Grüße von Oregon! Well, I own both... the large Esbit Cookset, and I just came upon an older Trangia 25 that needs a few things. I say older Trangia, because it had the original white box (the letters on the box were block style, not cursive), the burner has the older hinged style simmer ring, and the lower windscreen doesn't have the large hole for a multifuel burner... Anyway, the Esbit set I have, is anodised aluminum, and it's heavy duty! In other words, it's not lightweight by any stretch! The Trangia set, also heavy duty, is a bit lighter, even though the pans seem to be made of stainless steel (or, rostfrei auf Deutsch). I've cooked with the Esbit, making things like Pad Thai, chili, and pasta with marinara. The heat exchangers on the bottom of the pots, allows the alcohol burner to boil water fast for an alcohol burner. Even faster with a butane burner. So, the question is: which is better? Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.com/itm/172343642134
I think those pans will be aluminium. Not sure they did a SS back then in the 1970's. I'd say the Trangia is better, especially if you add a kettle. But I'm biased.
Trangia. ... and congrats on scoring that 25! Aluminum pan confirmation aside. You have not shared with us what exactly is your (newer, heavier) large Esbit Cook set? Esbit has offered quite the variety over many years, for myself Esbit is synonymous with solid fuel tablet stove. BTW fuel tablet storm cookers, ie Meta 50 date back 75+? years. When I hear Esbit stove... I think fuel tablets. Ross admits to Trangia bias. I'd be fine with touting another maker over Trangia 25, I just haven't see it. If your heavier newer Esbit cook set is similar to Trangia 25 size & appearance (I have seen those), then: During past Trangia comparison discussions on CCS (talking apples to apples: trangia No.25 size, sm. alcohol burner storm cookers) I'm unaware of anything ever posted that is arguably better than Trangia 25 for convenient all-weather reliability, versatility, durability while extremely light weight and compact. You've mentioned the Esbit is heavier. I expect burners are interchangeable. You have both, comparison would be how well each set packs / sets up and the windscreens, pots & pans etc. Trangia is tough to beat. For your question, imo, price is not a factor but "for the price" other sets may look better. Also a fellow stovie may have decided as to exactly what Trangia set, item, items they know they want yet, it can be difficult to get so I might add potential downside of price "and availability". thx omc
Biased … well,- I hate them both; probably Esbit the most so Trangia is best. No need to read further, but if one are looking for something that works – get a Speedster kit. … or a 1pinter with a couple of pots and pans – bulletproof. Happy cooking, e
I dont recall having used my Esbit set with the included Alcohol burner. Although I really like the anodized feature as seen used here in lunch duty with a MSR XGK EX stove. Wanting light weight go with the Trangia.
Well, I have the CSE2350WN... it has the non-stick fry pan. The one thing I don't like about it, is the pot stand ring. Mine had a loose leg from the factory. My other gripe is that I wish that the 1.4L WasserKessel nested into this set. I have the .6L Kessel, but it's barely enough for me! I had to get small teacups to accommodate the smaller Kessel. I do however, like how the Esbit nests together. The bad part of that though, is that you have to place the pot ring into the heat exchanger, as well as the kettle lid; good thing there are 2. The pot gripper has to sit atop the lid, inside the mesh bag. The one distinct advantage, was cost! I purchased this through Amazon. My wife, is a prolific survey taker, and is often rewarded with $10 Amazon gift cards, so I use them!
Both burners are interchangeable, which is handy! From my research on my Trangia, it's a pre 1988 model, meaning the lower windscreen doesn't have a port for a multifuel burner, nor does it have the locking tabs. I thought the pans might be SS, but it appears that they're highly polished aluminium. The burner is definitely either a late 70s or very early 80s model, because of the hinged simmer ring. The box, was the giveaway... A white box, with cartoon-like graphics was what they printed pre 1988... I will be using both sets, but now I have an extra Sigg Tourist that I'd like to part with. I was thinking around $75 for one with a Svea 123 burner...
You should get that Trangia adapter, and convert a burner for use with your Esbit. That way, you can take advantage of the stable pot stand.
I too, am biased! I like them both! Both have pros and cons! The Esbit has larger pans, but the pot ring seems a bit flimsy, even though it does the job. The Trangia, though 35 years older, still works! I did a boil test with the smaller pot, and it took 4.5 minutes to boil water. The Esbit is a bit faster, due to the heat exchangers on the bottom of the pans. The Trangia is definitely lighter, though the burner doesn't have as many holes as the Esbit. I'll say this for Esbit: they've taken a good idea, and improved upon it! That right there, IMHO, is the highest form of flattery! But, Trangia has to compete with Esbit, so they might not think so, at least not entirely.
Oh, if you want nonstick pans, save your money, and just cure the pans with lard! You'll need at least 4 coats, roasted in a 400°F(204°C) oven.
I tested the Esbit burner side by side with a Trangia burner to see what the difference might be of the different hole pattern in the Esbit. The holes on the Trangia are equal but the holes on the Esbit are a mix of normal sized holes and smaller holes. The Esbit runs a few minutes longer. I think the Esbit stoves are made by Alocs in China but I might be wrong. Michael
ke6ziu, My comment is in hindsight after looking into your Esbit model, albeit online. My new, short answer is: imo it's not a case of apples to apples comparison, although there are some basic similarities I'd view Esbit as significantly different vs the Trangia 25. Others may not see it that way, nonetheless, we'll still ask which is better? I'll stick w/Trangia is tough to beat. Beyond that, for me now: I dunno, the newer Esbit piece, I can't say or too soon to say. It is in it's infancy, comparably speaking, and has not yet withstood the consumer/hiker/camper field test of time. Noteworthy: quicker boil, *longer burn time (*as I understand it, TY Michael). Search finds it's widely available $75-99USD (with good reviews and you like it )...: Hard anodized aluminum 2 pots, pan, 2 plates & more brass Alcohol burner Pots with heat exchanger and nonstick coating. 7 1/4 in. / 18.5 cm wide frying pan with textured bottom for heat retention and even distribution plus nonstick coating. ..."additional" info / more details were scarce (for my initial search, ie no esbit website). Here's sample image from one of the many offering it has orange covers/plates. Your set posted in June has grey plates. Oh you've mentioned butane burner option couple times can you eventually add, to your SRG post, image(s) (a view mounted in cooker) and approx addl cost of burner model______ please thank you. YouTube video 2011 titled Comparison... it shows the new (2011) Esbit line up of stove offerings but there is no "comparison" btw. It does show yours came with both the alcohol burner and burner plate/adapter for use w/esbit's well known solid fuel. Now that I've seen more of your esbit, the design differences imo create a cook set that is fundamentally different than a Trangia storm cooker: On Esbit: the top of windscreen, where pot sits, the heat flow is very different (so not just addition of heat exchanger). Cross sectional diagrams of heat flows would be very different. Esbit the heat vents at the same height as the flame (odd imo btw) vs Trangia heat stays within cooker heating pot sides and vents upward. Due to inefficiency of esbit heat venting at flame height, I expect newer similar deigns would emerge that retain the heat well above flame height. Proto types of any developing products are always plentiful (so advanced designs are already out there). From prototype to a design ready to go to market: > profitable to make and > answers a consumer demand... may yet play out in free market. Oh for readers here's aforementioned Trangia 25, she's a beauty!! thx omc tag @ke6ziu
Trangia 25 pot stand vs Esbit CSE2350WN pot stand. The Trangia again, is wider... but again, this is a pre 1988 model, so it isn't going to have cutouts for a multifuel burner. The burner, will fit both.
Noticed a 'glaring'(for me) difference: With the Esbit, the pot sits ON the windshield while Trangia pot sits IN the windshield => Trangia is "Stormproof", Esbit not so much. Esbit may get more heat to bottom of pot, but Trangia lets heat flow over side of pot after heating the bottom. Its a choice: longer burn {"your mileage may vary"} OR better protection ???
@camper52 Nice observation. It does seem like a comparison of apples and oranges. A good comparison might be to boil the same amount of water and measure the boil time as well as amount of alcohol used.
Guess if you're certain to not have any(!) wind, Esbit will be better. But in any wind, heat lost through the pot side of Esbit will be considerable. My personal choice is Trangia or close clone. Gideon
