First observation was the simplicity of the burner unit. Not only very compact, with folding-cleats to support the pot over the burner, but an electric piezo flame-ignition system, and no-fuss assembly to the fuel canister. A trip to REI for the Primus fuel canister offered the 450-gram canister as the only option, so we ran with it. Yet, this EtaPackLite stove system is designed so a 100-gram fuel canister can be nested into the 1.5-liter pot that comes with the stove.

At sea level it’s rare to have any issues with the time it takes to boil water or heat up the olive oil for tasty stir fry.  And most any generation of personal stove will do good job, even a campfire will work fine. But as the altitude increases, so does the boil and cooking time. Among other reasons, altitude offers less oxygen and therefore less heat generated by the heat source. 

Primus EtaPakLite uses an electric ignition mounted on the base of the stove.

Add to that wind, wet weather, and cold to get a grip on just some of the environmental conditions you might want to heat up water for coffee, hot chocolate, tea or simply cook a meal.

As tested, the EtaPackLite stove churned the water to a boil extremely quick at elevations from a low of 7000 feet to more than 11,000 feet above sea level. Since boiling water is a primary method for preparing food on a backpacking trip, and when available, the next day’s drinking water, it is a good substance to evaluate the stove. Well, the water in the 1.2-liter pot was roiling before I was ready to have that first cup of hot chocolate and a sleeve of Starbucks coffee at the end of the day.

The ability of this Primus stove to motivate the water into a boil caught me off-guard several times. Even in preparing soup or an AlpineAire dehydrated meal, the stove got things going faster than my goofing around setting up camp allowed. That’s certainly not any downside of this stove; when you use it make sure you’re ready to cook and tend the meal as this stove delivers a very fast boiling time.

EtaPakLite kit pot with radiator on bottom.

A look at the radiator construction of the pot bottom pretty much tips you off to how the EtaPackLite generates it super-fast heating performance. The core-like engineering of the radiator design causes heat from the stove flame to focus energy into heating the water, wine, or cooking oil. And this design and efficiency of the combination of stove, windscreen, and radiator-effect on the pot all contribute to less cooking time and greater gas/fuel economy. The efficiency rating for this stove is 75%, and when you need less time to cook whatever, it means your canister will last longer and therefore boil more water or cook more food before you have to change out the canister.

In four backpack trips, I’m still on that first big canister of fuel. I take a backup, but am curious how far the first fuel canister plans of living. It’s low, but continues to deliver the flame until it’s turned off. I didn’t experience any low-fuel failures with the Primus gas canisters either. If you can shake the canister and determine there’s still fuel in it, the stove will light and burn it.

The electronic fuel ignition worked every time with single activation of the lighter button. It can be a little cumbersome to use the fuel ignition device with the windscreen in place.

Stove base with windscreen on cleat-wings.

The work-around is merely to start the burner and then slip the windscreen on the cleats. Attaching the fuel canister to the fuel hose leading to the burner is also a no-drama process. You just screw on the canister to the braided stainless steel stove hose, turn on the gas, and pinch the igniter button betwixt your thumb and forefinger. Thwap! The stove is on.

Other favorable qualities I enjoyed about the Primus stove in addition to the electric flame starter built onto the base of the stove, is the ability to adjust the flame for simmering food and a lightweight windscreen that offers enough room for several sizes of cooking containers.

If you want to cook pancakes, and you brought the pan, this stove works great with or without the use of the windscreen. Although we used the windscreen most of the time, the stove works just fine using rocks or natural wind barriers that might be available around your campsite.

Just leave the windscreen off, and you can cook with a frying pan.

We also liked the stability of the EtaPackLite burner unit and the collapsible cleat-wings for supporting a pot or pan. And yes, one needs a little frying pan to work with a stove in order to allow complete freedom in outdoor gourmet cuisine if you’re really going to get out and enjoy the fresh air. Consider the scenario as you prepare dinner by glazing up some wild onions, a radish or two, and a medium-sized German Brown trout you coaxed into cinching down on your homemade buck tail-rooster-head artificial fly on the alpine lake you’ve holed up at for the evening. You’re not limited to prepare every meal by simply boiling water. And the ability to include a frying pan opens up lots of doors for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

 Now, we haven’t had this stove in severely cold weather…yet. However, on chilly nights and frosty mornings where overnight temperatures did get down to freezing, the stove fired up at 5:00 am without hesitation. So as winter kicks in for 2009/2010, our plans include using the Primus EtaPackLite stove in much colder conditions.

It should also be noted that the pot handle is versatile, light, and works well with this stove system. The main pot has a non-stick coating that’s protected, in transit, by a polypropylene insert bowl that doubles as a serving container. The plastic lid is BPA-free (no bisphenol-A material), a material that has caused much controversy regarding its notoriety as a possible carcinogen.

Vented pot lid made without harmful BPA materials.

The entire cooking system, including stove, pot, 100g fuel canister, and windscreen fit into a stuff-sack that keeps everything together and compartmentalizes the kit in your backpack or camp box.

Once you’ve taken the kit apart and re-assembled it a few times the procedure becomes a time saver when setting up camp or packing up for the next day.

In general, the Primus EtaPackLite stove and system worked as advertised and it will get many more trips on it due to the fact it is light, compact, and efficient.

By Rick Shandley

At 5:00 AM, the EtaPakLite is a joy to fire up for coffee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full stove kit ready to slide into its ventilated stuff-sack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note how the gas feed tube lifts out of a hold-clip to compact for transport.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Specifications:

Weight: 580grams (20.5oz)

Heat Units: 2000W (7150 BTU/h)

Boil Time: 2.5 minutes (Before you’re ready)

Size: 165 x 130mm (6.5” x 5.1”)

Service: 1-2 people

Canister Sizes:

Primus 100g (3.5 fl. oz) – [Max. 1.2 hours or 12 boiling sessions]

Primus 230g (7.9 fl. oz) – [Max. 3 hours or 28 boiling sessions]

Primus 450g (15.9 fl. oz) – [Max. 6 hours or 56 boiling sessions]

Made in: Estonia

Design: Primus AB Sweden

MSRP: $115

New from Primus Stoves, the EtaPackLite was designed to provide ample cook capacity for two people while remaining compact for multiple days anywhere space and weight savings are essential.

Planning on dinner? Consider how the Primus EtaPackLite stove was designed to provide ample cook capacity for two people while remaining compact for multiple days anywhere space and weight savings are essential.

Running on pressurized LP gas and rated at 80 percent efficiency- meaning 80 percent of the heat created goes directly to warming dinner and not the environment. The EtaPackLite is among the most fuel-efficient camp stoves on the market. To compare, the average camp stove operates between 40 and 50 percent efficiency. The EtaPackLite weighs 21 ounces and comes as a complete cook system, including a stove base with burner, wind screen, serving bowl, and a 1.2 liter pot with a lid that doubles as a colander.

All components, including a 100-gram fuel cartridge, nest perfectly in the pot. The EtaPackLite is available for your next backpacking trip, and retails for $115. For more information go to: www.primus.se

In the pipeline for 2010, the Primus EtaSolo is a $100 investment in backcountry nutrition.

New for 2010, Primus EtaSolo. Based on Primus’ award-winning, supremely fuel efficient Eta burner and heat exchanger technology, the EtaSolo takes compact, single person cook systems to the next level. Its high efficiency rate assures fast boiling times and lower fuel consumption. Stable in windy conditions, lightweight (13.8-ounces), and extremely compact, the EtaSolo is quick and easy to assemble thanks to its robust quick-click locking mechanism. The 0.9L pot comes with a removable wrap-around heat resistant cover and sure-grip handle. The pot’s lid has a special opening for sipping hot brews. The burner and a 100-gram gas cartridge can all be securely stowed in the pot. Putting out 5120 BTUs per hour, the EtaSolo will boil 0.5 liters of water in just over 2 minutes. $100.