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Trangia 25-8 UL/HA

rated 4.0 of 5 stars
photo: Trangia 25-8 UL/HA alcohol stove

Lightweight, packable enough to take even when you won't use it.

Pros

  • Weight
  • Reliable in calm or wind
  • Nested
  • Durable

Cons

  • Slow
  • Can rattle if not careful

I am a volunteer for an international boys group ages 11-18. I mention that because while I am doing this review based on my PERSONAL experience, I want you to understand the context of that experience.

I camp a bunch. I camp with youth. While that means that I try to help each boy to become more self-reliant, it also means that I am ultimately responsible to ensure dry, warm, fed youths. Over the years that I have been doing this I have developed an "Emergency" BOX. It fits in my truck and can handle most problems.

I am not referring to medical problems. I am referring to  the dry, warm, fed problems that arise when boys are learning to become men. It's a process. The BOX always has extra food and gear to help out a forgetful youth. There are consequences, but that is a different story. One of the more useful bits of gear I carry is the Trangia 25-8 cook kit.

I said useful, not most used. That is an important difference. You see the kit is so well designed that it is worth it for me to bring JUST IN CASE. In a perfect outing nothing is forgotten and all is right in the world. However, in the real world boys are forgetful and things break.

I got this from a friend. The Trangia comes with an alcohol burner. Now while that is a bit slow, it also NEVER fails. I can find fuel no matter where I go. I also like the fact that I don't have any leftover canisters. The green aspect is a good teaching point.

There are two cooking bowls and two windscreen bowls in the set. The windscreen bowls are inverted in relation to each other and twist together with a hook and groove system. It takes all of 10 seconds the first time you see it to understand. You then drop the alcohol burner in to the middle and the stove is set up. I should mention that the setup is good even in very windy conditions.

The cooking bowls are a good size to cook for several young boys or up to four active adults. Now the neat part is that they not only nest together, but if you reverse the nesting order you can stack the cooking bowls in order to cook in both at the same time. This is a time saver.

The included kettle means that I don't lose one of the bowls for heating water for a drink. I could wish the kettle was a bit larger, but the size keeps it packable. The fry pan is a tad small for frying a lot, but is very serviceable. I tend to do stews or porridge, things that can divide easily, so am more familiar with the pots.

I tend to carve spoons from wood. It is another good teaching point. As a result, I can't really tell you how the pots would hold up to metal utensils. I can tell you that after two seasons, the pots still look pretty good.

By far the best part is that the whole kit nests together. That includes the burner (which can hold fuel), the kettle, frying pan, two pots, windscreen, and pot handle, and a strap to hold it all together. I usually pack a bandana or two between pots to keep metal from rattling. When closed up it all fits inside the big windscreen bowl (think large salad bowl). The whole thing weighs in at just over 2lbs. (bit more than 1 kilo)

The set can be paired down to cook for less people, though when I use it, it is almost always the entire kit.

I think this kit is a good buy. The Trangia is a sure bet and the cook set is a solid design.

Source: received it as a personal gift
Price Paid: $79

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Specs

Price Current Retail: $135.90-$166.95
Historic Range: $114.95-$166.95
Reviewers Paid: $79.00
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