Optimus Hiker+ Burner Cap?

Discussion in 'Stove Forum' started by Eighteen12, Jan 27, 2019.

  1. Eighteen12

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    Hello again everyone,

    I'm very interested in fitting a burner cap to my Hiker+ and I'd love to hear from anyone who has done the same (even if you've fitted a cap to another model of stove) What benefits do you get from it over the original flame spreader? Any negative features? And would you recommend buying one?

    I'm hoping, most of all, that it will help my stove to simmer lower and smoother?

    Thank you.
     
  2. Laitch

    Laitch Subscriber

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    My experience with using a silent burner cap on a Svea 123 has been that the cap significantly reduces noise from the burner. The flame is more affected by wind gusts but when screened from wind, it has slightly better simmering ability than the roarer flame spreader used in the same conditions.
     
  3. Eighteen12

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    Thanks, Laitch.

    I was in two minds about buying the burner cap solely because of the noise reduction, as I'm not really interested in that, although I understand some folks are. Apart from the noise, there's not really much of a benefit to buying a burner cap if the simmering ability is only 'slightly' better?

    I watched a load of videos and read many reviews on the Trangia Primus X2 but I stopped using mine as the simmering performance was just so bad. I tried 3 different jets with many different fuels and they were all the same.... awful simmering ability! The only fuel which worked smoothly, when turned way down, was canister gas which defeated the purpose of buying a multifuel stove in the first place. As well as my Hiker+, I would have really liked a burner cap for the X2, if it would help that stove to simmer better.
     
  4. Eighteen12

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    Well, I've decided to go for it and try out the Optimus Hiker+ burner cap. The videos I watched have convinced me that it's a much better flame than the original spreader, so worth a punt.
     
  5. Eighteen12

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    My burner caps arrived the other day and I've used them a couple of times. I bought two Optimus models. One for my Hiker+ and the other for my Polaris. They're both very impressive and make simmering a complete doddle as well as creating a much better flame.

    On the strength of enjoying these, I've ordered burner caps for my Trangia X2 / Primus Multifuel and Primus OmniLite.
     
  6. snwcmpr

    snwcmpr SotM Winner Subscriber

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    What caps did you get?
     
  7. Eighteen12

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    I got my caps from BernieDawg. A Dawg-A-Nova for the Hiker+ and a PolarDawg for the Polaris. I've also ordered the OmniPup for my OmniLite and DragonTamer, which should fit both my MSR Dragonfly and Trangia X2 / Primus Multifuel stoves.

    They're made by Shapeways.com in the Netherlands. I was quoted two weeks for manufacturing but had the 1st order shipped in just over one week with another three days for UK delivery.
     
  8. HunterStovie

    HunterStovie United States Subscriber

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    @Eighteen12

    The DragonTamer is a good fit for the Multifuel, especially if jetted down. Just be aware that the caps have a tendency to stick to the burner and you have to get the stove hot and flip it over to release it. This is not a problem for the Dawg-A-Nova and if you're lucky the PolarDawg.
     
  9. Eighteen12

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    @HunterStovie

    Great to hear about the DragonTamer working well in the Primus X2/MultiFuel. I didn't know about it being usable with the Primus as well as the MSR Dragonfly until I read a question and answer piece on the BernieDawg website. I'm happy it works in both stoves because it means one less burner cap needed.

    On my Optimus stoves, the Dawg-A-Nova on the Hiker+ secured itself solid the first time I used it and has remained that way since. The PolarDawg is sitting loose every time after I use the Polaris and it cools down. To be honest, I'd rather have it secured too as they're both single jet stoves and I don't see the need to take the burner caps off, except for occasional maintenance.

    I'm hoping the OmniPup and DragonTamer don't secure themselves as it'll mean preheating to remove the burner caps every time I want to change the fuel source / jet. It's not a big deal if I have to... I'll just have to see how they go later.
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2019
  10. Eighteen12

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    I got my delivery from Shapeways / BernieDawg. The OmniPup secured itself solid to the OmniLite burner bell and the DragonTamer secured itself to the X2 burner bell.

    Both caps work wonderfully well. I tried the X2 on gas and it simmers great but still won't simmer with liquid fuels... That's the stove's fault not the burner cap. No miracle cures for a poorly designed stove, I doubt.

    The OmniLite runs really well with the new cap on all fuels.

    I made a note of which jets were fitted so I'd know later. If there's one thing negative it's that I'll always have to note down what jet is in the stoves and preheat the burner to remove the cap every time I want to change jets.
     
  11. Eighteen12

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    I tried a good meal of fried potatoes, sausages and beans on the Hiker+ and was really impressed with the Dawg-A-Nova cap.

    It went down to really low simmer and full power was excellent to finish off the potatoes nicely.

    Overall, I'm happy with everything and certainly wouldn't go back to the original flame spreaders after using these excellent burner caps!
     
  12. Peter.C

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    hi @Eighteen12 ive a polar dawg on my X2 and it simmers on all fuels including Kero, one trick i found is make sure to have plenty of tank pressure, at low pressure naptha and kero made the cap glow a little.
    I also have a mini cap on my 99 works a treat. Cheers Peter.
     
  13. Eighteen12

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    Hello Peter,

    Thanks for the tip!

    I tried just about every combination and mix you could imagine on my X2 to try to get it to simmer with liquid fuels. Five or six liquid fuels using different jets then the same again only with different fuel bottle pressures but nothing ever worked. Then I got the DragonTamer burner cap and hoped that would improve things but no. The only way I could get anything like a decent simmer was with canister gas... which defeated the purpose of buying a very expensive multi-fuel stove in the first place.

    But I am looking forward to trying out your idea to use the PolarDawg burner cap in the X2. I see looking at them side-by-side here that the PolarDawg is a fair bit smaller than the DragonTamer so it will definitely sit differently into the X2 burner bell. All being well, I'll run a wee experiment at the weekend!
     
  14. Mark Layman

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    Hello @Eighteen12
    I have a Bernie Dawg Nova Dawg cap for my Hiker +.
    I like it just fine. It simmers well and also puts out a lot of heat too.
    Mine is only about 10-15 seconds slower boiling water but that is not much at all.
    I use my Hiker for boiling spaghetti because it boils faster and better than my home stove can.
     
  15. Eighteen12

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    Hello @Mark Layman

    Funny, I use my Hiker+ mostly at home too or if I go out somewhere in the car and want to eat there. I've never carried it when out on my feet!

    I agree with you, the Hiker+ is a very nice stove and I enjoy using it. The burner cap makes it even better and I usually fire mine up with Aspen 4 or another similar clean fuel like Panel Wipe when I take it out in the car. Being scared of a spill and the strong smell, I've only used it on Paraffin around home and it's great with that fuel also.

    The burner caps add a whole new dimension to these stoves and I'll always use them.
     
  16. Eighteen12

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    Well, I tried the PolarDawg in my Trangia X2 / Primus Multifuel stove...

    Much the same result as the DragonTamer, I'm afraid. Although I think that it does less pulsing at the very lowest working output, than with the DragonTamer fitted, the X2 still won't run down to anything like a simmer without pulsing for a second or two then cutting out. I spent the best part of a day, back and forward, trying it with all my liquid fuels and all jets combinations and at high, average and low bottle pressures.

    The one good thing to come out of buying the X2 was the Adapter which I'm now using with an Optimus Polaris for my Trangia Cooksets and the X2 is always a good enough back-up boiling water/canister gas stove with the body and legs I bought to turn it into a Primus Multifuel. Couldn't recommend it, though. Anything but.

    Back on topic, the Hiker+ is running really well with the Dawg-A-Nova burner cap!
     
  17. LouisHRP

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    Hello @Eighteen12

    I also have an Optimus Hiker+ but I think the original burner head is much too low.

    What is the clearance between the top of Dawg-A-Nova cap and the bottom of the water kettle ?

    Cheers Louis.
     
  18. Doc Mark

    Doc Mark SotM Winner Subscriber

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    Hi, @Eighteen12 ,

    Welcome to CCS! As you, and many others of us have found, the BD caps are very nice, indeed!!! I've used mine on a Nova stove, with Trangia adaptor, in a Trangia Model 25, and it worked wonderfully!! I've also got a tiny BD cap, "from the old days", that makes my Enders Baby into a powerhouse of a stove, and also simmers delightfully. This cap is from the days that BD was making each cap by hand, long before Shapeways was making his caps. Both types are great, though, and I have confidence in all the BD products.

    How about posting some photos of your stoves in action, with their BD caps in place? We do love photos, here at CCS!!! Glad you're having fun with this, and thanks for posting your experiences with the BD caps. Take care, and God Bless!

    Every Good Wish,
    Doc