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Reviews > Cook and Food Storage Gear > Stoves > Brunton Optimus Crux > Owner Review by Ray Estrella
Optimus Crux Foldable Canister Stove
TESTER INFORMATION
I have been backpacking for over 30 years, all over California, and in many of the western states and Minnesota. I hike year-round, and average 500+ miles (800+ km) per year. I have made a move to lightweight gear, and smaller volume packs. I start early and hike hard so as to enjoy the afternoons exploring. I usually take a freestanding tent and enjoy hot meals at night. If not hiking solo I am usually with my wife Jenn or brother-in-law Dave. The Product
Manufacturer: Optimus of Sweden, for Brunton Product Description
The Brunton Optimus Crux (hereafter referred to as the stove or Crux) is an extremely compact canister stove. The burner swivels on its stem to allow the stove to lay flat. A spring-loaded collar slides into the burner section, locking it into position. It has a wire loop handle for the flame control, that folds tight against the stem also. This results in a very small package. Here is a picture of it folded. The burner itself is made of brass. It is 1.9” (47 mm) in diameter. The fuel flows though a fine brass mesh, and exits, burning, through a series of perforations on the top of the burner. On the top of the burner are three folding pot supports. They are 1.25” (31 mm) in length. When opened, the top side of the supports have their sawtooth-like serrations exposed. These are to help to hold pots in place. Mounted on the side of the main body (stove base) is a brass control valve. On the face of the valve is a printed diagram with a +/- showing the direction of travel to increase or decrease the flame. The formed wire handle is attached to the valve. On one side of the base is the name and logo of Optimus. On the other is the following; “patented, manufactured in Japan for Optimus”. Here is a picture of the stove set up for use. The stove comes with a very cool little stuff sack. The black sack has a very well padded bottom, and a neoprene flap covering half of it. The folded Crux slides under the flap, with the stove base being concealed inside. Black netting extends up the sides at a diagonal. At the low and high sides are pull loops, and a large loop of elastic cord runs above the high end. The sack will fit on the bottom of a standard 8 oz or 16 oz (227 or 454 g) iso-butane/propane fuel canister. The stove fits into the concave at the bottom of the canister. The elastic cord loop snaps over the top of the canister keeping the sack from slipping off. Here is the stove nestled in the stuff sack. And of it attached to a fuel canister. Field Conditions I have used this stove approximately 26 days in the field over the past 2 years. The highest that it has been used was at Trail Camp on Mt Whitney, in California. It was 27 F (-3 C) and snowing at 12,000’ (3600 m) elevation. The warmest use was 102 F (39 C) near the Kern River. Lowest use was about 80’ (24 m) above sea level. The coldest was 24 F (-4 C) on the John Muir Trail last October. It has been with me on trips to Mt. Shasta, Mt. Langley, Middle Palisade, Sequioa NP, Yosemite NP. The Bristlecone, San Gorgonio, San Jacinto, and Cleveland forests. It also saw action in the Domeland and Jenni Lakes Wilderness areas. Observations
I have always been a big fan of white gas stoves. I still own three of them. I would normally share my stove with my brother-in-law Dave, my regular hiking partner. On a trip to climb Mt. Langley Dave decided that he wanted to go to a no-cook style of backpacking meals. As I was only going to need to fare for myself I bought the Crux and a MSR Titan kettle to get the weight, and more important volume, down. It was my first canister stove. Read more reviews of Brunton gear Read more gear reviews by Ray Estrella Reviews > Cook and Food Storage Gear > Stoves > Brunton Optimus Crux > Owner Review by Ray Estrella |