Blog

As we mostly work with groups in the outdoors, it rarely gives us the time to use super light and compact solo cooking equipment. We often use larger burners with the ability to boil water quickly and efficiently, whilst also relying on food options that have very little admin in terms of cleaning afterwards.

It was great then to be sent a wee stove and pot set that was quite the opposite and something we could appreciate in our time off for solo use.

The Micron III Stove from Primus is tiny, weighing in at a mere 56 grams, whilst still consisting of a strong build, with pot supports which can easily hold a wide range of pots and pans! Talking of pots and pans, we also received the accompanying Primus Trek Pot Set. Perfect for some late summer and autumnal solo adventures around the Scottish Highlands.

One of the most important features in outdoor kit for us is simplicity. If kit becomes over complicated it usually has a knock-on effect with breakages. The Micron III is a familiar design and takes seconds to unfold the pot stands and screw onto a gas canister. Twist open and light, hey presto, you have a flame! Simple, effective, and no faff. Nothing feels flimsy or delicate, so no worries after a day being thrashed around in a backpack or stuffed into one of our bikepacking packs.  

The Micron III isn’t going to awe you with its fast boil speed. The small burner head is inevitably going to take more effort and time to boil water, around 5-6 minutes for a litre of water on a calm day high up in the Cairngorms. This is a stove that also requires a fair bit of protection from the wind. Even a gentle breeze will result in extra gas consumption, although this wasn’t much of a surprise as the Micron III is tiny and not built for harsh conditions. What did impress us was the versatility available from such a compact setup.

Paired with the Trek Pot set and you have a wide range of cooking options, from a super light solo setup to something quite comfortable for two people. The Primus Trek Pot set for us breaks into two usable options. The small half-litre pot with plastic lid — a super light all-in-one kit for quickly boiling low amounts of water (which comes in at around 200 grams including the Micron III!) Or a slightly larger 1 litre pot with a non-stick pan that doubles as a lid — a very respectable 300 grams including the burner, and can stretch to 2 people use for low prep meals.

Both options we would consider lightweight, whilst also having the option to boil water, cook a full meal on a low heat, or our favourite, cooked morning rolls with the pan, which is the perfect size to cook breakfast for one!

Our Verdict

The Primus Micron III is a super compact and light stove that takes up hardly any space in our pack, whilst also providing a range of cooking options when required. Fitting in the palm of our hand and weighing in at a mere 56 grams, the burner head isn’t going to set the world alight with its blistering boil times or low gas consumption. There is certainly a bit of consideration for wind protection, but for a stove so small, this is all we would have expected. What we didn’t expect was a stove that can take the rough and tumble of the outdoors, such a strong build quality, simplicity of use, whilst also cooking a wide range of meals. It's a fantastic choice for ultralight adventures. Whether that be backpacking, bikepacking, paddling, or simply tucking away for an impromptu brew stop on a cold day. Paired with the Primus Trek Pot set and you have a full modular setup.

Trek Scotland is a small family business based in the picturesque village of Tomintoul in the North East region of the Cairngorms National Park. They provide bespoke Mountain Guiding for Single Day Walks and Lightweight Multiday Trekking experiences, including wild camping, in the stunning Cairngorms wilderness and surrounding areas. Whether in the high mountains or lower valleys, their Multiday Treks are equipped with high quality, lightweight camping and trekking gear. They only work with small groups and, whatever your ability, pride themselves on designing your outdoor experience completely to your needs and with professional guidance and expertise. Adventure is waiting... Read more from Trek Scotland