Dave Canterbury's PFM40 Swedish Mess Kit Reproduction FIRST BURN & REVIEW

We took the Pathfinder PFM40 out in 50kph winds to see how good it is. It is a full 304 stainless steel version of the old M44 Swedish mess kit. As it turns out it is really good, and the stainless steel pans can be non-stick with proper oil and heat control, using a Trangia burner with simmer ring, for example. In strong winds a flexible foil windscreen will be useful. Always bring some gloves with you as the pans do get very hot!
Overall, we really recommend this steel version of the antique Swedish mess kits, as it costs just over $40 when on sale, instead of the 100s of dollars commanded by the original versions, even the aluminum version. The steel windshield means that this version can also hold a wood or twig fire without issue, as even the antique stainless steel M40 from Sweden was only ever issued with an aluminum windshield, and that would melt or soften at woodfire temperatures. The modern Trangia B25 spirit burner with simmer ring also works great with this set.

[@DavidCanterbury]

Thank you buddy glad you enjoy it!

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Wow, hi Dave...Great product😮

[@ebikecnx7239]

I love it, thanks for making a great product at a reasonable price. Honoured that you saw our video...we bought 2 of these and 4 stainless steel plates and are very happy with our purchase and all you do for outdoors people and woodcraft/survival training.

[@DistinguishedMenofCulture]

@davecanterbury when will you have lids for this?

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

​@@DistinguishedMenofCulturelids for the PFM40? Is that a thing?

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Thank you for your service @DavidCanterbury and services to bushcraft

[@abdulhakeemalabsi3575]

Nice work good luck

[@ebikecnx7239]

Thank you for watching! Appreciate it.

[@CalumMacNeil-qb6wp]

Dig a hole in such windy conditions. Place your mess kit in it. BINGO! No problem. I've got 4 of those kits 2Alloy 2 stainless all original. Great winter cook system. 👌👍

[@ebikecnx7239]

Great advice, you're right. This was just a quick first test, we were impressed by how good it was. How much were your steel M40s? Did you find them when they were still inexpensive?

[@CalumMacNeil-qb6wp]

@ebikecnx7239 Hi thanks for your reply. I found those mess kits in a Army Navy store like new in Glasgow. That was the alloy type. Cheap years ago. The stainless type i found online and prompted get them before they are gone. So i got 1 never used. And 1 used. Yes cheap at the time. The new 1 is still new and never used. Marvellous kit. Bomb proof.🇸🇪. Have had the privilege to work with Swedish people many years ago in Scotland we all worked on a Multi National Concrete Oil Rig. Very nice Swedish people. 👌👍

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

​@@CalumMacNeil-qb6wp perfect 🇸🇪 stainless M40 is perfect

[@recondrone1776]

Good review while exposed in some really windy/cold conditions. If it works that well in that kind of environment on its own anyone should be able take that kit and make it work even better with a jerry rigged wind brake from logs or rocks or just hunkering down in a more sheltered site! I've been thinking of getting this kit for a few weeks but after watching this review I'm sold on it now! A+ for the effort and sharing this review on the Pathfinder PFM40!! 👍

[@ebikecnx7239]

Thanks ever so much! Yes, it is worth the money especially with the first time buyer discount that we used and it was only about $40 when bought with some other items. We like it as it's a bit easier than taking a antique M40 out on the road, it's lighter and the windshield in steel means a twig fire could also be done, and if it gets a bit of wear and tear it is still an inexpensive set for motorcycle camping.

[@davestuddert4392]

I recently bought this model & compared it to my steel Swedish Army Trangia. The PF stove is quite a good copy & reasonably priced (compared to what's being asked for an original steel army Trangia) I would say that the PF is even lighter because the material is thinner. The only negative I found with the PF compared to the original is, If you invert the shallow pan to sit in the pot for "poaching", the PF pan does not sit very well at all on top of the pot to maximise heat retention

[@GoodeKale]

I use my kislux as a work bag and have had no issues at all. It’s a comfortable bag, fits a good amount and hadn’t lost its shape. With that being said, I also take care of all my bags and don’t carry a water bottle, pens, keys or anything that can damage the interio.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Cool😂

[@ebikecnx7239]

OK!

[@questions6746]

It's a great product. I went mad and brought two more after my first.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

😂we bought 2😂

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

It's always good to keep one in the car for emergencies.

[@ebikecnx7239]

We understand completely! After all, they make great gifts and are great for preppers!

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Good product, great review. Pls do more on this PFM40❤

[@ebikecnx7239]

Thanks, will do!

[@suriyaprom74]

Please do❤

[@HarshmanHills]

great demo. been looking at these since they came out

[@ebikecnx7239]

They are worth the money. We pulled the trigger with a first time buyer coupon and bought 2. Stainless steel doesn't have the safety concerns, imagined or otherwise, of aluminum and if you price a new Trangia set at REI or other store it will be 3x the cost of this. This basically is the prototype that developed into the modern Trangia stormcooker anyway. Thanks for watching, we will do more cooking videos shortly. We are keeping one PFM40 in the car full time in emergency kit.

[@suriyaprom74]

Great kit. Great real world review.❤ Quality reproduction of M40

[@ebikecnx7239]

Much appreciated!

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Agreed, good value for money.

[@scorpian815]

When using the pan, fold up the two rings on the handle and insert a stick to give an extended heat resistant handle, thats why the rings are there.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Good advice!

[@ebikecnx7239]

Thanks for watching! Yes, we forgot to mention that nice feature. Stay tuned as we found what is basically a "mini titanium M40" that can hold a canteen bottle and basically can also use any fuel, Esbit, alcohol, examine or twigs too...

[@hydraman5]

I believe the rings were for your bayonet to slide through.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

​@@hydraman5 Or a stick.

[@kevinjohnson9533]

The burner of a Swedish mess kit is big and rugged and differs from a Trangia burner. That PFM40 is sure pretty, good looking piece of kit.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Some were made by SVEA, some made by Trangia.

[@ebikecnx7239]

That's correct, the military burner is bigger and has no simmer ring. Thanks for watching!

[@ebikecnx7239]

Sorry about the wind noise on the video but it was gusting 50kph winds (31mph) and we wanted to test out the PFM40 in realistic conditions and it did perform well. Everything was almost flying away and the stove was rocking in the wind but we did manage to boil water and cook two eggs without a secondary windscreen which would have helped. Amazingly the hot frying pan and smoking oil seasoned the steel so that the eggs did not stick at all, and thankfully we found some gloves as the handles do get really hot to the touch!

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Shake and bake Ricky Bobby!!

[@rivers351]

You could try boiling a little water in the main pot and let the heat from the steam cook the eggs in the smaller pan. It might help the eggs from scorching onto the pan.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Good idea❤

[@ebikecnx7239]

Great idea for our next time we fire it up! Thanks for the great suggestion!

[@ebikecnx7239]

Well, having done some online research, we found the 100c temperature using a "double boiler" method of steam heating the frying pan would be enough to make creamy scrambled eggs, but not hot enough to fry eggs. As we like our scrambled eggs on the dry side, and fried eggs over hard, not soft and runny, this may not be best for us. However, it is worth a try.... The frying pan got seasoned by the smoking hot oil and there was no sticking anyway. We cleaned it by wiping with a paper towel.

[@rivers351]

@@ebikecnx7239 I use to use the USGI mess kit to cook on. I would use the one that has the double compartment and fill it with water and place it over the coals and the other half of the mess kit I would place it on top of it to cook on...plus you have your hot water to make coffee or what have you. I did cook eggs and bacon and some few other things with that method...works fine.

[@ebikecnx7239]

@@rivers351 thanks, will try that

[@TwoTubesADV]

Trangia any day of the week

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Yes, ❤ alcohol cooking. Quiet and enjoy nature

[@ebikecnx7239]

Thanks for watching! Agreed, way better than noisy cooking systems that sound like a jet engine.

[@ebikecnx7239]

@@fromtheflightdeck252 thanks for the kind comments

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Hot frying pan seasoned well with the oil❤then eggs came out great

[@ebikecnx7239]

Great to hear!

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

​@ebikecnx7239 good burn, good first burn😂

[@staginglightingsensation8505]

This kit is awesome the only thing I was not ok with was the aluminum rivets. Why not spotweld it like the kidney canteen cup. The aluminum on mine started pitting

[@ebikecnx7239]

Are the rivets really aluminum? That's not so good, it is supposed to be 100% stainless steel.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Is it 100% steel or not?

[@ebikecnx7239]

When did you buy yours? We took a look at ours and they appear to be stainless steel rivets, not a dull shine like aluminum but a bringht steel shine. Is it possible?

[@szaki]

I still have the original M45 Swiss mess kit. It boils water about in 4-5 min. It's heavier than the Pathfinder, which is 32 oz, the original is 37 oz., not the end of the world far as weight difference. But once it's loaded up with fuel bottle, burner, matches, utensils etc... it hit's 68 oz on the scale. But the original M45 is built like a tank, I think!

[@ebikecnx7239]

Thanks for watching and your comments. It's probably the M44 you're referring to? In aluminum? There is the M40 from 1940 in stainless steel and then the aluminium M44 from 1944.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Are you from Australia? 🇦🇺

[@szaki]

@@fromtheflightdeck252 California! Hurrah! 😁😁👌👌

[@szaki]

@@ebikecnx7239 Mine is SST, not aluminum! Stamped NC 66, burner 68, what ever it means?

[@ebikecnx7239]

@@szaki the numbers are the year, e.g. 66 is 1966, and the letters indicate the manufacturer who had the contract

[@michellehansen1563]

You probably should have closed the simmer ring a bit more. You had it wide open and that didn't do much. A wind screen would have been very helpful. Thanks for showing the product in use.

[@ebikecnx7239]

Thanks for the tips! Yes, simmer ring should have been about half open but it was so windy this actually worked ok. Thanks for watching!

[@rusty9045]

You mentioned the nalgene bottles (canteen) not breaking. Believe me they break. When standing on a flat surface like your table, if for any reason they fall to the deck, the neck of the canteen bottle will break. Wind alone will cause them to fall over. Everyone of my nalgene bottles has been broken this way. I've switched to the Finnish canteen bottle that's made of a slightly softer plastic that is SAFE for human use. The Finnish bottle costs less, more durable, and its labeling indicates it is safer to use. You can google and find it easily. Look to the finns.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Good to know that, thanks❤

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

What is the name of the brand?

[@ebikecnx7239]

Thanks for watching! Good to know. Actually this new Nalgene canteen bottle is slightly flexible it might be that same material. It is not Tritan.

[@pawoutdoors9290]

Nice review. The stuff is way too pricey up here in the great white North. Shipping plus the dollar exchange. Ugh.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Take a trip south and pick it up. Get it delivered to a friend. Buy two and sell one in Canada for more...and hopefully Truedope will be gone soon and things will get better!

[@ebikecnx7239]

Tell me about it! Best tip is to have a friend in US pick one up for you and then go south on a vacation!

[@rap36case]

Why do backpackers never have enough drinkable water?

[@ebikecnx7239]

Thanks for watching. Water is an issue as it's so heavy to carry at 1000kg per cubic metre. Water is essential but it's density is an issue. Plus you need a way to sterilize it in the wild.

[@PaulRaymond-fd4hx]

Very nice! I like it! My only issue. The alcohol. It has limitations. That's why My preference is a wood burning stove! But having said that, I still very much like this system. End.

[@ebikecnx7239]

Thanks for watching. We never really were keen on alcohol in UK where it is that horrible purple "methylated spirits" which leaves soot and smells awful. But now we live where we can get 99% pure colorless methanol and ethanol it is great, as we like the peace and quiet and gentle cooking, rather than a roaring gas stove.

[@PaulRaymond-fd4hx]

@ebikecnx7239 Agreed!

[@ebikecnx7239]

We have used Esbit/hexamine, charcoal and twigs now under the pots and all work great too. No warping of the steel.

[@ebikecnx7239]

@@PaulRaymond-fd4hx You know what it's like!

[@TheRealJackOfTrades]

Excellent review

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Agreed

[@ebikecnx7239]

Glad you liked it! Best regards!

[@ebikecnx7239]

Thank you kindly

[@suriyaprom74]

Yes

[@mingus6929]

Everclear burns well too

[@ebikecnx7239]

Thanks right, pure ethanol is a great fuel.

[@ebikecnx7239]

Everclear being clear and pure also is good for First Aid, drinking and starting fires!

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

​@@ebikecnx7239 It's like vodka, but kind of expensive to use as fuel😂

[@ebikecnx7239]

@@fromtheflightdeck252 yes, lots of uses as a strong tipple, first aid sterilizer and fuel.

[@suriyaprom74]

Pure ethanol

[@in0124]

I have this and its a good strond sturdy kit, my only issue is the combined weight of it , more often than not it gets left behind for my titanium gear

[@ebikecnx7239]

Thanks for watching and your comments, we agree, it's great for the money, a bit heavy but still good for 2 or 3 people.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

​@ebikecnx7239 we like stainless 304 over aluminum any day..safer!

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

For a mini, titanium M40 look at the Boundless Voyage 2-in-1 stove and canteen cup. It can be adapted to be a titanium M40 for one person.

[@ebikecnx7239]

@@fromtheflightdeck252 We just took a look and ordered one! Looks like a mess kit for one that will hold a canteen bottle, and the canteen cup/pot has a bail handle like the M40!!!! Possibilities here....

[@ianbredell5159]

Hope you picked up your litter!

[@ebikecnx7239]

Yes, all egg shells and paper that blew away were cleared away. Leave no trace.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

😂

[@eriklittlebigg7440]

Just curious. What kind of oil do you use? Olive oil?

[@ebikecnx7239]

Yes we used extra virgin olive oil as that was all that we had. Plus a bit of butter on top on the oil makes all the difference in making eggs not stick. Avocado oil would be our first choice normally for frying due to a higher smoke point. Thanks for watching!

[@eriklittlebigg7440]

@ebikecnx7239 Thanks Mate!! P.S. your eggs looked delicious!!

[@70cimabue]

Use the pot with the handle as the “pot” and the cover with the wire handle as the lid…..you had it reversed

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Right on!

[@ebikecnx7239]

Thanks for the tip!

[@questions6746]

Predates the trangias? When was the first trangia?

[@ebikecnx7239]

We first used them at Outward Bound Mountain School in the 1980s so they must have come out with the aluminium round stormcooker in the 70s or 80s. This military design is from 1940.

[@ebikecnx7239]

There is a round aluminum Trangia style Swedish military set called the Ranger stove too...not sure if that predates the civilian camping Trangia sets.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

And of course Trangia and Svea and probably other companies were both making the windshields and burners for the M40/M44 sets in the 50s and 60s and into the 70s..

[@questions6746]

@ebikecnx7239 Yes. Maybe I was wrong but I thought the round Trangia storm cookers first came out before WW2.

[@questions6746]

@@fromtheflightdeck252 I found that they came out with the 25 from 1951... they were only doing various cookware prior to that.... I understand that only the burner in the Swedish mess kit is by Trangia. The rest is by other Swedish companies.

[@suriyaprom74]

Good video ❤

[@ebikecnx7239]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Agreed 😮

[@SuperDonald64]

Teeth grinder video Real world nice

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

😮

[@ebikecnx7239]

Thanks for watching! We do everything real world, unbiased and really just random stuff that interests us.

[@ebikecnx7239]

Friends, stay tuned for a new video in a couple of days for a super lightweight titanium alternative to the M40/PFM40. If, like some commentators, you like a USGI style canteen cup cookset for one or two people then we have found a great product in titanium. It's like a titanium mini-M40 that holds a Nalgene Oasis or Keith/Heavy Cover titanium canteen bottle. Coming soon to this channel....

[@James-ke5sx]

Great stove. Methanol can also be absorbed through your skin and poison you.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Yes don't drink it, wash hands if spilled on hands, otherwise burns perfectly cleanly.

[@ebikecnx7239]

True, but the Trangia fuel bottle, and similar storage, make spills rare and it would take a lot of ingestion to cause toxicity like that seen in "winoes" who used to drink methanol and eventually go blind from damage to the optic nerves.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

​@@ebikecnx7239winoes would drink any alcohol even marine fuel alcohol

[@scuzzytwo7556]

I have one very nice.

[@ebikecnx7239]

Good to hear, thanks for watching!!

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Good purchase

[@Funkteon]

This kit looks great, but like all stainless steel, it's a hassle to clean if you cook anything other than water in it. A better alternative is the non-stick, grey-coloured GSI Soloist. It includes a neoprene-insulated bowl that doubles as a cup with a sippy lid, and it can fit a Trangia stove in an Alocs stand. The 3F-UL roll-up windshield fits perfectly around the Alocs stand, which nests inside the bowl. You can also store small items, such as a lighter, a towel, and even a collapsible silicone funnel for transferring unused alcohol back into the fuel bottle, on top of the Trangia burner. The GSI Soloist's non-stick coating means you won’t need to bring oil or butter to prevent food and sauces from sticking to the cooking surface. While the Soloist doesn’t include a frying pan like the Pathfinder M40 Mess Kit, you can find 14cm non-stick folding handle frying pans on AliExpress that nest perfectly on top of the pot, allowing you to fry eggs without worrying about burning or sticking. My advice to anyone getting into camping is to never take anything that requires more water and scrubbing to clean.

[@ebikecnx7239]

not necessarily...our eggs did not stick at all and the frying pan just was wiped out with a paper towel afterwards, it really depends on the food and the heat (use a simmer ring) and we prefer stainless steel to the possible dangers of aluminum.

[@CorscaddenSalvato]

Spending $20,000 on a tote bag is the obvious choice, rather than spending $200 on a kislux bag and investing the remaining $19,800 since a $20,000 bag is unlikely to increase in value.

[@ebikecnx7239]

All righty then!

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Whatever....😂

[@SingermanRyun]

But the question is, is the real thing worth a few thousand dollars more than a kislux fake? To me, given the lack of lustre quality of modern luxury goods, it really isn't.

[@ebikecnx7239]

What?

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Cool😂

[@ebikecnx7239]

We are very happy with the Pathfinder PFM40 as it cooks well and is perfect for outdoor cooking for two or three people. The 304 stainless steel makes this a much better alternative to the aluminum Swedish M44 mess kit of which it is a reproduction, at a fraction of the cost.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

I would add, though, for me, if you can find the stainless steel Swedish M40 at a reasonable price grab it!😊

[@WisdomInTheWoods]

I don’t do Starbucks due to their politics against the military

[@ebikecnx7239]

We have only ever bought their Via as it's good to show in a video. Normally, we use an Aeropress Go or a Picopresso (for espresso) as we roast our own green beans. Starbucks we agree is awful in so many ways..

[@ebikecnx7239]

We recommend, if you can, finding a source of green coffee beans and roasting your own fresh beans. We started with a popcorn popper, and then a hot air gun, and graduated to a tiny steelmdrum roaster and from some of our earlier videos on roasting you can see how easy it is.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

​@ebikecnx7239 good advice, even a cast iron pan will do in a pinch!😂

[@WisdomInTheWoods]

@ I will definitely keep you in mind!

[@JohnAlot]

Pathfinder equipment is made of steel, is WAY TOO HEAVY, so it is NOT conducive to hiking long distances. I bought the Pathfinder & HATE IT. I went ahead & got the aluminum, Swedish kit & love it.

[@suislidesullivan]

The reason why all the modern reproductions are stainless or titanium is we now know that aluminum is really bad for us, it’s been linked to Alzheimer’s and it’s why deodorants clearly mark if they use aluminum oxide as an ingredient these days. In my personal opinion stainless is way nicer to cook with too. I wish someone would make aluminum stuff with modern ceramic non stick coatings for the best of both worlds but it would probably end up costing the same as titanium at that point.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Steel from 1940 is actually very "clean" and less likely to cause diseases than aluminuum. I got a stainless steel M40 for that reason.

[@ebikecnx7239]

@@fromtheflightdeck252 and also less radioactive!

[@ebikecnx7239]

@@suislidesullivan Agreed! We also found a lightweight titanium system that is like a "mini titanium M40" that holds a canteen bottle and basically can also use any fuel such as wood, charcoal, alcohol and Esbit/hexamine. It doesn't have a frypan but is super-lightweight and there will be a video on it in 2 or 3 more days!

[@ebikecnx7239]

Stay tuned as we found what is basically a titanium mini M40! Making a video on it in next 2 or 3 days...

[@whitefox1378]

Ты хороший клоун, сынок.

[@ebikecnx7239]

Thanks for watching!

[@NihasLaurito]

It's just another way of saying "ghetto" for poor people wearing imitations. BUTTTTT It's a smart investment when rich people do it kislux

[@ebikecnx7239]

Thanks for watching!

[@stevemccallum6429]

If you can’t use some wood it’s useless

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Yes you CAN burn wood, it's steel so not like the OEM M40❤

[@ebikecnx7239]

@@fromtheflightdeck252 True, AND can burn charcoal or Esbit/hexamine under this puppy too!

[@ebikecnx7239]

Yes it's good for a twig stove if you run out of spirits! Thanks for watching!

[@suriyaprom74]

That's what she said!😂

[@ebikecnx7239]

@@suriyaprom74 hahaha

[@ZenkeAilor]

If you have to go through so much trouble to tell a fake is a fake, then I don't understand why you would make such a fuss about buying the real thing. I would happily buy a fake kislux and have no shame in admitting it is a fake

[@ebikecnx7239]

It is not a fake, it is a good modern reproduction of the aluminum M40 in stainless steel so it is food safe like the original M40 (which was in steel, but hard to find and very expensive if you do find one for sale). The advantage of the PFM40 is also that the windshield is also manufactured in steel and therefore could hold a wood fire without melting. The Swedish kit comes with an aluminum windshield even the M40 and that is not so great if you want a wood fire inside. Thanks for watching and your comments. It is a very good reproduction of the M44.

[@suriyaprom74]

Reproduction of good quality

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

​@@suriyaprom74 correct.

[@g-r-a-e-m-e-]

It looks like something you can carry readily in a bag. And the built-in wind protection is good. But apart from that, I don't really like the design. Especially the frying which looks like a pain. The Trangia seems better - only lacks pot lids, which you can buy separately or from other companies.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

​@g-r-a-e-m-e- I like Trangia too but don't like their aluminum pots, stainless steel is safer.

[@johnny56g]

I get so sick of people saying things were made in China that it makes my butt itch. So fn what?

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Some top products like Yeti cups are made in China, it all depends on the level of QC. Pathfinder products are great..

[@ebikecnx7239]

Thanks for watching! Yes, this is great quality and we're happy with it.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

​@@ebikecnx7239 true 👍

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

My Chinese-made Kershaw knives are just as good as the US-made ones at a fraction of the price.

[@michaelkaiser8599]

Made in china

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

Yes, but this is a quality product and well made. China produces some very good things with proper quality control in place. Dave Canterbury stands by his products.

[@ebikecnx7239]

Yes, but it is a reasonable price compared to the M40, and has a great lifetime warranty. Made in China is not a negative, as it's all 304 stainless steel and just as useful as my $150 M40.

[@asmith7876]

Dave C. has an excellent video explaining how modern manufacturing works. Find a shop in the USA to make this for under $100 and I'm sure he'd jump on it. He explains in great detail why his stuff is often made in China, but also why it still carries a lifetime guarantee. It's a great kit, and lighter than the original while being still robust.

[@fromtheflightdeck252]

​@asmith7876 so true..and lifetime warranty is great❤