Optimus No. 11 Explorer

Review Date
February 21, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5, 1 votes

Reviewed by: Jaz(Unregistered User) ,  Day Hiker , from UK

Price Paid:  $150.00 at Alde International

Summary:
I love this stove. Get the best, Forget the rest. I had many other types (Primus Multifule, included) and they don't have the same level of versatility as Explorer (Try running any of the others on Diesel!).
It has a beautiful blue flame with no roaring noice, and it can burn almost all liquid fuel types (except Grease!) with ease and good control. After trying many other types for years this is the one I will keep.

Customer Service:
Service has been excellent so far.

Similar Products Used:
Primus H. Multifuel
Coleman Dual Fuel Stove

Review Date
February 2, 2001

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Reviewed by: Torgeir Elvsaas(Unregistered User) ,  Day Hiker , from Norway

Price Paid:  $120.00

Summary:
I've used the Explorer for about a year. It needs longer priming than other stoves I've used, but it can be easily adjustet from glowing to hot burning.

AND there is no roaring sound just a low hiss. That is important when I use it as heater inside the tent (I use a lavvo).

I have cut two lines in my Trangia and the explorer can be used in it without dismantling it.

Similar Products Used:
Primus 210 (still use it)
Primus Varifuel (great, but sound like a jetpalin)

Review Date
January 14, 2001

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Reviewed by: Tom(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Seattle, WA

Price Paid:  $130.00 at rei.com

Summary:
Note: I'm reviewing the Nova (which replaces the discontinued Explorer).

Size: The stove itself is quite compact and comes with a very nice padded velcro carrying case. Unfortunately, to accomodate the flame control lever, the case is bulky leaving little room for other items when storing the case+stove inside your pot. It barely fit inside my MSR blacklite set. Packed without the case there's plenty of room in the pot, but then what's the point of the case?

Noise: The marketing materials claim the volume will not disrupt dinner conversations. Granted, it is quieter than the MSR Dragonfly, but that's not saying much. I don't object to the volume as much as I do the "spitfire" sound it makes.

Priming: I did not find the patented "quickpriming" design to prime that much faster than my brother's MSR Whisperlite. Granted, I did not test it in cold weather which might make a more noticeable difference.

Quality: The stove is solidly built with an all aluminum pump. No qualms here. The pump mechanism has a nifty design where turning the bottle on one side pushes out air instead of fuel (meaning less fuel spills out when disconnecting - although a few drops do inevitably drip out, even if you've burned off the remaining fuel).

Flame Control: It does simmer, but not as well as the Peak 1 stoves I've used (which are exceptional in this regard). Perhaps I'm spoiled...

I had really high hopes for this stove but I'm sending it back to REI. Not that it's a bad stove, it's just not worth the $130-140 it costs. Why Optimus charges that much is beyond me! Perhaps I could have been able to live with it if the noise level output were a tad smoother...

Similar Products Used:
MSR Whisperlite, MSR Dragonfly, Peak 1 Xtreme, Peak 1 Apex II.

Review Date
October 26, 2000

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Reviewed by: chris(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Los Angeles, CA

Price Paid:  $118.00 at A&H, Tustin. CA

Summary:
Sturdy (Optimus = sturdy), quiet, reasonably EZ field repairs and adjustment. As already mentioned same simple,effective cleaning mechanism as other models. Not as "sexy" as the Dragonfly, more expensive and 2 oz.heavier but better at handling alternative fuels. Flipstop technology works beautifully to release pressure so stove can be removed from the bottle w/o spritzing fuel. All aluminum pump.
A&H (these folks are a pleasure to deal with) did just get one last shipment of these stoves in as of 10/20/00. I think this stove with it's tried and true technology is worth considering. Don't be discouraged if it needs some adjustment at first ( this will bring the rating down a bit). I had to re-set the cleaning needle on mine right out of the box. A little annoying . I look forward to long dependable use though as has been the case with my 23 year old 8R.
Adding to the other reviews; I was able to run the new Nova multi-fuel. It primed in about 40 seconds with very little fuel and ran smoothly without flair-ups. It looks great, weighs 2oz less and folds up smaller than the MSR. The new cleaning needle which works by magnetism seems OK, though I am still a bit skeptical. I look forward the perviously mentioned review.
I've been told that Optimus ( which is supposedly just up the street from Primus) has not had as much money and in the past has failed to find decent representation here. They are now being distributed by Brunton. As is the case with Primus's Himalya series not likely to see them on the shelves at REI because because of (guessing here) they compete with MSR.

Customer Service:
As I said A&H will provide good product support. Small staff but always willing to help and answer questions.

Similar Products Used:
Primus, MSR

Review Date
October 6, 2000

Overall Rating
 1 of 5

Value Rating
 1 of 5

Reviewed by: Ed Born(Unregistered User) ,  Backpacker , from Pittsburgh, PA USA

Summary:
The Explorer has been discontinued. The Nova, at about $139, has replaced it. A sales rep at H&A says the Nova is a much better stove. Trouble is, you'll have to wait until November to get one. Like other Optimus stoves, the Nova has a built in cleaning needle--possibly its greatest advantage over the best models of Primus and MSR. Stay tuned, I bought the Nova. I'll review it after it comes.

Similar Products Used:
None