Trangia Mini Trangia 28-T Backpacking Stove

Comments about Trangia Mini Trangia 28-T Backpacking Stove:

Many serious hikers take their stoves very seriously. In fact, some take the issue of the stove far too seriously. Most of us who are serious about hiking and backpacking have a collection of stoves, occasionally with a few museum pieces that we once thought would be great -- until we had to fiddle with them on trail.Few debates in the hiking literature are as hot as the one over stoves, and some reviewers go to ridiculous lengths to compare boil times and rates. In my experience, if you are worried about boil times and want your two cups of water to boil at the fastest possible rate, then stay in a hotel or lodge. Part of the beauty of being out doors is the opportunity to s-l-o-w down. Take a breath and enjoy your time away from phone calls and hubbub. Although it is true that alcohol stoves are somewhat slower than gas stoves (although the difference is seldom more than one or two minutes if you know how to use an alcohol stove), they are utterly idiot proof and indestructible. There is nothing to go wrong. Although I have canister and multi fuel stoves, the only one I ever end up with on trail, for long or short hikes, is the Trangia. This stove has not changed in its basic design since 1925, when it was first introduced by the Swedes. This stove nests in its pot and is extremely compact. It is particularly handy in a small day pack, when you want some tea or noodles during a short hike or (up here in Minnesota) a nordic ski outing. When I travel with another hiker, I simply put the wind screen/pot holder in my mess kit. Another positive feature is the ready availability of fuel. Although I often carry denatured alcohol, I frequently use methyl alcohol -- HEET in the yellow bottle. Isopropyl alcohol will also work (as will rum), although the water content in iso renders it less efficient. I have found that most seasoned distance hikers use alcohol for the same reasons mentioned above. Unless you are boiling lots of water, this stove is more than adequate, and is very light weight and compact. Some reviewers on-line may suggest alcohol does not perform as well in winter. My experience in northern Minnesota is to the contrary. I simply pour a small amount of fuel in the wind screen/pot holder. When this burns it pre-heats the stove and it performs well. Another advantage of alcohol is that the fuel is water miscible, which means it will simply evaporate and will not destroy everything in your pack, or contaminate the ground, if it leaks. I use a couple of 8 oz flasks (also from [...]) for fuel and typically have more than enough fuel for about four or five nights on trail. There is certainly a time and place for canisters and multi fuel stoves, but based on my usage pattern, I'm not sure when or where.