I was wondering if anyone had started a thread on this subject, and there has been from 2005 Unfortunately I couldn't reply to it, so I'll just add to the growing list: Tops on my list: the Radius 43, early version. The ones with the perpendicular pot supports, flimsy spring and weak heat shield. Nothing but problems for them with me and their design is just pathetic. From the crappy rust prone cases, fiddly parts including weak spindle, ridiculous heat shield, underpowered spring (what were they thinking), faulty latch mechanism, and thin metal pot supports. They are just plain ugly and poorly engineered - burners coming lose, tight spindles, burner/tank are too close, tank easily pops out of her supports, NRV's stuck (welded?) fast to their pump tubes, stripped NRVs from previous users, etc etc. Part of this may be bad luck, but I have 4 of them and they all suck. The later versions, with the parallel port supports are much better. Dishonorable mention goes to the Optimus 323 (accident waiting to happen) - I don't think i've seen one unused without a melted handle or lose pot support. And, sorry alcohol fans, but any of the Trangia stoves (not much flexibility in terms of cooking) I see BAT stoves get a lot of attention in that other thread, I've never had the (dis)pleasure of using one. I like the 199s, lol, but they are getting some poor reviews. Some of the Coleman's too are getting raked, but I love my exponent 550B-749 and the earlier Peak 1 (729) model. Never had any problems with mine after decades of trusty use. Ross, are you interested in my British military No:2? jk - I don't have one.
M1942 in opinion is a stove with great potential but it's pump configuration is a real clunker. Had they used a Coleman style pump, this would be a gem but the NRV design in this unit makes it a real under performer. If the spring tension isn't just right or the pip is too hard you're eating a cold MRE.
"Dishonorable mention goes to the Optimus 323 (accident waiting to happen)" I have the almost clone of this stove made by Sun and I keep meaning to use it to start a "stoves that want to kill" thread Its almost a crossbreed between the 323 and coleman501. It missed out on all the good bits from both stoves. It has a light and run position and the heavy control on the generator that must heat via the generator. Turn it to run too soon (2 or 3 minutes) and it floods the burner and the tray you were lucky enough to have it sitting on with burning petrol.You cant get to the controls when this happens.Ever had to carry a stove on a tray out of the garage walking backwards while the flames are licking your knuckles? Then dropped the whole lot and set a 30m running record as it fell to the ground and went out. I was expecting a loud noise
In defence of the Trangia, add a multi fuel burner and, together with the meths burner, you have a very versatile stove that will operate in the worst of weathers on most liquid fuel plus gas canisters. The worst stove I've had was a Bluet S200; unstable, prone to wind (like its owner) and when the gas was low it would just burble on for ever and never boil any water but of course the canister couldn't be changed until it finally ran out. Can't believe it was the death knell of many a liquid fuel stove. It did once flare up in a tent and had to be booted out.
I don't really have a worst stove to add to the list, but I must protest about you adding the Trangias to the list! My stove disasters are all user related! I have more than once packed stoves with only a mouthful of fuel in the tank; the frustration of a missed cup of coffee has as least made me a bit more careful in this department. My chainsaw has a see through gas tank... I have crossed thousands of miles and cooked cubic metres of food on different Trangia cook sets. The Trangia is like an old Volvo of the outdoor cooking, it just works! But a Trangia is not much fun! When cooking for many people like our group of 20 kids, a 111 is heaven-sent and a lot more fun. I would dearly like a 22 for those occasions! Come to think of it, a really rotten stove is the Swedish military "Snuskburkkök". It is OK for heating water, but everything else burns in the bottom of the high walled billy. /Lars
Maybe I'm wrong but I thought that they were designed solely to boil water in so you could heat up your ration packs in them - hence the deep billy... Unless a 'Snuskburkkök' is something else and I've got the wrong stove altogether...
I'm also going to have to say that Trangia doesn't deserve to be on a worst stove list. I don't even own one but our cooking for 6 was saved by a Trangia when a Whisperlite called time.
Trangias are great. I would like a better fitting lid. If I could only have one stove it would be a T25 duo. A bad stove hmm, Primus varifuel? Go system flexi fuel Injun scout on kero
If I could keep just one stove, it'd be a Trangia. I've an old 96. It's nice except for a loosely fitting flame spreader made out of brittle cast iron. No-one with a Monitor 17B ever needed to buy another flame spreader, did they?
Hi Tetley Or anyone else who's the proud owner of a 96 type stove with a cast iron burner plate. The latest production 96's came with a different burner head & the brass burner plate which is fitted to the petrol stoves. If your 96/17B is a regular user, using those parts will make for a safer stove. Anyone who's accidentally knocked one over resulting in the cast iron burner plate falling off will know what I mean. Part numbers are = Burner head-2173. = Burner plate-2174. Contact Mike @ Base Camp (This site's sponsors) in the first instance. John. --------------------- If in doubt, brew up.
Now you've got me started, I have a love-hate relationship with my Coleman 533 "Unleaded". I love the way it uses the same fuel as my motorcycle, I hate the way it burns the hairs from the back of my knuckles when I light it with my IMCO. I love the fact that there is no priming, just pump and go, I hate the way it flares up when cold. I love how controllable the flame is from a roar to a simmer, I hate how slippery the pot support is. (Our old dog has had more than his fair share of spillages). I love the steel fuel tank, it looks like it could take a hit from a surface to air missile, I hate the fact that the pump support is made from plastic. I love how shielded the burner is when it's windy, I hate how it coughs and farts when a pot boils over and drips water into the generator. So why is it my "go to" stove? Whenever I fancy a quick brew or I want to simmer something for a couple of hours the 533 always gets the job done. I could go on but as my wife often says "I'm bored now lets talk about something else" and on that note let's talk about the Trangia...
My dislike of the Trangias is personal taste. I used to own one, and it's the only stove I ever sold. I toured Germany with it as a student (purchased it there too). Any stove that limits you in the size, type, weight, form, etc of pot/pan is a negative in my books. My camping is primarily canoe/kayak these days, so the size/weight of gear is not as critical as it is for say a backpacker or someone who strives for the utmost in UL portability. The low energy output of alcohol makes cooking some meals laboriously slow or completely unattainable (deep frying). I also don't like the smell of alcohol (methyl hydrate) and she can be finicky in cold temperatures. You need more of it (adding to the weight) and the Trangia cups need frequent refilling. For others, their needs may be perfectly met by Trangias - their longevity in the market attests to their popularity. But for their inflexibility in terms of pot usage, low energy output, small fuel well, inability to make some meals they get a poor review from me.
re my Trangia 27 (or Caldera Cone) - bring on the next brew-up in a hoolie & a state of zen-like smugness. But I'm not a cordon-bleu speed merchant.
Easy. British Army No.2 modified Goodbye to No.2's That said, some folk swear by them, although I notice from Rangie's photos in this thread (No.2 burner woes ) that even a 'good' example demonstrates the distinctive black carbon spot deposited at the centre of the burner cap as a result of incomplete combustion John
lol Sparky. It's for fries, fish, doughnuts, fritters, etc. I bring 750 ml of canola oil on my trips, example here . I heave all that stuff on my back via portages, the rest (easy part) is handled by canoe or kayak. My dog is saddle-bag free.
Every stove I meet convinces me more that the decision I took at a fairly early age to adopt Trangia as my principle outdoor cooking system was the correct one. They just work.
I sold both my Trangias last year and have regretted it ever since. Over 20 years they never failed to prepare a meal. Next time I spot one at a car boot sale I shall be snapping it up. Also sold my Coleman Peak last year and have not regretted it one jot. Terry
Did someone say Camping Gaz? I used em for years and am glad sorta that I can't get more canisters. When they start running low they are worthless. I made coffee a few weeks ago on one and it took FOREVER to boil a pot of water. Tippy. Can you believe I never had or have a Trangia?? Did I even spell it right?? I do have a cook set that fits the 123, it rocks. But most alcy stoves are just way too slow for me, never really got on that kick. I want coffee NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
