The Optimus Crux Lite is a powerful and lightweight backcountry cooking accessory. It’s 11 grams lighter than the original Crux due to ditching the folding mechanism in the middle of the stove neck. The Crux Lite produces the same amount of heat as its big brother and has a fantastic flame distribution so that you can cook more than just hot water. The regulator is a little small, but it is easy to handle, wrapped with a rubber grip. For $40, it is an excellent option if you are looking for a no-frills, highly capable canister stove.

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Optimus has been making camping stoves since 1899. They are well known for producing liquid fuel stoves that can use anything from gasoline to jet fuel and everything in between. This is very convenient if you’re trekking through Bolivia and can’t get your hands on some clean-burning white gas. Their canister stoves may not be the most versatile, but they still perform just as well. The Crux stove family has two stoves in it: the Crux and Crux Lite. The Crux has the ability to fold the burner head down for a smaller package while on the trail. The Crux Lite offers the same performance but saves 11g of weight without the folding system. We took a look at the Crux Lite for this review.

The Stove

As mentioned before, the Crux Lite saves 11 grams from its bigger sibling. This drops the weight down to 2.5oz (71g) without the folding mechanism. There are very few moving pieces on this stove, something I can appreciate as there are fewer things for me to break.

This little stove does produce 3,000 Watts (10,000 BTU) of power, the same as the Jetboil MightyMo, making it a very capable cooking machine.

Ease of Use

The Crux Lite is very easy to use. The pot supports fold out easily and feel sturdy. The other moving part is the molded regulator dial that wraps around the stove neck. It is a bit thin, but the rubber grips make it easy to handle throughout its rotations. There is no piezo lighter on the Crux Lite, so you’ll have to use a lighter or match to ignite the stove.

Simmering

The wider burner head of the Crux Lite helps to create more evenly distributed heat along the bottom of a pot or pan. There is no wind protection attached to the stove, but as long as the burner is in a wind-free zone or covered by a decent windshield, the simmering is excellent for such a lightweight and inexpensive stove.

Boil Time

The Crux Lite can boil 500ml of water in around 3 minutes. While the pot supports don’t offer too much support for larger pots, the Crux Lite can often be found for sale as a package with two pots that double as storage for the stove and a canister. These make for an excellent set for a solo camper.

Fuel Use

When canister stoves are screwed onto their canisters, you will often hear some fuel leaking out during the connection. That does not happen with the Crux Lite, which will help save you fuel in the long run. In reviews from other users, the Crux Lite performed better in colder conditions than other canister stoves and required less fuel throughout the entire boiling process. While no specific data could be found for fuel usage throughout a boil, it is clear that the Crux uses its 3,000 Watts (10,000 BTU) of power well.

The Bottom Line

At only $39.95, this is a cost-effective, high-performing stove that any minimalist camper will like. If you are looking for more accessories, you will want to look elsewhere. If you’re well-practiced at creating wind blocks for your stove and don’t mind using a lighter to get the flame going, this is an excellent stove at an even better price.

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