Trangia 27-5 UL

Summary

Great for 1- or 2-person cooking. Stable, windproof platform and failproof.

The set:

The trangia 27-5 is a nice 2-person starter set.

It comes with a built-in windshield, 2 pots (both 1 liter) and 1 frying pan. The burner (duh!) and pan gripper are also in the package. Everything fits into a small packet, with the windshield being the body and the pan the lid.

Cooking:

Once setup the platform is stable due to the large windshield. Start-up is easy, pour the fuel in and light it up. Needs a minute or two to reach full potential but you can put the pan or pot on right away. Cold weather startup might be a bit tricky (if you plan on using it in cold weather keep the alcohol flask on your body) but is manageable.

It also comes with a simmer ring allowing the user to choose the amount of flame used to warm the pot/pan. Frying pan is really a pan (unlike some other sets) and can be used together with simmer lid to do some nice gourmet cooking. (so if you're only going to boil water, don't choose this set)

The cooking is fairly slow but this didn't bother me. If this does bother you, don't go with a meths/alcohol stove. Trangia offers a gas/liquid fuel burner which can be used with this (and other trangia) sets.

Fuel efficiency is good, cooking for two people (breakfast, tea, dinner) was done for 10 days on about 1.5 liters of alcohol. Much of this was wasted (used to make hot water to wash utensils etc. and letting the stove burn dry). If managed correctly, fuel efficiency is very good. (fuel is also eco-friendly)

Nonstick coating is good but prone to scratching if using metal utensils. Use plastics (my choice) or be careful not to scratch it. After two years I have a few minor scratches but the cooking has been removed completely anywhere and sometimes I abused it hard.  No noticeable damage, just a bit dirty on the outside. (average use = once a month, + 1-2 holidays a year).

Got the most use out of it on a 2 week camping holiday in Scotland, where it was used for 2 persons. Only downside is the slow cooking, when using multiple pots food in pot 1 is already cooled down before pot 2 is hot. Can be solved with products that keep the food warm.

Overall: I like it :).  Currently used at home in emergencies (when gas/elec. fails) and also on 2-man holidays.

Summary

Cheap, quiet, very light.

Photo: Non-Stick Trangia for Two People in Action

I have two Trangias, one is the Mini which I use just for myself, and the other is the two-person kit. I started with the Mini and was so happy with it, I got the larger kit for group trips.

Some concerns with alcohol stoves is that they don't work well in a wind because there's no pressure to create a jet of flame, and that they're slower, but that's been partially taken care of in this design. 

What's nice about the two-person stove is that it comes with a stand that integrates a windscreen into the design that actually uses any breeze to improve the performance. The stand is turned towards the wind, which comes in and is directed up the outside of the burner. That creates a jet effect and makes the stove more efficient. The wide base also provides extra stability.

It takes a bit of practice to get used to the simmer ring, though - once the water has boiled, I usually set it about 3/4" open and see how that works. Boil-in-a-bag suppers work fine, but doing a package of Kraft Dinner can be touchy. And when you're done, make sure the stove has completely cooled down before closing the lid. The o-ring can get wrecked if you close the stove up while it's hot, and it can start leaking fuel all over.

At elevation, you're still looking at 7 minutes or so to boil a litre of water. I usually just get one pan going, then top it off as needed until I have enough for what I want. As for time, I've often found I've had supper ready while those with pressurized stoves are still troubleshooting that stuck valve or leaky o-ring! (See photo) Besides, on a mountain overnighter, I'm never in much of a rush anyway, and the absolute silence of the stove lets you enjoy the wilderness all the more.

The kit comes complete with two non-stick bowls with frying pan, a handle, the stove and a two-section stand. Very light and very compact. I carry a 250 ml Nalgene of fuel, and that's usually enough to last me for a long weekend. I've had this one for three years, and it's still going strong.

Nothing to break, nothing to fix, and absolute reliability.

In an emergency there is a run on butane etc. Not a run on rubbing alcohol, heet, denatured alcohol. In my opinion the Trangia is the BEST of the alcohol stove designs for all weather conditions.

Made in Sweden for many years for all weather reliable use. If the Swedish Army used a version of one it should tell you something. Absolutely quiet and with the protection of the windscreens it is amazingly efficient. I bought it for survival purposes and it goes with me. The small amount of weight for the kit does not bother me.

The cooking set is excellent quality as is the machining etc. I would not have a volatile unreliable gas burner, I back the Trangia up with a Stratus wood burning stove in case there was ever a problem in obtaining fuel. The quality of the burner made of brass designed with the simmer ring, allows you to extinguish and save fuel or simmer and get less fuel consumption. You can carry the burner with fuel enclosed since it has an O ring.

The best description of the entire package is just plain EXCELLENT.