View Full Version : Crusader Cooker
JonathanD
28-01-2011, 20:06
Thought I'd start a new thread for this, just in case folks search in future. I plan to include the meths burners (Trangia and Whitebox) and Esbit/Hexi in update posts in this thread. So far I've just managed to test the new Greenheat sachets....
Didn't have enough time to test out the meths stoves with the Crusader today, as I had a load of other equipment to carry around with me and didn't really have the time because I got sidetracked making casts of badger/fox and otter tracks, but I did test it out in a windswept and frozen area to give it a decent work out. (added burner reviews in post #11)
First up, I cooked myself some chunky chicken and vegetable soup with the Greenheat stuff. This is the newer formula. Like a few on here I add the sachet as soon as the stuff is alight as I find the burn time does increase like that, and it gets rid of the waste very well. Greenheat is very eco friendly and is safe and odour free when cooking. It also doesn't leave any residue on your cups...
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/28Jan201112.jpg
It took five minutes from light up for it to start boiling without a lid. Mainly due to the viscosity of the soup no doubt. And as you can see from the time indent, it is still burning 11 minutes later. In these temperatures where there are frozen puddles and frost on the ground, as well as biting wind, I found that quite impressive....
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/28Jan201116.jpg
All good, so I tested it with just cold water at the 500ml fill point as I wanted to test boil times. The water was straight from the river and icy cold. I got a full rolling boil in 8mins 33 seconds and it continued on a rolling boil for a good four/five minutes. This was on a fallen tree exposed to crosswinds and without a lid. I think that is pretty impressive and on a par with my Trangia and Whitebox stoves easily...
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/28Jan201124.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/28Jan201125.jpg
I will test it out with the two meths stoves, but to be honest, why carry around an extra burner and meths when you can fit four sachets Greenheat in the base of the cooker and loads more in your pack if need be without that extra bulk and weight that a meths bottle and burner wil create.
My preferred light weight carry system (especially in Summer) is a small, lightweight shoulder bag. The Crusader cooker takes up hardly much more room than the bottle alone, which is obviously necessary carry on extended bimbles anyway. The compact size means I can still fit loads of things in there, such as food; compass; tissues; brews; spoon; DC4; FAK and the tools of my trade and still have hot food and a brew if I want. You also have the ability to boil river/stream water or snow if you empty your main bottle.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/28Jan2011.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/28Jan20112.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/28Jan20113.jpg
All in all, due to the compact size, it will allow me to leave my rucksack at home a lot more. I like my Swedish Army Cooker or my Bush Buddy/Titanium billy combo, but these two cook sets will never fit in my shoulder bag. So for solo meanderings and days out in the Summer doing my survey work in the field. The Crusader Cooker will be with me.
I also bought one of launditch1's superb custom lids in aluminium (he also does it in stainless steel). Well built, thick bombproof aluminium. It drastically reduces the boil time and is light and slim enough to go in a pocket in my bag. A must addition if you want to boil greater amounts of liquid for a longer period (especially with rat pack bags).
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/DSC09717.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/DSC09712.jpg
CONTINUED IN POST #11
legionair
28-01-2011, 20:30
nice review, i have the crusader set and also the hexi burners and a trangia, i have to agree that for a personal cook system thats light and functional its fantastic, my only issue with it is cost of the green stuff, for me the trangia with meths is best pound for pound BUT not as safe i.e if the burner gets knocked over its a fireball (i know from experience lol)
for more than a 1 night stay it would have to be the trangia, as its more versatile for use over a fire
for a day out walking or an addition to my grab bag the crusader is my prefered choice
wildrover
28-01-2011, 20:39
Good review Jonathan.
I've had one of these for years, but to be honest considered it heavy for what it was. Other than a few turns with a home made photon (where it did ok ) I've not used it much.
Part of the problem ( for me anyway) was the green snot which was absolute garbage and only any use as a backup fire lighter in the survival kit.
The fact that you can get an improved version is interesting and I will have to get a hold of some.
Back to the cooker..
I do agree it it does nest well with the cup and bottle and the general shape of the set does make for easy packing.
I might have to dig it out and give it another chance.
atb
Chris
JonathanD
28-01-2011, 20:40
I agree, for anything more than a day/night out when I'm taking a bigger ruck, I'll take my billy/Bush buddy set or my Swedish Army Trangia just for the extra options.
legionair
28-01-2011, 22:15
The fact that you can get an improved version is interesting and I will have to get a hold of some.
yes tbh that raised my eyebrows also, have you got a link where the new stuff is available jonathan
Hi JD,
Slightly off topic but what make is the bag in the 3rd bag picture? Ive been looking for something like that.
ATB, Jon.
JonathanD
28-01-2011, 23:46
yes tbh that raised my eyebrows also, have you got a link where the new stuff is available jonathan
I think most places stock the new stuff, but ask if unsure.
Hi JD,
Slightly off topic but what make is the bag in the 3rd bag picture? Ive been looking for something like that.
ATB, Jon.
It's a WWII gas mask bag.
How many sachets did u use to make ur soup mate , I've got loads of the green heat gel and I've never tried it , i thought it would have left an awfy mess ... cheers for that may give give them a wee go ...
JonathanD
29-01-2011, 11:20
Just one. Only one sachet was used in each test.
Partickpebbles
29-01-2011, 13:40
Nice review there! Soup looks lovely! Just got my own set too.
JonathanD
29-01-2011, 17:06
Right, managed to get out today and had spare time while I was waiting for the otter print casts to dry, so here it is...
Testing this time took place with a Whitebox type stove and a civvy Trangia burner:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/29Jan201117.jpg
The weather wasn't as cold or windy as yesterday, so these two options had a little less work than the Greenheat sachets. Both burners were tested with 500ml of cold water from bloom to rolling boil.
First up was the Whitebox.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/29Jan20119-1.jpg
A fierce little burner and my favourite. This one was made by Andy T, but to all intents and purposes it is exactly the same as the commercially available model.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/29Jan201110-1.jpg
Now it sits quite high in the Crusader cooker, so you can't use the bail arm here. It does get quite a bit of protection from the wind and took just over a minute to fully bloom:
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/29Jan201111-1.jpg
The cup sat on it a little higher than it usually does with the bail arm, so I was interested to see if the wind had a greater adverse effect, even though it was not as windy as on the previous test. So, cup on...
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/29Jan201112-1.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/29Jan201113-1.jpg
All in, it took 9 minutes to reach a rolling boil, the time indents are a great help on these pics...
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/29Jan201114-1.jpg
These tests were without a lid of any kind remember, and a full on rolling boil was the time I recorded. Due to the fierce nature of the Whitebox, I was surprised it took this long compared to the Greenheat, although the flame was not fully protected by the cooker as the Greenheat flame was, so some heat loss must have occurred.
Next up, the Trangia burner...
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/29Jan201115.jpg
It fits snugly i the base, but the bail arm height is only 5mm above it. These means that some modification would have to take place, as I doubted there would be enough clearance for the flames to have a full effect on the cup. It took ages to bloom as it was high into the wind. I got so fed up of waiting, I went on a little walk.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/29Jan201116.jpg
The low clearance meant that the full power was impossible to attain. In the end I gave up.
So to summarise. The Greenheat exceeded my expectations after hearing some reviews, and the small amount of space (if any when stored in the cooker base) it takes up wins it for me. The Whitebox is a great alternative as it is small and light, but then the bottle of meths has to be carried as well, and the payoff to that means that I had to take this today, rather than my shoulder bag...
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/24Oct201065.jpg
As I've said before, the compact size of the Crusader is the winning feature for me. My Swedish Army Trangia has more options, but it takes up much more room, and is heavy, and this is without the water bottle included...
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/DSC09190.jpg
Te Bush Buddy/Billy can option is light and gives me all kinds of burning options with the Whitebox added inside, but again, this combination, although small and light, means I have to add a cup, meths and still doesn't include the water bottle...
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/DSC08245.jpg
In my opinion, the Crusader system is a must addition to anyone's arsenal of kit as it goes with the bushcrafting ethos of carrying less.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/29Jan20118-1.jpg
which cooker have you got ? because mine wont have the resinging arms down on the tragia civvy .
JonathanD
29-01-2011, 18:28
which cooker have you got ? because mine wont have the resinging arms down on the tragia civvy .
Just the standard civvy burner by Trangia...
http://www.nevisport.com/images/prod-img/462044_burner_zoom.jpg
spiritwalker
29-01-2011, 19:41
i gave up on the green heat but i mostly brew up on exposed beaches found it really hard to light in the cold/wind when i used it in the woods it was fine. Tend to use pine blocks now on the beach and have to use a turbo flame to get them to light but once going they boil up good. I gave up on my crusader cooker (to be fair its the webtex warrior version not so sure of the differences) and prefer the swiss volcano stove as its alot more versatile in my opinion
Just the standard civvy burner by Trangia...
http://www.nevisport.com/images/prod-img/462044_burner_zoom.jpg
Cheers are all crusader cooker units the same ?
re read thread:rolleyes: ! civvy burner does not work same tho :(
Realbark
29-01-2011, 20:31
IMO - the fact that that the crusader cannot perform satisfactorily outside of the gel/esbit scenario - needing mods (which i have carried out but am am not a fan of) to cook on a meths burner is the reason i have relegated it to my "not in use " shelf. Apart from fitting a 58 pattern mug its just a dish with a handle. Pants. Just my opinion, but one im sticking to.
Just a thought - as I'm a fan of the SAT, Swiss volcano and Crusader set-ups - but maybe a small meths penny-stove or similar might be the answer? They tend to be lower than a Trangia burner, so might have a better chance to work effectively?
spiritwalker
29-01-2011, 20:50
i did ok with it by just filling the well with meths and lighting it but i l dont carry mine anymore its in the car boot for a back up brew kit for reasons in my last post
One vote for the crusader here. I like the compactnes?? of it an that i can fit all the bits and bobs for a brew it the bag that it came with, including an off the shelf meths burner and fuel bottle (a little panda pop one). I also carry a couple of bits of wire just to elevate the cup when using the meths burner so that it can work properly. Great for out and about for a wander or at a push maybe two people. Managed to do a big pot of pasta on it today for 4 but did take an extra billy to cook in. Worked very well though.
JonathanD
29-01-2011, 22:21
i gave up on the green heat but i mostly brew up on exposed beaches found it really hard to light in the cold/wind when i used it in the woods it was fine. Tend to use pine blocks now on the beach and have to use a turbo flame to get them to light but once going they boil up good. I gave up on my crusader cooker (to be fair its the webtex warrior version not so sure of the differences) and prefer the swiss volcano stove as its alot more versatile in my opinion
Again, I agree, the Swiss volcano cooker is more versatilem, but it with water, it is at least twice the size of the whole Crusader setup.
IMO - the fact that that the crusader cannot perform satisfactorily outside of the gel/esbit scenario - needing mods (which i have carried out but am am not a fan of) to cook on a meths burner is the reason i have relegated it to my "not in use " shelf. Apart from fitting a 58 pattern mug its just a dish with a handle. Pants. Just my opinion, but one im sticking to.
That's the point though, it doesn't have to perform with burners as it just adds unneccesary bulk. I was just testing them in it as someone here asked me to. If using the Whitebox, I'd leave the pan at home and just take the cup and water bottle. It's biggest feature for me is the compact size, which is hardly bigger than a 58 pattern water bottle, including fuel sachets. That is a huge bonus for me when not carrying a rucksack. I can't think of any other system that is compact enough for my shoulder bag on solo walks. I certainly wouldn't take a burner with me in my shoulder bag, it means carrying the burner and meths, which means extra bulk, which means my rucksack, which totally defeats the object.
I make my own solid fuel, I use food grade wax and cotton balls to make them, get a good burn time, I use it for my Crusader setup (tip: don't clean out the resin after use)
http://i52.tinypic.com/2whqzcj.jpg
great reviews, i agree you wont find better for its size.
i also carry a respirator bag with the crusader setup but i also carry my honey stove,probably not the most efficient stove on the market but takes up no room and gives either option without the need of a rucksack
cheers ash
i agree you wont find better for its size.
How about this one: http://www.amazon.com/Esbit-Cookset-Anodized-Aluminum/dp/B003V03E7W
JonathanD
30-01-2011, 19:06
How about this one: http://www.amazon.com/Esbit-Cookset-Anodized-Aluminum/dp/B003V03E7W
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41JeKgPlxhL._SS500_.jpg
Remember that doesn't even include a water bottle, so if you include that, it's almost twice the size of the whole Crusader system...
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/29Jan20118-1.jpg
It is a fraction of the size and weight, both chief reasons for the Crusader product not quite being the big hit it was expected to be.
I would urge you to use the Esbit offering before passing comment, it's performance improves with some form of windshield but of course the same is true for any fire.
JonathanD
30-01-2011, 20:08
It is a fraction of the size and weight, both chief reasons for the Crusader product not quite being the big hit it was expected to be.
I would urge you to use the Esbit offering before passing comment, it's performance improves with some form of windshield but of course the same is true for any fire.
I do have one, but it is clearly bigger. There is no water bottle in the package for a start, which you are not counting. The Esbit stove is superb and certainly beats the Crusader on performance hands down, but once you add a water bottle into the equation, the whole kit is much bigger than the whole Crusader system (inc bottle) and doesn't fit into my bag.
I'll do a comparison on burn times of both later in the week and put up a seperate Esbit thread.
Radix lecti
30-01-2011, 22:02
[QUOTE=JonathanD;823385
I'll do a comparison on burn times of both later in the week and put up a seperate Esbit thread.[/QUOTE]
Hi Jonathan, good review.Im a fan of esbit which i use in my Crusader setup and it would be interesting to see the comparisons.
I also use the Greenheat in a small squeezy bottle and squeeze a dab on to the esbit,burns quite well,but dont use the greenheat on its own.
Darren
Hi,
I use the Crusader - its small and neat. I use it with hexi (not tried green heat) - but I prefer to use it with meths. I use a177 air rifle pellet tin with a circle of fibre glass rope in it (the sort of stuff used to seal the door on a woodburning/multi fuel stove). It fits really well in to the well in the base unit. Also use the tin for hexi - reduces mess in the base unit + can be snuffed.
Pour a measure of meths into the tin, light, works well. Use the tin lid as a snuffer.
I'm going to try the new green heat though.
sasquatch
31-01-2011, 09:12
I use a crusader cup in spring/summer if I go minimal kit. I find it bulletproof kit that stands up to a lot plus the option of hexi, green heat or a redbull penny stove is good. I made an ali lid for mine and it helps. You can get a brew on or some porridge when you're still in your sleeping bag first thing or heat a rat pack. It holds a massive cup of tea or coffee and that's what I need some mornings!
I don't like them in winter though. Another con is the lack of being able to cook properly with it but it's not designed for that.
The new greenheat that actually works looks interesting, I'll have to try some. Thanks for the review Jon. Btw, I like the avatar/trench art on your crusader! Nice touch there...
Partickpebbles
31-01-2011, 13:19
I think they are great, used one yesterday, and on saturday even lit it without matches!!
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd233/partickpebbles/photo.jpg
Yesterday we even used it over the fire, word of warning.....heatprotecting gloves might be useful!
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd233/partickpebbles/CrusaderFire.jpg
Davey569
31-01-2011, 15:42
Looks like I need to get some of this greenheat to try out too. :)
ashes1627
31-01-2011, 15:45
I have a crusader cooker and at the moment am very impressed by it. The newer greenheat stuff works well, and makes a nice brew :)
Partickpebbles
31-01-2011, 16:24
Green heat is fine but about 50p a go! Burns for a while though!
bilmo-p5
31-01-2011, 16:27
Excellent review, JonathanD.
Probably wouldn't have looked at it had I not seen one of these in action, for the first time, on Saturday.
Impressive piece of kit.
ashes1627
31-01-2011, 18:18
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd233/partickpebbles/CrusaderFire.jpg
So thats how the cup holder works! Thanks for that :D
Partickpebbles
31-01-2011, 20:37
Yep thats it, reskinov invested!! LOL
I love the crusader and have no problems cooking in it. Chorizo & rice, simple stews, pretty much anything goes as long as you have a tidy wooden spatual and don't let it burn. It's a bugger trying to get backed on rice out of the bottom of it. There again I've fat ands and can't get into the corners!
All in all one of my favourite bits of kit.
WeThePeoplexfbm
01-02-2011, 00:31
i always wanted a crusader set, but they cost a fair bit in aussi
i make my own hexi fuel , red ones ^^
Davey569
01-02-2011, 11:08
Just thinking has anyone tried the US trioxane in these? Ive seen it advertised and its cheaper than hexi but is it just as good?
resnikov
01-02-2011, 11:11
So thats how the cup holder works! Thanks for that :D
Yeah but they get a bit hot, need to work on handaling them.
Andy2112
01-02-2011, 11:14
Just thinking has anyone tried the US trioxane in these? Ive seen it advertised and its cheaper than hexi but is it just as good?
Got some at home Dave, it's ok but you need the whole packet to get a good boil on mate. The stuff i've got is very crumbly.
Davey569
01-02-2011, 11:23
Got some at home Dave, it's ok but you need the whole packet to get a good boil on mate. The stuff i've got is very crumbly.
Nice one, how big are the packets compared to hexi then?
Andy2112
01-02-2011, 11:33
Nice one, how big are the packets compared to hexi then?
Bout half the size of a small Milkybar i reckon mate, bit thicker.
Davey569
01-02-2011, 11:41
Bout half the size of a small Milkybar i reckon mate, bit thicker.
Might be worth a look then. Thanks for the info mate.
Trioxane is amazing stuff! The reason that most of the stuff we have is so crumbly is that it's nearly thirty years old (went camping in Cumbria last year with my eldest and we were surprised to find that the trioxane we were cooking on was older than he is!) but it burns cleaner than hexi, with less smell and it's a nice sexy blue rather than hexi-yellow. The bars are scored into three sections so you can break them into chunks more easily and so ration it out a bit. each bar is about three inches long and about an inch wide, wrapped in sturdy metal foil, I sometimes use the foil to protect the ground if I am having a brew and not using any form of stove, then wrap up the burnt fuel into the wrapper and it leaves no trace. The trioxane blocks can be used in any hexi burner (Esbit, British Army et al) and I use mine in one of those little Swiss Army Gel stoves now that the gel has been burnt off. The other advantage is that trioxane will ignite really easily (I have a sneaking suspicion that harsh language will be enough to set it off) so there's no worries if you are struggling with matches or ferro rods in harsh conditions, something I was VERY grateful for late last year when I was in a horrendous downpour and the trioxane blocks were the only things that would take a light, but once they were going they successfully kicked off the little camp fire that was otherwise very damp and bedraggled.
I belive that the US Army now uses something like a greenheat gel but I have never seen or used any of it, but would be interested to hear of anyone else has.
HTH
Sean
Oh yes, Trioxane! Known affectionately as the "little heat tabs" the sun being known as the "big heat tab". While I served, we were issued one box (contains three tabs) per day in the field, when resupply allowed. I was never issued a stove / cooker, though supposedly two types (known as cup stands the Natick and Gould) were in the system. Most troops purchased a very small tri-wing stove or the small Esbit rectangular stove to use with the heat tabs, though some just made a tiny slit trench for the tab, as per training. Most beverage powder packets were issued in quantities to make 1/3 canteen cup of liquid so may be why the Trioxane tab is scored to break into thirds. If I recall, the instructions suggested breaking into thirds and were adequate for those small quantities. If you had saved or scrounged enough to make a full on cup of joe, then a full tab was needed. It is my understanding that the Army got away from issuing Trioxane becuse of the toxicity and soldiers were experiencing nose bleeds from inhaling the fumes. In all my time using Trioxane I never witnessed or experienced anyone have problems from it.
I have some older issue gel fuel, though this version produces a white "smoke" at colder temps and therefore is why it was put on the surplus market. Not good in a tactical environment. Here is a picture of it. The gel is a clear gel and not green. I use them to make brews while out hunting and such.
Crusader with US gel fuel.
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p163/gordymiller/DSCN0589.jpg
US Canteen, cup, cup stand type II (Gould) and gel fuel.
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p163/gordymiller/DSCN0588.jpg
US gel fuel. I keep loosing clarity in the upload, sorry.
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p163/gordymiller/DSCN0943.jpg
In the US Army it will greatly depend on the type and which unit the soldier is posted to, if they are issued gel. A couple of friends I have, that are serving, are telling me they are not issued any type of gel or tab. The newer MREs have a hot liquid (food grade) poly bag for heating hot drinks. The bag is used with the flameless ration heater to heat the water.
The hot liquid bag from an MRE.
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p163/gordymiller/DSCN0643.jpg
The flameless ration heater.
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p163/gordymiller/DSCN0642.jpg
Gordy
JonathanD
01-02-2011, 17:54
My alu lid arrived from Launditch1 today. Great quality and the boil times are even faster now...
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/DSC09712.jpg
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/DSC09717.jpg
Well worth £8 quid of anyones money.
cheers for that! nice to see someone on the other side of the pond using a crusader set up!
How easy is the green heat stuff to ignite? Can it be done easily with a fire steel?
John Fenna
02-02-2011, 08:08
How easy is the green heat stuff to ignite? Can it be done easily with a fire steel?
Yes :)
Davey569
02-02-2011, 17:54
Wow Gordon, thanks for that info. Do you know if its true that troops used to use C4 to as a makeshift fuel or not?
Both the US and British cooking systems are awesome. Check this out; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-2W_Fwhkag
Partickpebbles
02-02-2011, 19:41
Yes :)
Yep after a bit of practice!
I heard that troops would sometimes use C4 to cook with, but that it can burn REALLY hot and fast so quite often it would burn straight through the cook pot! especially if it was aluminium rather than steel, but that's all second hand info, does anyone know through personal experience??
Partickpebbles
03-02-2011, 13:22
I heard that troops would sometimes use C4 to cook with, but that it can burn REALLY hot and fast so quite often it would burn straight through the cook pot! especially if it was aluminium rather than steel, but that's all second hand info, does anyone know through personal experience??
Seriously?!?!
JonathanD
03-02-2011, 13:26
It just burns like hexi. Nothing violent or extreme about it at all.
resnikov
03-02-2011, 13:27
Yeah I have heard the same about C4, I guy I used to work for who had an "intresting" past said he had done it a few times more to scare newbies then to cook with. Would scare me if someone threw a lump of HE on a fire I was standing next to.
Wiki have a reference to burning C4 here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C-4_(explosive))
I heard that troops would sometimes use C4 to cook with, but that it can burn REALLY hot and fast so quite often it would burn straight through the cook pot! especially if it was aluminium rather than steel, but that's all second hand info, does anyone know through personal experience??
yes when lit with a flame as opposed to an explosion it just burns
Hexi cvan be used ot make a high explosive
I saw it burned (with the poison warnings), as an intro to demo training, on a couple of occasions.
Your experience may have been different, but...
Mission dependent, 99% of the time, the NCOs I served with would have "smoked" the troop that showed such a lack of discipline. Engineer units may have been different. But the sappers I worked with were "all business" when it came to their explosives.
Besides, most of the time we had heat tabs to cook our rations.
Gordy
mrcharly
03-02-2011, 15:41
Back in Oz an ex soldier showed me a trick - a tray with dry sand, pour some petrol in it (not enough to be visible above the sand) then light it. Sometimes a bit of paper on top of the sand is needed to get it going. The petrol burns without a visible flame. He said that was their standard emergency cooker.
resnikov
03-02-2011, 15:48
Back in Oz an ex soldier showed me a trick - a tray with dry sand, pour some petrol in it (not enough to be visible above the sand) then light it. Sometimes a bit of paper on top of the sand is needed to get it going. The petrol burns without a visible flame. He said that was their standard emergency cooker.
That is a benghazi burner, as seen in "Ice Cold in Alex" its one of the things that helped them unmask the german spy. My granddad told me about using them when he was in North Africa in WWII.
John Fenna
03-02-2011, 16:02
Standard desert cooker in WW2 - I have used meths the same way in Africa...
did they not use that to heat a metal plate up to hot and drip oil and water on ( 3 to 1 ) and ignite for a real hot fire ???
Here is a blast from my past when I was an anti-armor platoon leader...
This is one of my section sergeants, SSG Garrett, showing his lowly LT (me) how to make a sand stove. Not exactly like described above, but the same concept.
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p163/gordymiller/scan0001-1.jpg
Gordy
I belive that the US Army now uses something like a greenheat gel but I have never seen or used any of it, but would be interested to hear of anyone else has.
HTH
Sean
This must be the stuff then?
http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/all-new-us-military-issue-gel-fuel-105-p.asp
That looks like the stuff! I didn't know that you could get it in the UK, I was about to order some, then I saw the price!!!
That's very nearly a pound a packet! (for some reason I keep hearing 'A pint? that's very nearly an armful')
hmmm, I LOVE trioxane, I suspect that this new gel is just as good but it's just not as cheap as meths or hexi
GRRRRRRRR!
Anyway, thanks for the heads up anyway, good to know that I hadn't imagined it all!
Remember that doesn't even include a water bottle, so if you include that, it's almost twice the size of the whole Crusader system...
Ahhh, mate the crusader cooking system is a big overweight lump. What's the advantage of a heavy, rigid bottle? Water is water and it takes up the space it needs. A litre of it weighs a kilogram and it fills a litre in volume. All you need is a container to hold it, which is why god invented the platy bottle. Wont leak, moulds to whatever you are carrying it in, weighs an ounce and a half and folds down to nothing when it's empty. What more could you ask from a water container?
JonathanD
07-02-2011, 23:53
What more could you ask from a water container?
To be black and well 'ard. Platy bottles don't fit well in my shoulder bag either. I use them in my rucky though when round billycans fit.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/28Jan20113.jpg
Wont fit? They'll fit anywhere ...tip a bit of water out and they'll even fit round corners. :D
http://www.equipped.com/GRAPHICS/IMG_5303_200wds.jpg
http://www.moontrail.com/details/platypus/plusbottle/plusbottle-inhand-stow.jpg
Brilliant things.
JonathanD
08-02-2011, 10:46
But then I've got to fit a stove, meths and mug or billy in there with it, so it still works out bigger. That is what I used to carry in my bag, but the mug is nowhere near big enough for cooking, so the crusader still wins for me size wise.....
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a77/darkcrown_1969/DSC09756.jpg
JonathanD, is this the "new" gel that your using or is the packaging the same as the old stuff? Reading the description it sounds like its the new formula.
http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/ethanol-eco-gel-fuel-sachets---12-per-box-2364-p.asp
Regards, Jon.
JonathanD
08-02-2011, 14:21
It's difficult to tell because the new packaging is exactly the same. I was given a batch of the old stuff last week and the burn time is halved at least, but the packaging is the same.
ashes1627
08-02-2011, 15:18
On the box of the new stuff there is an orange sticker that says NEW on it. Hope this helps!
JonathanD
08-02-2011, 15:20
On the box of the new stuff there is an orange sticker that says NEW on it. Hope this helps!
Brilliant :lmao:
Spikey DaPikey
09-02-2011, 21:14
*must print out some orange stickers for my old packs of fire snot........*
:lmao::rolleyes:
now where did i put that box mine came in.....
oh yeah its still got the green snot in it....
Does anyone use a pouch for the Crusader Cooker/Cup/SS Lid Combo?
If so, which pouch will take them all?
I was looking at these:
http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/shop/army-surplus-uk/58-pattern-webbing/new-and-used-genuine-58-pattern-232862.html
http://www.surplusandoutdoors.com/shop/army-surplus-uk/58-pattern-webbing/brand-new-58-style-water-bottle-300571.html
Also, anyone know a place that sells the pouch and the Crusader cooker together? [Save me some postage]
resnikov
02-05-2011, 18:05
I got my Crusader Cooker set up from Lakeland Bushcraft. Top item on this page page (http://www.lakelandbushcraft.co.uk/acatalog/Stoves.html) It has every thing in it.
No relation to Lakeland Bushcraft just a happy customer.
JonathanD
02-05-2011, 18:08
I got my Crusader Cooker set up from Lakeland Bushcraft. Top item on this page page (http://www.lakelandbushcraft.co.uk/acatalog/Stoves.html) It has every thing in it.
No relation to Lakeland Bushcraft just a happy customer.
Ditto what he done gone went and said. Well, typed.
Mesquite
02-05-2011, 18:13
I got my Crusader Cooker set up from Lakeland Bushcraft. Top item on this page page (http://www.lakelandbushcraft.co.uk/acatalog/Stoves.html) It has every thing in it.
No relation to Lakeland Bushcraft just a happy customer.
Just make sure you ditch the plastic crusader lid before it melts and get an ali one from Launditch :)
The Zulu pouch looks nice, but the scruffy one would suit me fine. If it fits em all in that is......?
EDIT: Never Mind. After a search of the site, found an answer.
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21007&page=1
Nice Review JonathanD.
As a (still!) serving soldier and amateur bushcrafter, I've always found the Crusader system a very frustrating product in that it is nearly there but not quite. The mug is excellent - can't be bettered IMO and the way it all nests around the 1ltr bottle (black plastic - no algae bloom - a godsend in the jungle!) and fits in a compact webbing pouch - is top notch. If only they had made the stove base about an inch and a half higher to accommodate most commercial alcohol stoves and possibly an emergency twig burning option? (and lose the stupid fuel cup in the base). There would have been plenty of room to do this and still have the system fit in its pouch. Also the placcy lid that BCB do should be withdrawn from sale immediately and replaced with a decent stainless version (with strainer) - then they would have an outright winner!
I continue to be grateful to Warthog and all the other makers on this site for manufacturing the ally lids for the crusader mug - i still count my purchase from Warthog as amongst my best value kit buys and it slides down the back of my webbing pouch with room to spare.
One of the forum members here was involved in the design of the 'cooker' unit and admitted they were extremely limited in terms of machinery and I suspect budget as to what they could produce as the finished product. The concept of burning a pool of alcohol gel was a poor idea that said I would have thought round blocks of hexi/triox could work better if supplied. The Hexi type cooker however has been around in one form or another since WW1 IIRC and used by various armies.
Poor as the Crusader cooker is, its rumoured replacement with self heating bags is even worse, they are a waste of time, certainly in colder conditions.
Woodcutter
03-05-2011, 14:34
I did a similar cooker comparrison test/competition. Link HERE (http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?117338-Back-Yard-Brew-Competition!)over on BB.
Tryed the Crusader etc with meths and stoves etc but its to much cold metal and sucks the life out of meths green slime is oks one does a brew 2 does a boil in the bag and the brew water (even replaced the wire stand with one to lift the cup higher and fit a stove in with flame room )
meths is far more efficient in a pop can burner and a wire pot stand
on using it over a fire I did a quick bit of bending on a weld rod and and interlocking in the butterfly handles gives this
http://www.dorsetwoodlandblades.co.uk/Images/Crusaderhanger2.jpg
http://www.dorsetwoodlandblades.co.uk/Images/Crusaderhanger1.jpg
crazydave
16-05-2011, 22:26
just sticking meths in the tray works well enough though not as efficient as making a can stove 20mm high and filling with rockwool as it gives a nice focused blue flame. or even just filling the tray with rockwool then meths as just like sand it slows the fuel and stops it boiling away (if that makes sense).
I've happily used the cooker unit with proper sized pans as well without issue or complaint.
if you have lots of patience and are a cheap skate then try it with a nite light :)