Trianga

[summerdays]

I'm thinking about buying one of these ... and I've had a quick peek ... which one would you recommend ... there seems to be two main varients - with or without kettle and being someone who likes a cuppa I assume the with kettle option would be the one I want. And I assume it fits inside the pots?

However there then seems to be a choice of basic, non-stick frying pan, non-stick all pans or anodised? Obviously the price increases with these options. Has anyone any opinion on whether its worth paying for the different surfaces?

And last and most basic question of all - does it come with a burner... or do I buy that separately ... I couldn't see one listed on the box. Does it fit into the box if you do buy it separately?

And then I also need to buy fuel and a bottle to store it in?

 

[willem]

It comes with a meths burner, so you will not need to buy that. It does not come with a fuel bottle. The Trangia bottles are excellent (do not use an aluminium bottle with meths).
As for the type, I like a cup, but I do not have the kettle. The Trangia comes with two pots, and you can boil water in those. Saves money, and weight. The kettle sits inside the pots, but after that, not much else will sit inside the pots. Get the Ultralight aluminium version. It is not much more expensive, and weighs seriously less (Tangia's are quite heavy). Hard anodized is quite a bit more expensive. The advantages are that it lasts longer, is much easier to clean, and does not stick much. The special non stick teflon surface sticks even less, bit does not last that long, and is heavier. You might consider Teflon for the frying pan, and HA for the pots (but HA is pretty good for frying as well). I also have a HA windscreen, and that is nice, but this is where you could save some money. Apart from the meths burner, Trangia also do a gas burner and a multifuel burner. The latter is good for very cold weather and third world use. Both multifuel and gas burner are much faster, and as such make most sense in the larger Trangia 25. I think the Trangia 27 is best with the slower and lighter meths burner.
Willem
see http://www.trangia.se/english/

 

[summerdays]

Thanks for that information - just what I was looking for:

I Get the Ultralight aluminium version. It is not much more expensive, and weighs seriously less (Tangia's are quite heavy).

Aren't all of the trianga's ultralight ... they all seem to be UL either 25 or 27's in the numbering system.

 

[Penfold]

I faced a similar choice prior to my tour of Normandy.....

Ended up with the 27/2UL version and I have to say it is the dogs dangly bits (IMHO)

I brought mine from G0-Outdoors (£55 ish) and also brought a spare burner and fuel bottle.

I took a litre and half of Meths for a ten day trip and used just under a ltre of fuel.....That was a cuppa or two in the morning and cooked tea and cuppas at night. No probs lighting at all no probs with flame/heating the food etc etc...

I love it.

Graham

 

[Stephenite]

I've had a simple version for 20-odd years now. No kettle, just two pots and a lid which doubles as a frying pan. I've liked it, but never used it for trips longer than 3 or 4 days away at a time so can't comment on that.

A few years ago some friends, who didnt know i already had one, gave me a bigger version with the kettle. The kettle is very useful as i do like a cup of tea and, obviously, boils water quickly. But the whole thing is a bit bigger and, therefore, takes up more space.

I struggled to make a meal for two hungry chaps using the simple version, but the biggers pots remedied this. I've also found the non-stick coating on the cheaper models comes off easily.

I recommend not packing the burner in the pan set as there may be some residual meths left in it. And meths gets everywhere, smells bad and taints food and cups of tea alike. If you have any meths left in the burner after finishing using it pour the excess back in the bottle. You can't get all the meths out of the burner by hand (believe me i've tried) so use a naked flame to burn it off. A couple of drops of meths can travel a long way in a rucksack.

All in all, i like Trangias. My friends have used fancy stoves and pan sets that burn quicker and hotter, but i like the simplicity of the Trangia. Cheap and cheerful, just like me

 

[willem]

Not all Trangias are of ultralight aluminium. Particularly the very cheap special offers tend not to be (and older second hand ones never are, of course), and they are 20-25 % heavier. As for size, the Trangia 27 is advertised as for 1-2 people and the Trangia 25 for 3-4. I think that is unrealistic. The 27 is for solo use, and the 25 for 2-3 people. However, the 25 is only a little bit heavier and a bit larger than the 27.
Willem

 

[Brains]

Personally (and it is a personal decision) I'd go for the Trangia 25-6 UL

The bigger Trangia (the 25 is the bigger, the 27 is the smaller)
The size/weight difference is minimal, but you can't cook for 2 people with the small one, and the big one will do for 3 people at a push.

I'd get the kettle. It's very useful and if weight is an issue on a trip, then don't take it !

I also would NOT get the uncoated lightweight aluminum version, they dent easily, the pots get holes after a few years, they are harder to clean, and also you get aluminum residue.
I would get the 'Duracell' (spelling ??) coated ones, easier to clean, stronger and they come Teflon coated (which does not last unfortunately)

Other bits you will also need to get:

* Fuel Bottle - Trangia do a good one in two sizes. The 1 liter one may fit in your bottle cage, the smaller one does not. Otherwise use a COATED Sigg bottle
* A Tupperware butter tub. The width is critical, it must be circular and able to just fit inside the kettle. This is what you store the burner in. It stops the rattle, it stops all food tasting of meths. (I don't know why Trangia don't sell these)
* J-Cloth. Tear into squares. One sheet between each pot and the casing. Stops the pots rattling and damaging the Teflon
* One extra pot gripper. The kit comes with one, a second is very useful when cooking
* The Trangia Cutting Board. Absolutely Essential bit of kit, Two sizes, you want the one that fits your frying pan. It's a cutting board, it's a pasta strainer, it's a pan cover, it stops your frying pan getting damaged in transit. (I don't know why they are not part of the basic kit)
* A plastic folding spatula
* A 'Baggins' bag for your Trangia, stops your clothing getting covered in soot
* If with 3 people, then also get the steel frying pan for the small Trangia, as it doubles as a plate, a pan lid and a snow base is you ever need it!
* Finally the other burner options, the Gas one is excellent. The Optimus Nova multifuel is even better (with price to match)

Take a look here
http://www.trangia.se/english/2925.original_accessories.html

 

[stewie griffin]

I love my Mini Trangia, it's perfect for what I need, heating water & simple food (pasta,etc), great at just 330 grams.
I know it's been knocked on this & other forums but it suits me fine, I've never felt like I need a bigger (heavier) one, the one thing it does need is a windshield, simply cut a piece of any aluminium beverage can (beer is best )to fit the pan stand, leave it curved so it wraps 3/4 of the way round, it then stores inside & adds only a few grams.

Why does anyone need a kettle when they have a pan with a lid (frying pan)? Just extra weight to my mind.

 

[willem]

I am with stewie that a kettle is superfluous. As for the various materials the Trangia is made of, the Duosal as it is called laminate of steel and alluminium is now longer available. I use the ultralight aluminium, and it has not dented. My preference is for the hard anodized finish, since it lasts longer, is easier to clean and does not stick that much, but it is expensive. A compromise would be to get a model that has only HA pots, but not the base/windshield.
I really do advise against taking too much weight. So on my solo trips I only take the basic Trangia, with only one pot, and no cutting board or other niceties. When I go with my wife the story is a bit different, because we can share the weight. On solo trips less is more. So that is where the mini Trangia is a real alternative, just as the Clikstand (a US made much lighter Trangia inspired stove).
Willem

 

[roundisland]

Never use my kettel but really pleased i brought the non-stick version. I have the 27 which is just ok for two.

 

[summerdays]

I can't imagine solo touring ... it would be either with Mr Summerdays or I was contemplating with the youngest one - but he has an absolutely foul cold at the minute - not that I would have made him carry anything (as I wouldn't want to put him off in any way).

So I think I'm going to go for the 25 and possibly tempted by the hardanodized one.

I'm not brilliant at the ultra-light basic stuff - I like to be prepared so carry stuff I don't need just in case - in my normal day to day stuff and when ever I go on holiday etc. I even took 2 pairs of shoes to my parent's on Saturday so that I could have a pair if it rained and a different pair if it was dry (yes I know I am my own worst enemy - but I have to say I used both pairs

).

 

[willem]

This, of course, is only an aside, but just imagine the comfort of a much lighter load..... I am not arguing in favour of deprivation, but of careful thinking about your real needs, and of careful buying of lighter gear. There is a lot that you really do not need, and there is a lot for which there are perfectly functional alternatives that weigh only half. I used to have older heavy gear, and when that finally wore out I started to buy more modern and lighter stuff. It has transformed my touring.
Willem

 

[summerdays]

I didn't mean that I don't want to get ultra light gear - just that I know that one of the main limiting factors of low weight is me packing too much !!!

I've still got to get the tent and bags ... but I know I won't go for the absolute lightest tent as it would be more important to be comfortable even if it weighed more (not tons more obviously). Its trying to find the right point of compromise between the two points.

 

[Arch]

How could anyone not get a kettle.

It's so sweet!

Mine is a 27, picked up at a carboot minus a kettle, and I bought a kettle separately. Only used once so far, but it's sitting there on the shelf, exhorting me to go off camping/touring sometime.

 

[summerdays]

I read on one site you can put the kettle on top of the pan to heat up some water at the same time which I thought was a neat idea. I have to admit to being tempted by the kettle...