Swedish army Trangias, your thoughts please!

[Chris the Cat]

Right Cats,
My next Trangia question involves the military or army Trangia.
I have heard that the civvy version is better but I can't remember why !!
Any users have any comments on this or advice to share ?
Many thanks.

Chris.

[JonathanD]

I prefer the military version by far. The civvie version is bulky and not well suited to smaller packs.

[bwildered]

Bulky? I'd have thought it's the other way around. Although it depends on which version(s) of the cooking pots you have of the civvie one. Mine is a lot smaller than the military version. I like the look of the military version, though. Reminds me of the good old days in the army

[Chris the Cat]

Any difference in use JD ?
If I were to buy one, what should I look out for ?
Or are they all much of a muchness would you say ?
Thanks for the reply.
Chris.

[JonathanD]

The only thing the civvie version beats the mil version is heat time. That never really bothered me. The fact you can use the military pots on open fires as billy cans wins it for me easily. I find them far more versatile. The civvie burner is better though, but only marginally and you can get those seperately anyway.

[bwildered]

Let's face it, if the heat time bothered you, you wouldn't use a spirit powered Trangia, anyway

[JonathanD]

Let's face it, if the heat time bothered you, you wouldn't use a spirit powered Trangia, anyway

Quite right.

[AdrianRose]

I love mine. Been using it for years and every time I go out for a camp out session with someone new they always admire and end up buying one themselves.

I use a separate safety bottle to carry the meths and soon cut that annoying bl@@dy hook off the handle.

Ade.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Chris the Cat]

So I am not looking for anything 'special' when I look to buy one ?
Just a Swedish army Trangia in the best condition I can find one ?
No model number or anything ?
Thanks for the replies Cats.
My best.
Chris.

[mojofilter]

I think the military ones a poor second to the normal ones, the only possible benefit being able to use the pots on an open fire. They are nowhere near as windproof or efficient at using the fuel to put the heat where you need it, and the shape is hardly ideal for prolonged cooking, there is a reason you get them for a tenner. The only thing I like about them is the included wee fuel bottle.

I can't see past non stick civvie Trangias tbh.

[Dogoak]

Chris, something to look out for, I think some of the older one's don't have a simmer ring, just the screw on lid. Depends if it bothers you or not, saves a couple gram's though

[Chris the Cat]

Thanks fellas!
My best.
Chris.

[Shibafu]

I think the main benefit of the army ones is they're much cheaper. A big advantage if, like me, you became infected with parsimony whilst living in Yorkshire.

Chris, something to look out for, I think some of the older one's don't have a simmer ring, just the screw on lid. Depends if it bothers you or not, saves a couple gram's though

The army ones generally don't have a simmer ring from what I've seen. And I believe the Trangia one doesn't fit the army burner. So you'd be looking at replacing the burner to use the simmer ring. Or if that's a problem due to the aforementioned affliction, you can make a simmer ring out of an appropriately sized tin can.

Edit: another option for the hard-of-spending is this from Clas Ohlson, no idea how good it is though:
http://www.clasohlson.co.uk/Product/...x?id=164029951

[Basemetal]

Another Cheap option is the Lidl/Aldi ones that turn up from time to time for about £7. Softish Aluminium pans though.

[Jason_01]

The army burner is quite inefficient, takes a long time to warm up, better to use the modern smaller burner if you have both to choose from. The pots are a poor shape for heat transfer, most of it goes up the sides, theyre fairly heavy. They also made a stainless version which is a good bit heavier, seems a bit scarcer and takes even longer to warm anything up.

Having said all that I really like them and happily hiked across Knoydart with an overall light pack doing most of the cooking for 2 on a Swedish army trangia. I find the shape more easily packable than the modern trangia 25/27, they are of course great on a fire, they are also great for heating in the bag rations or dahl for 2, theyre cheap, old, neat army surplus and if you plan what you re going to cook in them they work well. The pots are good for storing food in, the lid makes a good oversize mug. Ive never really trusted the little plastic spirit bottles that come with them

Im off bike camping in Cornwall next weekend, might well take an army trangia with me.