With a dramatic increase in military interest in the polar regions there has been a huge drive to reinvest and update the equipment that our militaries use to survive and fight in these incredibly harsh environments.  Arguably one of the most important pieces of equipment is your stove.  It is critical to keeping you fed and watered.

On the market at the moment are a small number of truly flexible and adaptable stoves. Of these the MSR Whisperlite Universal and the Optimus Polaris Optifuel offer the ability to burn all liquid and cannister fuel types. Although it must be pointed out that both the fuel jet and regulator have to be changed, to switch between certain fuels, on the MSR.

They both follow a similar construction with three wide legs and a central burner head.  The MSR has a wider burner which could possibly reduce boil times but could also increase fuel consumption.  The control arm on the Optimus provides excellent and delicate control of the flame making it much easier to avoid flares. The pump on the Optimus is completely metal and therefore more robust than the MSR.

The lighting process for both is very similar and once it has been practiced a couple of times you can get exceptionally proficient in not accidently adding a sunroof to your tent.  Cooking in tents is necessary in the extreme cold but does have its risks, including fire and CO poisoning.

Whilst burning the MSR is noticeably quieter. There is a “silencer” available for the Optimus but this is not yet manufacturer approved.  Whether the noise difference is significant for the end user is debatable.

Shutting the stoves down is where there is a key difference.  The way in which you flip the bottle over on the Optimus does leave a completely dry system which is excellent at preventing fuel leaking into your equipment.

Cost wise the Optimus is more expensive but it does come with some very useful additional features and the ability to burn all fuels without modification.  Overall both are well recognised around the world and have had extensive use in the arctic environment.  The way that light forces operate in these environments does bring a number of specific challenges that these stoves manage to work around.

For more information get in touch by email on international@brigantes.com or for UK customers tribe@brigantes.com.  

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With the award-winning Expedition 4 Militaire, Silva have ensured that many of the necessary features needed for a military compass have been met, hence its popularity and use by various armed forces across the globe, it is a compass designed for those in the defence forces who use Mils for navigation and triangulation.

With a magnifier the Expedition ensures you understand every detail of topographic terrain displayed on a map. Glow in the dark markings on the North display and on the direction of travel allow the compass to be used in low light conditions. The Expedition 4 Militaire additionally features a hole for marking positions on a map with improved precision.

With its luminous point for night navigation, magnifying lens and weight of only 36g, the compass is an ideal solution for quick an accurate compass work.

However, Silva have a successor to the range, the Expedition 5 (6400/360). Following feedback, from the Royal Marines, the Expedition 5 has increased robustness, functionality and low light visibility. Robustness is increased by a thicker base plate and a sealed capsule, so it is now far less likely that you will get bubbles. Functionality has improved with the introduction of both mils and degrees, a better bezel provides easier use with gloves, all of the numbering on the bezel illuminates, following exposure to light, and it has variable declination as well as an inclinometer. In addition it comes with a lanyard that doubles up as a measuring scale.

The Militaire has been around for several decades and has now been replaced by a more capable and robust compass which is focused on the needs on the modern user.

For more information contact international@brigantes.com

For UK sales contact warrior@brigantes.com