Camping Gaz Turbo 270 Backpacking Stove
So far, this stove has around 20 hours of cooking time on it with no cleaning, and plenty of abuse. I’ve subjected the Turbo 270 to rain, snow, and the mechanically dreaded sand. I’ve stepped on it (packed), dropped it, and cooked until the metal was red hot. This little piece of gear fires up every time, producing instant and clean heat.
At less than ten ounces it’s well within my acceptable weight range for a backpacking stove. The Camping Gaz Turbo 270 is very easy to assemble in the field, and comes with a case small enough to put on a belt (for the Uber lightweight backpackers out there). This little stove relies on butane/propane canisters. One 220g canister will crank out 10,000 BTU’s for about an hour. Considering the Turbo 270 will boil water in 4 minutes, thats plenty of cooking time for a weekend trip of conservative use. If you pack chili or freeze dried food you can open your pack and be eating a hot bowl of chow in 5 minutes.
The Camping Gaz Turbo 270 relies on canisters produced by Camping Gaz. Canisters come in two sizes; 220g and 450g. I haven’t tried to substitute other brands with this stove, but have had no difficulty locating fuel for this product in the United States. The manufacturer distributes fuel throughout Europe, Canada, Australia, and many other regions of the world. Attaching the canister to the bottom of the stove and twisting a locking ring connects the fuel supply to the heating element. Disconnecting the fuel after use is as simple as twisting the ring counter clockwise. Lighting the stove for the first time in a bit of wind, however, is a little more difficult. It’s a miniature version of igniting a gas barbecue grill with a match. You have to time it just right to avoid engulfing your hand in a fiery ball. Once you are used to the sensitivity of the fuel flow control knob, this task becomes second nature. This problem is not so prevalent once the fuel is flowing, just on ignition, and could easily be solved by adding an electric ignition. This would, however, increase the cost and weight of the product. I’m enough satisfied with the Turbo 270 performance to settle for a little singed fingernail every now and then over a price increase.
PROS
Excellent price, Reliable performance, Stable design
CONS
Less effective in extreme cold (below freezing), Funky fuel flow control on start up, No auto-ignite
If you are looking for an affordable backpacking stove for short trips in areas where Camping Gaz fuel is available, the Turbo 270 is a great buy. This stove is low maintenance, compact, and will remain a valuable piece of my gear arsenal.
