Burner tourist: how not to make a mistake in the choice

Modern technical achievements, new convenient and practical devices for tourism and recreation in natural conditions are offered to travelers by the world's leading manufacturers. One of the most popular devices for lighting a fire, heating a tent and various needs is a tourist gas burner. How to choose the best device for a trip? Consider the features of this device.

The invention to help the tourist

The tourist burner was born during the Second World War. Homeland of this device is Sweden - from the local manufacturer Primus received the first models for soldiers and trench needs. The tourist version was developed later, in the 1950s, thanks to the appearance of special gas cylinders. In the space of the former Soviet Union, these marching inventions began to emerge only in the 1990s. Earlier in our country we used burners with gasoline (primus). But the advantages of gas devices were so obvious that they drove out gasoline models and became a real hit.

Types of burners

A tourist burner in its functionality is designed for cooking hot food in natural conditions.

Today, manufacturers offer the following device designs:

• Separate: attached to the cylinder with a special hose. This is a sustainable option, allowing the cylinder to warm up its own fire. A very convenient version in the conditions of frost, when you have to turn the tank to use the leftover gas. But the bulkiness and difficulties with the hose repel many buyers.
• Screw on top of the cylinder. This option is practical, efficient and cheap. The problem is stability, and that it is difficult to put large containers of food on it. We have to buy a bottle with a wide base, but there is no problem with the hose. Also these models are cheap and compact.
• Bottomless: the balloon is used in a horizontal position. The low cost of the gas tank, unfortunately, indicates the risk of damage - the cylinder can crack in the backpack or in the place of connection with the burner itself (collet connection). Its dimensions are limited, therefore, taking into account all the minuses, this is a rare specimen in the tourist's stock.
• Integrated systems for heating products. Very convenient option, allowing you to screw the dishes with food on top of the heating device. The existing radiator ring at the bottom of the tank evenly distributes the fire, protecting it from wind and fading. This feature saves cooking time and reduces gas consumption. This miniature device is able to replace the fire in a situation where it rains and all preparations take place in the tent.

Advantages of these devices

The gas torch tourist has become simply an indispensable device due to its low cost and constant availability of refueling bottles in stores. Its inherent advantages are:

• Ease of use - at the level of the fixed plate;
• Absence of the problem of warming up - it does not need it;
• Ease in the process of starting: simply turn the ignition key, connecting the gas cylinder, or pour gasoline;
• Safety in use - modern models are extremely simple and equipped with the necessary insurance (although with an inverted cylinder and a switched off fire there may be problems - an explosion is likely);
• Wide use possibilities - from cooking in the tent and warming up;
• Small weight, compact size - fit into any backpack. Some models weigh only 80-150 grams and add up to the size of the palm, and sometimes less. Sometimes a saucepan is attached to the appliance, which can be screwed on top (volume up to 1 liter). Large containers can also be heated on the appliance, but the advantages of the built-in pan are lost. On average, water can boil for 3-5 minutes.

disadvantages

Mounted gas burner on a tourist cylinder has a number of significant disadvantages, which, of course, are compensated by the above-mentioned advantages. The disadvantages of these tourist "lighters" are the following:

• Bad work at cold temperature of air and a strong frost. This is due to the state of the gas, which, at minus 30 degrees Celsius, requires the cylinder to be heated. Here, the burner will help out with a hose.
• Weak power in gasoline models - their analogues are leading by the level of heat supply. But sometimes it's good: excessive power is poorly controlled and does not save gas. Power depends on the size - the larger the unit's capacity, the better the heat is supplied.
• An empty balloon must be taken with you, even if the journey is still far off. First, throw it out - harm the environment, and secondly, you can refill it, and every time you buy a new one - it's too expensive. Exit: buy a cylinder at the place of arrival or take a different type of burner.

Fuel Differences

The difference in fuel can sometimes play a significant role in the use of such a device. The optimal models are multi-fuel tourist burners . The ability to vary the types of fuel and save money on refueling, not depend on the shortage of a particular resource is literally expensive - these devices are the most expensive.

A few obsolete gasoline torches tourist are still often used - after all, gasoline is quite affordable for everyone who wants to buy it. In general, the market for such devices is represented by gas appliances due to their low cost and the availability of cylinders.

Basically , the choice is made between gas and gasoline, based on what temperature the medium will be when using the device and how convenient the transportation will be.

Modern producers

Today there is a fairly large selection of different brands of manufacturers of such a popular technical device as a tourist gas burner. How to choose the most reliable and worthy producer in order not to freeze in the taiga or in the country?

Devices differ dramatically both in terms of production and quality, and in the type of refueling. Leaders of this market are the Chinese and Koreans. The most famous brands are Coleman, Campingaz, Primus, as well as JetBoil and Kovea. The best are officially and everywhere are JetBoil, Coleman, Primus. A great combination of quality and low cost is the Korean firm Kovea, whose tourist torch is very popular in the whole of the CIS and Russia.

Customer Reviews

Modern consumers often share their impressions about the purchased product. Are not an exception and tourist burners. Reviews about these devices can be found very different - from laudatory and satisfied to angry and dissatisfied. Such a device is recognized as the most indispensable and convenient source of heating in a hike, used to solve a number of problems - from processing raw materials to lighting a fire. The difference in feedback refers only to the quality of devices and claims to manufacturers. Mostly they praise gas burners because of their democratic nature. Most of the criticism goes to cumbersome models, but sometimes larger devices combine both a balloon and an attached pan that you can put in each other. This option is well suited for a group of tourists in a few people.

Selection of heating means

How to choose a tourist burner that will not fail at a critical moment and provide all the necessary conditions for comfort in the hike? On the first place should be such basic tasks as reliable provision of tourist space with heat and fire.
The choice is determined by the place where the traveler is directed, by field conditions, average temperatures according to the forecast and availability of necessary fuel. In general, the burner can be considered a basic necessity, which by default should be in the backpack of any prudent tourist.