The BCB Crusader set review

The bcb crusader cookset is a perennial favourite for many out there offering a compact relatively cheap system that has been used by many for years, what do I make of it ?? Lets have a look as I've got my own thoughts on this...hope you enjoy atb jj

[markanthony]

I have a Crusader set ( Mk1 plastic cup, water bottle, steel cup, with a Mk2 base, as it is more windproof being deeper).
My question is about the pouch. I bought one (BCB) as you are using, however to me the connecting Mollie straps are sewn upside down, with the metal snap connectors at the top, not bottom. I was out walking in the hills and mine came loose and just flopped down facing the floor with the weight of water in my water bottle and tried to slip out of the interweaving Mollie straps on my back pack . IF the snap connectors would have been at the bottom, when fitted to a Back pack, Bergan, etc as per everything else I have Mollie based and fed through the Mollie on my Back pack from the top then the kit would have been supported by the Mollie on my back pack and stayed upright. The pouch seems all upside down to me.

[CottonBud]

Nice first look there JJ, clearly explained and demonstrated. I've been using mine (only difference is it's the Mk2 stove section, the rest is the same) extensively for a couple of years now and I hope you don't mind me sharing my views here for any folk interested. It's a bit of a love/hate thing going on. Loves first : The fact it all slots together so neatly WITH a litre of water contained within is fantastic. That little recess in the cooker is designed to perfectly accomodate a Trangia burner which is more cost efficient than the gel blocks if you like cooking stuff that takes longer. I personally like the big plastic mug too - a cold Belgian beer goes down very well from it! Now, the negatives - yes, that plastic lid is useless and will melt eventually, but good luck getting a metal one off the shelf - all the ones you see on vids are hand/custom made I believe. Rocking horse poo! I ended up cutting a chinese take away foil container down to the right size - inelegant but works. The biggest disappointment though is build quality - for supposedly 'military grade' kit it is pretty flimsy. The poppers ripped on the webbing as soon as I put water in the bottle. The weld on the cooker where the handle joins came off with no trauma at all. And the plastic toggle that keeps the Osprey bottle lid from getting lost came off just through a very minor drop a foot or so from the ground. Hardly bombproof! Anyway, hope a second opinion may be useful. Cheers Sir. Rich.

[fatmanfaffing]

I'm ex-Australian Army and while I use surplus kit I totally understand your point regarding the negative memories some items generate. I also don't wear cammo clothing; just not my thing. I did my time, served my country and while I remember most of it fondly I don't feel any need to broadcast this to the world through my apparel. But each to their own. I just got a Crusader cook set and am very impressed with its performance with both hexie tabs and meths/stove rope compared to the stoves we had in the mob. I just wish they made the carrier pouch a tad larger.

[steveoutdoorsuk]

Excellent demonstration jj.
I too had one of those plastic lids and guess what, my one melted as well.
I had problems getting a metal one then however, after checking ebay I found a guy who made them.
OK, it was a bit rustic looking but I didn't care as long as it worked, so happy days.
Thanks again jj.
Take care mate.
Atb.
Steve. 👍👍

[robmartin]

Got two of the osprey canteens and the stainless steel mug, love them they are bomb proof. I only use my mug on a gas stove and the plastic lid is absolutely fine this way and it's very light. It's also perfect for just keeping bugs and debris out of the mug especially with a bit of tape over the drinking cut out section.

[CampingDan]

Excellent video and great review.
Looks like a cracking bit of kit.
Thank you for sharing
ATB Dan. 👍👍👍👍👍

[normancallaghan]

The drinking cup go's on the bottom of the water bottle, there are serations on the bottle to hold the cup. The cooking cup extra handle is used for when cooking over an open fire.

[Psychonaut]

Nice review. I wanted to have a Crusader Cook kit for years now and finally I got it. Sadly the lid doesn‘t fit on the mug, but it‘s a nice kit. Now, that you mentioned a metal lid, I have to look for it too. Thank you. Christian

[briand]

Hallow Jj. Everything your saying hit home 😂after all there years I never wear DPM even when went shooting😅bad memories on the placca mug on basic and NCo Cadre. I’ve got the MkI as well but want the Mk2 to try. I like your trousers m8 👍

[EatsTreatsMREs]

Thanks JJ, that was a great video, i have been looking at the mark 2 but i was unsure. I may just give it a go now and get a metal lid.

[ginge_gone_walk_about]

Tbh I got one I personally think as a one man complete canteen kit can't go wrong really. There practically indstuctable and don't really need anything else cook wise for wild camping / hiking but if your doing a stationary camp then just take a Bush pot. Good video mate.

[keithorbell]

JJ, I know you don’t like the 58 pattern Bottle and Mug, but I love them. Yes they’re plastic, but if you get the proper MOD issue Osprey ones they are bomb proof. The shape fits easily into most rucksack pockets, and they hold just over a litre.

The metal mugs (I’ve used the old ‘44 pattern aluminium, MK 1 and 2 Crusader mugs) are fantastic, put together with the bottle set they make a storming brew kit. Mind you, the old hexi burner is better than the new fire dragon 😉 no Hexi Telly with Fire Dragon 😟

[orraman]

I've used this set for years and think that it's a great system, but it's a bit heavy and definitely overpriced. I use bio alcohol in the burner with fire rope, the gel is too expensive, 15ml of fuel will boil 250ml of water. A tin lid or jam jar lid with a 30mm hole in it will sit on the fuel pan to serve as a simmer ring. With a bit of work the pan can be cut out to give you the option of using the stove sitting on top of a Trangia or with the original pan. The plastic lid is BCB's answer to the chocolate fire guard, and was replaced with a home made aluminium lid. Personally I like the plastic cup as it enables me to drink a cup of coffee while I'm cooking in the Crusader cup. In an attempt to lighten the load I bought the mk2 Crusader system and was bitterly disappointed in the build quality, my advice to anyone thinking on buying it would be to forget it and spend their money elsewhere. The USGI canteen system with the aluminium stand is lighter, more compact and less expensive. You have to carry a separate tin to act as an alcohol burner and you don't have a plastic cup but you pays your money and make your choice. I carry the USGI set with a home made alum. lid and the Crusader set is used when my car is doing the carrying. ATB

[WyeExplorer]

These stoves are bomb proof J.J. We were using them back in para training in the early 80's. I have a set and would buy another. Then again I won't need to. All the best for the week. You can visit my channel any time. It's free. Mark

[mantrackingskills]

I always enjoy your videos my Friend!!

[kurtsteiner]

I agree with you, we never got the crusader in rn just the folding stove.

That was good in its day with hexamine tabe dont like fire dragon tabs dont last long really.

[Paul-jxrg]

Had one for ages but never got round to using it other than checking it out in the garden, prefer my jetboil for most things

[ashleybaker]

I got one .and it lives in my cupboard Best place for it . when you're new you by these things but back in the day I got it there was no YouTube .but a good video 👍

[thegeordiewanderer]

Used and abused this kit in the RMR, like someone else has said bomb proof kit. I feel you on the inspection nightmares about bottles haha been there done that bought the T-shirt!! I’m investing in the mk2 set come payday as a walkabout coolest, I’ve read and seen that the mk2 can accommodate a Trangia burner as well as fuel blocks so, a decent compromise on buying a larger stove (that’ll come later)

[paulsoutdooradventures]

Great kit very durable aswell pretty bomb proof to I have the metal lid my self never liked the look of the plastic one brilliant of the guys at Bushcraft store to put the extra bits in kit aswell though 👍👍👍👍