Ultralight Gear V Bushcraft Gear | What's better? YOUR KEY ITEMS REVIEWED

[@bolby5081]

My two cents is that there is a big difference between ultralight gear and "going ultralight". The former is a marketing term, and the latter has more overlap with bushcraft than a lot of people think. "Going ultralight" has a lot to do with simply carrying less stuff-- the lightest gear in the world is still heavy if you carry enough of it. Like Mors Kochanski said, "the more you know, the less you carry". The absolute essentials are generally the heaviest, and what I'll pay a bit more for to keep from cutting corners. If I want to shed as much weight as possible, I'll start leaving out things that aren't necessary. If I don't want to bring my axe or saw, I'll rely on knowledge by processing wood with a knife and breaking logs with leverage between trees, or not have a fire and stay warm with proper campsite selection and planning ahead to pack appropriately. In short ultralight gear is things that are lightweight, but being ultralight is carrying more knowledge than gadgets, which is not mutually exclusive with bushcraft. They benefit from each other.

[@stuartwarner6719]

@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683 James is right. Only thing I can add is that in the UL crowd the priorities are on minimalism of the number of items, prioritizing multi-use items, and prioritizing the lightest items that will work in the environment you plan on visiting for the time you plan to be there. Some of the UL vocab is illuminating: "luxury items" are things that are not strictly essential for your trip, but increase your comfort or allow you to do other leisure activities. "stupid light" is a term for gear that may well be super light but is just not worth the accompanying hassle or lack of flexibility that you cannot overcome with knowledge/technique (e.g. that chord saw you tested in this video was clearly stupid-light to the point of being nonfunctional). All of this UL philosophy was nailed down even before the Ray Jardine books of the early 90s, but some "controversy" will not go away.... seriously, you see questions like "due to it's lack of multi-use and having functionality only in low-wind days of either heavy rain or strong sun, is the umbrella a luxury item?" Sigh. Clearly, people spend a lot of time surfing the web and dreaming about their next trip.

[@bolby5081]

@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683 Good distinction, and one I wish was used more. I think going ultralight requires going minimalist, but one could definitely go minimalist with sturdier bushcraft items.

[@redpillnibbler4423]

For sleep systems/tents check out what ultralight backpackers use,they’ve sussed it out.

[@dannynimmo3052]

You said a lot there brother. Thats actually a very awesome statement. There's so many variables, makes it hard to simplify, but you did a pretty good job right there

[@bastiend7953]

Hey there, French soldier here. The little metal sheet/bar you mentioned is actually to grab onto the side of the ration metallic box. You fold that and it makes a clamp to grab the lip of the can so you don’t burn yourself when you’re done cooking. O7

[@banksarenotyourfriends]

I love how kit that is marketed as 'emergency/survival' kit is always exactly the sort of thing you wouldn't want to rely on if you were going through an emergency or survival situation. They're made by the sort of people that would market a ball of string as 'compact ultralight survival rope'.

[@FloridaPete1948]

@@banksarenotyourfriends My Pocket Rocket is simple and pretty much bomb proof( or has been for years) until... the temps here in Montana go down to -20C. Then not so much. Then it's my Coleman fuel backpacking stove. I agree about banks :) Gold and silver are my friends ✌✌👍👍👍👍

[@banksarenotyourfriends]

@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683 Pete was actually replying to something else I'd said, but I edited it to include a source and KZbin deleted the comment... The summary of what I said is that, Butane is more efficient (by weight and by volume) than meths is, by about 30%.

[@iankiff4243]

Just a quick point about Alcohol stoves they can be filled and the lid put on because of the o-ring and a smaller bottle to refill a couple of times depending on how long you will be in the field for and how many meals and drinks you will need. A full fill will give you at least 30 minutes burn time bringing water to a boil in 10 minutes where as a gas stove small canister gives you about 1hr 20 mins bring water to a boil in half the time but there is no way of knowing when it will run out unless you have jotted down the times of every cook on that canister. I learnt to cut my teeth on the hexi burners when in the army I don't use them any more even though I still have 3 of them but keep them for sentiment reasons. Hope this helps anyone who reads this. Take care and stay safe 👍

[@HobbiesAndSunshine]

Indeed, that's what I like about alcohol stoves, I carry just a little more than the fuel I need.

[@iankiff4243]

@@HobbiesAndSunshine yeah I know it all comes down to preference but they are my chosen stoves and they are bomb proof. Thanks for taking the time to comment 👍

[@pykok]

you can always weight your gas canister and take a note (not very convenient in the field)

[@paulwheble3690]

All very good points; when tramping in NZ I used part-used gas canisters (can't bring them on the plane) and weighed them all on kitchen scales and marked the bottoms. That way I could see which were fuller or emptier and guestimate cooking capacity

[@alexplummer]

Just weigh a full can and compare to the weight of your can, the weight of gas is listed so you can work out the remaining percentage

[@lawrencee9655]

I’m at an age where I prefer that little bit of comfort/peace-of-mind, to the UL stuff. It comes with consequences but I sleep well, eat well and enjoy my time out. I use gas on overnighters and meths/denatured alcohol when in winter or longer hikes - btw remember that drop of water in your alcohol burner to reduce soot build up. The solace of a slower, quieter cooking experience over the volcanic roar of a gas burner can also have its charms. Keep it up Nick. I also have a collapsible twig burner for ‘company’ or cooking, too.

[@robertbates6057]

Obviously the gas burners are hotter / faster but the alcohol burners can run on multiple fuel types and can be bought at any gas station. Also, I agree with Lawrence about noise AND I recently bought the cheap Lixada combo of alcohol / wood. Folds up flat and will take a larger pot / pan.

[@veritas6931]

This is an awesome channel. Having ego free advice from an experienced warrior is priceless. I am just getting into prepping in UK and your advice will literally save lives. Thank you 🇬🇧

[@scotty5717]

I could watch new uploads weekly.. Knowledgeable, no BS reviews, recommendations of equipment, great demonstrations of bushcraft and camping.

[@RHJNewcombe]

The ‘Hungarian’ cooker is the Swedish army meths cooker and part of the Swedish m40 or m44 cook set and windshield. Some surplus companies selling spare windshield and cooker with Hungarian mess kit. I enjoyed your video thank you

[@neonsamurai1348]

The energy efficiency vs weight is pretty close. Gas fuel has about twice the energy available per kilogram (around 50.3 MJ/kg for gas, and ethanol is about 25). The kicker though is the gas tank itself will add another 1/3rd or more to the total weight, where as an alcohol package can add little to none (you can always stick the alcohol into the stove before you leave). Personally I prefer a titanium flattening wood mini stove, with the trangia as a backup.

[@redpillnibbler4423]

A flat pack wood stove can be adapted to use as a spirit/Esbit holder and 3 sides used as a windbreak for a ‘remote’ type gas burner as well so it’s a 4 in 1 deal.

[@Sceadusawol]

The titanium flat-pack wood/multifuel stoves are, for me, well worth the purchase. The one I have came with a metal case that I fill with tinder. Not only does it keep the stove pieces together, but it also keeps tinder dry and on hand. Couple that with a single-wall steel or titanium cup and a spork, and you have a pretty comprehensive cook set.

[@ritchie3x3]

I found that without proper windshielding neither option works great. So a ti-bushbox always comes in handy.

[@casinodelonge]

I was lucky enough in the late 80's to be browsing in an Army Surplus shop in Sheffield and came across a little stove that looked a little like an anti-personnel mine, 2 hemispheres which houses a little regulator and a gas tube, you fitted each half of the shells back to back. It was a god send. I'd have brewed up, drank it and packed up while the other lads were still farting about with their hexi-stoves. I loved that thing.

[@Ronin6069]

When I was in, it was all hexi's with ali mess tins which blackened when cooking on them. A prolonged wipe over grass cleared up most of the soot. Wasn't long before I bought a small camping gas stove. Cooking was a delight, well as far as a delight from compo rations, the tinned stuff you can get from the 10 man ration pack. All in all, no regrets. Loved the lessons learnt.

[@dominicschaeffer909]

as i obsessed about getting the trangia cooker for many months- and not using amazon ever- i happened to be at a thrift store and found a classic fondue pot with stand that holds a can of good ol’ fashion Sterno. same size as a trangia it fits right in the stand and comes with its own fuel gel. one can lasts 3-4 hours. i put a strip of thick aluminum from a disposable roasting pan and wrapped it around the legs of the stand as a wind-break. the stand also fits securely on my pocket rocket and holds any kind of cooking pot/pan from the Stanley nesting cup to a small cast iron skillet. Takeaway: i got into the DIY mindset thanks to these vids. Thanks, Nick!

[@TheSaneHatter]

What occurs to me about that French "folding stove" is that it could be used as an ultra-thin layer inside one of those military-style "pocket survival tins," as a way to use the tin itself, the lid, and/or the included candle for emergency water-boiling. It certainly seems to belong to the same category of last-ditch, emergency-use gear.

[@davidwhittington7638]

That's what I use the French ultralight stove for.. Well spotted.

[@casinodelonge]

@@davidwhittington7638 I believe it is ideal for cooking snails (one at a time) and frogs legs (depending on the size of the frog).

[@melaniedebagheera7082]

@@casinodelonge 😂

[@murphy7801]

You get one per ration kit in the french rations. Also french use metal tins for rations because they like fancy things like Duck cassoulet. Just slightly undo the ring pull sit tin on the esbit and let it simmer. Fairly good system since don't have to resuse the esbit.

[@MarcS-zu1qf]

I use my almost 30 years old ESBIT Stove everywere before, during and after my time in the army. Solid, light and reliable. If necessary runs with Wood. Thx for a really interesting Video once more. 👍👍👍

[@NoxiousNoodles]

All depends on context. In most cases, ultralight stuff is overkill, but in some cases (alpine, running the OMM etc) it makes sense. All useful tools, just got to consider what is appropriate for your use case.

[@alexchichigin]

@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683 yeah, you've said essentially the same thing in the video. Just to let you know you weren't unclear on this point. :)

[@BlondiniActual]

Great content, the hexi block is made to work on surface area… so break a block in to 4 and it provides half as much more heat than a single block. And of course more black crap to clean off. Cold tea bag.. if you know you know

[@rnew1262]

Hi, I commented on one of your videos that I'd prefer a trangia than a gas bottle because of the no noise while burning. Got to say this is a really good video, you make a lot of sense highlighting safety before going light as possible. Thank you

[@XIIOSRS]

About the saws, I have the nordic pocket chainsaw, silky and the laplander: In a scenario where I had to only choose one, for years and years of use, it'd be the laplander. Easily. The blade is so forgiving - it's slower, but reliable. In camping trips, overnighters or short use, it'd be the silky because it requries much less effort than the other two saws but is more prone to snapping if it gets caught. The pocket chainsaw is a great bit of kit, you will find yourself burning a similar amount of calories to the laplander, but I love that it's compact and highly durable.

[@walkerone9833]

Interesting how it was no problem lighting the pocket rocket w/a lighter but you were willing to scrap a Jetboil because the piezo igniter was faulty. If you turned the French mini cooker 90 degrees the little bit of extra length should stabilize the Crusader cup a little better. I can see that this unit should be a last alternative as you said it is not built for durability. Bic lighters now make a lighter w/a plastic 1 inch extension for the flame. It makes lighting alcohol stove, solid fuel and folding box stoves ssssoooo much easier. Great vid. Thanks!

[@fireforger9192]

When I was in the mob we never had crusader mugs, however I did buy myself a metal black mug that fitted my issue water bottle and pouch still have this and it's bombproof. Initially when I was in basic and we went on adventure training I bought myself a miniature camping Gaz stove that came with 2 little pans that you put the stove into when not in use, it was good however quickly realised not that tactical. After a few years came across the alcohol gel burners and bought one with a clip on attachment that a mess tin or my metal fitted on really good, lit easily every time quiet and got hot quick. Much better than hexy blocks which I agree I will never forget the smell! One thing I would say is ultra light has its place but generally from experience is more expensive and doesn't stand up to hard use. Just my opinion for all you climbers, good video bought back some memories take it easy.

[@andykjohnsonjohnson7622]

Nice video 👍, fabulous advice & information. I use the folding fox stove myself. I Was a Lance Corporal in Royal Artillery England, in my younger years, Teaching cadets survival skills . Now I live in B.C 🇨🇦 😃. The training & skills I learned really helped me, got thow hard times. Obtaining food & resources from the, surrounding areas. When cash 💸 flow is low . Salmon, Crayfish ,trout , Mushrooms. If it's fresh & Free 👍😋😋😋. They should really teach kids at school about self survival skills 🤔.

[@gavindownes2953]

I have to say, after viewing all of your videos, just brilliantly done. Really informative and very very honest which I like more than anything because your not promoting what you get paid for. Great content as always. 👍

[@oaknhazel541]

Another winner with this one! George W Sears "Nessmuk" might disagree with the freeze at night bit! He was the king of ultralight over 150 years ago! That being said, I really appreciate your assessment of the pocket chainsaw. I've often wondered about those but you are the first ive seen take it seriously and actually do a demo with it! That Kevlar Saw was terrible! As I said, another great video, thank you so much for your time!

[@ionageman]

Just ordered my first hike backpack since I was in scouts 40 years ago .. because of your videos . I love camping and have done it all my life . I’ll take stainless steel over cheap aluminium every time . A berghaus , trailhead 65

[@jakebow5823]

Hi mate, I know you have probably heard this a million times, but the pathfinder canteen cup lid fits the crusader cup almost perfectly, cheer!

[@FloridaPete1948]

Great show as always Nick. I enjoy your straight forward, no BS presentation! I've had a Pocket Rocket for years. One can buy a three leg folding gas cannister support that makes it much more stable. There are several versions on the market but the MSR one is best imo. It works very well and is inexpensive.

[@redpillnibbler4423]

It also keeps it off the cold ground 👍

[@johnschmalbach8243]

For making the Jet Boil into a Billy pot you don't actually have to drill holes. You can take a thin steel cable and loop it through 2 ferrules. When you crimp them only crimp one side of each. This then allows you to slide the cable along creating an adjustable pot bail that can fit different sized pots/cups, so long as they have a lip like the Jetboil. Lonny of Far North Bushcraft and Survival has an excellent tutorial on making one.

[@ozdavemcgee2079]

@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683 the bushcraft cave has a vid on it. Basically old bike brake cabel and a few brass wire connecters from old light switch. Ppl put it on ss Nalgene water bottle viola a billy can and pretty bomproof. Boil water or scew in lifestraw adapter

[@medic7698]

For the French esbit stoves, go to Nathan's MREs to see how they work. Look for the French rations videos.

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

The Italian MREs have mini Esbit stoves as well

[@medic7698]

@@baronedipiemonte3990 I think quite a few countries have used them or something similar over the years. Personally I used a small gas stove.

[@garystroud6153]

I have several circa 1950 "Boys Own" type camping "how to" books. Most of the stuff is of interest only but one tip is for windbreaks, primarily for cycle campers but worth a thought. "Carry four spare spokes (obviously ones that fit your wheel) add a yard or so of light canvas about a foot wide with a turn up at each end that a spoke will pass through. Push the spokes into the ground in a square round your stove". I have something similar that my late wife's uncle made years ago for himself, I have used it and it works! You can adjust the height to allow air under the edge and still shelter the pot, I used it with a little Primus stove just to see if it worked and was surprised how effective it was. Haven't tried it with my Trangia 27 as generally only use it with the kettle for tea stops but I guess it would help if I used a pot that sticks out the top. Given modern stainless spokes, or similar rod, and modern fabrics a very light but efficient screen could be produced. My training in campcraft started with my ex army dad, progressed via instructing R & I parties out of HMS Sultan (A long time ago now but we tried a range of stoves to find one that was "Jackproof" and hard to break, the Trangia won), through a time as a scout leader and an awful lot of errors with family and diving groups "under canvas". I have an EDC bag that lives in the car, when I'm out and about, with a Coleman multi fuel stove, not the lightest but I'm not carrying it, and most of the other things you have listed plus a plastic snow shovel. We used a Kelly kettle when we took a trip round the top of Scotland, with a loaded car, for ease of use at stops. I just took a pair of secateurs off into the heather and found a few dead and dry bits, a few drops of BBQ starter gel and we were away. Obviously filled it before starting out but it gave us a big mug of tea and a cup-a-soup each too plus enough hot water left over to rinse out the mugs. Somewhere in the back of the garage I have what must be a second world war army issue chainsaw. It weighs a ton and I suspect it is designed for two man use but it coils up into a canvas carry bag, I used to keep it in the camper van when we had one after being held up for half a day by a downed tree in Wales, unable to turn round and retreat because of other trees down and, thankfully, undamaged other traffic blocking the road. I'll keep an eye out for the Nordic version. Great work Nick loving the VLOGS.

[@rialobran]

Have to be honest it's my 35 year old Trangia all day long for me, with the BCB Mk2 Crusader cooker. I find 150ml of fuel will easily last me 24 hrs, and on the couple of occasions it hasn't the Mk2 doubles as a stick/hexi stove (or cow chips on one trip) It's worked in blizzard conditions when gas has failed and at the end of the day, which of those other stoves will still be going in 35 years?

[@FloridaPete1948]

I have a Trangia as a backup for my Pocket Rocket. Stove and Fuel for a weekend weighs close to nothing.

[@rialobran]

@@FloridaPete1948 Whereabouts in Montana are you? I love Montana, especially the Bridger Mountains outside of Bozeman.

[@FloridaPete1948]

@@rialobranNW MT. Lived in Whitefish for 17 years and here in Kalispell for last 2 years. Moving back to childhood home in Florida next April. My "thing" is hiking and camping for photography. I do that a lot in Glacier Park. That said, this area has become OVERRUN with people in the last 5 years. It is not fun anymore. Plus family issues and that I don't have the robust health I used to have, prices skyrocketing, I'm leaving. It's beautiful here but all these people will soon screw it up.

[@FloridaPete1948]

@@rialobran Beautiful area, the Bridger Mts but far too liberal in Bozeman. May as will be in Kalifornia. 😎😎

[@rialobran]

@@FloridaPete1948 😂I go for the scenery not the politics, I've not met someone in Montana I didn't like yet, that's all that matters

[@Revup1]

It worries me that I have somehow ended up with almost exactly the same cook kit. MSR pot, Stanley cook set, Crusader mug (BCB 1996!), MSR pocket rocket, trangia burner, and a crap load of buckshee hexy! I find the Trangia (with a triangle pot stand) to be the best for one day or over nighters. For longer stints it has to be gas. I don't have a jet boil, but a long time ago invested in a primus multifuel stove that sounds like a jet fighter, but isn't very 'tac'. I'd also sing the praises of a little wood burning gasifying stove, not practical when on the move, because it takes too long to get going and cool down, but great for static camping.....though I guess you would prefer an open fire in those situations. I tend to mix and match according to task. I've never trusted the ultra light kit, but then I've been 'indoctrinated' (or is it institutionalised) into a particular way of thinking when it comes to kit (robust, indestructible, cheap as chips!)

[@BlesamaSoul]

Primus multifuel is a great bit of kit, if you can get the Ti version it is easy to carry, but as you say (even with the silencer added) you would never want to use that in a tactical situation as it sounds like a Typhoon warming up on an RAF base

[@Revup1]

@@BlesamaSoul I bought mine for a trip to Africa in the 90's. Thought if I couldn't find gas bottles I could always use something else. I discovered Africa to be so hospitable that I never needed to use it (not much anyway).......though if I ever see another bowl of millet porridge I'll hurl! I use the primus now on high level stuff (Munro bagging) because its invulnerable to the wind and fast to boil.

[@psocretes8183]

The thing with Trangia burners is that they can burn all sorts of fuel. I use meths but have used petrol and vegetable oil. The litre bottle of fuel would last a long time. About a week.

[@sujiut]

No - you have not used petrol in a Trangia. You may have used diesel, if you were desperate, but petrol will qualify you for a Darwin Award (i.e. improving the gene pool by removing yourself from it).

[@Revup1]

@@sujiut YES Sujiut you are right, DON'T USE PETROL IN A TRANGIA!!!! You can however use petrol (more correctly petrol gasified) in a Primus Multifuel stove.

[@duvessa2003]

The Stanley Adventure Camp Cook Set, which consists of a 24oz kettle with 2 nesting mugs, can be had for 15 US Dollars. It’s a well designed piece of equipment at a modest price.

[@LundysWildcampBushcraft]

Go light stay cold at night couldn't agree more my saying is if you can carrie it take best to be comfortable than have a bad night out atvb Jimmy 😎😎👍👍

[@martinerhard8447]

Go light stay cold at night? Sounds pretty dumb considering how lightweight modern sleeping pads and down bags are.

[@davidwhittington7638]

I would like to thank are video host Nick, for his expertise, and straight forward presentation. As an ex Squaddie, I was and still, are trying to find that prefect solution to the equation of weight v practicality.. Each item shown is useful in its own setting. The French stove for instance, looks similar to the Russian folding stove found in Russian food ration's. I'm not sure if the French have bothered to put their flimsy stoves in their rations or not. For me this French stove is for an escape and evasion kit, where size and weight are crucial. If you add a bottom tray bellow the stove, you can get away with using natural materials, to boil a cup of tea. Regarding cups, the Crusader Cup, is a copy of the American GI cup, used in WW2. I use to use the original metal made cups that were created for our water bottles, back in the day, that had lids you could fry food on.. I still use this type of cup on long hikes, with the Belgium and French style stoves, sometimes known us NATO stoves. It fits round the bottom of the cup perfectly for storing, and is lighter than a lot of others solid fuel stoves. Having used, most of the stoves presented, I shy away from fueled stoves, such as gas and fluids, unless in very cold snowy conditions. However it must be remembered for those climbing heights, some pressurized stoves will not operate at certain altitudes. In the end, I personally, use small folding stoves, for survival boxes, Esbit or NATO stoves for general use, and "adjustable" pressure stoves, for winter and altitudes. If I was to pick one stove for the extreme long term use, it would be a solid fuel stove, either the British Army stove, the Esbit, which is the same design but half the size and weight, or the NATO stove. These are my personal views through years of experience. I know there are many different ideas out there, and depending on price, lighter materials. Once again, I thank our host for his presentation, and allowing old war dogs to talk about such subjects.

[@antoanto5301]

Thank you for field testing all these pieces of kit for us all, you have saved me lots of time and money, light weight isn't always the best, the one thing none of the others mention is top heavy cooking mugs or pots on top of stoves, I've seen some precarious cooking in the wilds, you have to constantly watch what you are cooking and a watched pot never boils! : )

[@Seamus3051]

Thanks for an honest evaluation of the various kit. Candor is always appreciated. Cheers

[@danw8012]

With the Nordic pocket saw, the reason it comes with one ring not attached is your supposed to put the other ring maybe 600mm along the chord and wrap the resr into a ball. As it wears out you move along the chord. That's why it comes with alot of chord. I don't like them either. I agree I would only have it if I was a climber.

[@Mat-kr1nf]

That last burner is Swedish, some were made by Trangia, others by SVEA. They are from the Swedish Army cookset, I think the reason you think it’s Hungarian is because they are getting rare and some sellers have found the Hungarian mess tin fits in the wind shield- the Swedish mess tin is oval in shape. Anyway, these are basically a larger version of the commercial Trangia burner.😁

[@pmue437]

The same I thought too. The Swedish Armee Trangia Burner is significant larger as the average Trangia Burner. Trangia is a very reliable Cookset. It holds at least 20 years and included a well designed wind shield, enough pans for cooking and an optional Tea/Coffee can. Swedish army asked for reliability from +40 to Minus 30 Celsius. The system is Bulletproof. I use a three decilitre Alu bottle for the spirit which is good for a week or a bit less. It‘s very depended on your cooking. If you boil water that would be way to much spirit.

[@rickarmstrong9793]

Found your channel a couple hours ago, watched several videos, and just clicked subscribe and the bell to get notifications of all your videos. I'm in the process of going from car camping with the family to solo canoe camping, and maybe a bit of backpacking. With car camping, weight was never an issue. I love my Coleman 2 burner liquid fuel stove. One tank of fuel does several mealse. But now I'm looking at reducing both size and weight. This video gave me a lot to think about. I'm really liking the idea of a liquid or gel fuel. Far cheaper than tanks of gas, and a lot more environmentally friendly.

[@sarahsue42]

Glad I'm not the only one who's tried hand gel! Current lightweight hobo option is washed out small tin can (with half inch slot cut to one side for air) as stove & windshield, empty tealight case with a couple squirts of alcohol hand gel inside Boils a cuppa in no time But 25 year old trangia set or cheapie JetBoil copy if not going light

[@AdventuresofGraywolf]

put a toggle in each keyring on the kevlar saw to make it MUCH easier. I bought a replacement chainsaw chain, added the finger rings, and had the same problem. After I grabbed a couple toggles just under the diameter of the ring inside, I could pull much harder with zero pain. That said, that kevlar thing is hella strong for its size but it has no teeth to cut with. Also, yellow Heet is a super cheap fuel for that trangia. I carry a trangia with 1/2L of heet as well as a collapsible wood stove that also fits the trangia and makes it more efficient

[@damonfinken]

Cooking tip I learned from a study. The study was through a scientific study on size of pan, fuel efficiency, burners, materials of cookware, and which is better. Of the ultimate answer was the same as always... it depends. An answer we as consumers are used to. But the study did answer the... WHY it depends. Fuel efficiency came up with matching the size of the ban bottom to the width of the flame, as they used the tern flame splash. Any flame that splashes beyond the bottom of the pan or up the side of the pan reduces fuel efficiency. Wider pan cook faster because you can use a larger flame without flame splash. And if it has a guide or ridge to catch the heat, it increases both speed of cooking as well as fuel efficiency. It also saves fuel to cook slower with low simmering flame because the heat has more of an opportunity the be transfered into the cold water/food, rather than splashing outside into the atmosphere. This is the answer to the question of which is better. The best is the flame you can control with a valve. Otherwise you are carrying wasted energy. Then you have versatility with many options of pan size and materials for cookware. And some cookware is better than others but varies for your needs.

[@seasoldier3902]

Another good video Nick. BZ! The Hexi cooker is now redundant! MoD use the Fire Dragon fuel and a cooker similar to the French cooker but is a little larger - Squaddy Proof!! Trangia Cooker - It will hold about 70ml of meths/fuel giving around 25 minutes of burn time. If you put a teaspoon of water with the fuel it will not leave a thick sooty residue on the pot; making it easier to clean. 14 fillings from a 1 Ltr. 14 times 25 mins equals 350 minutes; which is approximately six hours. I hope this helps. BCB also provide a cooker system for the Crusader mug. You can use Fire Dragon fuel, Trangia burner or at a pinch small kindling to use as fuel.

[@seasoldier3902]

@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683 All is well thanks. Looking forward to seeing more of your videos Nick. Please keep up your good work.

[@guillaumewilliams5215]

Hi mate. About the French army cooking kit, that little metal piece is to connect on the meal cans that are issued inside the MREs. That way you can pick up your food without burning yourself

[@sinaalex7577]

Great video. Thanks for sharing. For cooking and frying some meat in a skillet, I use the Trangi burner. For this burner I use now 95% alcohol. That burns great, doesn't smell at all and, on longer trips, it is available even in smaller villages in a pharmacy. With one filling of this "Trangia" it's posible to boil about 800 ml water or to cook a smaller meal for lunch or dinner. For a weekend trip about 300 ml to 500 ml should be enough. And on the way home the fuel bottle gets lighter, day by day. 75% alcohol is not recommended, as it burns pretty slow and it's not really effective. In addition to that "Trangia" I usually carry a foldable "Firebox", just to get some heat in the evening and to have this little bit of "camp fire atmosphere". For cutting wood I always and only use a "Fiskars foldable saw" and a "Silky Gomboy Curve 30cm". I use them only for firewood, not for building a block house in the woods. But I am sure, I will try this "pocket chain saw" soon. Not because of the weight, but because it seems to be very fast and easy. For anything else I prefer the seriously tough version over some lightweight equipment. Ok, except my coffee mug. That's titanium. As I have no intention on hiking up the Everest, any other montains, or doing some 500 miles hiking trips, a few gram here or there are not that important for me. And when some of his equipment has been tested and approved by the military, whatever country that might be, I think, it's good and tough enough for some outdoor trips. Looking forward to more of your seriously educational videos. Thanks.

[@matthewvelo]

Thanks Nick. I use a bit of a mix of each; UL gear if I'm on an overnighter and aren't going to be in cold weather, I take a gas & titanium cook set. Longer or colder and its the Trangia 25 and more solid gear. One thing that never changes in the load out is tools. If the spam hits the fan, tools can help keep you warm and safe, and I've never seen someone make a saw or a knife in the field.

[@harryhimpson5663]

love the french cooker its perfect as a one time use emergency item to put in a edc pack

[@Sceadusawol]

If you're going to carry a Trangia for solo use, I do think that the Trangia Mini is worth a look. Significantly smaller than a regular Trangia 27 and much lighter. Trangia Mini stats: Dimensions: 152 x 64 x 64 mm Weight: 330g Trangia 27 stats: Dimensions: 185 x 185 x 100 mm Weight: 720g The stats, of course, are for the whole cooksets. If you're just grabbing the burner, this become different, but then you also have to factor in other components of your cookset.

[@candicehealy1629]

I just loved this video full stop! Well put together and saves me buying crap! Thanks a mill 👍👍

[@josephdixon1827]

Hello Again. I have the same fold up stove you put the Crusader cup on. Had the thing for several years now. Again, while Hiking, Camping or hunting, I use the crap out of it for a hot beverage and making soup. In my Canteen Cups. The U.S. Canteen cup fits very well also. I mix Denatured alcohol with hand sanitizer, burns for a spell in that Trangia and very hot.

[@robthompson1399]

I remember the hexi burners in air cadets, all that black crap on the bottom of the tin. The tea bag gets it off well. On the plus side, just waxed cardboard and thin metal. All better for the planet. I've got the Stanley Cup, and I love it ! I keep getting tempted by titanium, but I always think that I'm better of saving weight in other areas. I have my trangia burner, windshield, spork, wash up kit, x2 lighters, and a pot stand in my Stanley cup. And if I want, I slot another steel cup on the outside, a nice tight fit with half a green scourer pad tucked between the two.

[@robthompson1399]

@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683 what's your opinion on the firebox nano ? Worth a punt as a backup and fancy pot stand ?

[@mattyp80]

I saw the UL gel fuel burner just the other day and being an engineer, immediately thought that the sides would break if you tried flattening it and re-assembling it! Thank you for saving me the £5 shippers 😉😎 Another great vid. super stuff chap! I also have a slighty (read: much) larger gas stove (which fits inside my Zebra billy can) which has a hose but i have an adapter that allows me to use the cheap Campingaz Isobutane 220g cans - the sort you get for one of those cheap single burner camping stoves from Halfords! They seem to last well and being a bigger burner ring, heats my pot, cup or billy quite rapidly and is not that much extra weight!

[@debbiedawsonpeterdawson3251]

The small hook is for use with the foil tin of food Found in the french ration packs.

[@jasonedwardledburynewzeala9897]

I would have shortened up the kevlar so i had spare. Kevlar fail.👎😪 chainsaw chain 😁🤘win. Nalgene.👍😊win. Pocket rocket👍😊 win. Your army brass, can be re-used with wood, so that proberly puts the pocket rocket back to 2nd. Stanley cup.👍 just for the fact you can nest the nalgene. So multi use. Great video.😊🤘👏👏👏👏👏👊

[@hapax-si2fd]

AND I love seeing some reviews that aren't all love this is great. Call a piece of kit that's no good, no good. Too many on you tube edit and work video magic to make whatever they are selling this week look good even when they fill on know they would never carry it or use it. U tell it like ya see it and I for one respect that a ton. Good on ya sir.

[@robch4414]

Thanks for another excellent video. The Kevlar saw message about the energy wasted using less efficient kit is fundamental; you could add complex and unstable (vs intuitive and secure) as another no-no for anyone tired, cold and wet and with brain and fingers not working properly. I'd be interested to hear your views on possible weight savings in the choice of shelter and sleep systems, where the major pack weight is.

[@repicaelcuero]

Hi! I appreciate your videos because you are detailed. That Kevlar saw is meant to be cut to size. That is why only one ring is attached. As well, the ends should be completed with two sticks to grab and not handling the rings and hurting yourself.

[@AScotsmanOutdoors]

Hi Nick, another absolutely superb insight into bushcraft and I personally love seeing / hearing ex-military kit and terms because I can relate. Even better when you drop a gem like "travel light, freeze at night" (I actually hit someone with this recently too 😂). I am constantly running the trade offs between cost, lifespan, usability and such when looking at kit and it's reassuring to know that I am not the only one who does this. I did see those light weight, foldable stoves and my first thought was in fact "that'll break sharpish", so thanks also for proving my thoughts on that. Thanks again for the effort and information you put into your material and I look forward to watching more. Take care and all the best, Bryan.

[@kristofferkoczko4806]

It's nice to see that I cary many of the same items as you :) Regarding the alco burner they work better in cold climate and you can always use a smaller container for your fuel (handy for solo trips). I would recomend you try out the Bushbox Ultralight it can handle gel fuel solid fuel, will fit an alco burner and it will work as an twig stove. it is very light and robust if you can keep it safe when not assembled.

[@shankar_vshankar]

a kevlar/parachord saw needs a slightly different technique from a chain saw - they do indeed burn through the wood and so rapid low pulling force (just enough to create the burn) strokes conserve energy. Also I would wrap the chord around good sized twigs/small branches to make handles to 1) save my fingers pulling on the rings and 2) wind in excess chord to make it a useful length (and also angles make a difference... the less contact the wire has with the wood, the greater the pressure for the same force you're applying. That said I've always found a chain less effort and there is certainly a trade off..... I use a smaller lighter chain for regular expedition use and take survival-dig-in decisions early so I'm not working any more urgently than I have to. Hope this is useful.

[@themodernninja8074]

9o9oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[@themodernninja8074]

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[@themodernninja8074]

O9oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo9ooooooooooooooooo

[@themodernninja8074]

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[@themodernninja8074]

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo99o

[@kennethwilson8633]

Now I finally know why the cup curves smaller at the bottom and not straight like the US issue. Have fun stay safe.

[@The-Yorkshire-Man]

Top vid as ever Nick. You just reaffirmed how much I hated hexi cookers back in the day. The sticky residue was a devil to clean off mess tins. I swore by a Coleman multi fuel however it was ‘Ultraheavyweight’ with the Sigi bottle of fuel.

[@HobbiesAndSunshine]

Great video. I use gas when cooking for two at camp, otherwise its a Trangia all the way for me with some sort of pot stand and a 10cm Zebra Billy can. I also have the Dutch army kidney mug and love it. I agree though, those flimsy ultralight French things won't last long imo.

[@peterhoughton3770]

Excellent mate ,and all makes sense. That string saw can be tied at any length without having to cut it. The length gives you options over a branch above your head for example. It does look a bit try hard. Fuel is always the issue with weight. But if you hit a petrol station you'll likely find fuel for a spirit burner. It's definitely more available. Cylinders are often not even compatible between brands. They are not a survival option IMHO. But for a hike - yes, they're super convenient. And i agree with you mate on the steel cup. Never used the Crusader stuff - it looks awesome - being in Oz. But the old Cups Canteen USGI style with stove is a very good system - water, stove, cup all in the canteen pouch on the belt and can be used with trangia or twigs etc.

[@terenceneuhoff6461]

The Trangia looks similar to the alcohol burner I made for fun the other day out of 2 coke cans. Works great actually. Boils 2 cups of water on 20ml of methelated spirits.

[@timosborne8174]

Definitely going to add a few bits from this video into my kit.

[@h.bsfaithfulservant4136]

Helpful review Nick 👌. I thought the French stove looked like it was meant to stay set up, since it looked very fragile. Where cooking and carrying is concerned, I would prefer extra weight if that meant more reliability.

[@AnvilAirsoftTV]

The French Army issue one of those little folding stoves inside each 24 or 12 hour ration pack.

[@puma1304]

my favorite set includes the famous Trangia burner (no moving parts, nothing can go wrong!) with the triangular base or the cross, plus a Bushcraft twig stove (like the Nano) I think wood is still the best option since it is a renewable resource and you do not have to carry any fuel with yourself. These twig stoves have also the added advantage that you do not need big pieces or amounts of wood in order to cook. A campfire is another thing and serves other purposes. Gas is certainly efficient and clean and easy to use but not my thing and possibly not very environment-friendly, I only use it where there is a ban on other open-flame systems, or if there is no wood available. Light gear like the hexamine stoves are just good for emergencies, and besides a wasteful alternative. Gasoline stoves (like Svea 123, MSR Whispy, etc) are good for base camps but kind of heavy otherwise, and besides I do not want to cook with gasoline anymore... BUT if you have to cook for a hungry pride of boy scouts the good old Coleman stove is still a good alternative.

[@chrismahon7977]

Travel light, freeze at night. I wrote this then watched mate, same ethos. I often look at those carrying Dutch ovens and cast iron griddles and wonder how far they yomp with it. There must always be a compromise between portability and function. BZ Oppo another informative film.

[@robertkirk4387]

I put off watching this one but just for the saw part alone I am glad I watched, I have the Laplander and that's as good as I need, The jet boil looks good but ££, I have made Hobo stoves from B/B tins before and never tried Parafin stoves since we went to Wales in dad's car when I was 8 at the side of the road, I use a gasifier stove and zebra for tea/ coffee and while the water is boiling, I warm up Ravioli/ beans and sausage in the water in the tin.

[@carnivorecaveman]

I just found your channel. (I subscribed). My opinion about these ultralight things is that most (at least the ones I've tried so far) are "Carry nothing, hold it tight!" category. There are things you shouldn't skimp on, not only in terms of money, but also in terms of weight. These things include: - shelter (tent) - knife (you need at least 2 of these, it is SOO important, i.e. there should be a spare) - a fire starter (you need at least two of these, too). Since these are VITAL, if you want to carry less weight, you have to save on other things, not on these. I am of the opinion that alcohol, fuel tablet and gas stoves are worthless in a serious situation, because they do not work for long as they require very special fuel. So I don't have anything like that. I have a wood-burning stove, I made it myself (!). It's made of 4 brackets that used to hold scrapped gas boilers, so I made it from stuff I found in the trash and recycled, even the screws were free. This is a HEAVY stove, it weighs about 2.5 kg, it is square, 20 cm in size on the side, but it is robust, it will NEVER break because it can withstand even sitting on it with my weight of 82 kg! So I also have a chair in case of need... And I can fire with anything under it, wood as well, or even a fuel cube I made myself, if for example I make one out of tallow and cardboard and the cap of a wine bottle. Even a normal-sized pot can fit on this stove, even big enough to fit a whole pig's head! (One of my preferred foods...) It has a separate metal tray from which the rest of the stove can be removed, so I can collect the wood ash cleanly, from which I can even make soap later... I don't care how much it weighs. My backpack is also big, "Tasmanian Tiger" brand, 100 liters, extra strong and extra expensive. My tent is for 2 people and 4 seasons, it is also good for arctic explorers, it is not cheap either. Nothing wrong. I'll save weight and money on the other stuff. Besides, what anything else is necessary above of these things (and the knife and fire tool)?! A few warm clothes only and that's it... Food too, of course, a little bit, but I'll scare you: I take this bushcrafting so seriously that I'm ready to eat locusts collected in the forest and field, for example, and raw... I've done it more than once. So you don't need a lot of food. I repeat my words what's important: tent, knife, fire... and that's about it, nothing more! But these things are so EXTREMELY important that you should not skimp on these.

[@carnivorecaveman]

Update: I forgot to write above, formerly, that the weight of my stove is 2.5 kilos, meaning that when I transport it, a rectangular tin box with a metal lid is placed in the bottom - where the fire would burn. This box can even be used instead of a plate... But the point is that this box contains a lot of other things, the weight of which is included in the 2.5 kilos: - A Silky Pocket Boy saw, - A mini pipe tongs to grab the hot pot or whatever, - A pair of scissors - A Leatherman multitool - A really big knife, it's not afraid of heavy jobs... - A magnesium bar - A long, thick ferrocerium rod with six angles - 2 servings of matches - 2 lighters - A Hungarian military cutlery set, including knife, fork, spoon, can- and bottle opener - some thin wire and 2 hooks if I need to hang something - Some paracord - Blower for the fire, I made this from an old radio antenna - A knife-proof glove - A small wire grid, as a mat under the hot pot or pan when it is removed from the stove - A piece of file (it comes in handy if I find flint and want to make a fire with it) and a few other things. All this together can therefore be considered as a decently assembled "bug out bag" in itself! My stove alone weighs just over 1 kilo without them.

[@timypp2894]

The ultra small & light French cooker is just that - use for one occasions (six burns) and you throw it away -not to be bent back to shape. you carry many same 6 pack+stove, like you would for the other gel pack product for a single stove.

[@andyc3088]

Didn't have the crusader mug when i was in the Army, we had good old mess tins.But we had have the hexamine burners, blackened everything and smelled like anything. If your clickers dead on your jet boil use a lighter.

[@korean_foot_traveler8655]

Wow. There are many innovative goods for the easier camping. Thanks for sharing the nice video with useful information.😀👍👍

[@kachiri]

I have a couple of stainless steel cup with fold in handles. Ones a backup if something happens to the first one. I have another one that's big because it is actually bought as a coffee press cup. You can make about 4 house mugs worth in it and pour it into your regular size cup. It has a plastic top, but I prefer metal top. Has a spout for pouring with the top on. I only used the press a few times, then just used the cup as a big cup for my instant coffee, so I have alot made and can reheat it over the fire when it gets cold.

[@ChrisLambert-Yngvegodi]

Good video Nick, thanks. Only thing that I could see being a major variable with the stoves is the effect of wind on the flames.

[@Christian-qs3pi]

Ref cookers, I think it also depends on how long you outdoors for. For example If I am out for the night I would take the the good old trusted hexiburner. However when I’m out for a week,month or more , I now use the Jetboil Stash Ultralight Camping and Backpacking Stove , it weighs an incredible 200grams (without gas canister). Its only six and half inches tall when packed away,And the gas canister does fit inside it it. However it does not have the automatic igniter, so have to use lighter. It contains a titanium burner, and It’s cook pot is 0.8 L. Includes fuel stabiliser too.

[@mr.lonesquirrel1397]

Great video, thanks. I was very lucky to find a Trangia Triangle in a camping shop that was closing down, and its rapidly becoming my favourite set up. Can use it with the Trangia meths burner or with a little pot insert if I'm burning fuel tabs. I dont know why but I've never really been into using gas stoves, think it's probably because I spent so many years as a kid with my Dad's old army Hexy stuff.

[@kachiri]

I don't do hand chainsaws. I'm a folding saw person. Had a few and my Silky brand is awesome! Yes there is a downside, that the blade could break more easily by bending, as it is thin and flexible. I've had a few times I got the end in the cut causing it to bend when I pushed forward while the end jammed into the cut. Didn't break yet, but will if it happens too much. Either way, I have the F180 (large teeth) which works great and fits in my pocket (when folding closed). I also have a bigger Silky fold which is 14" blade for cutting the wide tree trunks.

[@stetomlinson3146]

Excellent review of the cooking options Nick, thank you. My preferred kit for a day in the woods, or even a longer trip, is my Firebox Nano stove with a Trangia burner. It gives me the option of a small wood fire, or spirit stove. All topped off with the Crusader mug. If I’m on a multi day hike, I’ve done the coast to Coast a couple of times, I take an Asoto Windmaster gas burner and Fire Maple pot. It’s similar to your Jetboil pot with the flame spreader, but smaller in height. You can get tempted by all sorts of options, like all outdoor kit, but keeping it simple and reliable is the best idea every time, would be my suggestion to anyone starting out. I certainly agree with your RM adage about lightweight kit. If you need to save ounces on your stove, are you fit enough to be out there in the first place! 😉🤔

[@LC128]

I had a jet boil. After few year same issue clicker contacted jet boil. They said there fix it for £50. Sold it for parts for then got a highlander one had no issues

[@james0000]

Really depends how often you use the jet boil and I dare say the quality has went down over time. I have had mine for about 16 years now and it still works like new, even the piezo igniter but it only gets used about 50 times a year as I don't rely on it for much. You can of course remove the igniter if it fails and they have started selling replacements for about $10 USD.

[@scottroberts7875]

James Hall summed up very nicely what i was going to try to say. Thank you Mr Hall. Anyway , thank you for sharing your comprehensive knowledge , i wish you continued success and a very prosperous new year, Scott, Somerset

[@gregmuir4001]

I collect military gear!! I’ve got all these bcb cookers! The french one is just tiny and I’ve left them in the packs! I’ve got all the ones that you have showed!! Apart from the jet boil etc! I’ve ever got the crusader mug!! I got my little french ones from french ration boxes! Dragon gels pretty good stuff

[@fullonaudio]

Great video. Really appreciate the straight up approach you have

[@richbuilds_com]

I'm a bushcrafter turned UL'er. I think its a perfect mix of ethos's . Knowledge weighs nothing after all :-) One piece of UL kit I've brought over from bushcraft is my Mora. I haven't found a more capable as a knife for the weight.

[@alessandroricci7294]

About the kevlar saw, I never seen or heard before now, but the length is a give away, I think. It's not intended for cutting down trees 2mt in diameter, but since is a cord it will eventually break. As it break you ran down the length. This would also explain why the 2nd ring was not tied, is left for you to choose the knot you want as you will need to do it again and again..

[@slick_slicers]

Hex stoves take me back 40 years! Back to a time when Compo came in tins.

[@Christian-qs3pi]

Lol.. I remember them well ie Possessed Cheese, Dog Biscuits etc

[@anthonyjacobs6790]

Thanks for an interesting and thought provoking video. I am 100% stainless steel for cooking. I have a trangia and various folding stoves for a heat source and carry a Silky folding saw.

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

Excellent review. The take away seems to be, have the lightest kit available that is 100% reliable and fit for purpose.

[@SDWNJ]

That French stove is of limited usefulness, but the one use case I can think of where it might make sense is as an emergency stove to have with you when you’re not expecting to need it, like keeping it in your car in case you broke down in a remote location or in your pack while (non-overnight) hiking in case you needed to boil water for purification or heat.

[@tombeckett4340]

One thing about the alcohol stove you can use other types of fuel. And that is what really like about it and the size. I have several types of homemade alcohol stoves and the cost $ zero dollars. Thanks 🇨🇦👍

[@jmbig]

the stove currently used in the French army is a disposable stove that comes with every combat ration. it is no longer made to be reused as in the past or it had the same shape as the English model that you show but the size of a pack of cigarettes, this old reusable and solid model still exists it is the brand esbit if i remember correctly😁😁

[@cardiacbob]

Love my Stanley with my cat can spirit burner. I've run it on isopropyl alcohol, vodka, and fuel system cleaner.

[@thomasdrew8744]

I bought some Spanish ration packs to try on walks last year and they came with the little super light foldable stove things. Interestingly it was a slightly different design. No hole in the centre and came with solid fuel blocks. So it is much more versatile in terms of fuel than the commercially available one. They are all still going strong. But absolutely feel flimsy and I’m sure will break once they’ve been used a few more times. But at that weight and size you can afford to carry a spare. When used with the small tins of food in the ration pack they worked well. The Low centre of gravity worked well with the flat long tins. But would be very tricky with anything large or tall unless on anything but the flattest surface. Ultimately quite fun and easy to carry. I’ll use them till they break but wouldn’t consider buying them separately.

[@redpillnibbler4423]

Tip for survival mess tin - put in the blade from a folding saw.

[@baccussailing1]

Caused me to do more kit collecting shopping. Keep the vids coming.

[@davidcann6021]

Bought some of the mini BCB stovse as they looked pretty fun, no good for anything more than a cup of tea though. I've chucked them in emergency kits instead. Can get methylated spirit in Home Bargains for £1.80ish for 500ml.

[@mountainbearoutdoors]

that little metal strip that came with your french cooker is to pick your meal up off the stove, all the french rations come either in tins or foil trays you hook the edge of the tin with it to lift off. I agree with you about having a crusader, absolute tank of a pot that cant be destroyed!.

[@bigg4089]

You missed reviewing one of the most popular combos: the tiny BRS stove and lixada titanium mug. As long as you use a canister supporting works well enough for brews on a day out or an overnight, especially with a windshield. You can also refill the small canisters at home using a lindl valve.