The world's leading manufacturers offer modern technological advances, new convenient and practical devices for tourism and recreation in natural conditions. One of the popular devices for lighting a fire, heating a tent and a variety of needs is a tourist gas burner. How to choose the best device for the trip? Consider the features of this device.
The invention to help tourists
A tourist burner was born during the Second World War.
Sweden is considered to be the birthplace of this device - the first models for soldiers and trench needs came from the local manufacturer Primus. The tourist option was developed later, in 1950, thanks to the advent of special gas cylinders.
In the territory of the former Soviet Union, these field inventions began to arise only in the 1990s. Previously, gas burners (stoves) were used in our country. But the advantages of gas devices were so obvious that they supplanted gasoline models and became a real hit.
Types of burners
The tourist burner in its functionality is designed for cooking hot food in natural conditions.
Today, manufacturers offer the following instrument designs:
- Separate: they are attached to the cylinder using a special hose. This is a stable option that allows you to warm the cylinder with your own fire. A very convenient version in cold weather, when you have to turn over the tank for spending gas residues. But the bulkiness and difficulties with the hose repel many buyers.
- Screwed on top of the container. This option is practical, efficient and cheap. The problem is stability, and that it is difficult to put large containers of food on it. You have to buy a cylinder with a wide base, but there are no problems with the hose. Also, these models are cheap and compact.
- Hoseless: The cylinder is used horizontally. The low cost of the gas tank, unfortunately, indicates a risk of damage - the cylinder may crack in the backpack or at the junction with the burner itself (collet connection). Its dimensions are limited, therefore, taking into account all the minuses, this is a rare instance in the tourist's stock.
- Integrated product heating systems. A 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 damping. This feature saves cooking time and reduces gas consumption.This miniature device is able to replace a fire in a situation when it rains and all preparations take place in a tent.
Advantages of these devices
A tourist gas burner has become simply an indispensable device due to its low cost and the constant availability of gas cylinders in stores. Its integral advantages are:
- ease of use - at the level of a stationary stove;
- absence of a heating problem - it does not need it;
- ease in the start-up process: simply turn the ignition key by connecting a gas cylinder or pour gasoline;
- safety in use - modern models are extremely simple and equipped with the necessary insurance (although there may be problems with an inverted cylinder and an off fire - an explosion is likely);
- wide possibilities of use - from cooking in a tent and warming up;
- light weight, compact size - fits into any backpack. Some models weigh only 80-150 grams and fold to palm size, and sometimes less. Sometimes a saucepan is attached to the device, which can be screwed on top (volume up to 1 liter). Large containers can also be heated on the device, but the advantages of the integrated pan are lost. On average, water can boil for 3-5 minutes.
disadvantages
The gas burner installed on a tourist cylinder has a number of significant disadvantages, which, of course, are compensated by the above pluses. The disadvantages of these tourist "lighters" are such moments:
- Poor performance in cold air temperatures and severe frost. This is due to the state of the gas, which at minus 30 degrees Celsius requires heating the cylinder. A torch with a hose will help out here.
- Weak power in gasoline models - their analogues are leaders in terms 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 displacement, the better the heating.
- You have to take an empty bottle with you, even if you are still far from the end of the journey. Firstly, throwing it away is harmful to the environment, and secondly, you can refuel it, and buying a new one every time is 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. Optimum models are multi-fuel tourist burners . The ability to vary 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.
Still outdated tourist gas burners are still often used - after all, gas is quite accessible to everyone who wants to buy it.
Basically, the market for such devices is represented by gas appliances because of their low cost and the availability of cylinders.
Basically , a choice is made between gas and gasoline, based on what the temperature of the environment will be when using the device and how convenient transportation will be.
Modern manufacturers
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 manufacturer, so as 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 fueling. The 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 officially and everywhere are JetBoil, Coleman, Primus. An excellent combination of quality and low cost is the Korean company Kovea, whose tourist burner is very popular throughout the CIS and Russia.
Customer reviews
Modern consumers often share their impressions of the purchased product. Tourist burners are no exception. Reviews about these devices can be found in a variety of ways - from laudatory and satisfied to angry and displeased. Such a device is recognized as the most indispensable and convenient source of heating in the campaign, used to solve a number of problems - from processing raw materials to lighting a fire. The difference in the reviews refers only to the quality of the devices and claims to manufacturers. Mostly, gas burners are praised because of their democratic nature. Most criticism goes to bulky models, but sometimes large devices combine both a tank and an attached pan that can be put into each other. This option is well suited for a tourist group of several people.
Choosing a heating medium
How to choose a tourist burner that will not fail in a crucial moment and provide all the necessary conditions for comfort on a hike? In the first place should be such basic tasks as the reliable provision of tourist space with heat and fire.
The choice is determined by the place where the traveler is heading, hiking conditions, average temperatures forecast and the availability of the necessary fuel. In general, the burner can be considered an essential item, which by default should be in the backpack of any prudent tourist.