Tourist burners: features, types and recommendations for choosing

Hiking trips, especially multi-day ones, are immediately associated with evening gatherings around the fire. They help keep warm, illuminate the area, cook food, and create a certain romantic mood. However, in modern conditions, it is not always possible to build a fire. And the weather conditions can fail, and it will not be possible to get firewood right away, it all depends on where the tourists are staying. And here special tourist burners will come to the rescue. In the features of their use and varieties, we will understand.

Primus is a special camping burner with small and compact dimensions. Such a device allows travelers not only to easily heat up or even cook virtually any dish of a camp kitchen, but can also be used to heat even a multi-person tent.

Having a primus on hand, you will not have to look for a place allowed for making a fire, there will be no need to look for firewood and waste time setting it on fire. All that will be needed is to turn the knob of the burner and light it with a match.

Tourist burners have small size and relatively light weight, therefore, it will not be difficult to carry them in a backpack even for many days in a row.

A wide range of models, a rich price range for kerosene stoves, the simplicity and safety of their use - these are exactly the advantages due to which even travelers with rich experience give their preference to them more and more often.

In specialized stores on the shelves you can see various types of these devices. And often even a fairly experienced tourist finds it difficult to make a choice. Therefore, it is necessary to study the brief characteristics of each type of primus and their main purpose.

Primuses of this type are the most popular and in demand. They are compact, they can be used to heat food and cook it, if necessary, they can also be used for heating. In addition, it is gas burners that have the largest number of varieties.

Such a criterion as the type of connection allows you to know exactly how the burner itself and its cylinder are connected. According to this criterion, all gas stoves are divided into two main groups.

1. Threaded. Such cylinders can be used even in the most severe environmental conditions. In addition, it is in such cylinders that the largest volume of butane is placed.
2. The collet connection is inherently disposable. This means that such a gas stove can only be used once. It is its fragility that explains its low cost.

In addition, all varieties of this device are divided into four main groups.

It is a portable gas stove. This is an indispensable option for long trips. It has a compact size and light weight, easy and safe to operate. Most often, it is in such stoves that there is a collet connection, but many manufacturers complete their product with an additional replaceable cylinder, which allows you to turn it from a disposable to a reusable stove. A camping burner can also have a ceramic coating on the cooking part. On sale there are models that have several working burners at once.

They are characterized by minimal weight, low power levels and compact dimensions. Using such a heating pad, it is unlikely that it will be possible to warm up, but it is quite possible to warm up or cook 2-4 servings of food. There are both stationary and folding models. For the first test of operation of such a stove, it is better to purchase one that has a collet connection. If there are no problems during operation, then it will be possible to spend money on a more expensive threaded cylinder.

Such stoves are intended only for backpackers. Their distinguishing feature is their compact size. On average, such a stove is no more than a simple book to read. The weight is correspondingly also very small. But it is worth understanding that such a burner can only be used to heat food, as it has a small power.

They are large and quite heavy.Therefore, it is best to choose such devices not for hiking. There are stationary models, and there are with folding legs - the second option is more preferable. Choosing such a heating pad, Be sure to take care of the right dishes for her.

But gas tourist burners are not the only type of this device.

Initially, it was they who were called primus stoves, and all due to the fact that it was the company of the same name that launched this device first on the market. Today, almost all burners, even experienced tourists, are called primus.

Such devices are best suited for those travelers who prefer extreme tourism. They are also suitable for use where there is simply no gas. But such stoves are rather short-lived, and in many respects precisely because of the low quality of the fuel. That's why it is necessary to choose a special technical gasoline, for example, nefras.

A big plus of such stoves is their compact size, as well as high power.

They are universal. They can operate immediately from two types of fuel - gas and gasoline.And all thanks to a special adapter that allows you to connect the burner to different types of cylinders. Usually such devices have a threaded valve.

Such primuses are special. They have the advantages of both gasoline and gas burners, but they also inherited the disadvantages of both types.

Today, such a variant of burners is quite rare. In fact, this is just a barrel into which dry fuel is poured and set on fire, and the burner itself is installed on top. The design is massive, heavy and needs separate preparation of fuel - branches, chips and sawdust.

This is a more advanced version of classic gasoline stoves. Such stoves have several types, each of which is named after the fuel from which it works. Such a burner happens:

• alcohol;
• kerosene;
• gasoline;
• on aviation fuel.

Such stoves are best used in extreme weather conditions, when gas burners are useless. Liquid fuel stoves are compact in size, but the fuel itself weighs quite a lot and often leaks. That's why it is very important to seal all parts of the structure and make sure that there is no fuel leakage before operation.

Today, tourist burners are produced by different brands, and it is very difficult for an uninformed buyer to understand such a wide range and purchase a suitable stove. Therefore, before you go for a new purchase, we suggest that you study our rating, which contains the best and most proven stoves from various manufacturers.

Such a multi-fuel burner is produced in Korea. It is completed in addition with capacity for filling of liquid fuel. The material of manufacture is stainless steel, which allows you to use the device for many years and maintain its normal performance. The total weight of the device with all additional accessories is slightly more than 500 g, while the diameter of the burner itself is exactly 19 cm. The power is 3 kW, and the cost is about $ 150. Not the cheapest, but really high-quality, safe and reliable stove.

This is a multifunctional gas burner with a large number of additional accessories. The set also includes folding legs, and even a corner table. Several burners and impressive dimensions allow you to heat or cook food for a large number of people at once.

These are English-made gas burners. The manufacturer offers several different models of its device, but the bestseller is Sirocco. This primus has a large burner diameter and is ideal for cooking or heating large quantities of food. The power of work is high, the equipment is simple, the weight is minimal and the price is affordable. That is why such a burner is increasingly chosen by supporters of group hiking. Primus cost about 2400 rubles.

This is a domestic manufacturer of gas burners. A popular model is "Spider PF-GSP-H01". Despite the fact that the weight of the device is less than 500 g, it can withstand a load equivalent to the weight of five liters of liquid, which is quite enough to quickly heat food and emergency warm the traveler or his tent. The burner is safe to operate, and its power is just over 3 kW.

This is a liquid fuel stove made of brass. It has a very beautiful aesthetic appearance and compact size. The weight of the device is only 535 g. The power is about 3 kW. Ideal for harsh weather and solo travel. The cost of such a unique thing is about 4000 rubles.

This is already a primus, the country of origin of which is China. This is a compact burner, the weight of which is 380 g, and the height is only 17 cm. The power of the design is 3 kW. The flame adjustment is good, smooth, the assembly of the structure itself is reliable and there are no complaints about it. This kind of primus ideal for heating water and heating already cooked food. The cost is about 1000 rubles.

Before you go to the store, you need to carefully analyze the true reason for the need to purchase a tourist stove, as well as deal with the three main criteria for choosing it.

This is one of the key selection conditions. It is on how favorable or, conversely, harsh, that the type of burner, its power, as well as the availability of additional equipment should depend.

So, gas stoves at very low temperatures and where the air is discharged often simply do not light up. In strong wind conditions, only those burners with a power of at least 4 kW can be used.

As an additional equipment, a special wind protection and a cap or cover can be used. The more negative the weather conditions and the more severe the climate itself, the more desirable the presence of such accessories in the kit.

Experts advise choosing liquid-fuel stoves for winter recreation and mountaineering. They are perfect for car tourism. But gas stoves are ideal for relaxing in the summer or early autumn.

The more people in the group of tourists, the more food will need to be heated or cooked, and, therefore, the more powerful the primus itself should be. Its power is determined by such an indicator as kW. Here, professionals advise to make a choice, focusing on the following indicators.

• From 25kW - These are the most powerful primuses there are. They are ideal for traveling in large companies. Such a burner allows you to easily heat up food for 6 people at once.
• From 15kW - This is a primus with medium power. One such device is suitable for heating food and water for 2 to 4 people.
• Power up to 15 kW have the weakest primus. Such a device is suitable for tourists traveling in small groups, up to 2-3 people. Or if the company is large, then it is necessary that every second person has such weak stoves.

These are also quite important points. It is from them that the weight and dimensions of the burner itself will depend. The longer the route will be, the more difficult it will be, the more preferable it is to take miniature and light stoves with you.

But if the trip is planned by car or on foot, but at a close distance, then you can take with you a more massive burner with several burners at once.

And it is also necessary to take into account the preparedness of the tourists themselves for the upcoming trip. Professional travelers are more prepared and physically enduring, but for novice tourists it is best to choose the most compact models of stoves so as not to overload an already unprepared body and not experience discomfort.

Each tourist burner is supplied with a special instruction for the correct use of this device by the manufacturer. But there are some general rules which are obligatory to be observed, since the durability and safety of using the stove depends on them.

• Be sure to use only the type of fuel that is indicated by the manufacturer as the most preferred. An unsuitable version of it can clog the burner filters or the flame simply does not ignite at the right time.
• Suitable utensils. Here it is important to take into account its weight and material of manufacture, these indicators should be as recommended by the manufacturer himself. So, the pan should be cast iron, and if a nozzle for pots or kettles is attached to the burner in the set, it must be used.
• It is strictly forbidden to overload the primus itself with weight. It can burst, its fuel will leak out, and the very use of such a damaged device can be hazardous to health.
• Do not allow the burner to be flooded with water or other liquids. They can not only clog the piezo ignition itself, but also dilute the fuel when it enters the tank, and can also cause corrosion.

When not traveling, camping stoves are stored in a cool place, away from sunlight and in normal humidity conditions.

How to decide on the choice of tourist burners, see the following video.