Adventure Bike Rider Forum

I took a chance on this small £25 OEX Vulcan stove the day before I left for a 9 day TET trip a few weeks ago.


I didn’t fancy taking the bulkier Alpkit Brewkit (pictured for comparison) so I used the Vulcan stove with a ‘Sea to ‘Slummit’’ collapsible 1.4L X-pot which was easier to pack separately, gave me a wider range of cooking options and kept the mug separate for a hot brew (or on this trip it was usually red wine or Guinness!) whilst the meal was cooking.
A 230g gas canister provided a full weeks worth of fuel to boil water for tea/coffee every morning/evening, heat up ready meals, poach eggs for three people on a few mornings, boil potatoes (to accompany meat cooked on a disposable bbq) and cook a tasty stew up on the wilds of Dartmoor before the gas canister ran out.

Next time, I will carry the stove inside a metal mug (instead of a resin travel mug) and use that if just brewing up which should use less gas (especially with a wind shield) but the burner provided a good stable platform to support the x-pot which worked a treat.

Interestingly both setups were more or less exactly the same weight at 535g

So in answer to your question, the OEX Vulcan was quiet enough that I kept checking it was still ignited when it was simmering as I thought it had blown out, but it hadn’t.

I didn’t realize just how noisy the Alpkit Brewkit was until I tested it tonight (it made the dog bark!) but I can’t say It would bother me.

In the past I’ve used a petrol MSR stove which is noisy (and dirtier) but that was a long Trans African trip so it was ideal to take fuel off the bike which was always available.

That OEX Vulcan looks very similar to the Vango stove.

zimtim wrote: ↑Mon Aug 10, 2020 12:06 am That OEX Vulcan looks very similar to the Vango stove.

It might even be the same stove, just rebranded.

I have a chinese "copy" which is fine--and just fits in a Chinese titanium kettle with the jetboil idea in its base--but being wider it will boil enough for a couple of cups in about 2 minutes-perfic. Also the Chinese do an adaptor for the none threaded butane gas cylinders that you usually see in a 4 pack--readily available and cheap as chips--this little adaptor allows you to connect your gas line safely (but the gas quality is such that it doesn't like cold temperatures)--the bottom line is that you don't need to spend much--it seems to me that that some European companies rebrand Chinese stuff and triple the price--the thing has gone full circle--it also applies to billet machined ,span adjustable levers--thieving gits--spending "loads of money" does not always mean getting better quality these days. I have two Big Agnes style(US top brand) Chinese 3 man tents in rip stop and siliconised fabric complete with aluminium pole system and custom footprint--just a peg in each corner of the footprint to get the whole thing up--less than 3 kgs complete--excellent quality and about 1/4 of the price of the US stuff(bought really as disposable for camping in the spark fields that are the LeMans Moto GP) --and no duty--and it they have been used!

Just been away for a week with my Trangia. It's perfectly silent, I was making fresh pasta sauce and pancakes and porridge. Whatever we fancied. Also it comes with a kettle which is most satisfying

I paid a lot less than this too!

I'm another Trangia user

Cooked for 4 people regularly on 2 of the small ones with meths burner.

The meths burner is silent and extremely controllable once you get the hang of the simmer ring. The larger one would probably be more suitable, I have one of each and use meths with the small one and the gas burner with the larger one.

Just gone back to using the meths burner, I'd forgotten just how good it is. Add a small drop of water to the meths to stop sooting up your pans/kettle.

These things are proven and long lasting. I've had my small one since 1989. Still perfect and the non-stick coating is good too, even after abusing it nearly every weekend during the 90's.

tuftywhite wrote: ↑Mon Aug 10, 2020 1:36 pm I'm another Trangia user
Add a small drop of water to the meths to stop sooting up your pans/kettle.

I did not know this! Top tip, thanks

First of all a big thanks for all the replies especially to Moto CP - that video was just what I wanted and the OEX Vulcan looks perfect.

However to say I’m frustrated is an understatement I can’t source one - not made anymore? Covid? And I can’t find one of the Vango look a likes!!

I’ve seen the Vango Roar, with great reviews, but no reports of sound level - there is one YouTube review, excellent I thought, but as soon as he lights the stove a music soundtrack is played........arrrrgh

So do I risk the Vango or pay the extra for an MSR Whisper Lite ?