Trangia Stove Review - 25-3 UL In Winter Conditions 

What type of stove do you prefer? Gas, alcohol, or maybe multi-fuel?

I've had my Trangia for 24 years. The stove is a genius design. Both the alcohol and gas burners work really well (pros and cons for each). For me I like to use the alcohol burner at the moment because it's simple and effective. The fuel is cheap and you can get it from any hardware shop. The gas is nice to use and really efficient. Buy a Trangia because: It has 2 saucepans, a kettle and a frying pan in one (some sets come without a kettle, you can buy separately and it fits together inside the pans). Works brilliantly in windy conditions Strong and sturdy Fun to use. When I light the burner, I always have the top bit fitted so the wind or breeze doesn't blow out the flame.

Now this is the kind of review I like, used pots that show the love. I've had a duossal 25 for about 20 years, always dependable! Thanks!

What a terrific review. I really like your style-- relaxed, yet to the point and super informative.

You need to replace the O ring in your lid. I transport mine with fuel in the burner all the time and it never leaked, but have replaced the rings over the years.

Great IRL review, 15 years experience and you can tell, some great tips for new (and existing users)

My wife and I have had a 27K since 1979. I converted it to gas and would recommend gas over alchohol but it still served us well before the conversion. Being English, we boil the kettle, throw in a tea bag and use it as our teapot. We have also used a jet boil on the Appalachian trail and they are fast, efficient but also expensive. All the Mike.

Tack så mycket, tänkte lämna tillbaka mitt storkök men den här ser suverän ut!!!

Thanks for your review - I was trying to decide whether or not to get the gas burner with the stove - your review helped me to decide to get one.

Thank you, Mike! This test was just in time for me... was just before the decision to buy a Trangia

Excellent review and tips from a seasoned owner of this great product. After watching this video I plan on purchasing the Trangia gas stove as soon as I can. Thanks for sharing this!

Hi, Mike. I hope you and your family are well and SAFE, given all the craziness surrounding COVID-19. Many months ago I bought what I used to use when I was in high school and college for backpacking trips: a foldable Sterno stove with Sterno "canned heat" canisters (they contain alcohol gel). But, as you pointed out with alcohol burners, you have little control over heat intensity and, especially with Sterno, cooking/heating takes a great deal longer than with a gas stove. So, I recently purchased a Soto Amicus stove. Based on all the reports, it seems to work as well as its more expensive, more powerful bigger brother, the Soto Windmaster, and does very well against its competition, too. I just can't wait till summer so that I can do a few tours and try out my new gear. Cheers, Mike!

Thanks for the video 👌🏻helped out a lot!

Thanks Mikael. ..enjoyed the comparison. I go along with the gas canister for myself...quick to get things going, and packing it up. One of those things "to each his own" ...I enjoy camp cooking, so I can get it done with pretty much anything. Just like the no fuss of the canister. Thanks again...hope you and family are doing well.

I love these stoves iv just brought a trangia 25-5 to stay with my bike packing gear

I love my Trangia gas burner! I use it in the Firebox Nano TI and that way I can burn wood if I want to instead with the same "stove".

I have had my Trangia for thirty years. I also own the MSR Whisperlite International and a Kovea hiking stove. All of them do what they were designed to do and do it well. These days I prefer my Trangia over the other two options as it is a fully integrated system. I have the gas burner for the Trangia, but I prefer the spirit burner as I like the simplicity of it. When I am using my Trangia I am on holidays so the longer boil time is inconsequential to me. Trangias represent excellent value in my opinion. My 30 year old Trangia is a bit more solidly engineered than the newer ones, but is probably a bit heavier. The frypan has no coating, so I cut out baking paper circles before a trip and put them on the base of the frypan when using it to make an easier clean up (for what it’s worth). I have no hesitation in recommending the Trangia. I also like the little kettle you can get for them as well.

I've killed a few of the Trangia spirit burners over the years, which is a shame. Fortunately they're affordable and straightforward to replace. But you can avoid my mistakes! One, I killed by leaving some fuel (meths in my case) in the burner for a number of years and forgetting about it. This melted the solder in its joints, and the next time I used it I ended up with a slowly leaking fireball, not fun. Also not easy to extinguish. The other I killed by always letting the fuel burn out completely - the burner heats up a *lot* when the internal wick dries out and this puts strain on the joints. Mine cracked audibly one day as I was letting it burn out, and I knew it was done for. Less scary than the fireball, at least. Trangia's advice in their manual is: do not let it burn out completely every time (it's ok if it happens sometimes), and also, do not store fuel in the burner for long periods of time (short periods of time e.g. over a multi-day trip is fine). Turns out this advice exists for a reason 😅 But it's also why Trangia's are a well-loved but niche product. Gas stove systems, while noisy and expensive to run, are definitely more idiot-proof.

Great video thanks

Trangia also have excellent after-sales service. My gas burner hose started leaking at one of the joints- even though it was at least 5 years old they replaced it free. It is a bit like going camping with an AGA, but they are also as solid, and easy-to-use especially If you actually like cooking real food and not just boiling water! The gas probably better for simmering/fine control. There is a reason why they are still recommended for young people doing their DofE award.

Hi!! Great video, helped me a lot 😊😊😊😊😊😊🎉🎉🎉

Thank you!

Haha, yours is twice the size of mine, I don't know you cycle with such a big one. Trangia that is. I've had mine about 35 years, and love it. Not the fastest burning methanol, but so reliable. It's been 24 degrees here this week, shame we can't go far. Keep up the entertainment, tack Ed

Great review thank you no rose tinted specs

A lot of great info in this vid....Thanks

thank you!

I think Trangia is almost as popular here in Finland than in our lovely neighbour Sweden.I have Trangia as well but I use MSR Pocket Rocket 2 on bicycle tours since it is so small and just works.

Tak! I also have an "ancient" Trangia 25, not a relic yet though as it's "only" 20 years old. I agree the gas burner has much better usability than the alcohol burner which messier and smellier to use. PS: you need to pop your kit into a dishwasher. 😁

Thanks for the review. My friend has one & I really want to get one. I want the gas stove since I live in the western USA & there are always fire bans which require a stove with an on/off switch.

Hi, Mike!! Alco burner is very Swedish thing :) Strong spirits here in Russia are to be used for straight usage: make 40% concentration and 🥂 "za zdorovje" :) Joke, but sad one. Actually, c2h5oh is not allowed for selling in shops.... So "hard spirit" urotropine tabs is an alternative. But! I seriosly think about getting multifuel burner, folding, with spare gasoline flask.

Good honest review Mike! I am using the Trangia as well, and I am quite happy with it. The great benefit of Trangia is that your flame is protected from the wind. I recently also bought the gas adaptor for my Trangia, as I was planning a trip this month. Of course, that did not happen. But I will definitely take my Trangia with alcohol and gas adaptor for my next bicycle trip (8000 km) this summer. I am prepared and ready to leave, as soon as the lockdown loosens!

i have many trangias and use them with the alcohol and gas burners depending on the trip i'm taking, the alcohol burner is nice for it's simplicity but the gas burner is nice for it's instant heat control. for car or boat camping i'll take the 25 with all of the pots and the gas burner, for a dayhike i'll take the 27 with the alcohol burner and just one pot with the kettle.

Regarding leaking remaing alcohol when the lid is screwed on, that's because it does not necessarily leak through the lid (or the o-ring in there) but through the crimped sides. The burner is made of two pieces pressend/crimped together and depending on the fit it leaks for some and not for others. There's a guy in the US selling Trangia burners with the crimp edge souldered closed - that one never leaks as long as the o-ring is intact.

Thanks Mike, this was a really good review of the differences between alcohol and gas options. If I ever get the opportunity to use my old Trangia stove again for cycle touring I think I will stick with the spirit burner. Having said that, if able to do more of the same I would go for the gas. Now, where is it right now? Somewhere in the garage I think, underneath the workbench is where I saw it last.

I was wondering why are there so many Swedish stove makers? I started many years ago with a Svea 123R, then I cycled around the world and used a Primus Multifuel stove. When I cycled more in Europe I started using a Trangia, these are nice quiet low maintenance stoves. The first one was a Trangia Mini and after that I bought a Trangia 27 set. I used that a couple of years. I also like to use my Trangia Triangle, the packing volume of this stove is small, but I need a wind shield. I can also use the Trangia gas stove in it and I use small titanium pans with it. I really like that alcohol stoves are quiet, the shoot is not a problem for me. On a day trip I like to take my 40 year old Svea with me to make coffee, it still works fantastic. I also have a small Primus gas stove, but I don't like those stoves on top of a gas tank, with a pan on it they are less stable as my Trangia or Multifuel stove. My favourite outdoor frying pan is also made by Trangia (Frypan 726 without the lid).

yes this year a gas burner was added to my trangia...so i have the choice...there is also a multifuelburner where you can put 0,5l diesel in the old pet bottle at every gas station...but i dont want this mess in my food.....the same with super benzin and diesel.....not compatible with food...so gas or alcool is the choice... i have a benzin cooker from china but apart from extreme freezing conditions i dont like benzin or diesel in my food ;) very good video

I keep a syringe in the fuel bag, can suck out the remaining fuel and put back in the bottle, then relight and leave to burn off the dregs

Hey Mike! I have had a Jet Boil for 10+ years that seems to work well for me. I’ve used it in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area here in northern Minnesota. It is relatively quick to boil and heats fairly evenly. My particular model isn’t all that compact however and I could see that being a downside when using it for bike touring where space is at a premium. Keep the videos coming when you can!

Hi Mike how are you doing?hope all is good i hope you get back on the trails soon as this crazy time has become history.

Neat video, I might just get a gas burner for my trangia?! Thanks and best wishes....

Try some denatured alcohol. It has no soot.

Where do you store your trangia on your bike? I was looking at getting a frame bag big enough for it, but it seems that because its so tall (10cm) it will cause rubbing on my legs. Keep up with the great videos Mike, cheers!

Didn''t mention when the weather gets below zero you have a vapor tube so you can invert the fuel canister and run straight liquid fuel. In fact You can run a Primus Ergopump with a bottle of White gas. I've done it with a piece of welders felt at the base of the burner stem.\ Little Alcohol to prime the vapor tube then slowly turn up the fuel.

What you think about little BRS titanium stove? Maybe too small to hold frying pan? Great video Mike!

Brilliant review thanks. Clearly you have used this stove for some time (my teacher explained the same 36 years ago ha ha). I love the trangia because it’s a compact all in one solution that works well in the wind. I’m curious if you can fit in the gas burner and fuel canister into the stove when stored ? Obviously you would not have the spirit burner in there too…

We had a Warm Showers guest from Sweden. Roger Löfgren. He’s a police officer, I think.

Bonjour So which one is the best ?

Solution to avoid direct soot on the bottom of pan and easy cleaning: Just apply a thin layer of a paste made of wood ashes and dish soap. After using pan, just wipe it with a damp cloth or wash it out.

If you coat your cookware with a coat of rubbed on bar ivory soap.What black is left easily with paper towel or rag.

Tangia works very well in Europa, and there are low soot fuel to buy there. We used the Trangia in USA but there were no fuel to find exept for thinner wich was expensive and low efficent.

Great video. I was just curios as to what fuel you were using? When I use my Trangia with alcohol/meth spirits I always get a blue flame. An orange flame would suggest a petroleum based fuel?

Great review. Two questions: Is it really not possible to adjust the simmer ring when it's on the burner, and if so why not? Second question, does the pots come with measurement lines on the inside? And if not, would you have an educated guess on of it would work to cut some small marks on the inside of the pots, or if this would damage the pots?!

if you need a longer burn time with the trangia alcohol burner, just buy 2 (or 3) of the burners and have the 2nd one ready and waiting. I would other wise have to wait for the burner to cool down so i could handle it and I am not keen on filling a hot burner either. Buy an extra burner, simple. I also hate having to readjust the flame controller once it is hot. Like the video though.

Hi Mike, can you find this type of gas cartridge in Sweden without any problems? regards Josef

If you use gas, can you remove the gas canister after use, then reuse the same canister with gas later?

exactly, me too...

Trangia over gas canister any day. Especially in cold weather or if high up a mountain.

Alkohol all the way✊🏾☝🏽

I've had Trangia stoves since forever. Mom bought a 25 stove in the early 80s, and then I bought my own 27 some 5-10 years ago, and when I did I also switched to gas. Actually not for any of the reasons you mentioned, bur because once or twice during the decades I've used the alcohol burner I've somehow contaminated the food with the fuel, which of course made the food taste AWFUL. Also I have the coffee kettle. I MUST have coffee in the morning. I spent a holiday a few years ago driving around in my car and realized that I spent every morning doing a lot of unnecessary driving just to get a cup of coffee, after that I bought the kettle.

I've used Denatured Alcohol, comes in a blue can, I can get it from Walmart and or Home Depot, and it says, right on the can "Fuel" and no soot to worry about. Got my first Trangia back in the early 80's and its still going strong.

Use denatured alcohol. No soot

methanol has a clean burn with no soot at all

can someone tell me what is the normal price for a 27 trangia set?

Optimus polaris or nova will fit right in the hole

Our methanol (methyl hydrate) must be a lot cleaner than your alcohol. My stove burns super clean with an almost invisible flame. No soot at all.

I cooked a rabbit on my stove, turned out great 😅😅😅

JaYoe

SOOT? And a CAUTION about "denatured ethanol". Mike... I can't believe it! Been using it for 40 years (since 1981) and I've NEVER had problems with SOOT on my Trangia pots. The first thing I noticed on your video was when you lit the flame it was a very orange like a candle and I thought that was odd because ours always burns with an almost invisible blue flame! I also can't imagine that watering down the fuel mixture would reduce the soot? Maybe that is also why it took 6 min? I've always used methanol from the painting section our Canadian Tire hardware stores with no issues. BTW... 1/2 L of water with lid only takes a little over 4.5 min at sea level with my methanol fuel.). I originally bought an early version of the Trangia 25 because I believed that it was the best, MOST RELIABLE for extended wilderness sea kayaking expeditions up/down the West Coast Archipelago Inside Passage of Canada. For two reasons... because of all the beach-camping with SAND that could plug the little orifice in a gas or multi fuel stove (yes, I know there is a little needle like tool... but they are easy to loose!) and, if we were to ever capsize, a simple swish rinse of alcohol inside the burner absorbs all the water from the wick and you're good to go. (I tried it... slight remnant of salt water might make the flame appear orange for the first fill). Also... a little splash of easily accessible alcohol when starting a fire in a torrent of rain has helped. CAUTION with using denatured ethanol. After about 3 weeks of paddling we arrived at Skagway, Alaska and I needed to buy more alcohol before we switched to backpacking the Chilkoot Pass Gold Rush Trail back into Canada. The only place to get it was from a marina (for alcohol stoves on sailboats). It was denatured. Two days into the backpacking trek we gagged at the taste of the food and tea... it tasted AWFUL. Some of the denatured alcohol spilled out into the tea pot and pots... soaked right into the aluminum with an extremely bitter taste that took weeks to get rid of. The State of Alaska requires all ethanol to have "bitrex" added so people don't drink it... it's the bitterest compound known! BUT I LOVE MY TRANGIA and even us it on snow caving/glacial travel trips because it is so trustworthy... almost thought my certification as an alpine XC ski tour leader guide was jeopardized until my examiner saw how well it got the tea water boiling when perched in a nook of a snowbank during a raging blizzard on the top of a Rocky Mountain glacier. Also... it was a "safer" stove for my kids to set up and use... propane/butane stoves tend to go BANG if a connection or hose leaks.

Quick question. If the Trangia cooking system uses pot, pans and kettles made from Aluminium then you are poisoning yourself with aluminium oxide. Even the non stick surface coating (Teflon) on the upmarket Trangia cookware is cancer causing, so are you aware of this?. Chiefs etc are not permitted to cook with Aluminium, copper or Teflon coating. Only Stainless steel, cast-iron or pure ceramic cookware can be used. My Trangia gear has been thrown out other than the burner and now I use the MSR stainless cooking gear. Love your videos