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Good Enough for the US Military? - British Military BCB FireDragon Mini Cooker Stove
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 พ.ย. 2021
- This is the BCB FireDragon Mini Cooker Stove which the US Military is considering currently; it comes from 'across the pond' and it utilizes Solid Fuels.
The Flames from this stove........ARE INSANE!
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BCB FireDragon Mini Cooker Stove
Where to get it : There are sellers on eBay who offer them but shipping is substantial. I am not aware of any US companies that offer this stove at this time but I’m sure that you can locate a store across the pond who will export it for you if you look hard enough.
Price : Around $4 USD but has to be imported and shipping fees will apply.
Weight : 1.5oz
Weight of OG FireDragon Stove : 3.9oz
Dimensions : 2.7” x 1.9” x 1.5”
Fuel :
The stove is designed to be used with either solid fuels or gel based fuels.
It can hold 2x 27g FireDragon methanol tablets
With the FireDragon Tablets, they are rather expensive.
6 of the 27g is almost $9;
In the future I will compare DragonFire Fuel to Hexamine; it will be interesting to see how the two fuels compare.
A benefit to using the FireDragon fuel is that it is non-toxic which isn’t the case with Hexamine.
Question : Can you light one with a ferro rod?
Stove : It is designed for the side to unfold so it can be used with
Observations :
Very lightweight
Very small form factor
Does a good job of blocking wind
Small size means this isn’t going to be the most stable when using it on the ground; because it’s small, any irregularities will be amplified.
Interesting :
The FireDragon Mini Cooker seen here is one solution proposed by BCB for a US Armed Forces requirement for a field cooker which can be issued inside the Meal Cold Weather version of the MRE, which forward deployed personnel on NATO’s vulnerable Northern Flank are issued, and one of our contacts working on a recent United Nations requirement for Patrol Rations tells us this new mini cooker and FireDragon fuel is also seen as having potential in this area.
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When I was in the US Marines way back when C-rations were the field rations for the US military, we were issued Trioxane heat tabs, but no purpose made stove. Instead, we were taught how to make a stove out of the B-unit can (it held round John Wayne crackers). Used a John Wayne can opener (P-38) to cut air holes, crush the top slightly, drop a heat tab in it, light it off, and bingo. However, after MREs first came into use, there was no flameless heater and you needed to heat a canteen cup of water. So I bought an Esbit stove and used one of those for the rest of my career. I liked them. Trioxane or hexamine could be used in the Esbit. When flameless heaters came out for the main meal, you still needed to heat water for coffee or cocoa. The Esbit continued to serve me just fine. Still have a couple.
Thank you for your service Marine! I still use my canteen cup and stove that I was issued in my Army days. Mostly for nostalgia more that anything in think.
Thank you for your service.
A Polish friend :)
With all stoves except my Jetboil, I always use a windshield. Especially with using alcohol, alcohol gel and hexamine, a aluminium foil shield really does help focus the heat and flames on the pot and avoids the wild results shown here. (They can be bought, but I find heavy duty BBQ foil, or a large disposable sandwich plate work well) For lighting hexamine easily, squirt a little alcohol hand sanitiser on it :) Incidentally, I have carried a small bottle of alcohol hand sanitiser for years. Good for cleaning hands AND as an antiseptic but, I also found it works nicely to help light fires (as well as be a fuel in its own right, if you have enough). With Covid, of course, I also started carrying the small bottle in my pocket. This means that even around town (or in the office), with the sanitiser, pocket knife and a lighter in my coin purse, I always have a means of making a fire.
*edited* spelling. Sitting by the Danube, at -1C in a light fleece and trying to type on your phone in the dark makes for 'creative' work :D
GOOD POINT about a windscreen being necessary for these weak cookers. For making coffee or providing hot water to rehydrate meals, the cookers work well enough (with the windscreen to help contain some heat.)
Throughout the video I kept looking at that shovel behind you lol
Hey there, I have a fair bit of experience with these types of stoves (owned and used several regular fire dragons extensively with the army and have played around with these mini ones). I can say with absolute confidence that this type of fuel is not worth 1.50 per block, over here in England it's like £2 for 6 blocks and it's a great option for people new to camping who can get one of these and a couple mess tins for £10 along with a weeks food that being said the regular fire dragon is also tiny and at a similar price point but works so much better, in my opinion this mini stove just doesn't need to exist - maybe there's a place for the ultra light kit people but for anybody willing to carry more than 5kg(11lbs) should be totally fine with a fire dragon, great video 👍
Yep well said mate: have you ever had a crack at a stick fire with these designs ?
Cheers Duke.
@@eyeofthetiger4184 I have started a stick fire with the fuel before and it worked quite well as a fire starter but never tried the stove if that's what you're asking
@@jonapple2325Thanks for the reply mate.
What I am curious about is whether these type of units will handle a mini natural fire in the absence of man made fuel. I like the light weight and simple design, but if you run out of blocks of whatever composition......
Yes, you can just make a fire, but that defeates the purpose of a stove to start with, if you follow my meaning.
Cheers Duke
@@eyeofthetiger4184 ah right that makes sense, since it's basically just a metal box it is able to use basically any solid or liquid fuels including firewood, so yes sticks would work however with the mini stove I don't think you would be able to get a fire hot enough to cook in the field effectively with just sticks, I reckon the regular fire dragon would be able to just fine however, hope this helps.
@@jonapple2325 Yep totally agree, the little fella would struggle to have the "fire mass" to be effective. I was more concerned about the materials used in these types of units to withstand a proper fire and coals. But you've answered my question, many thanks for taking the time mate.
Cheers Duke.
The gel blocks are great with the folding stove. It stores 3 blocks inside, so very compact. The gel is also available in bottles (cheaper). Both the blocks and gel from a bottle can be ignited with a firesteel. Greetings from the Netherlands 👋🏻
Groetjes oet Almelo😁
@@je710817 Oldenzaal hier haha
I don't know about the "safety" thing if you spill burning diesel or alcohol or a burning propane/butane stove on your bag or tent I don't think the type of fuel matters if you know what I am saying....
BCB is a great company and the Firedragon brand Ethanol fluid is really suited for the Trangia stoves, as you said its really safe, non toxi, and wont soot up.. That little rectangular stove is really for the rectangular mess tins which is wider and absorbs the flame more. ...I guess it has a place and a time.
Now that makes sense. Considering the dimensions of the mini stove the width would easily nest inside the rectangular pans when nested together along with anything else you wanted to add to that fire kit. 👍👍👍
These stoves are more likely to be used with the rectangular mess pans in the UK. I haven't used this type for a long while but I cut the block in half and then use it.
I cut it in half as well
Since it's basically jellified alcohol, does the remaining half need to be stored airtight? I would imagine the alcohol would evaporate?
@@Panbaneesha yes and no, wrap them in cling film or just some tinfoil.
@@karlrichards Thank you!
The original was known by Commonwealth Forces as a "Tommy Cooker" and was a larger reversed engineered German Esbit cooker. I have several and they work well with solid fuel tabs like Esbit or hexamine.
Finally someone recognizes the high cost of the fire dragon cubes. I wish BCB would make a stove with a little ground clearance like the Esbit to prevent fires.
One thing very good about BCB fuel is that it lights up very easily, even in adverse weather. In fact you can light it up with ferro rod, which can come in very handy. Just for this l think it is a good choice for military use.
I haven't read all the comments, so forgive me if this has been mentioned already. Even if ethanol is non-toxic, it isn't safe to burn anything in a confined space such as a tent, because any fuel will create carbon monoxide. That said, keep up the good work!!
I have a British Army Hexamine stove that I've had since 1987. I've used it many times, and have no reason to swap it out, even though I also have a screw-down gas bottle stove.
Had mine since 86. Been on many an adventure.
have had the esbit folding stove since 79 got it first tour in Germany .
I love all of these tiny stoves, but I just keep coming back to my Trangia!
the fuel is considerably cheaper here in UK and you can get in bottles, pouches as a liquid, gel and solid. i use the original folding stove, used to use hex but now bcb .you can cut the blocks into half or third etc when you work out how much will heat what you need
Thank you for the review Luke.
Great review!
I have used both. Having a tin foil wind shield makes a substantial difference. For preference I use the Dragon Fire gel with smaller cookers.
Like some of your audience, mainly from the UK military, we have had over fifty years of experience with solid fuel tablets. Hexamine was the first then recently this Firedragon gel.
Not the best source of heat for cooking for reasons explained by your audience i.e. smell, carbon residue on the cooking utensil but effective (when deployed outside the UK gas canisters were considered dangerous air cargo).
No, you cannot ignite Firedragon or Heximine with a Ferro Rod.
BCB is a commercial company making this product cheaper than HM Government producing the Heximine blocks. Economics!!
The UK military uses an oblong style mess tin with the cooker and so the flames are kept in somewhat. Usually used in a slit trench or in the open but certainly NOT in a tent/basher.
Top tip - Hexi tablets are best broken over a bent knee, placed into the stove and ignited on the broken side as the tablets are coated with wax. They ignite quicker and spread the heat under the mess tin. To clean the utensil; rub the affected parts on the grass or soil to remove the carbon residue.
The time and effort required to produce these videos are appreciated. My comment is not meant to criticise your excellent work.
Hey Luke, Nice video. Using Fire dragon tabs it easy to control the flame and lengthen burn time by feeding in a quarter tab . Easy to slice on side of stove.
Used it a fair bit in the U.K. and prepared to put up with the limitations as have made a kit like yours and it goes under the saddle on my bike for when ever I fancy more than plain water on a cold ride. out. Works okay if you are careful and halve the blocks.
In the uk 18 of the fuel blocks is £3 so Bcb is an amazing company for us
Tell him it 3 quid
@@badcampa2641 *psst* it’s 2021, we know what “quid” means.
@@Vapourwear higher than 10 is a squid so be careful
That's really compact and powerful cooker for camping. Awesome.😀👍👍
I will say, the BCB Crusader Mark2 is a fantastic kit. I love the cooker component especially and use it as a twig stove, Trangia pot stand / windshield. I can highly recommend those, but only the Mark 2, I've never used a BCB Crusader Mark 1
Hi Luke,
Love all your vids 👍.
I have one of these little stoves, and use a similar set up that you suggested fitted inside a mug with other essential items.I find hand sanitizer works well with a more controlled flame which burns cleaner and much cheaper!.
I take it on day walks and its ideal for coffee or heating up small cans of food for a hot snack. Not sure I would use it for an extended hike/ camp, but suppose it would do at a pinch!.
Keep the videos coming Luke, always look forward to seeing your latest equipment test and adventures along with Suzy 👍👍.
Hey Luke, I would cut the dragon fire into thirds and use a third for each meal. so a 24 hour fuel source. Plus a third would have a smaller flame.
I always have one in my pack. Ideal for banging out a quick coffee. 👌
This fuel is pretty cheap here in the UK, £1.65 ($2.20) for a pack of six. I saw that the UK military are trialling another version of the cooker at the moment that looks quite interesting, a fold flat design.
That mini cooker is actually a crib for a doll house. Thanks Luke
Thank you 👍
In Canadian army, hexamine is no longer issued to individuals. We're expected to heat ration meals using the meal heater pouches and go without a hot brew. I always bought my own hexi tabs. Gotta have a hot brew.
I have the crusader cooking system and use these fuel tabs here in Norway, it's very practical and I use it during hunting season in the autumn but keep in mind it doesn't work that well during winter. I noticed that towards the end of autumn. One fuel tab will be spent before it can boil water in cold weather. You will just get lukewarm water from it. (pun not intended)
Great video
I bought the Fire Dragon folding stove, after seeing your review of it. The solid fuel tabs are cheap, and easily packable in a zip lock bag.
I used the standard firedragon when training with brits in Scotland. It worked pretty well the only downside I found was the fuel it covered the stove in a residue which was a pain to clean. nothing deal breaking though was nice to have something small to cook with being that we had a lot of other gear and mission equipment to carry.
Also good observation in your report. Got much luv for the wolf 🐺
The fire dragon blocks are a great addition to a fire kit especially in a wet environment where they can dry out kindling and can be easily lit with a ferro rod. I always keep a couple in each fire kit for adverse conditions.
I use alcohol based hand sanitiser the same way, and it is much more easily available, these days, if you are outside the UK (as I am).
@@mpmansell I set my hand on fire with alcohol hand sanitizer soaked into a cotton wool ball. Stored some in a ziplock bag. When I pulled one out some gel got on my skin. Lit the fuel with the bic lighter and....
No real damage, just scared me. 🙂
@@SmithandWesson22A Thank you for sharing. At some point we all make mistakes (inexperience, bad advice, illness, fatigue, complacency, ...) that we and others can learn from when shared and I appreciate that followers of this channel do so unlike some of the other outdoor/bush-craft channels.
Your experience is a good reminder to be respectful of risks when dealing with potentially dangerous situations.
With gel and liquid fuels, I have always advised (in some cases, at high volume :) ) against storing in anything other than a well sealing liquid container (appropriate to the solvent inside) from which it can be dispensed directly without contact to anything that one doesn't intend to burn.
It's also worth remembering that all other fuels have their own risks and to be respectful of those, too.
I have seen good, experienced people have similar lapses with most fuels, luckily without too serious consequences, although I know of cases where people were not so lucky.
Sometimes it can be amusing, though. One very careful and experienced friend who, for some reason, always seemed to attract 'situations' despite doing everything right, and none of us being able to really fault him, once managed to comprehensively singe his rather impressive facial hair and had to spend the next four days smelling and tasting burned hair before he found a razor :). Hi, K, if you're reading this :D ?
Looks like a esbit stove very cool thanks for the review.
Luke- I keep a couple cubes in my “just-in-case” kit while hiking and traveling (next to toilet paper, ferro rod, and whistle and rovi flashlight). I use them as a combo tinder-fire-starter-hand-sanitizer. They catch with only a spark. I’ve ended up having to break them out twice when I forgot the butane for my stove (once I also forgot my bic lighter), and took a page out of your book by finding two rocks to use as a pot stand. They work great. But for boiling water not quite as efficient as esbit or expedition research solid fuel. But these are better for just-in-case because unlike esbit or ex re they can be used as hand sanitizer and light with only a spark.
I’ve also used the BCB dragon stove and love the included wind break (esbit stove now comes with one too in its “medium” version). But note in winter the BCB is not elevated by the fold out legs and thus the fuel holder sits flat against the cold ground/snow - so there is heat loss into the ground and it shows in the performance vs summer.
However - the fuel doesn’t smell at all when packaged and is way better packaged than esbit, which smells bad even when sealed and cracks open easily. And when open BCB doesn’t smell anywhere near as bad as esbit. Btw, ex re fuel is an American alternative to esbit but is way better packaged and sealed, though smells as bad when open.
Awesome video. Thanks. I am restructuring my ultralight overnight setup for hiking to semi-remote lakes in the eastern sierras. Each trek is a morning hike maybe 3-4 miles in - PM fishing - one night on the ground - AM fishing - hike back out following afternoon. I have moved off of the pocket rocket w/small can to the old skool Esbit with surplus tabs. I wrap a foil windscreen around a .75L pot, stuff everything else inside, and am completely self contained for one or even two nights out. I watched this vid to see if maybe this was a better (more efficient) option but honestly, I don't think it is.
Happy Thanksgiving Luke
Fire Dragon Blocks are much cheaper here in the U.K. when cooled the residue can be picked out.. The blocks work MUCH better with the larger BCB folding stove.. I may be wrong, but I think the rectangle version was designed for the French Army ( I may be wrong).
Agree Rich 👍👍👍
I thought the ones for the French Army came as a flat metal sheet that you fold into a stove shape?
Agreed, the blocks are much better with the full size stove. I love hexi, but the Firedragon is a good alternative.
Correct. I have purchased numerous French RCIR 24 hour rations. Very arguably one of the best in the world. Every single one of these military rations came with a flat stamped sheet metal stove (you bend it) and 4 each 14 gram solid fuel tabs.
@@nemo6686 no that s the esbit stove !in the old ration!
Happy Thanksgiving from Wisconsin
The French use a version of the mini but it's a folder. After so many times of folding they break and are primarily used with the mini dragon fuel. Not great but ok for field use at mess time.
The BCB version of the bigger stove you used is something we have used in the British military since the 80s, its just BCB make it now.
I find the dragon gel is best used as a fire starter, especially if your tinder or wood is camp. Nice review. I agree the older BCB stove is better. Take care and much love from Greece 😊🏕️👍🌲
In the UK the firedragon fuel blocks are around 35 cents each (25 pence) if you buy 10 or more, the original BCB stove seems better, I have the original and it's great but if its really windy that 6 min burn becomes 3-4 minutes and if you want a rolling boil sometimes you need another gel block. COOL VIDDY Luke, always enjoy your content. Lee
I use the blocks, gel and the liquid fuel from fire dragon in my trangia's it's good stuff.
I've been using the original BCB stove for a couple of years. My application is normally on moderate to longer day hikes. The fuel is expensive but I just seem to prefer it over the tabs available in the US. I don't think I would invest in the mini version. Although the BCB fuel fits in the mini I just don't think its design works well. The Original BCB and the BCB fuel are a good match. As someone else mentioned, I believe the BCB mini was meant to be used with the rectangular British issued mess tins. I have that set as part of my kit as well.
For the tiny bugout bag stove to use, I think those steel sleeves that fit on top of a standard catering chafing fuel canister (sterno and the like) are a better buy overall. The sleeves are lower cost than they charge for shipping it. chafing fuel is much more readily available in retail stores, and is essentially the same alcohol gel fuel, but in a steel can so more durable being stored banging around in the trunk of my car than those plastic pouches. The small increase in weight and bulk is more than offset by storage and easy availability in the USA of the fuel.
Luke and Susie we wish you Happy Thanksgiving
Hello from the UK, I use the new bcb stove (that folds out), very good stove, I use pathfinder mug, British army crusader mug mainly, the fire dragon gel cubes are really expensive for what they are, I don't rate them at all, prefer the old hexamine tablets tbf, I'll use firedragon cubes if I get them for free, but I normally use 2 cubes to heat a whole mug of water, so not really for a multiday trip, plus in the extreme heat it goes slimey, and others who have stored these for over a year as the manufacturer says, have found the cubes have evaporated, leaving a empty wrapper, so not for long term preps either,, cheers craig 🌿🙏
fire dragon fuel is my go-to for a quick cuppa. It burns well, shame it is so expensive in the US, because once you get used to it, you will love it for those quick, no-nonsense times to heat your water for a brew....
further, one is enough to boil a crusader cup of water. 2 is going some and would be for more for your bacon and eggs in the morning.
Not sure about that stove, but the fuel is good. You can also get it in a pouch and just squeeze out as much as you need. The blocks are cheap here in the UK, so I also use them as firelighters on wet days. Regards JB.
In one of your survival videos you mentioned that any good heat sources helps!!! But recently bought a meetsun wood stove and used a mesh fire pit screen so it wood burn the underbrush (I cut it to fit at the bottom and hold the coals in the wood cup) and modified it to use a trangia alcohol stove and it’s alcohol plate helped with the gel fuel. But did not place the wood cup upside down. I found that the lower the flame helps concentrate or focus the heat towards the top for a much better burn. That’s liquid, gel, solid and wood. I place that stove at the bottom the stove cylinder and it focused the heat and it acts as a better wind breaker. You have a similar model as well. For some reason the wood gas model I guess helps focus it. I’m not one hundred percent sure but each effect shows better Focus of flame to heat objects. Gel works good because it takes less than denatured liquid.
Semper Fi
They also have gel in a resealable bag which works quite well.
I bought 3 of the BCB Ration Heating Kit Flat Cooker (the ones for the French that are fold ups) the other day. They work aright not a massive burn time less than 10 minutes with the 7g tub .Tiny little things. BCB are a good company, though I am biased being a Brit ;)
Just bought the folding one at the weekend with the fire dragon gel
Looks like it's a great fire starter.
We were issued the old hexamine stove,if you ran out of hexamin you could use wood which was unlikely but the option was there.
Luke i wish you would come down to SC and do the foothills trail with me. It would be a blast i trout fish and cook on the way and its like a mini Appalachian trail. It's a blast.
Its looks as good as a cat food can with holes drill in it. I would make a wind screen to redirect the flames out of aluminum flashing cut to fit inside the pot.
Imagine using this in a tent with ARTHUR BROWN playing in the backpack . Highly dangerous .
Dragon fire fuel sounds like a good fuel for deep winter application. Maybe used in a homemade alcohol stove with a wind screen. The fuel seems to need a way of being controlled.
I like the concept, if not the application.
I’ll stick with my Emberlit FireAnt Stove. It’s much more versatile.
Thanks for this video.
👍🏻👍🏻
Wow the fire dragon fuel is far more expensive than what it is here in England. What a price difference that is incredible.
I occasionally use that fuel in a Triangia stove. Seems to be much less affected by the wind. It’s a lot cheaper in the U.K.
Cool little stove. I'd suggest unfolding your comparison stove next time so people not familiar with that larger stove know what you are comparing the Mini Cooker too.
I think over time once the gel is removed from it's container the ethanol will evaporate into the air. I have compared the hexi stove to the BCB, there are pros and cons, I prefer the hexi but then that is what I used in the military so am have bias. I now use the BCB stove with standard hand sanitizer as it is MUCH cheaper. I often just use a can with holes and sticks 🤣
Hello Luke / I have a solution to the fuel cost and that is to use Fire Gel or Fire Starter Gel in the USA / Such as the camping department at Walmart has Fire Starting Gel / I run this in my Folding BCB Fire Dragon Stove works excellent to boil water and all there is to do is just squeeze a little gel into the stove / Happy Trails PS/ its only 5 dollars for a bottle
Very interesting for sure. I can't help but think that fuel probably should be cut down into much smaller cubes to get more uses and control the flame better?
I'm reminded of the famous marketing innovator KING GILLETTE: he gave away the razor and made his fortune selling proprietary blades. With Fire Dragon, the stove costs little and fuel costs a bundle! As I looked at both stoves, the clamshell larger one folds more compactly (and it also stores fuel tabs.) The small one stands about enough taller to about equal the storage volume. Military users and minimalist packers might like the lightweight feature of the small stove. That one looks more like a single-use/minimal-use item. Those sides won't stand up to folding out and folding back many times.
Was given a load of the dragon fuel blocks about 2 years or so ago. Pre pandemic. Stored them in my bedroom to then take out for a wild camp as an emergency fire starter and found all of them had dehydrated while in their sealed packaging!
When fresh, great emergency fire starter, but for the long term, they have very little shelf life. Just my observation! Don't know how old they were before they were given to me. Hope this info helps in some way!
Very cool. It's compact for an emergency
Soto for me, good review.
Nice
I use the cubes as fire starters all the time. As has already been said though it’s really cheap in the uk.
My childhood friend gave me an army hex stove way back in the 80's his dad had used it when fishing for a number of years before .. it is now 2021 .. that's value for money.. although I do like to carry my triangia. that small stove would crush under a misplaced boot, my hex stove has taken a beating for over 40 odd years and can contain a small twig fire also.
The design of both existing US hex stove and the British BCB big stove are good. Maybe can consider merging some features e.g. Fuel container and windshield from BCB and use of lighter material such as titanium can be revolutionary. More fuel options with a container. Cheaper alcohol, firelighters liquid or gel etc.
Just yous hand sanitizer or hex block the stove works perfectly ok on both with little mess with hex blocks
Also check out the "BCB CRUSADER COOK SET"
It depends on how much cooking you pan to do. If you intend on making say abox Walmart boxed macaroni and cheese you need to boil a considerable amount of water and an Alcohol burner puts out more flame area and burns longer than hexamine tablets. I think it would take like 4-6 hexamine tablets to completely cook the pasta and it would be slower.
I also think that no matter what stove you are using you should bring some hexamine solid fuel tablets with you as backups.
It looks to me like that little stove is designed to have the top parts folded outward to accommodate a larger pot or fry pan... Just my two cents worth!
nice little stove. wish some company imported this to Indonesia.
While it would not be quite as effective, a lot of these little stoves can be fueled with burnable debris, like leaves and sticks. While I have yet to actually try cooking anything on one of these, I imagine that it's better to save the fuel tablets for when you're in an environment that lacks dry tinder (if you didn't already keep some with you, anyway).
I decant these fire gels (fondu gels) into a small squeezy plastic bottle, so I only use what I dispense. No pain no waste.
Rock stove! :)
I'm surprised it's not collapsible.
US and NATO should just use a regular hexi stove. Been proven all round the world. Biggest problem is the smell.
You won't use it within smelling distance of the enemy though. A flameless ration heater could then be used.
Strength and honour to all.
( I'm Aussie and that's how we spell it)
I think in terms of burning, you're comparing different volumes between the two tests. I'd like to see if you can cut off or scoop smaller chunks, how it behaves with the sides altered etc, facing into the wind, you know yourself. Thanks for the vid, was looking at this product.
i have a couple of what are called tommy cooker's. they date to 40 yrs ago. today they are your full size dragon. i use mine for heating a us army canteen cup. i can see the mini being used as a canteen cup stove for heating your coffee / cocoa water. or boiled water for a dehydrated meal. anything else you would want a bigger stove. it is a nich stove for say the ultra-light folk. i like it.
Forty years ago? I was using the Hexi and Tommy Cooker in the 1960's in the CCF at school. They have been around since 1950's!!
some one beat me to it. i was going to send u some death wish coffee. i love that stuff
I don't know what to think about it. Just more worried about the match that flew outta your hand 😅 LNT
I like the fact that you may could fit a mini bic lighter in it
Still think the most versatile mini cook kit is the 'Sterno Inferno Cook Kit 70138' - You can remove the fold-out plastic legs and burn twigs or a fuel tab inside the windshield right below the heat transfer fins of the pot...
I tried hex when I was a kid, preferred methylated spirits in a Woolworths stove.
I have Esbit, Fire Dragon, Coglahn versions of the larger stove, bought two of thr mini's at my local military surplus store for shits, and giggles, in an emergency situation, I probably dig a slight hole, and place this in to mitigate the lapping flames.
The original firebrand seems far superior, it is very flexible and holds 3 firegels. You can use part of a gel pack and add more later, but not reignite a partly burnt one. I think the firegel burns with much less odour than hexamine, a potential stealth benefit. Very much enjoy the reviews, they have helped me many times.
I have not seen these issued to troops here in UK. The only ones I’ve seen issued are the original ones. Could be wrong though. The fire dragon cubes only run around £1.99 for 6 in the UK. The gel goes kinda solid after use if you don’t use it all.
Have not used the solid fire dragon, but have used the liquid type, i find it prety good, etholene based, be nice to the environment i guess.
I dont remember shch a small stove as that from my service life, but do remember the flat stove and crusader cooking stove also made by bcb.
The frensh mlitary, use a stove made out of a flat bit of metal you assemble, dont know if its practical, but thing have changed since my time in the service from 1980s.
Half a block is adequate with a Brit oblong mess tin :)
Of the two items the fuel is the more useful. Lets be honest, a tin can with a few vent holes would be of similar weight, but being higher would control the flame better as it would concentrate it in a smaller area, leading to faster boiling time. As for the fuel, it would probably be better being cut into sections and burned separately. I'd be interested in seeing how that would work with say 1/4 or 1/3 of the pack used at a time.
I was thinking the same