I have one of these kits Ive used for motorcycle camping for years. I have not had a failure with the alcohol burner. The only issue I've had with the kit is that it doesn't work well in the wind. I solved this problem by tripple folding a sheet of HD aluminum foil to the correct size to fit inside the pot. I use this as a wind screen around the stove base when needed. I really like it for motorcycle camping because I can find fuel at almost every gas station. Gas line antifreeze aka Heet.
Wow, I've used Esbit spirit burners for over ten years and never had a problem. I use the Esbit 5-piece,985ml, Stainless Steel Cookset and its anodized aluminum counterpart and never had a problem. Good video, thanks for posting.
WOWSZA! I was dumbfounded when the Esbit burner leaked like that! I own that exact cook set. Like you I've had it for years now. I have never used the Esbit buneŕ that came with it...I thought it was flimsy compared to my Trangia burner so I put the Esbit burner aside and put the Trangia burner from my 27T STORMCOOKER in the Esbit kit when I'm going to be using it. Later I bought a dedicated Trangia burner for the Esbit. After seeing your video I'm SURE GLAD about doing that. The cook kit, LOVE IT. I also use the elevator inserted upside-down inserted in the bottom middle hole and place my Trangia burner inside it to be a burn protector on the bottom away from grass, etc. Works great and the burner will not slide around when using it. Anyway, about two years ago I bought a second kit for my husband and a Trangia burner for his. We oftentimes eat differently so he has his own system now. Worth the money and additional cost of the Trangia burner upgrade.
Pamela, This is an awesome comment! Filled with excellent REAL experience information! Thank You for posting it! I apologize for the late reply. Life has been very chaotic as of late. Your foresight in replacing the Esbit burner with the Trangia was flat out brilliant! Having a kit for each individual in your group is quite wise. It is fairly compact and light weight so it would be no hinderance for an individual to carry. Using the elevator in the manner you describe was also excellent foresight and strategic planning! I really enjoyed reading this as it was very matter of a fact from your actual experience! I certainly hope others read it as it will definitely benefit them should they purchase this excellent cook set. Incidentally, Esbit never replied to my multiple attempts to contact them. Interesting... Thanks again for your comment and I pray you have a blessed and wonderful weekend!
THANK YOU. I just bought this stove used, and your video helped me notice the same cracks forming on the side. I’m planning a 15 day solo trip and doubt I would have noticed without your help. Now I know to get a Trangia or bring solid fuel as backup.
I have several Esbit burners and never had a problem. I have owned the 5 pc. set for 7 years and used the burner hundreds of times. No problem.I'm sorry this happened to you. Hope it doesn't sour you on this set because of what seems to be a factory defect. I always keep 2 Esbit tabs in the empty alcohol burner for emergencies....good example in this vid. I have written "O Ring" w/a sharpie marker on the inside of the screw cap to remind me to be sure the O ring is still there. I cut out a wind screen from a oven liner I purchased from a dollar store. It nest inside the large pot around the solid fuel stand. Where did you get the test tube bottle for the oil? I've been told 5 Below but never seen them there. Glad you suffered no injury. Just found your site. Will explore all your vids. Later in vid I see you've had the set for a while and love it. Thanks for sharing!
Thank You Very Much for your comment. I have had a couple of people share with me that the had experienced a similar defect. I have done all the research I could to find the cause of the structural failure. I found nothing that seemed to answer my question. It has not soured me to Esbit products. I do believe it was more than likely a bad batch of brass or something of the sort. I was very disappointed that Esbit never replied to any of the multiple communications I initiated. I like the idea of "O Ring" awareness you shared! I might have to use it!. The test tube is actually a 2 liter soda bottle blank. In the bottling plant the blanks are heated up, slip into a mold, shot with a quick blast of hot air, forcing the blank to expand and form a two liter bottle. It's the moved directly to the filing and labeling line. I bought mine online. However if you know someone that works at a soft drink bottling plant, they might be able to get you some for free. Thanks again for your comment! I look forward to more in the future!
Thank You, John! I had the opportunity to visit the UK several years ago. I was able to do some wild camping in North Umberland National Park, Alongside Hadrian's Wall, and in Scottland. Everywhere we camped was breathtaking! I would LOVE to return for a lot more wild camping! Cheers Brother!
I like that little professional move where you dip the twig into the fuel, light that, and then use the twig to start the burner. Much easier than trying to light the burner with the lighter directly. Thank you.
Cool video. What is the headroom for the flame please, say you were to use a pan that sits at the very top rather than recesses in. I have a Trangia burner and other makes of pans that I would like to use on this, so maybe I can buy just the stand if it's suitable. Thanks
I have seen and heard of similar cracks on brass ammunition cartridges,. These can appear in the casings before the bullet, shot or slug is fired, and usually come from the forming process, which makes the brass or copper material more brittle and induces residual stresses in the material. Those factors, coupled with some very localized corrosion along those lines of stress, causes the failures they refer to as Stress Corrosion Cracking. This looks a lot like it, but without testing, it's just a guess based on the pattern of cracks and materials. I was looking at both the Trangia and the Esbit, and your vlog helped me make the correct choice. Thank you for sharing.
hmmm, got this set coming this week. now i have something too inspect when it gets here. thank you. a small can of green beans added to this dish is excellent. have made this as the 1 pan dinner dish ( beef rice a roni, 1 lb grd beef, a can of green beans,)
Great video. Good to see someone who's actually used one properly before doing the review as against someone who takes it out of the box and then thinks they know all about it. Rant over. I bought one of these about 5 years ago and very quickly made it my first choice. I think you were unlucky with the burner. Mine is still working perfectly even though it's pretty battered now, even the simmer ring is tight. Looking forward to a few more videos.
Thank you Rodger. I really appreciate the feedback! I tried multiple times to contact ESBIT, with no reply. Apart from the burner, it's ideal for most of my needs. I just replaced the burner with a Trangia I already had so, that little gem is ready to get back to the woods with me! I'll be shooting more reviews shortly.
I like the fact you can place the simmer ring over the burner through the large hole in the stand and put the flame out without taking your pot off and without having the hairs on the back of your hand burned off.
watched hirman cook's video on heating up a trangia style burner for cold weather. for this cook set. try a mini pie tin, 3 to 4 inch dia. put the mini pie tin into the burner stand first. fill it with alcohol. invert the solid stand & put on top of the pie tin. the air holes will give room for the warmer(pie tin) to burn. put the filled trangia style burner into the stand. light the warmer pan. wait a couple minutes for the main burner fuel to warm. check to see if the main burner has caught fire. lit if necessary.
the best thing I like about these stoves you've been showcasing over my compressed gas, isobutane stove is they are all so quiet as opposed to a compressed gas stove that sounds like a fighter jet.
Forgive me for not watching the whole video. I have the same cookset, and was very happy with the pots and set up. I gave up on my first foray, the solid fuel stove, the fumes are deadly and can't be used in any kind of closed environment. I love these pots they work well for my situation. Interestingly, I have experienced nearly the same issues. The O-ring does not sit tight in the cap. The cap is very hard to get started to screw on. About 6 months into my use, I started noticing a small flame on the outside edge of the stove. At first I thought I had spilled some fuel. But then the flame got bigger. One day I noticed a piece of metal hanging down on the outside of the fuel pot. There appears to be 2 pieces crimped or soldered to form the fuel bowl. And this has started separating. This was my first venture into alcohol stoves, and have been discouraged. I bought it through REI, and am able to return it for refund. I am waiting for my Trangia 25-6 cook set. I'm thinking they have Quality engineering down pat. Thanks for the platform for me to vent. Happy cooking to all.
Sarah, thank you so much for contributing to the conversation! ESBITs alcohol burners from what I gather from comments and private messages are prone to this. I own and use several Trangia burners that have never failed me. I have replaced all of my ESBIT burners with Trangia burners. I think you made a wise choice with the Trangia 25. Had I had a choice in the matter I would have chosen the 25 over the 27. However, I have grown to LOVE my 27 and have just learned to cook smaller servings. I will eventually own my own 25 with all the bells and whistles. I agree with your assessment of Trangia's Designs and Quality Control! I have several other stove reviews on my channel including a review of my Trangia 27. Thanks again for commenting it means a lot to me! Have a fantastic day!
Great video. I like your delivery. Concise. I have the same cookset and I think I'll switch back from a canister for a while. The possibility of spilling lit fuel is why I paused on the alcohol stove for a bit. I'm kind of clumsy...
Thank you very much, Craig! I own all manner of camp stoves. All of them have their own pros and cons. I choose the stove I take with me based on weight and size, weather conditions, and my specific stove requirements for the food I will be preparing. Sometimes I'll take one out just because I haven't used it in a while😄😅😆 As far a clumsy goes, most of my mishaps get edited out of the video😄😅😆
My Esbit burner developed the same cracks. My guess is elevation change on a sealed unit. The brass is to thin. I was able to wrap mine in Gorilla tape as a short term fix. The cook set is awesome now that it has a Trangia burner.
No More Esbit Burners For Me! I've replaced all of them with Trangia burners. I wish Esbits burners were made and designed as well as there cook sets! Thanks for sharing that info! I have had several people now share the same experience, so, we aren't the only ones!
Thank you Dale! I have used Trangia burners for as long as I have used Esbit burners. I have never had an issue with the Trangia burners. I know there are countless other brands of burners, however I have no experience with them. I believe I will just buy another Trangia burner if I ever buy another Esbit Alcohol cook set. Other than the burner I think Esbit products are very well made and designed. Go figure... Have a great Dale and thanks for commenting!
@@boonedockery7220 my thoughts exactly. Love the Esbit cook set but it requires the trangia lol. I wrapped my Esbit with a band of gorilla tape. Good quick fix for the short term.
@@LongRider47 Dale, I have some aluminum tape, the stuff used for heating ducts, I'll have to try that out on my damaged Esbit burner. Thanks for the inspiration brother!
Thank you! I personally don't believe an objective review can be achieved without extensive use and gaining experience with a piece of kit. Had I not used the set as long as I had, I never would have noticed the issue with the Esbit Alcohol Burner.
I know im asking the wrong place but does anyone know of a trick to log back into an instagram account..? I was dumb lost the login password. I appreciate any help you can give me.
@Silas Rafael Thanks so much for your reply. I found the site on google and Im trying it out atm. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.
When it gets windy you can put aluminum tape inside. You can keep the tape together using a binder ring clip. Careful though. The trangia can go into runaway mode if it gets too hot.
I’m changing the feet to aluminium and using the tablet holder upside down I’m going to try this as a twig burner so I’ve got a back if I use all my fuel
Have you ever had this on an airplane sealed? Cargo planes are not pressurized and it could have swelled or frozen? Alcohol has water in it and the alcohol could have evaporated enough to freeze in winter I have had windshield washer solution freeze.
Thank you for the review I’m thinking about buying the burner and cook set but now I am a little worried did Esbit ever get back with you? Are there any other alcohol stoves you recommend?
Esbit did not respond. I attempted 7 times on 5 different platforms, Including, Website, Social Media, Email and snail mail. I know there are a vast number of alcohol/spirit burners on the market. I am certain there are many that are fantastic, however, I have not used them. I KNOW through 10+ years of use and abuse that the Trangia burner is very well made and designed. It may be a little heavy compared to others but I personally think it's worth the wait for it's reliability. I made a soda can burner that works great however, it's not nearly as durable as the Trangia.
I'd have to re-watch the video to be certain but I usually use a long handle titanium spoon. I don't recall the the brand but multiple manufacturers produce them ranging in price from $7.00 to $15.00. I've had that one for at least 8 to 10 years before everyone was selling them. I just checked amazon and there is a set for $13.99. www.amazon.com/OUTXE-Titanium-8-7-Inch-Camping-Eco-Friendly/dp/B07YD7P7TG/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=long+handle+titanium+spoon&qid=1630369516&sr=8-9
Thank you for another great review!😃 Does anyone know if a Bushbuddy /Solostove Lite fits properly into the cook set? Also: Has anybody used the pots with other cook systems such as the gasifier stoves mentioned above? The Esbit pots reviewed in this video are designed to fit into its stove stand. Since the base of the pots are not flush, I was wondering if it would be a stability issue if used with other stoves. I like to be able to mix and match my gear. If I was able to combine both sets that would be great. I could used the same pots and alcohol stove for both stove systems. In Canada, buying the Esbit Alcohol Stove and Trekking Cookset is cheaper then buying the Solostove 900 pot that is design for the Solo lite and a waste of money according to one of your previous reviews. Thank you
The pot, lid and stove are all hard anodized aluminum. The hard anodization process prevents the ill effects of aluminum. I have been impressed with the versatility, durability and cooking surfaces of this set.
Did the Esbit stove ever freeze with water in it? I do not think that alcohol stored in it sealed would build up enough pressure to cause cracks like that.
@@boonedockery7220 Merci également... Ta chaîne est très intéressante, on y apprend de bonnes choses... 🙏 Thank you too... Your channel is very interesting, you learn good things... 🙏
Thanks for the suggestion! It sounds delicious! We actually grow all of those ingredients in our garden. Even after an entire week of frost, our cilantro is still holding firm. I kept this menu very basic trying to focus on the stove instead of the meal. Perhaps I'll revisit the meal with a different stove in the future and include the extra deliciousness! Any excuse to enjoy good food in the woods is always welcome! Have a great day Liz and thank you for commenting and contributing to the conversation!!
You'e probably moved on by now, 6 months later, but the cracks you showed made me think it might've cracked due to pressure build up under the sealed cap. Any thoughts on that?
You know I did take that burner on a backpacking trip in the Cheyenne Mountains as a back-up stove. You might just have something there! Back to researching.... Thanks for the input Scott and Lora!
I can tell you, that happens if the stove gets overfilled, I've found that you should never put more than, 2oz of fuel at a time in the stove... Not sure why it makes a difference, but in does.
I would. Albeit, the burner may be a wild card. I used mine for many years before the burner failed. If you already own a Trangia burner, your set! Just be sure to inspect the burner before you put it in your pack for an outing. I tried contacting Esbit through their Facebook and Instagram accounts as well as their website and never received a reply. That doesn't sit well with me.
@@boonedockery7220 Rog, got hip to your videos from one of your previous students who I share gear and ideas back and forth with, so far I have really enjoyed them. Keep em coming and God Bless ya!
@@nathanrinehart158 Thank You and God Bless You As Well Brother! Shelley messaged me about you and said you were in the Ross county area? Perhaps we could meet sometime soon. The Gathering isn't until October, that's a ways off.
I have never had an issue with any product I have purchased from Esbit except the alcohol burner. Other than that (which is a big deal in my opinion) I really like their products.
Steve, I have had a few other folks inform me they also had the same issue. Considering the huge number they have sold over the years, there would have to be a certain percentage that had issues. I could never get any form of reply from Esbit, so, if you have an issue, you might just need to talk to the retailer you purchased it from.
I really like their cook sets and solid fuel stoves but the alcohol burner failed. I've had other folks tell me theirs failed as well. I'll just stick to Trangia burners.
I have researched this problem extensively. From all that I have learned tarnishing of brass does not degrade the brass it's self. Tarnish can build on brass extensively, then when cleaned will appear as it did prior to the tarnishing. As far as the function of the stove/burner goes tarnish can build and block the fuel ports which will negatively affect it's performance. The only thing I discovered in my research that can degrade the integrity of the brass is a process called "De-Zincafication". When this occurs zinc separates from the copper and weakens the brass. When De-Zincafication occurs it turns the metal a pinkish color. This discoloration is not present on my Esbit Burner. I am going forward with the theory that Esbit recieved a bad batch of brass that was more brittle and once used to make the stove/burner it was stressed. Then after multiple uses the heat created fishers in the brass that completely compromised the housing of the stove/burner.
@@boonedockery7220 Just curious, have you ever left alcohol in the stove for a period of time? The even spacing of the cracks look like perhaps there was alcohol in the stove in a warm location, the burner was sealed, and then taken to a cold location (or vice versa, cold to hot) and there was potentially liquid expansion or contraction that caused the cracking?
Stewart, I have had several folks contact me with this same issue. So far no one has mentioned the same issue with the Trangia Burner. I hope yours is still serviceable! It is a great cook set! It's a shame the burner has had some issues. Cheers!
Great review and thank you for sharing (for the recipe too) Regarding the vertical cracks in the brass; this could very well be “Season Cracking” of the brass from ammonia corrosion. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Season_cracking
I just looked at the link. This is the FIRST LOGICAL EXPLANATION I have read about this! The burner was not properly Annealed! My question is how was it exposed to ammonia? I believe I have an answer... I seem to remember many years ago, burning an Esbit fuel tab in the stove. A one-time occurrence would have introduced ammonia to the stove as one of the gases released from Esbit tabs is Ammonia! THANK YOU!!!!
@@boonedockery7220 I’m glad some of this old school knowledge helped shed some light as to what was going on! This ammonia corrosion is something that plagues anything copper or any allow containing it.
I have one of these kits Ive used for motorcycle camping for years. I have not had a failure with the alcohol burner. The only issue I've had with the kit is that it doesn't work well in the wind. I solved this problem by tripple folding a sheet of HD aluminum foil to the correct size to fit inside the pot. I use this as a wind screen around the stove base when needed. I really like it for motorcycle camping because I can find fuel at almost every gas station. Gas line antifreeze aka Heet.
Wow, I've used Esbit spirit burners for over ten years and never had a problem. I use the Esbit 5-piece,985ml, Stainless Steel Cookset and its anodized aluminum counterpart and never had a problem. Good video, thanks for posting.
WOWSZA! I was dumbfounded when the Esbit burner leaked like that! I own that exact cook set. Like you I've had it for years now. I have never used the Esbit buneŕ that came with it...I thought it was flimsy compared to my Trangia burner so I put the Esbit burner aside and put the Trangia burner from my 27T STORMCOOKER in the Esbit kit when I'm going to be using it. Later I bought a dedicated Trangia burner for the Esbit. After seeing your video I'm SURE GLAD about doing that. The cook kit, LOVE IT. I also use the elevator inserted upside-down inserted in the bottom middle hole and place my Trangia burner inside it to be a burn protector on the bottom away from grass, etc. Works great and the burner will not slide around when using it. Anyway, about two years ago I bought a second kit for my husband and a Trangia burner for his. We oftentimes eat differently so he has his own system now. Worth the money and additional cost of the Trangia burner upgrade.
Pamela, This is an awesome comment! Filled with excellent REAL experience information! Thank You for posting it! I apologize for the late reply. Life has been very chaotic as of late. Your foresight in replacing the Esbit burner with the Trangia was flat out brilliant! Having a kit for each individual in your group is quite wise. It is fairly compact and light weight so it would be no hinderance for an individual to carry. Using the elevator in the manner you describe was also excellent foresight and strategic planning! I really enjoyed reading this as it was very matter of a fact from your actual experience! I certainly hope others read it as it will definitely benefit them should they purchase this excellent cook set. Incidentally, Esbit never replied to my multiple attempts to contact them. Interesting... Thanks again for your comment and I pray you have a blessed and wonderful weekend!
THANK YOU. I just bought this stove used, and your video helped me notice the same cracks forming on the side. I’m planning a 15 day solo trip and doubt I would have noticed without your help. Now I know to get a Trangia or bring solid fuel as backup.
It's unfortunate that happened to your burner as well, BUT Very Fortunate You Noticed It Now! The Trangia burners have never failed me.
I have several Esbit burners and never had a problem. I have owned the 5 pc. set for 7 years and used the burner hundreds of times. No problem.I'm sorry this happened to you. Hope it doesn't sour you on this set because of what seems to be a factory defect. I always keep 2 Esbit tabs in the empty alcohol burner for emergencies....good example in this vid. I have written "O Ring" w/a sharpie marker on the inside of the screw cap to remind me to be sure the O ring is still there. I cut out a wind screen from a oven liner I purchased from a dollar store. It nest inside the large pot around the solid fuel stand. Where did you get the test tube bottle for the oil? I've been told 5 Below but never seen them there. Glad you suffered no injury. Just found your site. Will explore all your vids. Later in vid I see you've had the set for a while and love it. Thanks for sharing!
Thank You Very Much for your comment. I have had a couple of people share with me that the had experienced a similar defect. I have done all the research I could to find the cause of the structural failure. I found nothing that seemed to answer my question. It has not soured me to Esbit products. I do believe it was more than likely a bad batch of brass or something of the sort. I was very disappointed that Esbit never replied to any of the multiple communications I initiated. I like the idea of "O Ring" awareness you shared! I might have to use it!. The test tube is actually a 2 liter soda bottle blank. In the bottling plant the blanks are heated up, slip into a mold, shot with a quick blast of hot air, forcing the blank to expand and form a two liter bottle. It's the moved directly to the filing and labeling line. I bought mine online. However if you know someone that works at a soft drink bottling plant, they might be able to get you some for free. Thanks again for your comment! I look forward to more in the future!
Love the music on the intro… super.
Great to see your countryside.
Amazing to see the burner failure.
Another super video. All the best from the UK 🇬🇧
Thank You, John! I had the opportunity to visit the UK several years ago. I was able to do some wild camping in North Umberland National Park, Alongside Hadrian's Wall, and in Scottland. Everywhere we camped was breathtaking! I would LOVE to return for a lot more wild camping! Cheers Brother!
I like that little professional move where you dip the twig into the fuel, light that, and then use the twig to start the burner. Much easier than trying to light the burner with the lighter directly. Thank you.
The result of burning too many knuckle hairs!😄😆😅😉👍
Great tip. Will constantly inspect my Esbit burner before each use. Thank you.
Thank You Michael! I hope your burner never fails you!
Cool video. What is the headroom for the flame please, say you were to use a pan that sits at the very top rather than recesses in. I have a Trangia burner and other makes of pans that I would like to use on this, so maybe I can buy just the stand if it's suitable. Thanks
I personally have not seen individual ESBIT "pieces" for sale. I believe the headroom would be sufficient for what your describing.
I have seen and heard of similar cracks on brass ammunition cartridges,. These can appear in the casings before the bullet, shot or slug is fired, and usually come from the forming process, which makes the brass or copper material more brittle and induces residual stresses in the material. Those factors, coupled with some very localized corrosion along those lines of stress, causes the failures they refer to as Stress Corrosion Cracking. This looks a lot like it, but without testing, it's just a guess based on the pattern of cracks and materials. I was looking at both the Trangia and the Esbit, and your vlog helped me make the correct choice. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you very much! I truly appreciate your knowledgeable contribution to this conversation! I hope you have a fantastic day!
hmmm, got this set coming this week. now i have something too inspect when it gets here. thank you. a small can of green beans added to this dish is excellent. have made this as the 1 pan dinner dish ( beef rice a roni, 1 lb grd beef, a can of green beans,)
Great video. Good to see someone who's actually used one properly before doing the review as against someone who takes it out of the box and then thinks they know all about it. Rant over. I bought one of these about 5 years ago and very quickly made it my first choice. I think you were unlucky with the burner. Mine is still working perfectly even though it's pretty battered now, even the simmer ring is tight. Looking forward to a few more videos.
Thank you Rodger. I really appreciate the feedback! I tried multiple times to contact ESBIT, with no reply. Apart from the burner, it's ideal for most of my needs. I just replaced the burner with a Trangia I already had so, that little gem is ready to get back to the woods with me! I'll be shooting more reviews shortly.
Same with mine. It has continued to work perfectly for years. I think a batch made with an improper brass alloy made it past quality control.
I like the fact you can place the simmer ring over the burner through the large hole in the stand and put the flame out without taking your pot off and without having the hairs on the back of your hand burned off.
Hahahaha!!!! I agree completely!👍😄
watched hirman cook's video on heating up a trangia style burner for cold weather. for this cook set. try a mini pie tin, 3 to 4 inch dia. put the mini pie tin into the burner stand first. fill it with alcohol. invert the solid stand & put on top of the pie tin. the air holes will give room for the warmer(pie tin) to burn. put the filled trangia style burner into the stand. light the warmer pan. wait a couple minutes for the main burner fuel to warm. check to see if the main burner has caught fire. lit if necessary.
Nice one, mate. Had a similar issue wiith one of my Trangias. Contacted the company and got a free replacement. atb from Leeds, Hal
I tried repeatedly to contact Esbit. I NEVER received a reply. Cheers!
the best thing I like about these stoves you've been showcasing over my compressed gas, isobutane stove is they are all so quiet as opposed to a compressed gas stove that sounds like a fighter jet.
I've got a video planned that will put a different perspective on camp stoves that I wish I would have had years ago.
Forgive me for not watching the whole video. I have the same cookset, and was very happy with the pots and set up. I gave up on my first foray, the solid fuel stove, the fumes are deadly and can't be used in any kind of closed environment. I love these pots they work well for my situation. Interestingly, I have experienced nearly the same issues. The O-ring does not sit tight in the cap. The cap is very hard to get started to screw on. About 6 months into my use, I started noticing a small flame on the outside edge of the stove. At first I thought I had spilled some fuel. But then the flame got bigger. One day I noticed a piece of metal hanging down on the outside of the fuel pot. There appears to be 2 pieces crimped or soldered to form the fuel bowl. And this has started separating. This was my first venture into alcohol stoves, and have been discouraged. I bought it through REI, and am able to return it for refund. I am waiting for my Trangia 25-6 cook set. I'm thinking they have Quality engineering down pat. Thanks for the platform for me to vent. Happy cooking to all.
Sarah, thank you so much for contributing to the conversation! ESBITs alcohol burners from what I gather from comments and private messages are prone to this. I own and use several Trangia burners that have never failed me. I have replaced all of my ESBIT burners with Trangia burners. I think you made a wise choice with the Trangia 25. Had I had a choice in the matter I would have chosen the 25 over the 27. However, I have grown to LOVE my 27 and have just learned to cook smaller servings. I will eventually own my own 25 with all the bells and whistles. I agree with your assessment of Trangia's Designs and Quality Control! I have several other stove reviews on my channel including a review of my Trangia 27. Thanks again for commenting it means a lot to me! Have a fantastic day!
I’ve used mine for 3years quite regularly with no problem with leaks.
Great video. I like your delivery. Concise. I have the same cookset and I think I'll switch back from a canister for a while. The possibility of spilling lit fuel is why I paused on the alcohol stove for a bit. I'm kind of clumsy...
Thank you very much, Craig! I own all manner of camp stoves. All of them have their own pros and cons. I choose the stove I take with me based on weight and size, weather conditions, and my specific stove requirements for the food I will be preparing. Sometimes I'll take one out just because I haven't used it in a while😄😅😆
As far a clumsy goes, most of my mishaps get edited out of the video😄😅😆
My Esbit burner developed the same cracks. My guess is elevation change on a sealed unit. The brass is to thin. I was able to wrap mine in Gorilla tape as a short term fix. The cook set is awesome now that it has a Trangia burner.
No More Esbit Burners For Me! I've replaced all of them with Trangia burners. I wish Esbits burners were made and designed as well as there cook sets! Thanks for sharing that info! I have had several people now share the same experience, so, we aren't the only ones!
@@boonedockery7220 I’m doing the same. All Trangias from now on. You just can’t beat the original and the quality.
Great review I'm sold.. thankyou. Happy camping..
Thank You! I think it's a great piece of kit! Enjoy The Outdoors!
My burner also has leaking cracks for no reason. Great review video.
Thank you Dale! I have used Trangia burners for as long as I have used Esbit burners. I have never had an issue with the Trangia burners. I know there are countless other brands of burners, however I have no experience with them. I believe I will just buy another Trangia burner if I ever buy another Esbit Alcohol cook set. Other than the burner I think Esbit products are very well made and designed. Go figure... Have a great Dale and thanks for commenting!
@@boonedockery7220 my thoughts exactly. Love the Esbit cook set but it requires the trangia lol. I wrapped my Esbit with a band of gorilla tape. Good quick fix for the short term.
@@LongRider47 Dale, I have some aluminum tape, the stuff used for heating ducts, I'll have to try that out on my damaged Esbit burner. Thanks for the inspiration brother!
truly great, very educational review! (and the cookset is USED for years not just "unboxed") 👍👍👍❤️
Thank you! I personally don't believe an objective review can be achieved without extensive use and gaining experience with a piece of kit. Had I not used the set as long as I had, I never would have noticed the issue with the Esbit Alcohol Burner.
I know im asking the wrong place but does anyone know of a trick to log back into an instagram account..?
I was dumb lost the login password. I appreciate any help you can give me.
@Ishaan Titus Instablaster =)
@Silas Rafael Thanks so much for your reply. I found the site on google and Im trying it out atm.
Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.
@Silas Rafael It worked and I finally got access to my account again. I am so happy:D
Thanks so much, you saved my ass !
When it gets windy you can put aluminum tape inside. You can keep the tape together using a binder ring clip. Careful though. The trangia can go into runaway mode if it gets too hot.
Excellent tip! Thank You!
You're very welcome!@@boonedockery7220
Very useful and thorough review! Thank you sir! Greetings from Greece!
Chairetismous kai efcharisto!
@@boonedockery7220 You are very welcome!
I use a Trangia Mini cooking set for hiking, mine is about 10 years old and still going strong.
I have seen many folks on TH-cam using them. The MINI is on my wish list!
I’m changing the feet to aluminium and using the tablet holder upside down I’m going to try this as a twig burner so I’ve got a back if I use all my fuel
That's A Great Idea!!!
Great video! Well done. Awesome channel. New follower here. Crow✌️
Thank you very much! Welcome to the family!
Great great great job, buddy! Ciao
Thank you Carmine! Cheers!
Have you ever had this on an airplane sealed? Cargo planes are not pressurized and it could have swelled or frozen? Alcohol has water in it and the alcohol could have evaporated enough to freeze in winter I have had windshield washer solution freeze.
Nope, it's never been in an airplane But I did have it at some pretty extreme altitude in the Cheyenne Mountain Range.
Thank you for the review I’m thinking about buying the burner and cook set but now I am a little worried did Esbit ever get back with you? Are there any other alcohol stoves you recommend?
Esbit did not respond. I attempted 7 times on 5 different platforms, Including, Website, Social Media, Email and snail mail.
I know there are a vast number of alcohol/spirit burners on the market. I am certain there are many that are fantastic, however, I have not used them. I KNOW through 10+ years of use and abuse that the Trangia burner is very well made and designed. It may be a little heavy compared to others but I personally think it's worth the wait for it's reliability. I made a soda can burner that works great however, it's not nearly as durable as the Trangia.
The burner is from what company ???
Great video as always brother John!! The cracking in your burner is very unusual never seen it before!? Its made of brass?
Yeah Brother Jay, I had never seen it either. I contacted Esbit multiple times about the issue and haven't gotten a single reply....
May I ask what spoon are you using in the video?
I'd have to re-watch the video to be certain but I usually use a long handle titanium spoon. I don't recall the the brand but multiple manufacturers produce them ranging in price from $7.00 to $15.00. I've had that one for at least 8 to 10 years before everyone was selling them. I just checked amazon and there is a set for $13.99.
www.amazon.com/OUTXE-Titanium-8-7-Inch-Camping-Eco-Friendly/dp/B07YD7P7TG/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=long+handle+titanium+spoon&qid=1630369516&sr=8-9
Thank you for another great review!😃
Does anyone know if a Bushbuddy /Solostove Lite fits properly into the cook set?
Also:
Has anybody used the pots with other cook systems such as the gasifier stoves mentioned above?
The Esbit pots reviewed in this video are designed to fit into its stove stand. Since the base of the pots are not flush, I was wondering if it would be a stability issue if used with other stoves.
I like to be able to mix and match my gear. If I was able to combine both sets that would be great. I could used the same pots and alcohol stove for both stove systems.
In Canada, buying the Esbit Alcohol Stove and Trekking Cookset is cheaper then buying the Solostove 900 pot that is design for the Solo lite and a waste of money according to one of your previous reviews.
Thank you
Brotherwolff, This is a brilliant premise! I will check my sets and will get back with you!
To anyone that reads this, if you have tried this PLEASE respond to this comment!
I use this set with a frying pan perfectly so any flat bottom pan will be fine unless it’s so large it makes things unsafe.
What kind of metal are the pots made from? Believe titanium is the safest, as it does not leech into the food.
The pot, lid and stove are all hard anodized aluminum. The hard anodization process prevents the ill effects of aluminum. I have been impressed with the versatility, durability and cooking surfaces of this set.
My version is aluminium too but both pots have none stick coating
Did the Esbit stove ever freeze with water in it? I do not think that alcohol stored in it sealed would build up enough pressure to cause cracks like that.
It has never had water in it. Only Alcohol. It has never been transported full however it has been exposed to freezing temperatures many times.
Bon appétit to you cher ami… 😉👍
Enjoy your food à toi dear friend… 😉👍
… from France… 😃
Merci beaucoup! Je suis tellement heureux que vous ayez trouvé ma chaîne! Que la paix soit avec vous!😊👍
@@boonedockery7220 Merci également... Ta chaîne est très intéressante, on y apprend de bonnes choses... 🙏
Thank you too... Your channel is very interesting, you learn good things... 🙏
where do you get that alcohol dispenser bottle?
shop.trangia.se/en/accessories/fuel-bottle-0-5l-1.html
These are by far my favorite fuel bottles!
You forgot to mention that you can remove the solid fuel elevator, build a small fire with twigs, and cut your food that way.
I most certainly did.... Thank you for sharing that in this comment!
Why can’t you use a smaLl cold pack wrapped in plastic bag?
I could do that! Thanks for the suggestion!
Try adding some chopped onion, garlic, cilantro and seasoning to the meat as you are packing it... It will elevate the meal ten fold
Thanks for the suggestion! It sounds delicious! We actually grow all of those ingredients in our garden. Even after an entire week of frost, our cilantro is still holding firm. I kept this menu very basic trying to focus on the stove instead of the meal. Perhaps I'll revisit the meal with a different stove in the future and include the extra deliciousness! Any excuse to enjoy good food in the woods is always welcome! Have a great day Liz and thank you for commenting and contributing to the conversation!!
I have never seen similar cracking in any alcohol burner.
Nor Have I!
You'e probably moved on by now, 6 months later, but the cracks you showed made me think it might've cracked due to pressure build up under the sealed cap. Any thoughts on that?
You know I did take that burner on a backpacking trip in the Cheyenne Mountains as a back-up stove. You might just have something there! Back to researching.... Thanks for the input Scott and Lora!
Great video!
Thanks Dakota! I still have a lot to learn about all this video stuff!😉
@@boonedockery7220 Youre welcome! If you ever need help, I got a new camera and editing skills!
That fly drives me crazy
It was definitely persistent...
Great outing! Good review 👍 stop by some time🍻
Thank you. I appreciate the comment! I just took a peek at your channel, I will return shortly to start watching!
I can tell you, that happens if the stove gets overfilled, I've found that you should never put more than, 2oz of fuel at a time in the stove...
Not sure why it makes a difference, but in does.
Would you still recommend this stove even with the defect you experienced?
I would. Albeit, the burner may be a wild card. I used mine for many years before the burner failed. If you already own a Trangia burner, your set! Just be sure to inspect the burner before you put it in your pack for an outing. I tried contacting Esbit through their Facebook and Instagram accounts as well as their website and never received a reply. That doesn't sit well with me.
@@boonedockery7220 Rog, got hip to your videos from one of your previous students who I share gear and ideas back and forth with, so far I have really enjoyed them. Keep em coming and God Bless ya!
@@nathanrinehart158 Thank You and God Bless You As Well Brother! Shelley messaged me about you and said you were in the Ross county area? Perhaps we could meet sometime soon. The Gathering isn't until October, that's a ways off.
@@boonedockery7220 that would be great. However and whenever you feel comfortable meeting. Maybe in the field? You call it and I'll be there sir.
@@boonedockery7220 dynamicpeaceofmind@gmail.com
It's a great video.
どうもありがとうございました！
We'll that's put me off Esbit products!
I have never had an issue with any product I have purchased from Esbit except the alcohol burner. Other than that (which is a big deal in my opinion) I really like their products.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
I’d better inspect my Esbit spirit burners! Thank you.
Steve, I have had a few other folks inform me they also had the same issue. Considering the huge number they have sold over the years, there would have to be a certain percentage that had issues. I could never get any form of reply from Esbit, so, if you have an issue, you might just need to talk to the retailer you purchased it from.
Im hearing a lot of bad things about Esbit 😢
I really like their cook sets and solid fuel stoves but the alcohol burner failed. I've had other folks tell me theirs failed as well. I'll just stick to Trangia burners.
Its never been cleaned....
I have researched this problem extensively. From all that I have learned tarnishing of brass does not degrade the brass it's self. Tarnish can build on brass extensively, then when cleaned will appear as it did prior to the tarnishing. As far as the function of the stove/burner goes tarnish can build and block the fuel ports which will negatively affect it's performance. The only thing I discovered in my research that can degrade the integrity of the brass is a process called "De-Zincafication". When this occurs zinc separates from the copper and weakens the brass. When De-Zincafication occurs it turns the metal a pinkish color. This discoloration is not present on my Esbit Burner.
I am going forward with the theory that Esbit recieved a bad batch of brass that was more brittle and once used to make the stove/burner it was stressed. Then after multiple uses the heat created fishers in the brass that completely compromised the housing of the stove/burner.
@@boonedockery7220 Just curious, have you ever left alcohol in the stove for a period of time? The even spacing of the cracks look like perhaps there was alcohol in the stove in a warm location, the burner was sealed, and then taken to a cold location (or vice versa, cold to hot) and there was potentially liquid expansion or contraction that caused the cracking?
That's not good, after watching your video I check my own.
Stewart, I have had several folks contact me with this same issue. So far no one has mentioned the same issue with the Trangia Burner. I hope yours is still serviceable! It is a great cook set! It's a shame the burner has had some issues. Cheers!
Great review and thank you for sharing (for the recipe too)
Regarding the vertical cracks in the brass; this could very well be “Season Cracking” of the brass from ammonia corrosion.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Season_cracking
Ali, Thank You! I will check out the link!
I just looked at the link. This is the FIRST LOGICAL EXPLANATION I have read about this! The burner was not properly Annealed! My question is how was it exposed to ammonia? I believe I have an answer... I seem to remember many years ago, burning an Esbit fuel tab in the stove. A one-time occurrence would have introduced ammonia to the stove as one of the gases released from Esbit tabs is Ammonia! THANK YOU!!!!
@@boonedockery7220 I’m glad some of this old school knowledge helped shed some light as to what was going on! This ammonia corrosion is something that plagues anything copper or any allow containing it.
@@alinozari325 Thank You Again for sharing this!!!!