I have one of the trangia 27-HA sets. Works well. Little small, but that's the trade off for portability. I find that I use the kettle a lot more than the pots.
Personally I prefer the Trangia DS. I am not sure Fire Maple understands the purpose of the design of the trangia stove with all those crazy huge vents everywhere. It is supposed to collect the heat and keep it around the pot, while keeping too much wind out.
Thanks for the video. Last week I bought the trangia 27-3 from Amazon for $73 . And it arrived in 3days. Already had the gas burner for my firebox nano.
It looks to me like the excessive venting in the Fire Maple is more for aesthetics than for Real World Wind protection. I don't need my cook system to look cool, I just need it to work dependably.
precisely, they are looking for weight savings in the worst place 😅 albeit FireMaple isn't the first cop... competing with Trangia - Primus Essential Stove does this also (not sure if there aren't others too)
Stick with Trangia, still the best and Swedish tradition .Wide choice of size and cooking surface. You can buy sets or any of the individual parts, mix and match. I found in the past ordering direct from Trangia was as good a way as any other deal.
Yes, having seen the ALOCS system a few years ago is what prompted me to try this system. There are a few others making similar sets as well. Thanks for commenting
If one could not afford the tried and true Trangia cook set, the Alocs would be better as it does not have the three strikes against it like the Firemaple. One cooks always add a small kettle and it’s very economical. I have a smaller Alocs cook set and it works great.
I have 3 different Trangia sets plus various one-off pots and pans etc. The very fact m/l have tried but failed to really improve on the design says it all so in the end we just come down you get what you pay for! Trangia, in its present form has been around as long as I have (74yrs!!) I wonder if this m/l apparition will last as long??? Anyway Mark, thanks for your excellent unbiased review, much appreciated. Kind regards from across the pond 👍
The wheels are turning as to how I could craft up something similar to this. I like the look of the Fire Maple set and the Trangia as well. I would like to see it slightly smaller, more of a one person set option and I would love to pay about 30 bucks for it all hahaha. I know I’m dreaming but I do really enjoy cooking with my alcohol stove. Maybe I’ll put it to Santa and see if he comes through. Thanks for sharing the details here Mark. I appreciate your insights.
The strong point of the Trangia is that the pot holder is built into the windscreen. A fair test would be outside in the wind. Wind steals a lot of heat, meaning that your fuel usage goes up. The Trangia wind screen system works well in windy conditions. The pots on the fire maple are really too large for one person. The 27 pots are perfect for one person. When you carry a stove, pots and lids, windscreens, kettle, and fry pan that all take up room in the pack, you may as well use the 27 where everything packs down so well. Plus, it is all so lightweight.
I have a system like these from a company called #ALOCS. One of my favourite cooking systems to take with me to the outdoors. I like using the Isobutane with it. It has an alcohol stove option which I have yet to try. I do like that Fire Maple one and would love to get that Trangia set! Thanks for all the pros and cons! Very informative!
Mark, it looks like you should be able to protect the base tabs to some extent when you nest them together. When you place the one half into the other, rotate it so that the tabs fall through the slots, then rotate them to lock. This way, if they meet some pressure from the outside, they can't bend any further than touching the other part. Not as nice as the Trangia method, and an extra step, but quicker and safer than bending them out every time. I think I'd make an extra set of pot supports out of a wire coat hanger, with the length modifications you mentioned, and keep them with the set in a little zipper bag. Just a bit of a backup.
The cut outs look way too big for any useful wind protection. The bottom sucks the air in and it rises up with the hot air from the flame then exits around the pot or pan. This looks more like a design to bring the cost down then to be practical outdoors.
Hi Mark, you made a great find with your Trangia system. I found one of the 27 series years back missing just one of the pots, at Valu- Village for a similar price. I have picked up one of the Fire Maple cook sets, but have not had a chance to seriously use it, I keep the pot hangers on a carabineer with an orange tag to try not to loose them. I found Tenu also sells a Storm Cooker system that is identical to the 25 series, I have bought one but haven't had a chance to use it.
Great Review Mark,,,, The first question that came up was,,, can you use a 1lb. Propane bottle with the Fire Maple system. I’ve used nothing but propane with my Trangia gas stove and it’s preformed great. Sometimes the old saying; “You get what you pay for”,,, comes into play. And I think in this case,,, that might be true. I’ld save up my money ( if needs be) and buy the Tried , Tested and True version,,,, Trangia
Yes, you can use 1lb propane tanks with any of Fire Maple's gas stoves. I have done so many times. You will need an adapter, which Fire Maple also sells. Thanks for commenting
The Canadian military called, they would like to borrow some of your gear……😘😬 Despite the price, I think the the Trangia is still a better deal. ✌️🇺🇸🇨🇦✌️
LOL... Actually, they did reach out to vets a few years ago and asked them to voluntarily return some of their issue because they were running short. Thanks for commenting
This setup doesn’t appeal to me . The windscreen has so many air hole slots that I wonder how it will work in windy conditions. The whole setup doesn’t nest as nicely as the Trangia. The Alocs clone set seems more functional. Nonetheless I have the 25 and 27 sets. Canadian outfitters offer great service . They have all trangia sets and accessories . Highly recommended.
Nice video Mark, thanks. I see you got your cost estimates from a retail store. Another option is to go to the Trangia website directly. I have the 25 and 27 with the HA finish and non-stick pots and pan. My price was less than 1/2 what you list in the description.
I had not considered that I will take a look. With the Canadian company I would get free shipping. I will check to see if buying direct will be cheaper. Thanks for commenting
I think they went a little crazy with the windscreen cut outs. I do like the the anodized kettle, but other than that the whole reason to have a kit like this is wind protection and their windscreen is not good. And those locking tabs and wire hangers…. I’ll just say I like the kettle.
There is also an Esbit storm cooker with heat exchanger pots, though i’m not sure those would make a big difference on wide pots in a windscreen. A comparison Would make an interesting video though…. I traded for a trangia 25 system and it came with the fins on the bottom of the top half of the windscreen bent out of shape, like it had been stepped on. So i bent them into a better shape but it’s never going back to new, but works with a little more resistance on the twist. Maybe one day they’ll break if i use it more but each piece of a Trangia is replaceable. Anyway, your story Mark makes me want to keep spending time going to thrift stores! I’ve been to many and all i’ve seen in this line are a couple of the bare aluminum trekmate(?) storm cookers which are a cheap ($30) copy of an older Swedish model but they’re lighter than Trangia and work well. Also found a Trangia 25 kettle once at Value Village!
😮Ha, I thought it was my lucky day when I saw something similar to your Trangia at my local op shop ca four years ago for NZ$10 (it even had a Trangia branded strap around it!), but when I got it home I figured out it was a kind of a knock-off made by probably Optimus, but Mil-Tec have made what looks like the same thing. It works OK though and I've used it quite often. I enjoyed this video for seeing again the clever functionality of "the real thing". And yeah as others have hinted, I would guess that all those vents around the top part on that Fire Maple one are probably going to make it perform poorly with an alcohol burner.
Good to see this comparison, I’ve been looking at both brands. Cost aside, I don’t like the possibility of losing small parts, and if I transport the system many miles in a bikepacking situation those tabs are going to get abused. For a one person kit would the Trangia 27ha be the better size kit?
The Trangia 27 would be a good size for one or even two people. It may be a bit big/heavy for backpacking if you are alone but the weight could be shared by two people easily. Thanks for commenting
The "pot holders" are easy to thread on the thin steel wire/rope/picture hanger wire. That wire can be closed in a circle/ring just larger than outside diameter of the windscreen. The entire contraption is better controlled and harder to loose, but still packs inside. The tabs may be protected from bending/flattening by packing your wire trivet from tranjia or similar spacer between stand and the windscreen. I still don't like this and similar cook set concept and much prefer stainless steel cookware with builtin foldable handles.
I’ve never been that big of a fan of that design for either one, but if I was, as much as I’m a buy from the original sort of person, sometimes the price is just too high to justify. I guess if I was going to use it really a lot it would though. MEC is now the Mountain Equipment Company. They ran yet another great Canadian success into the ground with horrible management, and an American in company bought them out of bankruptcy
I have been very disappointed with MEC since the sale. Prices have gone up all a round. Their advertising is overly aggressive and their customer service leaves a lot to be desired. Thanks for commenting Jim
@ I was pretty disappointed since a bit before they changed their logo. The direction was all wrong. Now they’re mostly just another company, and yeah, still need a membership, but don’t get much for it.
I have one of the trangia 27-HA sets. Works well. Little small, but that's the trade off for portability. I find that I use the kettle a lot more than the pots.
Right on. Thanks for commenting
Personally I prefer the Trangia DS. I am not sure Fire Maple understands the purpose of the design of the trangia stove with all those crazy huge vents everywhere. It is supposed to collect the heat and keep it around the pot, while keeping too much wind out.
I agree. They tried to save weight in the wrong place. Thanks for commenting
Thanks for the video. Last week I bought the trangia 27-3 from Amazon for $73 . And it arrived in 3days. Already had the gas burner for my firebox nano.
Wow, great deal. I assume that was US dollars. Thanks for commenting
@ yes that’s US dollars. It’s currently still up for that price I just checked before responding to your reply.
It looks to me like the excessive venting in the Fire Maple is more for aesthetics than for Real World Wind protection. I don't need my cook system to look cool, I just need it to work dependably.
I agree. They tried to save weight in the wrong place. Thanks for commenting
That is not a storm strong wind cooker while Trangia is one ;)
I agree it does not have the same level of wind protection. Thanks for commenting
precisely, they are looking for weight savings in the worst place 😅 albeit FireMaple isn't the first cop... competing with Trangia - Primus Essential Stove does this also (not sure if there aren't others too)
Stick with Trangia, still the best and Swedish tradition .Wide choice of size and cooking surface. You can buy sets or any of the individual parts, mix and match. I found in the past ordering direct from Trangia was as good a way as any other deal.
Thanks for the tip about buying directly from the company.
Concur
Alocs also has a version of this type of cook system. It doesn't include a kettle, but is a better overall design.
Yes, having seen the ALOCS system a few years ago is what prompted me to try this system. There are a few others making similar sets as well. Thanks for commenting
If one could not afford the tried and true Trangia cook set, the Alocs would be better as it does not have the three strikes against it like the Firemaple. One cooks always add a small kettle and it’s very economical. I have a smaller Alocs cook set and it works great.
I have 3 different Trangia sets plus various one-off pots and pans etc. The very fact m/l have tried but failed to really improve on the design says it all so in the end we just come down you get what you pay for! Trangia, in its present form has been around as long as I have (74yrs!!) I wonder if this m/l apparition will last as long??? Anyway Mark, thanks for your excellent unbiased review, much appreciated. Kind regards from across the pond 👍
I agree, the original Trangia design is superior in everyway, just so costly for many people. Thanks for commenting
Great video, as always 🥰, thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching!
another nice video THANKS
Glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting
The wheels are turning as to how I could craft up something similar to this. I like the look of the Fire Maple set and the Trangia as well. I would like to see it slightly smaller, more of a one person set option and I would love to pay about 30 bucks for it all hahaha. I know I’m dreaming but I do really enjoy cooking with my alcohol stove. Maybe I’ll put it to Santa and see if he comes through. Thanks for sharing the details here Mark. I appreciate your insights.
I have often thought about what I could make similar from thrift store pots and pans. May do that yet. Thanks for commenting Steve
The strong point of the Trangia is that the pot holder is built into the windscreen. A fair test would be outside in the wind. Wind steals a lot of heat, meaning that your fuel usage goes up. The Trangia wind screen system works well in windy conditions.
The pots on the fire maple are really too large for one person. The 27 pots are perfect for one person. When you carry a stove, pots and lids, windscreens, kettle, and fry pan that all take up room in the pack, you may as well use the 27 where everything packs down so well. Plus, it is all so lightweight.
I agree. Fire Maple tried to reduce weight in the wrong place. Thanks for commenting
I have a system like these from a company called #ALOCS. One of my favourite cooking systems to take with me to the outdoors. I like using the Isobutane with it. It has an alcohol stove option which I have yet to try. I do like that Fire Maple one and would love to get that Trangia set! Thanks for all the pros and cons! Very informative!
Right on. I have looked at the ALOCS system in the past. Thanks for commenting
Number one today !
Congrats. Thanks for commenting
Mark, it looks like you should be able to protect the base tabs to some extent when you nest them together. When you place the one half into the other, rotate it so that the tabs fall through the slots, then rotate them to lock. This way, if they meet some pressure from the outside, they can't bend any further than touching the other part. Not as nice as the Trangia method, and an extra step, but quicker and safer than bending them out every time.
I think I'd make an extra set of pot supports out of a wire coat hanger, with the length modifications you mentioned, and keep them with the set in a little zipper bag. Just a bit of a backup.
Yes, if they stay lined up they should be okay. I agree it should not be too hard to make an alternative pot hanger. Thanks for commenting
I drilled for gas this week, it's no. 25, have had this for over 40 years.
Trangia is known to stand the test of time. Thanks for commenting
The cut outs look way too big for any useful wind protection. The bottom sucks the air in and it rises up with the hot air from the flame then exits around the pot or pan. This looks more like a design to bring the cost down then to be practical outdoors.
I agree. They tried to save weight in the wrong place. Thanks for commenting
Hi Mark, you made a great find with your Trangia system. I found one of the 27 series years back missing just one of the pots, at Valu- Village for a similar price. I have picked up one of the Fire Maple cook sets, but have not had a chance to seriously use it, I keep the pot hangers on a carabineer with an orange tag to try not to loose them. I found Tenu also sells a Storm Cooker system that is identical to the 25 series, I have bought one but haven't had a chance to use it.
Good tip for keeping track of the pot hangers. Thanks for commenting
Great Review Mark,,,, The first question that came up was,,, can you use a 1lb. Propane bottle with the Fire Maple system. I’ve used nothing but propane with my Trangia gas stove and it’s preformed great. Sometimes the old saying; “You get what you pay for”,,, comes into play. And I think in this case,,, that might be true. I’ld save up my money ( if needs be) and buy the Tried , Tested and True version,,,, Trangia
Yes, you can use 1lb propane tanks with any of Fire Maple's gas stoves. I have done so many times. You will need an adapter, which Fire Maple also sells. Thanks for commenting
The Canadian military called, they would like to borrow some of your gear……😘😬 Despite the price, I think the the Trangia is still a better deal. ✌️🇺🇸🇨🇦✌️
LOL... Actually, they did reach out to vets a few years ago and asked them to voluntarily return some of their issue because they were running short. Thanks for commenting
This setup doesn’t appeal to me . The windscreen has so many air hole slots that I wonder how it will work in windy conditions. The whole setup doesn’t nest as nicely as the Trangia. The Alocs clone set seems more functional. Nonetheless I have the 25 and 27 sets. Canadian outfitters offer great service . They have all trangia sets and accessories . Highly recommended.
I agree. They tried to sav weight in the wrong place. I love shopping at Canedian Outfitters. Tim is good people. Thanks for commenting
Nice video Mark, thanks. I see you got your cost estimates from a retail store. Another option is to go to the Trangia website directly. I have the 25 and 27 with the HA finish and non-stick pots and pan. My price was less than 1/2 what you list in the description.
I had not considered that I will take a look. With the Canadian company I would get free shipping. I will check to see if buying direct will be cheaper. Thanks for commenting
Trangia have a built in windscreen designed to work with the alcohol burner in windy conditions.
Thanks for commenting
I think they went a little crazy with the windscreen cut outs. I do like the the anodized kettle, but other than that the whole reason to have a kit like this is wind protection and their windscreen is not good. And those locking tabs and wire hangers…. I’ll just say I like the kettle.
I agree. A lot of improvements needed. Thanks for commenting
There is also an Esbit storm cooker with heat exchanger pots, though i’m not sure those would make a big difference on wide pots in a windscreen. A comparison Would make an interesting video though…. I traded for a trangia 25 system and it came with the fins on the bottom of the top half of the windscreen bent out of shape, like it had been stepped on. So i bent them into a better shape but it’s never going back to new, but works with a little more resistance on the twist. Maybe one day they’ll break if i use it more but each piece of a Trangia is replaceable. Anyway, your story Mark makes me want to keep spending time going to thrift stores! I’ve been to many and all i’ve seen in this line are a couple of the bare aluminum trekmate(?) storm cookers which are a cheap ($30) copy of an older Swedish model but they’re lighter than Trangia and work well. Also found a Trangia 25 kettle once at Value Village!
I occasionally find great deals at thrift stores but not as many as I used to. Thanks for commenting
Compare the plain aluminum 27 as the anodized 27 is stupid expensive
The Trangia anodized is expensive but the Fire Maple is anodized so that is why I compared Them. Thanks for commenting
😮Ha, I thought it was my lucky day when I saw something similar to your Trangia at my local op shop ca four years ago for NZ$10 (it even had a Trangia branded strap around it!), but when I got it home I figured out it was a kind of a knock-off made by probably Optimus, but Mil-Tec have made what looks like the same thing. It works OK though and I've used it quite often. I enjoyed this video for seeing again the clever functionality of "the real thing". And yeah as others have hinted, I would guess that all those vents around the top part on that Fire Maple one are probably going to make it perform poorly with an alcohol burner.
I agree, they tried to loose weight in the wrong place. Thanks for commenting
Good to see this comparison, I’ve been looking at both brands. Cost aside, I don’t like the possibility of losing small parts, and if I transport the system many miles in a bikepacking situation those tabs are going to get abused. For a one person kit would the Trangia 27ha be the better size kit?
The Trangia 27 would be a good size for one or even two people. It may be a bit big/heavy for backpacking if you are alone but the weight could be shared by two people easily. Thanks for commenting
@ I’d be carrying on a bike so there’s plenty of room and a little extra weight wouldn’t be an issue. Thanks
Could put few dimes in tabs to keep them open
That would be an option. Thanks for commenting
4.99 for a trangia...that's one heck of a price. I love mine so much easier using it than a real wood burner. Plus less soot...I'm a lazy boy.
Yeah, fire and soot go together for sure, but a lot of fun. Thanks for commenting
The "pot holders" are easy to thread on the thin steel wire/rope/picture hanger wire. That wire can be closed in a circle/ring just larger than outside diameter of the windscreen. The entire contraption is better controlled and harder to loose, but still packs inside. The tabs may be protected from bending/flattening by packing your wire trivet from tranjia or similar spacer between stand and the windscreen.
I still don't like this and similar cook set concept and much prefer stainless steel cookware with builtin foldable handles.
Great suggestions. Thanks for commenting
$77.00 USD on Amazon U.S now !!!!
Good to know. Thanks for commenting
👍
Thanks for commenting
I’ve never been that big of a fan of that design for either one, but if I was, as much as I’m a buy from the original sort of person, sometimes the price is just too high to justify. I guess if I was going to use it really a lot it would though.
MEC is now the Mountain Equipment Company. They ran yet another great Canadian success into the ground with horrible management, and an American in company bought them out of bankruptcy
I have been very disappointed with MEC since the sale. Prices have gone up all a round. Their advertising is overly aggressive and their customer service leaves a lot to be desired. Thanks for commenting Jim
@ I was pretty disappointed since a bit before they changed their logo. The direction was all wrong. Now they’re mostly just another company, and yeah, still need a membership, but don’t get much for it.
They're junk compared to Trangia.
Thanks for commenting