Touring - Trangia..a good little stove

Just posted a little video of myself making some tea with a Trangia....they're great little stoves...if you're curious to see how they work, check it out...

http://epicureancyclist.blogspot.com/2008/08/high-tea-with-trangia.html

The Trangia stove that I bought 45 years ago is still going strong.

I really like my Trangia, but the low energy content of the fuel means that it doesn't make sense for tours where you need to cook lots, but can't resupply often. By comparison my MSR multi-fuel stove sips fuel.

I just grab whichever stove makes the most sense for me at the time.

I usually take my Mini-Trangia although it has singed my eyebrows a few times but the main thing is the weight and the availability of fuel. "HEET" is available at almost any little convenience store here in the Northwest. Anything else is almost impossible to find in the backcountry small towns.
Now with that said. :) As vik just mentioned, I think I'll grab my old Coleman Peak 1 for this coming week's trip just for the heck of it.

Bruce

It's so compact it goes everywhere with me. I've built a little wind protector out of heavy grade aluminum foil and I find that helps heat it up fast. It's great for taking on planes too because there is no pressurized fuel container to take along.

As per the fuel, it's available in different strenghts in each country. In Britain they colour it and give it a horrible smell (to keep people from drinking it). In Germany they call it spiritus, and it's about full strength and burns well. The stove will also burn rubbing alcohol and vodka, so you can carry your fuel with you on the plane. By the way, vodka is a terrible fuel if you want water to boil fast, but can simmer things well. A bit pricey as a camp fuel though. $20 a litre.

...By the way, vodka is a terrible fuel if you want water to boil fast, but can simmer things well. A bit pricey as a camp fuel though. $20 a litre.

-Unless your going through Russia or the former Republics. They even sell Vodka in pop top cans!:twitchy:

A nifty list with names of Methylated Spirits from Europe to Australia can be found on "Mark & Ju's" journal of there tour a few years back.

International Fuel Names:

http://fuel.papo-art.com/#tableoffuelnames

Bacardi 151 will work as well. :)

http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/SuperCat/HTML/Super_Cat7.htm See fuels tested near the bottom. The Super Cat is a great stove as well. Basically just a car food can. Cost less than $1 and weighs just a few grams. I just wish it could hold a bit more fuel when working at altitude.

Here's a pic of the kitchen I used on my first weekend tour earlier this month. I will be using in on my Sierra trip in early August when we attempt Banner and Ritter peaks.
http://i38.tinypic.com/jsy1j5.jpg
Super Cat stove
Heineken can pot/mug
Heineken can lid to place Heineken can on top of stove
Pipe insulation to keep water warm
Aluminum flashing windscreen and "belt" to adjust diameter (see Jason Klass site listed below)
Aluminum tape pot handle and lid tab

DIY types might find these links useful.
Jim Woods Super Cat (http://jwbasecamp.com/Articles/SuperCat/index.html)
Jason Klass (http://www.freewebs.com/jasonklass/index.htm) has lots of fun stuff, and videos now too
Mini Bull Design (http://www.minibulldesign.com/) has tons of designs and pre-made items

Here's my cooking setup. Its a combo of Antigravity Gear pans and the mini-Trangia

mini-Trangia
Stand
wind screen
1 L pot with lid
pot cozy
frying pan
plastic cup and cozy
scrub pad
pot holder
Bic lighter
stock cubes and couscous

This all packs neatly into an Antigravity Gear neoprene holder
Having a pot with a lid, a cozy and a frying pan gives me lots of options.
I'll often boil water for tea and keep it hot using the cozy and then heat
up something in the frying pan

By the way, vodka is a terrible fuel if you want water to boil fast, but can simmer things well. A bit pricey as a camp fuel though. $20 a litre.

You can get a 1.75l bottle of cheap cheap vodka for under $10 if you shop at cheap liquor stores, which are frequently sited near large colleges here in the usa. Not so great for stove fuel, gets the job done as a drink though.

OP, I'm afraid you're preaching to the choir here... :)

I have one of the larger Trangias (I forget the model) and it has served me well. Just this summer I did try a friend's JetBoil, which was nice and quick for heating water, but not as versatile as Trangia. Even so, the experience was enough to prompt me to buy a gas burner for my Trangia. I will probably use it in summer mostly, as the propane/butane mix is prone to freezing.

--J

Here's my cooking setup. Its a combo of Antigravity Gear pans and the mini-Trangia

mini-Trangia
Stand
wind screen
1 L pot with lid
pot cozy
frying pan
plastic cup and cozy
scrub pad
pot holder
Bic lighter
stock cubes and couscous

This all packs neatly into an Antigravity Gear neoprene holder
Having a pot with a lid, a cozy and a frying pan gives me lots of options.
I'll often boil water for tea and keep it hot using the cozy and then heat
up something in the frying pan
That looks like a nice versatile setup. What are the cozys made out of?

I have a mini-trangia and it works well, but I more often just take a pepsi can stove. At a net weight of .5 ounce and a price approaching zero it is hard to beat.

As Vik said, alcohol is heavier per btu, but for bike touring where you don't need to carry much fuel due to ease of restocking it is less of a concern. Obviously if you tour where you can't easily restock it might be more of an issue. The yellow bottles of Heet are 12 ounces and are easy to find at least in the US.

I just purchased the mini Trangia and was wondering if anyone used the frying pan for pancakes or something when using the simmer ring..how did it work out?

That looks like a nice versatile setup. What are the cozys made out of?

I have a mini-trangia and it works well, but I more often just take a pepsi can stove. At a net weight of .5 ounce and a price approaching zero it is hard to beat.

As Vik said, alcohol is heavier per btu, but for bike touring where you don't need to carry much fuel due to ease of restocking it is less of a concern. Obviously if you tour where you can't easily restock it might be more of an issue. The yellow bottles of Heet are 12 ounces and are easy to find at least in the US.

Yes I like the setup. It's not as light as it could be, but it's very versatile. The cozy is made form aluminized
insulating material - it's very light. I started with an Antigravity Gear Pepsi can stove and pan set up that weighs about 11 oz. After using the pepsi can stove for a while I decided I wanted the ability to simmer so I got the mini-Trangia set. I use the stove, stand and frying pan from that, luckily the frying pan fits over the
Antigravity Gear 3 cup pot nicely and the stand and stove fit insde it. The Trangia is heavier than the Pepsi can stove so now my setup weighs about a pound.

Yes I like the setup. It's not as light as it could be, but it's very versatile. The cozy is made form aluminized
insulating material - it's very light. I started with an Antigravity Gear Pepsi can stove and pan set up that weighs about 11 oz. After using the pepsi can stove for a while I decided I wanted the ability to simmer so I got the mini-Trangia set. I use the stove, stand and frying pan from that, luckily the frying pan fits over the
Antigravity Gear 3 cup pot nicely and the stand and stove fit insde it. The Trangia is heavier than the Pepsi can stove so now my setup weighs about a pound.
Yeah simmering is tricky, but not impossible with the pepsi can stoves. Where do you get this aluminized insulating material in small quantities? Is it Reflectix? I see that Home Depot has that, but it looks like the smallest roll is 16"X25' and costs $15.

OP, I'm afraid you're preaching to the choir here... :)

I have one of the larger Trangias (I forget the model) and it has served me well. Just this summer I did try a friend's JetBoil, which was nice and quick for heating water, but not as versatile as Trangia. Even so, the experience was enough to prompt me to buy a gas burner for my Trangia. I will probably use it in summer mostly, as the propane/butane mix is prone to freezing.

--J

-You might give the propane/butane a try on a short winter outing (where you have a back-up). I used propane/butane with no problems bellow freezing. MSR pocket rocket stove w/cheesy Korean fuel in China.

I just purchased the mini Trangia and was wondering if anyone used the frying pan for pancakes or something when using the simmer ring..how did it work out?I'm sure it can be done, but it will require some trial and error to adjust the simmer ring. Adjusting the ring is tedious. Once it is in position you don't want to touch the hot ring with bare hands. This is one area where gas burner is better.

Regarding gas in winter, I've tried it (not my Trangia though). It gets tricky in colder weather.

--J

I'll chime in... As a former AT thru-hiker, my trangia is very well used. I never have understood the argument that its too slow. You are leaving civilazation to slow down. Whats the big deal about eating dinner five minutes later, where do you have to go with that five minutes???
Simmering... The heat is a low simmer anyway. I've always just flipped my pancakes quickly to avoid burning. Never have figured out the simmer ring and never use it (asside from extinguishing the flame).
Scott (TurkeyBacon NOBO 02 when I'm using the Trangia)