Primus - ETA Lite Stove: Field Test
Primus
ETA lite Stove
A small stove that packs a punch. From its efficient boiling time in frigid conditions, to its light-weight features and sturdy construction; the ETA Stove has been put to the test and has impressed me so far! I’ve taken it into New Zealand’s largest alpine environments, deep into the back country on light-and-fast hunting trips and on multi-day hikes with friends. After a little over 3 months I can already see this being one of the best light weight stoves on the market.
Overview:
Appearance: 5/5
Performance: 4/5
Value: 3/5
First Impressions:
Small/compact/clean.
When I got the stove it surprised me how small and light it actually was. I had been using a JetBoil Flash cooker the week prior and was expecting it to be around the same size. I took it home and fired it up to make a cup of tea. The pot fits 750ml but boils 500ml without boiling over and getting messy. Thats a cup of tea for two or a a good size for a solo mission. The pot and built-in windshield clicks onto the burner and the electric start fires it up with one push. In less than 2 and a half minutes I had boiled 2 cups of water. I was impressed.
Feild testings:
I have taken the stove on multiple trips now and have tested it in many different conditions. I have used it on multi-day trips with 3 people as a stand alone stove. I have used it with different brands of canisters. Recently I took it on a week long trip into the head of the Tasman Glacier, Mt Cook National Park. There I was able to see how it worked at altitude and in cold, windy conditions.
Performance:
Efficiency - the stove is not only quick, but also fuel efficient. I have been able to get 48mins out of one 100ml propane/isobutane mix in varying conditions. I can now confidently take one of these canisters on trips for 2-3 days. The cold and altitude does have an effect on this stove being a propane cooker. I had to wait maybe an extra 1.5 mins to get 500ml of water boiled in -5 degrees at 2400 meters.
Fast - now I’ve never been too worried about how quick my cookers boil water but this one is noticeably quick. It’s average recorded boil time for 500ml is 2.23 seconds which is much faster than the likes of the JetBoil Flash.
Compact/Light - when using a 100ml canister the whole set-up can fit inside of the pot and still have room for a couple bags of tea; saving space in your pack! There is a downside to that — the wait when using this stove for multiple people. I was recently in French Ridge Hut with 2 others and it felt like I was waiting forever to get some hot water to everyone. The 500ml is limiting, good for boil in bags or freeze dried but I wouldn’t recommend it for cooking. . It weighs 360g (without fuel) which is very light compared to most similar systems.
Features - comes with a hanging kit, stand, electric start, screw pins for another non primus pot/pan use and a snug. The electric start was been problematic and whenever I pack the stove away the metal wire the spark shoots from is pushed out of shape. I expect this to break soon.
Appearance:
The ETA Stove’s appearance is nothing to really write home about but it does have a clean, simple look. Nothing too flash.
Value:
At the moment the stove is selling at $220-250 in moat New Zealand stores. This isn’t the cheapest stove out there and personally I wouldn’t have paid that much for one.
The Verdict:
I highly recommend this stove for outdoor enthusiast looking for a reliable, lightweight stove system for shorter or solo trips in NZ conditions.
Cons
flimsy electric start
500ml - limiting '
expensive
PROS
fuel efficient
fast
light
