reducing camping clobber for s of france - stoves?

[twillup]

We're trying to reduce our kit for 1 week in a tent in s of france in august. We will rent a fridge instead of coolbox and thinking of swapping to a tiny 1 ring stove.
We tend not to cook so much in the heat and there will be a communal bbq available (if we're desperate!). Has anyone used something like this or smaller still this for a family for a week? Are they ok?
A morning coffee / tea is essential and it would be nice to knock up the odd pasta meal. We will be in a house for our 2nd week so won't feel too bad if our camping week feels a bit basic.
Which ones are good - any views on the ones I've linked to? Or as they are so tiny - should i get 2, (I can buy gas when we're there)?
And any other space saving tips gratefully received!

[lavendersun]

We use spirit burners (trangia and others), some of them are so tiny, this is DH's new toy.

www.bergzeit.co.uk/vargo-triad-titan-alcohl-stove-001/?affsrc=henkatenk&gclid=CLzymtiX_sUCFfMZtAodKVYAew

We sometimes have three on the go for a proper dinner, a large trangia, small trangia and the alien type thing above or another one we have.

I haven't used either of the one's suggested. Not sure about gas as we haven't camped in France for 27 years (god am old), but that was why I bought a campingaz stove all those years ago because that was what was widely available there.

Am sure someone more in the know will be along.

Really rate the meths burners - if you buy a non trangia branded one you can get the whole kit for about £25, then you just need to add fuel.

[twillup]

Oh, thank you, I hadn't even thought about non-gas options! Off to look!

[lavendersun]

If you didn't want to spend Trangia money (about £40) this sort of thing would be ok

www.amazon.co.uk/Gelert-Phoenix-Piece-Aluminium-Cookset/dp/B00BJL9ZZA/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1433704423&sr=8-13&keywords=trangia&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

Then all you need is a bottle of meths - we decant ours into trangia red bottles which are secure and very easy to pour from.

Honestly, they are so easy, last week I had three on the go and made two curries, rice and naan bread while camping.

They are so small for three pans/kettle/stove bit.

[lavendersun]

If you do go down the meths route meths is far cheaper in a chandlery or decorating shop - we pay £10-12 ish for 5 litres.

[twillup]

Having never used the non gas ones, can you reassure me that you don't end up having a trail of flames where you've spilt the meths!! My OH loves BBQ fuel so he might be in his element.
Do you need to get all those pots and things - or can you just get a little burner and use your own pots - or do you run into balance issues?
Also, I've seen the various gas canisters in French supermarkets/campsites -but is meths readily available, or would we have to seek out specialist shops? Or do you try to bring enough fuel in the first place?
Do you feel they're better than the gas ones?
Thanks for all this info btw.

[Artandco]

Not so cheap but we use one of these between four of us

www.biolitestove.com/products/biolite-campstove

we have the bundle that includes the grill/ pot/ jug thing. We paid £200 for the whole bundle but it's really good! Can cook great little bbqs, heat milk/ water, and make one pot dishes. As well as the charger facility to charge phones/ lanterns. And has a light if using at night. Uses sticks/ any dry wood/ pine cones to light so can just find fuel around you

[Piffpaffpoff]

Ooh, I just bought the first one (square camping gaz one) and I love it! Had the big double burner and grill version before and it took up so much room and I hardly ever used both burners. The wee stove fed me and the DCs adequately for three nights away. And it's got push button ignition so no more scrabbling around with damp matches. My best buy in a long time!

DH also has a wee Trangia stove for when we go wild camping but it's a bit of a faff to set up IMO.

[Callmecordelia]

I have the Camping Gaz one too - I love it.

[badger21]

We have two that look like the vango ones you link to - although I don't think they are actually vango ones. Have cooked meals for our family of four for nearly 4 weeks away from home in Europe, no problems. Saves an epic amount of space, and I like that fact that the two can be used in different places if necessary. I also use them with an outback oven - equipment of genius.

[lavendersun]

twillup - two 1ltr meths bottles easily lasts us a week. You will need something to stand your existing pans on as without the 'kit' you won't have any support for your pans. Also, the pans will be smaller than your existing ones so probably won't fit that well. We only ever use the trangia pans on our trangia stoves.

The only thing you mustn't do is re-fill the little meths pot whilst it is still hot but refilling it is so simple, pour meths into the cool pot, job done. It is very very compact because everything is inside the largest pan and frying pan.

I have a campinggaz stove still too but seem to have permanently switched to meths for the last 18 months or so, it is just so simple and small.

No idea about availability of meths in France.

[hillbilly]

We have a single burner and use it for 2 weeks in France. We also bbq a fair but so it's not our only means of cooking but essential for the morning teas and coffees and one pot type meals.

[hillbilly]

Not sure of the gas refill availability in trance though as I took 6 and they lasted. If anyone knows if you can get them there pls speak up

[hillbilly]

France not trance clearly

[twillup]

So I am definitely ditching the 2 ring stove for this trip.
The biolite looks amazing (although I'm worried that chap is going to melt his iphone!) sadly overbudget for us - maybe one day!
I like the space saving nature of the vango style ones, but the campingaz style look more stable but take up more room.
I think I need to see the meths ones in the flesh to figure out the set up.
Thank you all.
A trip to camping shop looms just when I thought I never needed to buy any more campstuff!

[babybat]

We have a tiny CampingGaz one www.decathlon.co.uk/bleuet-micro-plus-camping-stove-id_8129319.html and it's fine for coffee and fairly simple meals. It packs away really small, and the gas canisters are not very expensive. Plus we have this tiny coffee filter which means there's always nice coffee!