Epilio with a selection of pots and pansAfter a couple of winter trips where drastic action was required to get a flame out of my usually trusty F1 Lite gas stove, I thought that I’d better invest in a gas stove that had a preheat tube for the coming winter.
Back in January Primus started advertising their Spider in TGO, at the time the lightest remote canister stove with preheat tube on the market, so an obvious choice. However supply didn’t match my demand and by the time it was available it was already April and I had no need.
Unlucky for Primus, Edelrid had launched their similarly spec’d but lighter Epilio, so this became the next obvious choice. Apart from the small weight saving, the deal clencher was that the control knob is parallel to the tube, unlike the Spider, making it easy to invert the canister if required.
The deal clencher
The stove folds flattish and weighs 175g on my postal scales. The packed size is 13cm square and about 4.5cm deep, so won’t fit in smaller pots like a Snow Peak 600. Although you can use a pot of this size on it quite happily. The burner head is 3cm diameter and the jets are directed straight up. This is good if you’re using a pot but not so good if using a wide pan as the flame is concentrated in one spot. The flame can be trimmed to the merest murmur which, with the use of a spoon, should mean that the narrow flame spread isn’t an issue. The pan supports give the stove a diameter of 15cm and as stated will work with a pot the size of a Snow Peak 600 or any that have a bigger than 4cm diameter.
Burner with preheat tube
Although I bought it for winter camping, it may find itself in the box if I head out for a spot of car camping in the summer with the family. Due to the smaller pack size and infinitely better flame control than the Trangia that I would normally pack.
13 comments:
Having just been given a Spider to test I instantly found the control knob orientation to be a bit of a pain in the ass! I can foresee something getting accidentally tipped over this winter, not what you want in the tent!
Only if you want wear your food and lose your shelter :)
Im glad Primus didn't get it's act together - advertising in January and sorting out a limited retail option four months later isnt a great way to do business.
Baz do you think the pan supports can happily take a small 1 person pot and a larger one for family/small group? (without porridge in the lap) Thanks
Should do. The Snow Peak 600 is a 600ml (one pint) mug and it sat on the supports without fuss. I had to trim the flame as there was some spill up the sides as I cranked it up but I was using a brand new canister. With span of 15cm it should handle the pan set that comes with the Trangia 25 but I'd need to go into the loft to dig that out to check :)
Looks like a good choice for winter or groups. Dont venture into the loft I went up recently I was lost in there for days. Looking at old kit and wondering why we have kept all these kids toys.
lol. Having move house a little under a year ago we managed to lose a fair amount of unwanted stuff - kept the gear though, that I havent been able to sell - yet :)
That looks like exactly what Primus should have done with the Spider. I'm not sure about the preheat tube running directly over the burner, but if it works it looks like a great stove. I'll have to do some searching online!
If Primus had orientated the knob in the same way Edelrid would still have won on weight :)
The stove would have conform to any EU requirements so I guess that the preheat tube is sound where it is.
@Ben. The 1.75l pot from a Trangia 25 set fits with a bit of pot support to spare. A pot this size is about right for three to four people.
I have a Spider, I find the control knob is a little fiddly but not that difficult. But has solved the issue of top canister stove in winter. I have tested it by putting the canister in the freezer and then lighting the stove versus my Pocket Rocket.(see blog) The epilio looks a good stove. I will be interested to hear how you get on.
The Primus Spider is easier to say than Edelrid epilio :)
Mark
I watched a couple of you tube videos of the Spider and it seesm to pack down a bit samller than the Epilio, and the burner looks to have a better spread of flame.
Might be an idea to compare side by side.
Pardon my ignorance but you mention using a spoon to spread the flame, what do you mean by that?
Ah, I see what you mean... not that clear. I meant using a low gas and stirring the food with a spoon :)
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