BcB Firedragon gel.
Moderators: Bearbonesnorm, Taylor, Chew
BcB Firedragon gel.
I have just finished a 2 night trip on the South Downs. For cooking, on 1 to 2 night trips, I usually use hexamine tablets from the army surplus shop. A trangia for long trips and gaz in winter. I enjoy slow relaxed boiling times. (I won't mention my fires, just in case management is reading).
This trip I tried the BcB Firedragon gels. Either whole or cut in half, then put in a shallow dish and put in my mini firebox.
My first opinion was that they were rubbish. I just wanted to ask if there is some clever trick to using them and to hear other opinions.
PS : The pheasant hunters were going crazy. Is it a special week for them?
This trip I tried the BcB Firedragon gels. Either whole or cut in half, then put in a shallow dish and put in my mini firebox.
My first opinion was that they were rubbish. I just wanted to ask if there is some clever trick to using them and to hear other opinions.
PS : The pheasant hunters were going crazy. Is it a special week for them?
- Bearbonesnorm
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Re: BcB Firedragon gel.
I've tried fuel gel in the past - different brand though and touted as a substitute for meths. Found it to be very poor and certainly no substitute for meths, especially in any kind of meths stove even a basic open chamber one.
May the bridges you burn light your way
Re: BcB Firedragon gel.
These gels are more like jelly, not liquid. They are supposed to replace the hexamine tablets for the military. Strangely enough, they can be used as a hand sanitizer. The hexamines were the opposite. You could crumble a trail around your bed and no insects would pass over it.
- Bearbonesnorm
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Re: BcB Firedragon gel.
You're right, the one I tried was like jelly but it was marketed as a meths substitute - the manufacturers weren't very happy when I reviewed it in that context. They said they were in the process of developing a 'special' stove which in fact was simply a dish and didn't make the stuff any less crap.
May the bridges you burn light your way
Re: BcB Firedragon gel.
Sounds familiar.
I read somewhere that these were commissioned by the military to boil 1 litre ( or 1 pint? ) per gel packet. They failed dismally and the company said they had to be used with their new improved stove to get the required results.
I read somewhere that these were commissioned by the military to boil 1 litre ( or 1 pint? ) per gel packet. They failed dismally and the company said they had to be used with their new improved stove to get the required results.
Re: BcB Firedragon gel.
Wife tried to use the popular eco substitute for meths now that the preferred school supplier (a popular outdoor shop) will no longer supply meths or white gas but instead the substitute
What really happened was I ended up comissioned to buy meths from the DIY shop and donate it to the doe scheme or the kids were going to starve
The gel was a joke. A triumph of marketing getting the shops to stop stocking the alternatives and forcing folk to try it and then vote with their feet.
What really happened was I ended up comissioned to buy meths from the DIY shop and donate it to the doe scheme or the kids were going to starve
The gel was a joke. A triumph of marketing getting the shops to stop stocking the alternatives and forcing folk to try it and then vote with their feet.
Re: BcB Firedragon gel.
Went for a curry the other night and they were being used to heat the bowls instead of candles... I know I've been accused of over packing on bivy trips but even I've not taken balti bowls with me!
Wait for me...
Re: BcB Firedragon gel.
I bought some gel stuff to use in my natty little BBs stove thingy.
Utter poor show, wondered if I'd misunderstood it's purpose bug this thread has reassured me.
Never again.
Utter poor show, wondered if I'd misunderstood it's purpose bug this thread has reassured me.
Never again.
- Bearbonesnorm
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Re: BcB Firedragon gel.
Does the stove still work Nige? The residue from the burning gel tends to block the jets up.I bought some gel stuff to use in my natty little BBs stove thingy.
For anyone interested, this is what I concluded: https://bearbonesbikepacking.blogspot.c ... ve-to.html
May the bridges you burn light your way
Re: BcB Firedragon gel.
I tried a gel stove some years back, it came complete and looked like a small paint tin, I was also unimpressed with the output.
I see after you review of the gel the makers advised there is a special stove and advised,
We have (in partnership with trangia) created a new burner that allows the gel to perform at its best
I have looked up the 'special' stove.... basically a pot to put gel in
https://www.vango.co.uk/gb/trangia/70-t ... urner.html
I see after you review of the gel the makers advised there is a special stove and advised,
We have (in partnership with trangia) created a new burner that allows the gel to perform at its best
I have looked up the 'special' stove.... basically a pot to put gel in
https://www.vango.co.uk/gb/trangia/70-t ... urner.html
Adventure without risk is Disneyland - Bikemonger
- Bearbonesnorm
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- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 8:53 pm
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Re: BcB Firedragon gel.
Aye, which I why I wrote earlier in the threadI have looked up the 'special' stove.... basically a pot to put gel in
They said they were in the process of developing a 'special' stove which in fact was simply a dish and didn't make the stuff any less crap.
May the bridges you burn light your way
Re: BcB Firedragon gel.
I must have missed thatBearbonesnorm wrote:Aye, which I why I wrote earlier in the thread
It's a shame it doesn't work. That trangia burner, assuming that it's gel tight, would be handy for short trips as the fuel could be stored in the stove. Of course a windsheild/pot-stand would also be needed.
Adventure without risk is Disneyland - Bikemonger