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Gear Review
Optimus Crux Stove
Nice stove, buy mine is defective!
By shigadeyo
Ranked #170 - Canister Stoves
April 1, 2010
I bought this stove since the similar Brunton Flex did not work out for me due to stability issues. The Optimus Crux has a better locking mechanism, so the stability of the folding mechanism is not an issue for this stove. However, the one I ordered from Backcountry.com seems to be defective. When the regulator handle is folded closed, the valve is actually open by about 1/3 of a turn. This is not good because typically one would not unfold the handle until after threading it onto the fuel canister (as shown in their video demo). However, doing so caused fuel to start spewing out! I contacted Optimus and they have confirmed that this is a problem with this particular stove. They offered to replace the stove, I already need to return the Brunton Flex stove already, I am just going to retun it to Backcountry and find something else. I hate having to pay shipping costs to replace an item that is BRAND NEW and UNUSED, but defective. Anyway, this stove is light-weight, folds down, and is quite stable. The holder pouch isn't quite as nice as the one that came with the Flex, but this stove is very similar and about $10 or so cheaper. Also, it has a 2 year warranty according to the included information rather than the 1 year listed on the Backcountry.com web site.
View Details: Optimus Crux Stove
Helpful Votes: 2 Yes
Change me.
2 Comments Last Reply: May 31, 2011 By: seventysut922415
When I bought my Crux I was told this was an intentional design feature, as keeping the valve closed during storage has the tendency to wear out the regulator's internal seal. Could have just been a crock from the sales guy, but I've just gotten used to unfolding the handle and closing the regulator before screwing it on to the fuel canister. No big deal.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
I have had 2 of these stoves, and about to have a third. other than that I have played around with a few different ones in various stores. that being said, all of them had the same issue that you explain. With 100% of my experience with them being this way, I don't see it at all as a defect. A very simple solution is to simply unfold the wire handle and turn the valve off before screwing the stove onto the canister. Like I said, I have been doing it this way since the first time I put my hands on one. As well, the first one I had did have some issues with the locking mechanism. The ring did not meet the bottom of the burner head when it was sprung back up so there was a little play in the stability.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes