The Primus PrimeTech Stove Set is a stable and very efficient system for groups and winter camping.
Two years ago I shared my five go-to backpacking stove systems, including what I use in the winter and when in a group. These systems are proven, but they’re less efficient than integrated kits, and the a la carte components are less convenient to obtain (and perhaps more expensive) than multi-piece sets.
Last week at Outdoor Retailer, I saw the Primus PrimeTech Stove Set, which appears to rectify some of the imperfections of my recommended kits. It competes against the MSR Windburner Group Stove System, but offers more and is better priced. It is available now, in two pot volume sizes:
- PrimeTech 1.3L ($130, 25.6oz)
- PrimeTech 2.3L ($140, 30.6 oz)
Each kit includes:
- A low-to-the-ground metal windscreen with an integrated burner;
- Piezo ignitor;
- Two 1.3- or 2.3-liter pots, both made of hard anodized aluminum,
- One with a ceramic non-stick coating, and
- The other with a heat exchanger around its base;
- Transparent lid with integrated colander;
- Pot grip; and, a
- Stuff sack.
The burner is regulated, so it will better maintain its performance with low-pressure fuel canisters, i.e. that are cold or approaching empty. It specs at 7000 BTU’s per hour, and will burn for 119 minutes on a 230-g/8.1-oz fuel canister.
The pots are “squatty,” which improves fuel efficiency and stability. The 1.3-liter pots spec at 7.1″ in diameter x 4.3″ tall; the 2.3L, 7.9″ diameter x 5.4″ tall.
The entire kit nests together, to make it easily packable.
Personally, I liked most the system’s stable low-the-ground profile and a few thoughtful details, notably the insulated stuff sack that doubles as a pot cozy and the lockable pot grip that can be used as a traditional standalone grip (albiet a more secure one) or that can be attached for the duration of the meal, like a handle.
Versus my recommended kits, the PrimeTech Set is probably a little bit heavier (although I can’t say by how much without breaking apart the 25.6- and 30.6-oz weights into line-items), but it will most definitely be more stable and more fuel efficient. Primus reports that the system captures 80 percent of the fuel’s potential energy, which would make a huge different when melting snow in the winter. The PrimeTech should cost less, too, by about $25 to $50.
The set has a few thoughtful details, like the stuff sack that doubles as a pot cozy and the lockable pot grip.
Questions about the PrimeTech? Leave a comment. I can get the answers.
Disclosure. This website is supported mostly through affiliate marketing, whereby for referral traffic I receive a small commission from select vendors, at no cost to the reader. This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for your support.
The post Preview: Primus PrimeTech Stove || Stable, efficient group & winter system appeared first on Andrew Skurka.