BCB Crusader II Cooker Review

A review of the Crusader II cooker with a test of 3 different fuels - alcohol fluid, alcohol gel and hexamine tablets.
See also:
Bushbox Review • Bushbox Review
Crusader II vs Bushbox • Crusader II vs Bushbox
Crusader II Cookset • Crusader II Cookset

[@seanosborne4028]

Fantastic video straight to the point great demo of the mk2, no daft music blaring out all over the place, many thanks for sharing keep up the good work brother 👍

[@uknighthuntingvision93]

Trangia stove fits perfectly into the Crusader MK2 cooker! I use bio fuel and no soot or mess!

[@jelkel25]

I liked the cooker but with the CR2 cup they were quite bulky in the backpack, got the knock off of the Pathfinder stove that's a little taller, good with a Trangia but packs up better. Don't knock cheap knock offs if they do the job, tried and tested kit has it's own value.

[@dadtube8391]

That's good info, thanks. I agree - don't knock cheap knock-offs if they do the job. That's where youtube reviews and comments can really help us know when to go for what alternative or when to stick to the branded gear. You'll see I have a mostly non genuine set in my 'Crusader II Cookset' video.

[@peterbyrne652]

You can improve the alcohol boil time be increasing the gap from the burner to the cup. The standard position is too close. Around an inch is what you want

[@dadtube8391]

That's great to know, thank you!

[@gordonmurdoch3811]

In the case of fuel tablet use I don't see how you claim that it is efficient to use 4 tablets to boil 500ml of water, 6min 40sec boil time and still burning to no effect 4 min after boil. In my eyes that is a very inefficient use of fuel.

[@shackledwithfreedom]

Poor comparison indeed.

[@dadtube8391]

True - 'efficient' was a poor choice of words to say the least. Thanks for pointing that out Hopefully people who watch this will read this and understand.

[@dadtube8391]

I think also it is wise to note that these are very small fuel tablets. Also, in using the word 'efficient' there is a range i.e. highly efficient to low efficiency. Like saying speed. 1000mph is a speed as is 1 mph, they are both 'speeds'.

[@Billofthenorth1]

The fuel tabs can be blown out and the remainder used later or two of them might be sufficient to boil that amount of water over a longer time frame.

[@crabtree8822]

mk ll cup works more efficiently on mk ll stove

[@dadtube8391]

Thank you. Yes, I would expect that would be the case. It's a while since I made the video but I believe I pointed out it was a Mk1 mug and that it didn't fit snugly. I had received the mug as an incorrect order for another style of mug and it was easier to just keep it. It would be great to see a comparison showing how much more efficiently a Mk2 mug functions but I won't be buying one just for that. Do you have any results to share, even if it's not precise timings?

[@bob2sticks]

.....I have watched over a dozen videos with the Trangia stove , does it ever go into a low flame ( bloom) around the vent holes ? It seems there is always a high flame , which when used in a tent ( vented ) would be unsafe .

[@dadtube8391]

Sorry for the long time in replying.The flame is usually high until the fuel starts burning out! The stove in my video is an esbit one - as far as I can see it is identical but it comes with a snuffer ring to regulate the flame. I thought I had covered that in my review of the bushbox stove but I had rerecorded it and that detail is not in it - time to redo and post one!Thanks for your comment.

[@dadtube8391]

See Esbit stove review for the fuller answer - sorry it took so long - busy working and being a dad!

[@floydvaughn836]

A knock off U.S. cup and d.i.y. lid? Dude, ( or mate) we came for B.C.B. stuff. BTW, the cup has a stove/ stand that I'd put up against the BCB any time.

[@DutchOvenDoins]

Where can I get one of those?

[@dadtube8391]

I got mine as a gift. I think it was bought from Amazon. I have just looked it up on Amazon.co.uk and it is called 'Esbit Spirit Meths Spare Buner' - you'll just have to forgive the spelling. It was £14.99 when I looked.Although it says meths burner, I used the bio-ethanol which is apparently more eco-friendly.

[@dadtube8391]

Just realised that you may have meant where do you get the cooker? It was off a BCB seller on ebay - I forget the shop - sorry.