Backpacking stove - Optimus Crux Lite

[wildmanh]

For a while now I've wanted a small light weight stove to carry in my large Day pack/72 hour kit. Was at one of the local shops and was talking to the sales rep around my needs and he showed me the Optimus Crux Lite. It looked pretty good to me so I bought it along with some sporks and they threw in a small fual canister for free.

After getting home I unpacked it and placed it into my large day pack, just waiting for the chance to use it on a trip. Well that chance came this last weekend. Some friends and I went camping up Provo Canyon at Nunn's park. I was supposed to bring a Single Burner campstove but forgot it. Never fear my Crux Lite came to the rescue. I heated up 3 meals on it over the course of 22 hours. In the cooler I brought some home made Beef stew and Chili. The stove is easy to use and adjust to just the right output which made heating up the soups very nice. With a little practice I was able to figure out what level to have it at to get the soups just right. Folding it and storing it back in my pack was easy. Just wait till it cooled, unscrew, fold it down and store in the bag it comes with. Went on 2 hikes, the first Friday afternoon was about 4 miles round trip and the second one on saturday was about 1 mile round trip. Had the stove and 4oz fual tank with me and didn't even notice it was there.

If someone is looking for a small light weight stove to heat food up with or boil water, check out the Crux Lite. It's exactly what I was looking for. Now a Bigger stove is great for groups but for one or two people this one works really well. :thumbup:

For anyone thats interested here are the specs:

Fuel: LP-gass 70/30 butane/propane
Weight: 2.5oz/72g
Output: 3,000W/10,200 BTU
Dimentions: 2.8x2.2x2.2 inches/71x57x56mm
Burn time: Upto 60 minutes at max output

Sorry I don't have any pictures of it right now, but will try to take some later today.

Heber

 

[ROCK6]

I have the regular Crux and really like the little stove. Good review and it's our "backup" stove when backpacking. I typically use a Nova but recently picked up the Omnifuel. My wife carries the Crux and I like using it for the early morning water heating for coffee (butane is a lot quieter than liquid fuel stoves!). It's nice to have a backup and the Crux (or Lite version) is a perfect compact stove for one or two backpackers.

ROCK6

 

[wildmanh]

I have the regular Crux and really like the little stove. Good review and it's our "backup" stove when backpacking. I typically use a Nova but recently picked up the Omnifuel. My wife carries the Crux and I like using it for the early morning water heating for coffee (butane is a lot quieter than liquid fuel stoves!). It's nice to have a backup and the Crux (or Lite version) is a perfect compact stove for one or two backpackers.

ROCK6

Rock6 thanks for posting about your stoves. It sure is handy for early morning Tea or Coffee or Chocolate. Been thinking about buying the Optimus Terra Weekend and a folding spork to go with it.

How's that Nova working out for you? It's one I briefly checked out when I got my stove. And what is the Omnifual? Thanks,

Heber

 

[riz_aaroni]

Thanks for the review. Considering getting a camp stove. Optimus has to come out with a stove called Prime. "Optimus Prime, the ultimate in outdoor cooking!"

 

[TheRiverJustKnows]

I too have the regular optimus crux stove. I like taking it on my long trips as a backup and for taking on my day treks from basecamps so I can have hot lunchs in the field. The only problem I had was I bought the tripod base that the fuel canisters sit in to make it more stable and the base doesn't not fit the small canisters. It only fits the large fuel canisters even the it has notches for both. The stove however works great.

 

[ROCK6]

How's that Nova working out for you? It's one I briefly checked out when I got my stove. And what is the Omnifual? Thanks,
Heber

I love the Nova, it's been a workhorse of a stove for some time. I still love my MSR XGK (recently over-hauled it), but the Nova has a better pump IMHO and you can at least regulate the output for somewhat of a simmer.

The Omnifuel (not sure why it's not on the Primus website?), is a modifed Nova...folds different and the connector goes to either a liquid bottle pump or fits a standard butane cartridge. It comes with three jets; I just use the whitegas and butane jets...you have to switch them out and make sure the fuel line is dry before switching to the canister. Another very well made stove with excellent options and I like the wider pot base when we're boiling water or cooking in a larger 4 quart pot.

Omnifuel

ROCK6