Trakker Armolife CG-3 Stove

How well is it built?

The CG-3 is made from aluminium alloy, copper alloy and stainless steel, the same family of metals that goes into the Armolife CG4.

It's an open, skeletal design, with three curved, serrated pan supports that have large cut-outs, and a braided hose with brass fittings running out to the canister connector.

That openwork frame keeps it light, and the stainless steel should cope well with damp mornings and the odd spill. A braided hose also helps protect the gas line from kinks and scuffs, which matters when the stove gets stuffed into a carryall at the end of a session.

To be fair, three slim supports don't make as broad a base as the CG4's four wide ones under a heavy frying pan, and that's the main reason the CG-3 scores a little lower for build. For a stove this light, though, I think the build is very good, and the 8.4 reflects that balance.

Heat & Performance

Heat is the CG-3's strongest suit.

With a 3,500W maximum output, it matches the Armolife CG4 and has more than the 2800W Sonik Sizzla Superstove, so it should bring a kettle to the boil quickly for a stove of its size and get a pan of water rolling for pasta or noodles without much waiting.

An oversized pre-heat tube is there for ultra-efficient gas combustion, and getting the most from every canister matters on a long session when you've only carried one or two.

The wide, low frame has a low centre of gravity, which helps keep cookware steady over all that output, and that's reassuring with a full kettle on top.

Will it simmer as gently as the Sizzla Superstove? I'd expect the Sonik to have the edge there with its Low-Flow ports, and in a stiff breeze you'll want something to block the wind.

For pure heat from a pocket-sized stove, though, I think it's excellent, and the 8.6 is well deserved.

Ease of Use

Piezo-electronic ignition sits at the base, so there's no fumbling with a lighter, and the folding legs make it quick to assemble. Folded to 9 x 9.5cm, it slips into its nylon carry bag and then into a rucksack pocket.

The hose helps too, as the canister sits beside the stove instead of under it, which keeps the whole setup low.

Where it trails the CG4 is levelling. If you fish a lot of sloping, lumpy swims, the CG4's four height-adjustable legs are the easier way to get a pan sitting flat, and that's why the CG-3 scores 8.3 for ease of use rather than higher. On firm, flat ground, it's hard to fault.

Whichever Armolife you choose, never cook or run a gas stove inside a closed bivvy or tent, because of carbon monoxide and fire. Cook in the open or under a well-ventilated porch, on a stable, flat base, and it's a very simple stove to use.

Is it good value for money?

Value-wise, it's a little cheaper than the Armolife CG4 and slightly dearer than the Sonik Sizzla Superstove, which puts it in the middle of the compact stoves I'd look at, and I think that's about right for what it does on the bank.

What you're paying for is 3,500W in a stove light enough to forget about, plus the pre-heat tube and piezo start.

If you cook big breakfasts on long static sessions, the CG4's wider frame and levelling legs are worth the extra, and if you simply want the cheapest brew stove, the Prologic Blackfire C-Series costs less.

For anyone who carries everything on their back, though, the CG-3 hits a very sweet spot between weight, heat and cost, and I think the 8.4 is fair.

Overall, I'd recommend the CG-3 to mobile carp anglers, overnighters and anyone who walks a fair way to the swim and mainly boils water or cooks simple one-pan meals.