Trangia 27 Spirit Stove Set review
By Tom Calder
The Trangia is the sensible-shoes choice for household resilience: the integrated windshield means it works in a stiff breeze where gas struggles, and there is almost nothing to break or go wrong. It burns fuel and must only ever be used outdoors or in a well-ventilated space, never inside a closed room, tent or garage, because of the carbon monoxide risk.
- Best for
- A near-indestructible backup cooker for power cuts and camping, using cheap, widely-available meths.
- Skip it if
- You need fast boil times, cooking for a large group, or a stove you can safely run indoors
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.We earn a commission if you buy through the retailer links on this page. It doesn't change our verdict. How we make money →
Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Exceptionally reliable and simple - no valves, jets or piezo to fail, and the burner is near-silent
- The built-in aluminium windshield shrugs off wind that would defeat an open gas burner
- Runs on methylated spirits, which is cheap, stores safely and is easy to source from hardware shops
Worth knowing
- Slow to boil (around 8-10 minutes for a litre) and you cannot instantly cut the flame like a gas tap
- Spirit gives less heat per gram than gas, so it is less efficient for big or repeated meals
ⓘ As an Amazon Associate, PreparedBritain earns from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission when you buy, or a fee when you request a quote, through our links. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Amazon prices come from Amazon's own product data and show the date and time they were retrieved. Prices at other retailers are checked by us, less often. Prices and stock can change at any time, so always check the retailer's price before you buy.
Our review
The Trangia 27 is a Swedish spirit-burner cook set for one or two people: a burner, a two-part windshield, two pots and a frying pan that nest into one 690 g bundle. It is slow and simple, with nothing to break, and it runs on methylated spirit from any hardware shop. Like every flame stove, it is for outdoor use only.
What it is
Trangia calls it the Stove 27-1 UL. The set is made of ultralight aluminium and holds two 1-litre pots, an 18 cm frying pan, upper and lower windshields, the spirit burner, a pot handle and a strap. Trangia gives the weight as 690 g and the packed size as 185 mm across by 100 mm deep. The burner is rated at 1,150 W, and Trangia sells a gas burner that fits the same windshield.
The windshield is the clever part. The burner sits inside it and the pot sits on top, so the flame is shielded on all sides, and the set works in a breeze that would blow out an open gas ring.
Fuel and cooking
Trangia says to use methylated spirit or bio-ethanol with at least 70 per cent alcohol, and that oil-based fuels must never be used in the burner. Fill it no more than two-thirds, about 100 ml, which Trangia says burns for roughly 25 minutes. It gives roughly 10 minutes to boil a litre of water, depending on the weather and the fuel.
That is slow next to gas, and there is no tap to cut the flame instantly as there is on a gas stove. In return there are no valves, jets or igniter to fail, and meths stores in a sealed bottle for years. Trangia's own rules are worth learning: never leave a lit stove unattended, and never refill the burner until the flame is completely out and the burner has cooled.
Safety: outdoors only
Any stove that burns fuel produces carbon monoxide. The NHS says not to use a barbecue or camping stove indoors or inside a tent, and advises a carbon monoxide alarm in every room with a fuel-burning appliance. In a power cut, that means cooking outside, in a sheltered spot well away from doors and windows, not in the kitchen, garage or a porch. Our guides to cooking without power and carbon monoxide symptoms cover this in full.
How it compares
On our camping stove comparison, the Jetboil Flash and MSR PocketRocket 2 boil far faster on screw-on gas canisters, at the cost of canisters that are harder to find in a hurry and that struggle in the cold. The Kelly Kettle burns sticks and paper, so it needs no fuel to store at all, but on its own it boils water; the cook set is sold separately. The Trangia sits between them: slower than gas, more versatile than a kettle, and almost impossible to break.
Our verdict
A durable, low-maintenance backup cooker for households that want a hot drink and a simple meal in a long power cut, and a good camping stove the rest of the year. If you need speed or are cooking for a family, a gas stove is quicker; whichever you choose, use it outside.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Trangia: Stove 27-1 UL; Trangia: Guide to the spirit burner; Trangia: Weights and sizes; NHS: Carbon monoxide poisoning.
Who shouldn't buy this
You need fast boil times, cooking for a large group, or a stove you can safely run indoors - like all fuel-burning stoves this is strictly for outdoor or fully-ventilated use only, due to carbon monoxide.
Key specs
| Type | Alcohol (spirit) stove cook set, 1-2 person |
| Fuel | Methylated spirits (denatured alcohol) |
| Boil time | 10 min |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for A featherweight, dependable burner with instant piezo ignition for boiling water and simple cooking in a grab bag or camping kit.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 13:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for A family or small group wanting one outdoor kit that boils a larger kettle and cooks a hot meal on sticks, with no gas or batteries to buy.
in stock when checked
Best for A household or small group that wants one wood-fired set to boil water, cook and serve from, with no gas, batteries or fuel to buy.
in stock when checkedQuestions
What fuel does the Trangia 27 use?
Trangia says methylated spirit or bio-ethanol with at least 70 per cent alcohol content. Oil-based fuels must never be used in the spirit burner.
How long does the Trangia take to boil water?
Trangia gives roughly 10 minutes for 1 litre, varying with the weather and the fuel. A full burner of about 100 ml burns for roughly 25 minutes.
Can I use a Trangia indoors in a power cut?
No. Fuel-burning stoves produce carbon monoxide, and the NHS says not to use a camping stove indoors or inside a tent. Cook outside, away from doors and windows.
How much does the Trangia 27 weigh?
Trangia's weight table gives 690 g for the 27-1 UL set, packed to 185 mm across and 100 mm deep.
Free alerts for your home
Home Alerts emails you when a power cut, a Met Office warning or a flood warning covers your postcode. Free for your own home. Sign up in a minute.
Start free →