Trangia or Jetboil? What's best for wild camping adventures in a Defender.

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I decided to run some tests on my two favourite cooking stoves, to help me decide which one is going to be the starting point for a new project. It would have been the Jetboil before I found an amazing mod for the Trangia. This video tells you why I chose the stove I did. I am now building a simple aluminium frame to hold the stove in position on the Land Rover to help me with outdoor cooking on a gas stove.
0:00 - Intro
0:35 - Trangia and Jetboil
1:00 - Where do I cook in my Land Rover Defender
2:10 - How to assemble and use a Jetboil
2:31 - How to assemble and use a Trangia
3:00 - How fast does a Jetboil boil a pint of water
3:17 - How fast does Trangia boil a pint of water
4:03 - Trangia gas adaptor
4:48 - How fast does a gas adapted Trangia boil a pint of water
5:30 - Time comparison table
5:36 - Decision and specification, what’s next
I nearly sold my defender to buy a van for conversion into a camper van but I realised that the Land Rover Defender had a lot more potential for some wild camping adventures. Van life, but a bit more remote than a van can manage.
I am embarking on a series of projects based around my Land Rover Defender. I feel the need for some adventure and taking the truck overland is a great starting point. I am designing and building some modifications to help me with living out of my Defender for a few days. I'm not backpacking the kit so weight is not a problem but it does need to be compact as fitting out the limited space for a camping, van life experience in the small amount of room could be a problem to solve.
I love a project, the idea, the potential, the frustration, the challenge. I relish the chance to learn and build my skills. I am an educator by profession and love to do that, share my passion and try to inspire you to take on the challenge. It doesn't matter if it wasn't what you wanted when you started, you started and learnt something along the way.
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[@BritishSwiftieSince2013]

I hope you enjoyed that tea dad, it looked really nice (apart from the fly in it 😂)

[@neilsimmondsmediaproject]

I did!

[@Magoo652]

I have both. Trangia for actual cooking, Jetboil is great for coffee & freeze dried add water meals. Adding the gas burner to the Trangia makes the choice easy. Methylated spirits burner is better for baking with the simmer ring though. Thank you for sharing.

[@neilsimmondsmediaproject]

I’ve never tried baking and the gas burner can be turned down really low. I should have shown that in the video. Thanks for the comment. And I’m the same as you I still, use my jetboil for a fast brew especially if I’ve had to carry the kit in my rucksack. Thanks again. :)

[@rrrandommman]

I use the alcohol burner, for boiling water the Trangia 0.9 litre kettle makes a big difference for thermal loss, tends to boil about half a litre in 5-6 mins even around 3c. Hope that helps.

[@MrMeltedwellies]

absolutely first class well done Neil

[@neilsimmondsmediaproject]

Thanks Mark. First to view! Your a great support and an inspiration.

[@BodolayBotond]

Not a fair comparison to be honest, since the Trangia has the gas adaptor which reduces the boil time considerably. Yes, it's sold separately but well, the option is still there. Nonetheless, the video about the two is interesting.

[@tonysmith26]

Although I haven’t used my Trangia for years, I recall that using the frying pan as a lid on the pots reduced boil time significantly

[@neilsimmondsmediaproject]

Hi. Thanks for the comment. You are of course right. But I left the lid off for effect, to see the water boiling. 👍

[@pseudo_sapiens2461]

Ehrm, I still love my trangia. I prefer it over the JB or my MSR multifuel. But then again, I dont have a Landi. Btw, the fryingpan acts as a lid and speeds up boil time, but then again, im too busy looking at the views 😂

[@neilsimmondsmediaproject]

Thanks for the comment. I still use my JB most the time. Especially if I have to carry it. And you’re right about the lid. :)

[@chimay3]

Gas stove is nice in Britain, but try your gas stove in Norway in the wintertime with -20 C. You might see a tiny tiny flame if you squeeze the gas container between your hand to warm it a little bit. The choices are slow coffee with alcohol stove or no coffee with gas stove 😎

[@neilsimmondsmediaproject]

I never thought of that. I don’t go out it that sort of temperature very much! 🤣 I can see why the Trangia was born in Scandinavia if it gets that cold. Thanks for taking the time to comment. 👍😀

[@chimay3]

@@neilsimmondsmediaproject The stove i grew up with in the military was "primus optimus", burning paraffin. Paraffin has a lot more energy pr. liter than alcohol, but the stove is larger and heavier. Normally we had one of those for 8 men, so the weight was not a real issue and it was also used as an oven in the 8 man tent. Always one man awake in the tent just to keep the "primus" going in the winternights. It sounded like a small jet engine 😎

[@neilsimmondsmediaproject]

Thanks again for the comment. You can buy a Primus style version of the gas insert but it is over £200! I have seen a cheaper Chinese version so might do a video showing how to adapt to a Primus type for a fraction of the cost. And I'll bet that boils fast. I'm surprised any of you could sleep with the sound of a Primus at full speed! 🤣

[@chimay3]

@@neilsimmondsmediaproject You can buy used ones second hand in Norway, but beware, they exists in two versions. Either the noisy (small jet engine) or the silent. I grew up with the noisy in the tent, and I believe only the bad ass noisy has the power to function an oven in the tent. Made some noise though, but made you sleepy in a cozy way. Had posts far away from the tent of cause to listen for less friendly sounds 😎

[@neilsimmondsmediaproject]

Sounds like you've had some real adventures, Norway is a place I would love to visit. Thanks for taking the time to comment, your comments are my favourite so far! 👌

[@JimmyDevere]

Surprising result! What size is that Trangia? The larger 25 or smaller 27 model? Thanks.

[@neilsimmondsmediaproject]

It’s a 27. But judging by comments I think my Trangia is a bit slow.

[@AlbertaGeek]

I don't know what was wrong with your Trangia. My home made beer-can alcohol stove boils 500ml (0.88 imperial pints) in 4 minutes on 30 ml (1.01 ounces) of methanol with a little left over.

[@neilsimmondsmediaproject]

No, I don't whats wrong with my Trangia either. Probably operator error! Sounds like your home made burner needs to get sent to Trangia! Well done, do you have any video of it?

[@AlbertaGeek]

@@neilsimmondsmediaproject No video. I played with different burner configurations until I found one that was optimal for my good ol' MSR Titanium kettle. Add a windscreen to help keep the heat in and it works a treat. I do have a Trangia I sometimes use for quick one-night hikes. Because the burner itself can hold up to 100 ml, I don't have to take a separate container of fuel.

[@neilsimmondsmediaproject]

Keeping it simple, making it yourself. I admire that. Bravo.

[@sg7392]

Trangia may even be the cheapest as Jetboil is not cheap

[@neilsimmondsmediaproject]

Hi, thanks for the comment. I think you are right! The gas conversion part I bought was from China and about £25 (UK).

[@fork9999]

Man that is so noisy!

[@neilsimmondsmediaproject]

Hi, Thanks for the comment. Hope you mean the stove and not the video ;) It is a noisy stove, but it's burning a lot of gas the heat water at that speed. Sounds like a bit like an after burner on a jet!

[@neilsimmondsmediaproject]

And thanks for the Sub :)

[@District.24]

Brits do it best. 😊

[@neilsimmondsmediaproject]

Thanks for the comment. Kind of you.