Reader Reviews

Rating: 5 / 5

I think this stove is the next generation of things to come. With a collapsible burner head, it folds over for 3.1 ounces of ultimate compact ability. The oversized burner head offers a better burn and heat transference to the pot. The three port supports extend with a flip and stability has not been an issue for me.

I created a windscreen from aluminum flashing and hang it from the pot with large paperclips. This way the windscreen does not surround the canister causing an overheat situation. I have had other canister stoves and this is the best performing stove I have ever used.

Rating: 5 / 5

The Brunton Crux has serious gadget appeal. Using this thing is like playing with one of those Transformer toys from the 80's...you know, autobots & decepticons!! This stove also has 'made in japan' quality & precision. I like the slightly wide burner head, compact form & light weight. The only drawback is the slight wobble of the stove with a pot on top. This doesn't seriously affect the funtional stability, but it still wobbles(this makes the stove a 4.5 for me.)

Rating: 5 / 5

Light, compact, obvious quality of build.

I find I need to simmer most Freeze-Dried meals when I'm at or above 10,000 feet. The wide burner and excellent burner control do this better than the rather focused flames found on some otherwise really cool stoves.

Scorching your MH beef stroganoff to the bottom of your Ti pot on the first night of a multiday trip isn't very fun.

Edited by GSV45 on 11/18/2005 21:25:02 MST.

Rating: 4 / 5

I bought it when I was searching for an ultra-lightweight canister stove with exceptional simmering capabilities and a wide flame for even heating. This toy had very good reviews, partially because of its unconventional design. It works, but I am quite surprised no-one brought up stability issues - it is definitely not the stablest top-mount stove around, with all moving parts having a play. Also the supports get somewhat warped in the heat. None of it causes great problems, but there are lighter models around and if I was shopping again, I would look more closer at coleman F1, snow peak or vargo titanium.

Edited by turin on 08/25/2006 19:05:14 MDT.

Rating: 5 / 5

I love my Crux stove. I just came back from a solo 6 day / 5 night trip thru Yosemite backcountry at elevations between 8000 and 11000 feet. I brought a used Snow Peak canister with 1.5 oz of fuel left in it. I use a home made windscreen and a titanium pot. I heated a cup of water in less than 5 minutes each morning and evening and came back with .6 oz of fuel remaining. That works out to .1 oz of fuel per use.

Rating: 5 / 5

I really like this stove, especially since I got it at 50% off.
The fact that it folds down and fits under a fuel canister is tops. I was worried about the ball joint and that it would have play but I have found that as the stove heats up the play disappears and I have had no stability issues.
The best thing is that the head distribute the heat over a greater area than most stoves of thus size which is great for cooking pancakes and other items that are wide.
The flame control is also very good. You can go from full boil to a perfect simmer.

Rating: 4 / 5

If I am not carrying an alcohol stove then I carry this stove, it is efficient, light, compact and reliable.

The only fault is the weight of the canisters, which is why I normally carry an alcohol stove.

Rating: 4 / 5

I've been carrying the Optimus Crux since 2001 as a lightweight alternative to my Dragonfly. Due to its ease of use and weight savings, the Crux has been my stove of choice.

It is lightweight, compact, simple to assemble, simple to use, and works every time with no maintenance. Wear and tear after 8 years of sometimes heavy use is limited to the pot supports bending out of alignment in recent years. (Easily fixed)

Over the years I have two consistent concerns/complaints; neither of which have motivated me strongly enough to make the change to another stove but warrant a 4 rather than 5.

The first is pot stability. The three-prong design makes it necessary to take particular care with the placement of my 2001 MSR Titan Kettle. The spaces between the supports are large enough that if the pot isn't centered it becomes unstable and can fall or slip off with a bump. Knowledge of this problem and a little care generally mitigates the issue, but a careless moment could easily result in an accident. This is not an issue with a larger based pot. Brunton's new version of the Crux, the Flex, has a 4 support design which I'm sure eliminates this issue.

The second is undoubtedly true of all non-piezo canister style stoves. I just find the lighting to be a bit awkward especially in windy situations; as you need to hold the canister stove while turning the knob and somehow applying flame. I always feel like I need a 3rd hand, but again, I always get it started.

The stove's simmer capabilities and fuel efficiency are excellent!

Edited by marmot8 on 03/25/2009 17:39:04 MDT.

Rating: 4 / 5

I bought the Brunton Flex because of its wider burner ring for better heat distribution so I wouldn't get a hot spot on the bottom of my pot when cooking.

I was not aware that there was a Brunton Crux model but Optimus, who makes the Optimus Crux, also makes the nearly identical Brunton Flex. The main difference is that the Flex has FOUR pot supports, not three like the Crux.
Also the valve handle on the Flex is differently shaped.
It appears that the new Flex has somewhat tighter tolerances on the sliding stem collar for folding the burner head. I detected no wobble, as has been reported on Crux models.

At 0.7 oz. more weight than my Vargo Jet-Ti burner I like the FLEX better. It has better pot supports and will,if you need it, put out way more BTUs than my Vargo Jet-Ti and many other small burner stoves.

I've very lightly lubed the retractable collar used in folding the burner head. This is an attempt to prevent wearing of the inside of the collar which would lead to wobble of the burner head. I used synthetic motor oil, so it can withstand the heat and not evaporate.

Finally, as with any canister-top stove, I recommend using a plastic 3 leg folding canister support for much more stability. A spilled meal is not a fun experience.

Edited by Danepacker on 05/03/2010 21:49:02 MDT.