TATONKA Alcohol Burner vs Trangia Alcohol Burner - Cold Start Test

There's been some talk that the stainless steel TATONKA Alcohol Burner might not work in the cold of winter. As a way to test this in the heat if the summer I thoght I would freeze the TATONKA Alcohol Burner in a tray of water along with the Trangia burner.
Even though my freezer was set at 0° F the ice in the tray keep the burners at about 32°F when exposed to the heat.
I was surprised that the TATONKA bloomed so fast while the Trangia just set there burning the alcohol in the holding tank. I've used the Trangia in the winter and if I protect it from the wind it usually comes to a bloom. One thing I should have shown in the video is that the Trangia does have a pre-heater that clips onto the bottom of the burner for when it's really cold.
Thanks for watching my videos,
Hiram
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[@allanscott4140]

Ive used Trangia for many years hiking and cycle touring in Scotland without issue. As a matter of fact, the first cold weather problems I've come across are people on KZbin complaining about it. To me its more about a lack of patience in people who are maybe used to the instantaneous heat of the modern gas burner. I actually get a lot of satisfaction and enjoyment from the sedate pace of the trangia; the outdoors as it should be, with time to draw breath and gather one's thoughts. Let's call it the Hebridean Overture of the Trangia, versus the death metal of the modern afterburner.

[@dirk4926]

I have to admit I didn't expect that. I wonder if the Tatonka was so much faster to bloom because of stainless steels poor thermal conductivity. Great test Hiram, I don't mind being wrong if I can lean something new.

[@brianhanks8207]

This is why I come here. I would never have thought of freezing my stoves in ice to simulate winter conditions (I would have tried to build an open box out of ice and run the test inside it). My first reaction was to favor the Tatonka (it is heavier and the Trangia uses the ice as a big heat sink) but I second guessed and chose the Trangia. I hate it when I do that. Great controlled test!

[@alexmincone9825]

Simple and clear demonstration that speaks more than 1.000 words. Confratulation Hiram

[@TheLicewine]

best test ever. debunk your own assumption. that's how you win the game. ty, chris

[@rrrandommman]

That's so cool, never had such a raft of torture testing done for a camping product. I'm fascinated to see what my new little stove can do on the ragged edge of conditions.

[@BackpackingAdventures]

Very clever way to test, not many would have thought of that.

[@EconoChallenge]

Wow. The Trangia was really challenged in this test. I was surprised by the results.

[@wjf213]

Now that's a serious cold weather test. I was thinking some thing like that before, but thought it would be too extreme and forcing things to fail, but I guess not. Keep up the great work.

[@korling99]

the trangia looked like it was burning cleaner when it came to a full bloom

[@pyromaniac1491]

Excellent test! I did a similar test to see if my burner/stove would work if frozen in ice and it did. Surprised me.

[@oldgeekster1]

Great idea for a test relevant to the comments Hiram. Surprised at the performance of the Tatonka... (I'll be keeping my Trangia in my cook sack or pocket until needed).

[@KoBeCHEUNG]

Nice experiment, very good information for a cold weather alcohol stove's performance testing. I like your video :)

[@yong62]

Hiram, Good experiment. I like the wide angle also. Thanks for all your videos.

[@jusb1066]

I think because its brass, the trangia was slower to come to bloom because brass is a better conductor of cold so the top stayed colder in spite of trying to warm up, the stainless will heat its top up and thus bloom but less heat travels down to heat the fuel when on normal use which affects its fuel mixture as hot fuel in the trangia turns to gas before it burns making it burn a little hotter

[@Radoslaw731]

I like the tatonka better anyway

[@Grenson_Brogue]

You say Tanonka and I say Tatonka , lets call the whole thing ooooooffff ! Great test ! Who would have put money on that result ?

[@azazulbaz1077]

Hiram always THE BEST!

[@charlietango1635]

Hi there, I think personally Hiram it could be purely the different metals, I believe the brass should heat up a bit quicker, but the s/steel proved me to be a lier, but also bear in mind the size between the two could have something to do with it.

[@oldtimerlee8820]

Hard to duplicate mother nature. ;-) Like your idea, but there's a "but" in it. Suspect the SS top of the Tatonka reacted faster to the room temperature than the brass Trangia. Ice can be an insulator, as you noted. The way fruit producers sometimes protect their crops. So, I'm wondering if the results would have been the same if the air temp had been 15 F, for example with the burners sitting on & not in ice? Just pondering what I just watched, for whatever it's worth. Thanks for the opportunity.

[@john1972goh]

LOL.....that's an extreme test in the cold!

[@georgethayer3533]

hi hiram have you tried Coleman fuel and your alcohol burner would that work or is it not just curious Happy Thanksgiving brother keep up the videos I enjoy every one of them i watch them all time God bless troutChaser

[@hartleymartin]

I wonder if dribbling a small amount of alcohol on the outside of the burner ring and lighting that would help it prime a bit quicker. I have found that the burner lid with the O-ring removed makes a good primer pan. Just a very small dribble of alcohol in that, light it and then place the loaded trangia burner in its stand over the primer pan. This heats the whole burner and it will bloom very quickly. I used too much fuel in the lid the first time I tried this, and ended up with a huge flare up about 2 feet high - so it only takes a very small amount to get it primed!

[@S0ilworker]

Interesting test. But you could argue that the results may be inverted on how they behave in cold weather due to following facts: Stainless steel heat conductivity is way lower than that of brass/copper which i assume the Trangia is made from. In direct contact with ice/water (super high heat conductivity compared to air) the burner with the highest heat conductivity will be the coldest. Without water surrounding the burner the burner with highest heat conductivity would heat up faster with the same heat source. Suggestion: Put alcohol in both burners, put burners in freezer over night, then light them without the ice bath (prefferably on a stand as they are used in a real life situation) 🙂

[@scoutsniper485]

Cool test. I was wondering about a safety chef camp stove. Can it be modified to be used as a wood (sticks pinecones grass) gasifier stove? Penny for ur thoughts hiram

[@eddieallen6401]

Does the tatonka have a cotton wick? I’m I’m thinking moisture has frozen the wick and prevented the meths wick through to the jets in the trangia.

[@sg7392]

Put the burner in an old sock in winter lights quicker no rattles

[@bobbyharper8710]

Strange test results. A Trangia should boil two cups in about 5 minutes. The Tatonka takes over 10 minutes to boil 2 cups but lights better in cold weather conditions.

[@patriceb26]

Bonjour So which one is the best ?

[@pierauspitz]

Does brass conducts heat better than stainless steel? Yes it does.. :)

[@christoferjamesdechavez9510]

Are the jets on the tatonka larger?

[@calvinmonroe2408]

I dont camp when water freezes

[@TheVespap200e]

Hiram,can i request this same test using your fancy feast? Thanks

[@user-kl3fk5gz8c]

No comments. Like :)

[@jarikinnunen1718]

Ice expand and can damage burner. In real life it never use in ice or water. Cold air is different situation.

[@jacqueline7118]

Was the alcohol also in the freezer or poured in after they were taken out? Thanks.

[@MrHiramCook]

Jacqueline Schwartz The alcohol was in the burners when placed in the water then put in the freezer. The alcohol was cold but it didn't freeze.

[@Radoslaw731]

I like the Tatonka better 😁

[@MrHiramCook]

Why? 'm just asking.

[@Radoslaw731]

Becouse you said Hiram that it dosent perform cracks😊😆

[@thefaeryman]

what is the difference between sterno and alcohol burner?

[@dirk4926]

Rev John O'Toole Sterno is a jellied alcohol and frankly doesn't make a very good cooking stove because it doesn't burn very hot. The Trangia and Tatonka burners use liquid alcohol and burn hotter. Sterno is not really made for cooking, it's made to be used with chafing dish for buffet style food service. Chafing dishes aren't for cooking, just keeping food warm. You can boil water with Sterno but it's slow and I think the cans are a pain in the rump.

[@sniperwolf1484]

Tatonka wins..

[@sinfonianbarelytone9191]

A wick stove with no jets a la carbon fiber fancy feast should work just fine in ice. As you say alcohol burns. But I find it funny your Trangia flamed out miserably against the Japanese challenger. Sorry man.

[@ancientmariner7473]

Japanese? Tatonka? You're aving a larf mate! TATONKA is a German firm. The word is the red Indian name for Buffallo.