The showpiece of next year's range from Primus is a new one-man stove called the EtaExpress, which achieves 80% fuel efficiency according to the Scandinavian brand.
The Eta system
The high efficiency rate comes thanks to a windshield which surrounds the flame and stops the heat from escaping. The EtaExpress isn't the first incarnation of the concept - Primus launched their first wind-shielded stove earlier this year in the form of the Eta Power. We haven't tried it ourselves but it must have gone down a treat - that's a very efficiently cooked treat - as the brand are now expanding the range to cater for solo backpackers.
The name of the technology 'Eta System' apparently stands for 'efficiency rate' and Primus explain the thinking behind it like this:
“It is not a question of 'how fast will the water boil' but a question of how to save fuel and pack volume. What use is a powerful stove if you have to carry twice as much fuel? On the other hand, what good is a small, super-light stove if you have to carry an additional windscreen and pot?”
EtaExpress
That all sounds sensible to us, so what are the facts and figures? Well, the new EtaExpress weighs in at 418g, plus a 230g gas cartridge, which includes a burner with a piezo igniter, windscreen, hard anodised aluminium one litre pot, and a lid that doubles as a pan. If size is an issue as well as weight then the dimensions are 115 x 140 mm. And if general memory loss while cooking things is what's really at stake, well, at least the pot has a non-stick surface:-)
It should be in the shops early next spring, ready for a better summer for camping than the last (we hope!) so keep your eyes peeled and your wooden spoons at the ready.
In the meantime, have a look at Primus' current range on their website.
Smeg
