This Folding Gas Stove plus Heat Exchanger Cook Kit makes a very versatile cooking system from Vango, writes Mike Gormley.
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These are two separate items from the Vango range but they work very well together, or independently as required.
Vango have a selection of small camping stoves to choose from; this one is listed as the Folding Stove with Windshield and Piezo. It can be used as a standalone stove or along with the Ultralight Heat Exchanger Cook Kit, described next. This stove is robust and folds down well and has its own plastic container, or it can be fitted into the cook pot if a 230g gas cartridge is not stowed there. Preparing the stove is quick and easy, with three folding legs which form a stable base. There is an attached windshield to help protect the quite large burner, which spreads the heat across a wide area of the cooking pot in use. The quoted performance is that it can heat a pot full of water, one litre, in about five minutes. The times I have been using this stove seems to be on wet and breezy days (poor planning or just unlucky?) but I have been able to make a hot meal and brew as required.
The Ultralight Heat Exchanger Cook Kit can again be sub-divided into its component parts as your needs change. The Heat Exchanger is really the cook pot and kettle, which comes with a see-through lid and a heat resistant handle,as well as a set of draining holes for the likes of pasta and a steam vent. This lid lifts on and off with ease and single-handed. The pot itself has a very good fitted handle that locks into place and, with a squeeze, can be released and can be folded across the top lid to secure it as well as act as a safe way of holding and moving the pot on and off the stove. The pot has an insulated fitted cover which also keeps noise low in transit.
As the name suggests the Heat Exchanger helps to direct the valuable heat from the stove into the water or food and helps to protect the flame from the breeze. Alongside this it comes with a triangular folding base with two bowls and folding combined fork/spoons. A sturdy, effective and efficient design that works well and should last for a long time.
Together these make a very good and safe set-up which you can fine tune according to your needs for the trip you are on. I must say I do like a set-up like this which has a separate stove and pot and a remote gas cartridge and control so to keep hands away from the heat and hot water… especially if it boils over.
[images © Mike Gormley]
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