Trangia Mini 28-T Review

Overview

The Mini Trangia 28-T is a complete solo cook kit built around the classic Swedish brass spirit burner: stove, stand, 0.8 L aluminum pot, non-stick frypan that doubles as a lid, and a folding pot grip, all nested into a package about the size of a large mug. It was designed for competitors in the Karrimor International Mountain Marathon (now the OMM), where every gram counts and the stove can’t fail. The trade-off is straightforward: it weighs more than a homemade can stove and a titanium pot, and it needs help in the wind, but it is far sturdier than either.

Key Specs

Spec	Detail
Weight	331 g (11.7 oz)
Fuel	Alcohol (denatured alcohol / methylated spirits)
Pot	0.8 L aluminum
Lid / frypan	15 cm, non-stick coated
Rated output	1,000 W
Listed boil time	8 min (1 L)
Packed size	Ø150 mm × H67 mm (about 6 in × 2.5 in)
Burner	Brass, with screw cap and simmer ring
Item number	100285

Performance

Cooking speed. Trangia rates the burner at 1,000 W and lists an 8-minute boil for a liter. A hobbyist test of the Mini’s burner and stand put a liter closer to 12 minutes, and the pot itself holds only 0.8 L, so the practical routine is a single mug-and-a-half of water for a freeze-dried meal or two cups of tea. One Trailspace reviewer described the set as cooking only a bit slower than a canister stove, which squares with how most alcohol users judge it: slower, but not by enough to matter on a lunch break.

Wind. This is the Mini’s known weak point. The small windshield doubles as the pot stand, and it was sized for weight, not storm protection. Wikipedia’s entry notes the set is less windproof than the full-size Trangias, and owners say the same. Trailspace’s reviewer recommended adding a separate screen cut from a disposable aluminum pan or flexible ducting. On exposed ridges, that extra piece of foil is not optional.

Burner. The open-jet brass burner is the part that makes the kit more than a cheap pot set. It has no moving parts, and a screw cap seals unused fuel inside, so leftover alcohol can ride in the burner instead of being poured back into a bottle. A simmer ring lets the flame be reduced, though a Trailspace reviewer found it doesn’t live up to the name, so delicate cooking is not the Mini’s strength. The flame is nearly invisible in daylight and silent, and the only reliable sign it’s lit is heat. A tester who ran the burner on a full fill saw roughly 25 minutes of burn time; expect a short warm-up of 30 to 60 seconds before the jets pressurize and the flame ramps up.

Cookware. The aluminum pot heats evenly and is light, but the non-stick coating on the frypan lid is the kit’s soft spot. Trailspace flagged it as easily scratched, which is predictable in a pack where a metal pot grip and a fork share space. Wikipedia’s Trangia entry also notes that non-stick coatings can flake over time. Used as a lid, it snaps on securely. Used as a frypan, it is shallow and small: good for an egg or a fish fillet, not a meal for two. One European owner didn’t like the folding grip and swapped in the longer grip from a 27-series set, adding a strip of cloth to stop it rattling.

Weight in context. At 331 g, the whole kit is lighter than many liquid-fuel stoves before their pots are counted. It cannot compete with a 40 g can stove plus a 100 g titanium mug, and gram-counters will say so. Trailspace’s reviewer made that point directly, while noting it’s a stretch to call the Mini heavy. In return, a thru-hiker gets a stove that can’t dent, clog, or leak fuel into a pack.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Complete cook system in one 331 g package, with pot, pan, stand, burner and grip
• Brass burner with no moving parts, a sealing cap and a simmer ring
• Packs flat into Ø150 × 67 mm; everything nests inside the pot
• Quiet, simple, and runs on widely available alcohol
• Frypan lid sheds the need for a separate lid and adds a cooking option

Cons

• Windscreen is inadequate for exposed conditions; a DIY addition is usually needed
• Non-stick coating scratches easily
• Simmer ring is more of a flame reducer than true simmer control
• 0.8 L pot is small, and heavier than titanium alternatives
• Alcohol is a poor choice in cold weather and carries fuel-efficiency penalties on long trips

Who Should Buy This

The Mini suits solo hikers on weekend trips and moderate-length treks who value reliability and simplicity over the last few ounces: section hikers, bikepackers, and fell-runners and mountain-marathon entrants, the audience it was built for. It also works as a second burner on trips where a main stove is already along. Hikers who count every gram, cook for two, melt snow, or regularly camp in sustained wind or sub-freezing temperatures should look elsewhere: a titanium pot with a can stove for the first group, a larger Trangia 27 or a canister stove for the rest.

Verdict

The Mini Trangia 28-T is a durable, simple and quiet solo kit that has outlasted several generations of ultralight fashion. It’s heavier than a custom alcohol setup and needs a better windscreen, but nothing in it will break on the trail. Recommended for hikers who want a stove that just works.