Dragon Cooking System

The Dragon Cooking System from BCB is a useful and versatile unit in its own pouch for ease of carrying. The pouch is made from a light, but tough, nylon and is set up to be carried in a variety of ways; from being worn on a belt, to fixing onto any Molle type webbing. The pouch measures approx. 24cm x 15cm x 10cm and features bound exterior seams, a deep lid with adjustable quick-release buckle, a top draw cord closure and internal Velcro-closed pocket some 12cm x 10cm x 2cm and a base drainage eyelet. The sides and top of the pouch are double thickness fabric and the front and base single thickness.

In the pouch you have the well-proven MOD plastic water bottle and mug, that bushcrafters’ favourite, a MKI Crusader mug, a clear plastic lid that fits the Crusader mug and a MKII Crusader cooker/ windshield. In the pocket of the pouch there is a 3.5cm x 7mm Ferro rod ‘Firesteel’ with a mini compass set into its comfortable grip and this is attached to a hacksaw section striker by a length of braided cord.

The one-litre MoD ‘Osprey’ plastic water bottle and its mug with fold-out metal handles is iconic and beyond reproach, while the MKI Crusader cup, which will hold approx. 0.75-litre of water and has 0.25-litre and 0.5-litre markings, is probably the best metal mug ever produced. The stainless steel mug fits over the base of the water bottle, while the plastic mug fits over the top of the bottle, making a compact unit. As the Crusader mug functions as a cook pot as well as a mug, this is an elegant collection of necessary kit and, with the clear plastic lid that fits the Crusader mug/cup, makes a good basic cooking/drinking combination. It is possible to get the plastic lid wedged in the cup if you cook in the mug with the lid in place, and flames licking around the mug can melt the rim of the lid. The lid works best fitted to the Crusader mug to help keep drinks hot and is designed with a gap to drink through.

MK It Well

The Crusader MK11 cooker is an ovoid steel unit with a solid base, a hinged pot stand, two rows of air holes around the base and matching holes around the top. In the solid base of the cooker is a circular fuel receiver some 6cm across and 1.5cm deep. The Dragon cooker will work well with solid fuel, such as the Firedragon Fuel Blocks, gel fuel and the receiver is just big enough to hold a ‘Trangia’ type meths burner unit.

Operating the cooker is very straightforward. Put the fuel in the fuel receiver, light it and fold the pot stand into position. Place the Crusader cup full of food or drink to be heated on the stand with the handle on the hinge side of the cooker and you have a good, stable cooker and pot set-up. In cold conditions and light breezes, the Dragon Cooker System boiled 0.5-litre of water in about 8 minutes using both a meths burner in the cooker and Firedragon solid fuel; the only difference being the meths brought the water to a rolling boil, while the solid fuel only just brought the water to boiling.

The meths used one-quarter of the reservoir of fuel and I used only one block of Firedragon. The cooker dealt with the breezes very well, affording excellent wind shielding, and also funnelling the flames and heat up close to the mug.

Bright Spark

The supplied Ferro rod ‘firesteel’ gave excellent sparks using the supplied striker and was used to light both the meths and the Firedragon fuel with ease. The whole cooking system packs into the pouch with the stove in the base providing room to pack fuel, brew kit etc. and the mugs and water bottle on top with the lid sliding down between mugs/bottle and the pouch, and there is plenty of room for a spoon etc. as well.

The Dragon Cooking System worked very well and made a useful compact unit and – although I did not cook any actual dragon (how often will that joke be made!) – proved to be an almost ‘bombproof’ cooker option for use in the woods. It weighs approx. 1kg all-in, but empty.

The Dragon Cooking System costs £49.95 and is available in black or MTP camouflage from 02920 433 700.