's just me, for example I prefer external frame packs over all this internal frame business.<br />I've used several stoves over the last couple decades. A few reasons I can always count on my trianga include...<br /><br />Strength. My 150# great dane has stepped on it twice. It's fine. I can crush alum stoves w.2 fingers in comparison. I've destroyed gear accidentally just by over compressing my rucksack.<br /><br />Weather resistance. I've used it in a few rainstorms. U couldn't tell it. Looks badly tarnished but looks don't amount for much. My buddy lost his on the beach for 2yrs. We found it after a flood with the cap on. Refueled it and it works fine. Brass is what we use on water lines underground at work so go figure.<br /><br />Conserve fuel. Trianga is heavy but a threaded cap has saved me more fuel than any other alcohol unit. It's nearly impossible to get all the fuel out of a can stove so overages go up it smoke usually. Some guys measure it by the milliliter so I know my savings add up over a long trip.<br /><br />Output. Triangas put out some decent BTU's. Of course a windscreen is always key. <br /><br />It never breaks down. I've cleaned the vents out with a stick and rinsed it clean with a hose. My canister or pressure-pump stoves have all had mechanical breakdowns whether it be valves, seals, or bad/rusty gas cans.<br /><br />Price. These things are everywhere. Just saw 1 at a garage sale for a few bucks. Replacement lids and rings are cheap and easy to get.<br /><br />Fuel. I use only HEET anymore. Cheap and easy to obtain. Once we ran out and all we did was find some day hikers and trade them some beefjerky for a couple 1/2 bottles they had in the glovebox.<br />Weight. Ok, it is heavy. If I put it in a sock I could probably KO someone with a head shot. Other than that heavier isn't so good.<br /><br />Simmer. I cook like a trail chef. No dehydrated food for my team. Our foods have to be COOKED, not just hot water. The simmer ring works! Very ingenious. I only have 1 other alcohol stove that actually simmers (via air holes on windscreen)<br />I use this very little in the winter (I use a Kifaru tent) but I recall if I spill extra fuel on the top edge rim and lite it worked just fine. Some ppl I recall set it in a little alum coaster and pre heat it w.a few teaspoons of heet.<br /><br />For the price the Trianga is an awesome deal and a great first time or backup unit. I recommend. <br /><br />Treadzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18203746906421404221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post-13927257322370881572013-02-01T21:37:55.187-08:002013-02-01T21:37:55.187-08:00That's an excellent point that the Trangia 28 ...That's an excellent point that the Trangia 28 (the mini Trangia) needs a separate windscreen to be added to what comes with the set. A Trangia 28 does not work well unless one augments the set up with a windscreen.<br /><br />HJ Hikin' Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01554269915148144573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post-26560640489015957312013-02-01T21:35:12.684-08:002013-02-01T21:35:12.684-08:00Indeed, the Trangia (any Trangia) is very reliable...Indeed, the Trangia (any Trangia) is very reliable. They're very good stoves, and you can do real cooking on them -- not just boil water.<br /><br />That's a good tip on using a match or something to facilitate wicking to get the stove started in cold weather. I've had trouble getting them to light before.<br /><br />HJHikin' Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01554269915148144573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post-10068823036200418572013-01-15T06:32:50.005-08:002013-01-15T06:32:50.005-08:00In my field experience the Trangia 28 works well w...In my field experience the Trangia 28 works well with an DIY aluminum foil windscreen. All Trangias are very reliable. In freezing cold weather I sometimes throw the match or a little bit of paper or a twig in the burner to ease ignition.Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03618845135322067688noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post-38475640541100277242011-11-25T14:18:30.012-08:002011-11-25T14:18:30.012-08:00I really must give all the credit to my assistant....I really must give all the credit to my assistant. All I really do is drive the car to the trailhead. She's the brains of the operation. :)<br /><br />Interesting that the newer Trangia burner varies little from the prior version and that the prior version was actually more efficient. The really old Trangia burners did not have a screw cap, and the simmer ring was quite primitive and really didn't work very well. <br /><br />Your Trangia 27 is a classic. It's the version that came out prior to 1988 from the look of it. Solidly built albeit a tad heavy in the rucksack. If you got a gas burner for it, it would make a nice family car camping or picnic stove. I'd love to get a Trangia gas burner, but they're quite spendy. I may rig up my Optimus Nova in a Trangia configuration. I've modified my Nova so that it can run on canister gas if I like.<br /><br />The Trangia 28 doesn't have a very good reputation in stand alone mode. It really needs a supplemental windscreen to make it work right.<br /><br />HJHikin' Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01554269915148144573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post-43884642262902278982011-11-24T11:40:32.405-08:002011-11-24T11:40:32.405-08:00Hi Jim,
Thanks to you and your assistant for anot...Hi Jim,<br /><br />Thanks to you and your assistant for another great review.<br /><br />I have only seen this review as I have just come back from a few days tramping in the South Island of New Zealand.<br /><br />The Trangia 27-1 was my first bushwalking stove, I purchased mine new, around 25 years ago. Trangia stoves are very popular here in Australia and are nearly exclusively used in the outdoor education industry as you have mentioned, they are very safe and nearly fool proof. Even though canister stoves are becoming more popular here, I see many walkers still using Trangia’s. The canister gas conversion is also becoming popular here. In the 25 years I have owned my Trangia I have had to replace the o-ring only once.<br /><br />I used my 27-1 for many years but found it struggled in cold temperatures, on one winter snowshoe trip my Trangia took over 30 minutes to boil enough water for two cups of coffee, sadly this was the last time I used my Trangia in the field, I then purchased a MSR Whisperlite, which I used for several years before switching to canister stoves.<br /><br />A few years ago when I was looking at going lightweight I purchased a Trangia 28 stove, at this time I was just starting to get into stove testing, I found the 28 was very susceptible to loosing its efficiency in windy conditions and I have never used the 28 in the field.<br /><br />With the 28 stove came a so called new and improved burner, the only difference I could find was that it had one extra burner hole, 24 holes, the old burner has 23 holes. After building some stove testing gear, using the 27-1 kit, I ran some tests on the two burners to see if I could validate Trangia’s claim, after many tests I found the old 23 hole burner was more efficient than the newer burner that came with the Trangia 28, but this was in a windless testing environment.<br /><br />TonyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post-46383818661307444812011-11-15T18:36:51.435-08:002011-11-15T18:36:51.435-08:00Yeah, Andy,
And I apologize. I realize I'm ...Yeah, Andy, <br /><br />And I apologize. I realize I'm just belaboring the point for the vast majority of people. Most people would never drink some form of alcohol not intended for human consumption, but man! the consequences of drinking wood alcohol (methanol) are so severe (permanent blindness, even death) that I thought I'd better say something just in case.<br /><br />HJHikin' Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01554269915148144573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post-14180075773351770622011-11-15T16:01:06.002-08:002011-11-15T16:01:06.002-08:00Thanks Jim,
I did find that the flashpoint of pu...Thanks Jim, <br />I did find that the flashpoint of pure Ethanol is around 55F so I can see where any warmth and insulation would help a lot. <br />On a side note, I have to admit I laugh a little every time I read the "do not drink or consume" warnings on yours and others literature. I understand the precaution BECAUSE people have done just that, its just scary that we have to be reminded of such things. Kind of like a "No Smoking" sign at the gas pump eh?Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06986120777912079835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post-67541229427410650232011-11-15T12:44:09.437-08:002011-11-15T12:44:09.437-08:00Hi, Andy.
Yes, I can recommend at least four &quo...Hi, Andy.<br /><br />Yes, I can recommend at least four "tricks":<br />1. Definitely keep your alcohol in a coat pocket or something where it will stay warm. <br />2. For cold weather use, switch to methanol such as comes in the yellow bottle of HEET that can be had at Walmart, auto parts stores, etc. Methanol generally has a higher vapor pressure than denatured alcohol and will work better in cold. DON'T drink methanol, don't breath the fumes, and don't get it on your hands. Methanol is toxic.<br />3. Use a priming pan. I use the lid from an old tin of tea. The lid is slightly bigger in circumference than my stove. Pour some alcohol in the priming pan and ignite. The alcohol in the priming pan will warm the stove and provide for vaporization.<br />4. Insulate! Put something like some closed cell foam cut from an old backpacking pad under the stove. You don't want snow or cold ground sucking the heat out of your stove. I wrap my closed cell foam in duct tape to a) protect the foam and b) prevent spills from getting into the foam which could catch fire while operating the stove. Don't ask me how I know that last bit. ;)<br /><br />HJHikin' Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01554269915148144573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4359823178932343980.post-17668804748512350012011-11-15T12:17:22.393-08:002011-11-15T12:17:22.393-08:00Jim, great write up as always. A quick question o...Jim, great write up as always. A quick question on cold weather and priming. <br />On a recent trip I had difficulty lighting my Pepsi can type alcohol stove in sub-freezing temperatures and ended up using a small scrap of paper to kick start it. Even then, it took a good while longer for the fuel to vaporize and get going. I would assume that keeping the fuel bottle warm e.g. in a coat pocket would help, but do you know of any other tricks to priming this type of stove?Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06986120777912079835noreply@blogger.com