A super light but reliable stove is a must for bike camping, the Express Ti from Primus offers a long manufacturer's pedigree and the desirability of a lightweight titanium build, so certainly demands consideration.
I tried the non-piezo ignition version, so in use it was about as simple as it gets- screw the gas canister (standard and standard re-sealable gas canisters fit fine) onto the stove unit, unscrew the gas inlet valve and light using a lighter of some sort. It's good and stable with the gas canister providing the stability, while the three stove prongs are fine for keeping a pan reasonably secure. With the piezo ignition version there's obviously the benefit of easier lighting, but this could be outweighed by the additional weight (15g - if every single gram counts for you) and by there being something that could conceivably go wrong during a trip. Without the piezo ignition there is little that can break and prevent the stove from working. It's easy to adjust the gas flow too, to adjust temperature.
It packs away into its own padded drawstring bag (an extra 10g) and is compact enough to hide away in a pan set or mug during transit.
The gas canisters it takes are pretty widely available throughout Europe and the US.
Price wise, the non-piezo version marks a very good deal for a super light camping stove, with many considerably heavier models available at around only £10 less.
(Non piezo ignition 70g)
Verdict
Extremely lightweight, good value titanium stove - simple and with little to go wrong.
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Primus ExpressStove Ti
Size tested: standard
Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
Aimed at weight conscious backpacking campers and trekkers.
Exactly right for that, and perfect for bike camping tours.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Available in piezo ignition or non-piezo ignition versions.
Made from titanium and aluminium.
Takes standard screw on gas cartridges.
Well made and little to go wrong.
Straightforward, easy to use and effective.
Little to go wrong.
Very light.
Really good value for money when you consider this is the price most non-titanium (heavier) stoves are available at.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Performed excellently.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Simplicity, weight
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Nothing
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.
Would you consider buying the product? Yes.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, definitely.
Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?
Hard to fault as a lightweight stove option for do-it-yourself camping adventures.
About the tester
Age: 37 Height: 1.65m Weight: 67kg
I usually ride: My best bike is:
I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, general fitness riding, mtb,
Lara has been riding bikes for longer than she'd care to admit, and writing about them nearly as long. Since 2009 she has been working as part of the road.cc review team whilst championing women's cycling on the side, most notably via two years as editor of the, sadly now defunct, UK's first and only women's cycling mag, erm, Women's Cycling.
Believing fervently that cycling will save the world, she wishes that more people would just ride a bike and be pleasant to each other.
She will ride anything with two wheels, occasionally likes to go fast, definitely likes to go far and is always up for a bit of exploring somewhere new and exciting.
3 comments
I have one like this, but its a bit older than that one. the problem i always have is getting gas on the continent, so its all well and good it being light, but thats out weight for me but having to take extra gas
So i switched to a stove that will burn almost anything, the MSR WhisperLite, can burn petrol, diesel, kerosene, meths and alcohol, any kind of liquid that burns really
Proper touring kit review for once. Like it.
Gkam84 I feel your pain on the gas front, but it is getting easier to find gas cartridges, especially in Western and Central Europe. This one uses the most popular size of canister, making it the easiest option. I've used a multi-fuel stove in Croatia (with diesel of all things) but that was only because the local gear shop was closed on the one day I happened to be passing through. I could see the gas cartridges through the window!
Multi-fuel stoves are great, but they are much more expensive, heavier, more complicated to use and bulkier.
It's a judgement call. For areas outside Europe, I'd definitely agree with you.