F1 Lite vs. Optimus Crux

Kit tart that I am, I'm thinking about replacing my Coleman F1 lite with an Optimus Crux.

Reasons are as follows: 

The F1 Lite has never let me down but it just feels a bit fragile; the Crux looks more robust.

If you look at the Crux, the burner head is wider than the F1 Lite and it appears to be much nearer the base of the cooking pot.  There is 10mm of clearance between the top of the F1 Lite's burner head and the pan supports; I reckon this gap is halved on the Crux.  This should mean that the Crux heats more evenly than the F1 Lite and that it is more fuel-efficient.

It looks as though the diameter of the Crux's pan supports is wider than the those of the F1 Lite so the Crux should offer more stability; I use an MSR kettle as a cooking pot and its diameter is almost exactly the same as that of the F1 Lite's pan supports so careful placing of the pot is necessary.  I also use an MSR mug as cooking pot occasionally and I have to be even more careful as it is narrower than the kettle and could slip off the inside of one of the pan supports.  This could not happen with the Crux as the pan supports extend across the top of the burner head.   

Against the Crux is the fact that the gas regulator looks badly designed.  It is right at the base of the burner and I can see it being fiddly to adjust while the stove is alight.  The F1 Lite's regulator is about 10mm above the base and I've never had any trouble, even with a windshield encircling it and gloves on.

Has anyone tried both?  Any thoughts on which is more fuel-efficient / stable / windproof / robust etc?  

Hi, I have the crux and f1 lite.

The F1 lite I can't fault for the money and it seems to keep a good output power even when the gas cylinder is nearly empty.. an all round good stove but definately feels like it needs to be handled carefully and requires a more delicate pot placement. Quite a fierce stove

The Optimus Crux was my main stove for quite a while... great engineering and nice folding action with good pan support. My only critique is the wire gas regulator arm that seems to just pop out of  the regulator stem which is annoying as it could easily be lost.

I now tend to use neither and generally use the Primus Micron Ti which may be worth  having a look at ...... and of course for stability the MSR Windpro..

Hope this is of some help.

Th Crux is probably the worlds best canister stove in my opinion, the way it folds and the superb build quality, decent pot stands etc. But they aren't really the kind of thing someone would compare as they are at different extremes of price range. One you can get for about £15 drand new and the other is about £40+ brand new. Comparing something like a pocket  rocket with an F1 and a Crux with a Gigapower or something like that maybe but comparing those two isn't really done usually.

Personally if I had the moeny I'd buy the Crux, but I don't have the money so have an F1 which I've had for years and its never ever failed and has for its price completely out performed iiself again and again. 

Gelert have started selling the Chinese MSR Pocket Rocket clones for about £11 in the UK now and from what I can see there ain't much difference!

Thanks for the comments, guys.

Anthony, I did consider the MSR Windpro but I like having a stove that I can pack into my mug.

Anyway, I've ordered a Crux so I'll see how it performs... 

Hi,

    Yep pretty useful having the stove fitting in a mug-- the crux will certainly do that... I just got one of these primus wind shield that seem pretty good for increasing efficiency if it looks like it will be blowy? nice design, just clips round any gas canister. 

Well, the Optimus Crux arrived (waiting for me when I got back from Dartmoor - don't you just love coming back from a wildcamp and finding new kit waiting for you).

Well, it was a piece of junk.  Beautifully made but the folding burner head meant that it wobbled.  FFS, a canister stove costing over £40 and it wobbles?

I didn't bother lighting it.  A canister stove is inherently unstable at the best of times.  Introduce a wobbly burner head and you may as well just drop your dinner on the ground.  It's gone back for a refund.

Guy Hurst wrote (see)

I looked at a lot of stoves of this type and opted for the Vargo Jet-Ti. It's very sturdy, the flame spreads well, the control is easy to get to and it's still very light. And, if such things worry you, it produces very little carbon monoxide, so is one of the safer options if you ever need to cook in your tent.

Now I like the look of this one, although the pan supports look a bit narrow... 
 

Jake, look at this link.  I had the same problem, and agree fully.  My first one had serious problems with the flame, too - see link.  It was replaced, no problem there but the replacement, and the next replacement all wobbled far too much for me so I ended up with the Crux Lite, which I really like.  It's low, has a wide head, and is well made, like all (most!) Optimus stuff.  But the wobble on the standard Crux was unacceptable unless you're cooking on a nice flat table or similar.

 http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/forum/forummessages/mps/dt/4/UTN/24054/

Rob