Looking for a cheap,versatile and bombproof stove without spending £140+? Designed by the military these are quiet,need no priming,have no moving parts to go wrong or lose/replace,can be used with the meths burner,hex tablets,gel fuel,gas burners,vodka,IPA etc etc or just over a camp fire (the pans are actually designed for open fire cooking.)
The two halves lock together for transport which also allows it to be used as a Dutch Oven too,lining it with foil means bread,pizza or muffins can be cooked.Cooking normally the main billy can can heat the main meal whilst the lid/frying pan can keep food warm above.
Weighing in at 960g empty i dont think the weight or size is bad at all-you get a 1litre billy can,a frying pan/lid/meths burner and bottle,steel wind breaker etc,surely a similar set up would weigh about the same?
The lid has two D rings in the handle designed for a bayonett to extend it,a piece of wood works as well though!The main carry handle has two indentations for the hook-the top one is for hanging over a camp fire,the side one (when the hook is inserted into into the lock tab)makes a rigid handle that doesnt get hot and allows pouring etc.
Available in alluminium (about £10)or stainless steel (about £13),my example has easily shrugged off ten years abuse and is still good for another ten.Lots of ally ones come with an inferior Svea burner which are heavier,burn hotter and use more fuel than a Trangia burner.For the sake of £10 i brought a brand new Trangia although Tatonka do an excellant,slightly smaller stainless one ive since found out.It matches any other meths burners boil time,i run mine on IPA alcohol because its free,boil time is an extra minute or so and its definately slightly smokier than meths.I dilute this 15% with water,meths a maximum of 10% but obviously not in winter...
The burner is always kept in a ziplock bag so it doesnt contaminate the metal or contents over time,the fuel i carry seperately.A full burner lasts approx 20-23 mins depending on wind.Dont let people tell you they arent any good in the cold or strong winds-they were designed for cold weather use.The windier it is,the hotter they burn.
The windbreaker is also a solid wood burning stand,you can use it normally or if you need a more substantial pot stand you can turn it upside down and still feed twigs/piceces of wood to the flames.
The oval shape lends itself well to motorbike packing too.I use two Kuksa mugs designed to perfectly fit the trangia.
When my nephew borrows it (and if he cant break it no-one can)he prefers to use his Vango folding gas burner which luckily fits through the stands base without modding.He can then use everything else the same way with the benefit of the excellant windbreaker.The stove easily fits inside in place of the meths burner giving people who dont like the idea of a meths burner another option.
PROS-Built to last forever
Very versatile
Cheap as chips

CONS-Frying pan a bit small for some people?
Not compact enough/trendy enough for some?

I am very impressed with the tiny amount of twigs it uses, though it means you have to tend it. I haven't done a scientific benchmark with a litre of water but it heated up my sausage stew and a kettle for coffee the other lunchtime with no problem.
It's hardly portable for using on a bike trip, unless you have a sidecar, but it lights quickly and can cook for a crowd of people easily and controllably with little smoke.
I'll be using it with charcoal next which should be damn hot.
Recommended stove for a group of people.

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