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Primus Classic Trail Stove Overview

After a long backpacking trek there is that magical moment when the gear is unpacked, the boots are loose, and the stove needs to be retrieved from the pack. This moment is not to be toyed with. Nobody wants to spend a long time fiddling, twisting, and praying for their stove to spring into flame. These magic moments are best supported by simple and sturdy stoves, such as the Primus Classic Trail Stove.

Weighing in at eight ounces and boasting a solid 10,000 BTU/h output, the Swedish-made Primus Classic Trail Stove is simple to set up, stands under the weight of awkward kitchenware, and does not demand much space in the sack. It’s not the smallest or the lightest or the fastest boiler — it just gets the job done, reliably, time after time — for $20.

Given the affordability and reliability, we have given the Primus Classic Trail Stove our Budget Pick award for the Wilderness Backpacker.

Primus Classic Trail Stove Review Stability

Simmer

Ease of Setup

Boil Time 4.3 Summary The Primus Classic Trail Stove is a basic remote canister backpacking (or camping!) stove that will boil your water, cook your food, and cost no more than $20. It’s not the smallest or most collapsible stove on the market, but it is safe, tough as heck, and offers much more support than more pricey competitors.

Learn the best way to warm your water (or your weird backpacking food mush) with our backpacking stove guide, and read the full Primus Classic Trail Stove review below.

Primus Classic Trail Stove Specifications

Gear Review of the Primus Classic Trail Stove

Revelation: The Moment I Knew

A few years ago, as I began investing in outdoor gear, I had trepidation about choosing a stove. I was unsure of how I wanted to harness the power of flame in the wild, so I went on trips without a stove, relying on pre-made or packaged foods, like LÄRABARs (so many LÄRABARs).

After realizing I needed to cook food, I experimented with a few different types of stoves and eventually settled on a metal canister backpacking stove, the GSI Outdoors Glacier Camp stove. My initial choice was based on simplicity, sturdiness, and, most importantly, cost and weight. I enjoy the idea of owning reliable, reusable, long-lasting equipment. Yet I found I did not like the spiky pot supports or the flimsy fuel adjuster knob of the new stove! As if the Outdoor Manufacturer gods heard my dismay, they cast upon me the Primus Classic Trail Stove.

Why am I so amped on this little heat-producing dude? The stainless steel is sturdy and the pieces are made like classic hardware — strong, reliable, and durable. I think this is key above all else when it comes to a stove — if it doesn’t work for a long time, what’s the point?

We have already shared many hot moments together and it has proved to be a solid backpacking companion in rain, sun, and wind (I haven’t tried it in the snow yet). There was not one single moment that fostered admiration of the Primus Classic Trail Stove, but rather the overall experience with its solid set-up.

Digging Deeper

Stability

The Primus Classic Trail stove affixes to the top of an isobutane propane fuel canister, and just as gravity has proved to exist before, it exists here. While this stove does have the potential to tip, that potential is not any more than other small canister stoves. Actually, it’s less, because it has such a large surface area.

The Primus Classic Trail stove held a sauce pot, tin pans, and corn tortillas. The stove itself has wide cross-beams for support, which are more serious than many other tiny backpacking stoves. Provided you don’t set up the stove on an unstable rocky surface, the Primus Classic Trail stove can likely win many stability competitions.

Simmer

When you need a little bit of heat — but not too much! — the Classic Trail has a smooth twisting fuel adjustment knob that gets quite low. When on the low setting the stove holds the flame, as long it’s not being harassed by wind.

At the top of a climb I was greeted by gusts of cold wind, so I hid behind a slope on the east side of the peak and tested the Classic Trail. I protected the flame with my body and was impressed with the flame’s resistance to faltering. My water simmered, my heart melted.

Ease of Setup

The Classic Trail comes in two pieces: the stove and the valve piece, which are separate. This is different than most small canister stoves, so take note. They are nicely packed in a thick nylon pouch that protects the crosshatched pot supports from damaging other gear.

The valve piece is a small, yet solid piece of metal that you screw into the stove. And, making sure the valve is completely turned off, you then screw it into the canister. Do not be alarmed by the hiss once fully attached to the canister — it’s just a little gas.

The set-up process takes only a few seconds, just make sure not to misalign the threads on the stove and fuel piece — those need to lock in perfectly or you’ll be in trouble. Also make sure not to lose the smaller valve piece — the stove won’t work without it.

Side note: keep a few lighters and matches in the pouch at all times to ensure quick lighting.

Boil Time

Have you ever had the experience where, after slaying an intense hike, covered in sweat, freezing from the chilly air, and hungry for food and warmth you patiently wait for your stove to boil water but…nothing happens? I have, and it sucks.

Do not fret, the Primus Classic Trail stove is not going to disappoint you in your moment of need. I tested this dude’s boiling capability in my kitchen, at a mild-tempered campsite, in a damp forest basin, and on the top of a cold, windy mountain. The Primus Classic Trail stove made all my liquids (in eight or 16 ounce capacities) hot and bubbly.

Please note that if you’re at the top of a windy mountain, I suggest going to the sheltered side, or creating shelter, so that the flame doesn’t get blown out. And use a lid.

I got two cups of water to a slight boil without a lid in ten minutes at the top of a windy mountain overlooking the Cascades, which is not desirable, but doable. When I was out of the wind, in the chilly night air, I used a lid and the water boiled within 5 minutes, which is just a little longer than most small canister stoves.

Weight

While the gram watching backpackers of the world might dismiss the Primus Classic Trail Stove as a hefty option that weighs eight ounces, this stove holds its value (and offers a bit more) for the price.

For reference, if someone is watching their weight (gear weight, that is), lightweight backpacking stoves typically weigh three to six ounces. Personally, this does not bother me because if I were concerned with shaving off 4 ounces (one-fourth a pound!), I would need to reassess all of my gear. (Did I ever tell you about the time I gutted a coconut and carried it in a glass jar on an eleven mile hike?)

The weight is manageable, and the extra size of the stove (if you can fit it) actually helps with stability.

Grievances

For the price and convenience I have no major qualms about the Primus Classic Trail stove. In fact, this stove warmed my heart after I broke up with my other stove.

That said, one annoyance is that giant silver plastic tag, which warns us to not cut it off. Its obstructive nature rubs me the wrong way and may inhibit the pleasantness of your experience with the Primus Classic Trail Stove. That said, it’s commonly found on other stoves, too, so the Classic Trail is not entirely at fault.

If you can handle the weight and size, which are larger than more expensive small canister stoves like the Snow Peak GigaPower or MSR PocketRocket 2, this here’s a winner.

Final Word

The Primus Classic Trail stove is like a piece of classic, traditional piece of technology, reminiscent of backpacking before the boom of solar-powered gadgets and uber-thin space fabrics. It doesn’t offer crazy and unexpected features or insane claims of its flaming potential. Rather, it’s a solid stove looking to be a reliable source of warmth in your time of need.

Where to Buy Primus Classic Trail Stove

Primus has offered the Classic Trail Stove for a long time, and they only offer the one version. It costs $20 retail, which is a great price for a reliable stove.

Compare Primus Classic Trail Stove prices below.

Melanie MacDowell Melanie is a sunshine-chaser who enjoys the nomadic digital marketing life on a farm in Central California. With an enthusiasm for self-progression through pushing beyond comfort zones, she can often be found gaining elevation on bike or by foot. In addition to playing outside, she loves ice cream, gardening, and lazy Sundays. Visit her website to learn more about her work with outdoor and wellness brands.

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