PRIMUS: 130 Years of Innovation in Outdoor Cooking

Discover the PRIMUS brand

PRIMUS: The Brand’s Origins and History

The Primus brand was founded in 1892 in Stockholm by two Swedes: FW Lindqvist and JV Svenson. These two blacksmiths, who were passionate about trekking, developed the world’s first soot-free kerosene stove, which they named “Primus.” Their invention quickly became a sensation among the greatest adventurers of the era: Roald Amundsen took it with him when he became the first man to reach the South Pole in 1911, and Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary used it during the first ascent of Everest in 1953. Few brands can boast of having accompanied both the conquest of the roof of the world and that of the end of the Earth.

Between the 1930s and 1950s, Primus gradually expanded its product line, developing new products for adventure and the outdoors, and opened new factories in Sweden and Estonia.

Did you know?

As early as 1897, during the first attempts to cross the North Pole by balloon, a Primus stove was already on board. The brand has literally accompanied the history of human exploration.

Product Development and Innovations at Primus

Because every adventure starts with a good meal, Primus has dedicated over 130 years to engineering and perfecting outdoor cooking equipment. This ability to innovate has always been part of Primus’s DNA.

Among the key milestones: in 2001, Primus-Iwatani’s Japanese subsidiary launched what was then the world’s lightest gas stove, weighing just 60 grams. That same year, Primus unveiled the OmniFuel, its iconic multi-fuel stove. In 2011, the brand took another step forward with the Omnilite Ti, the world’s lightest multi-fuel stove at the time of its release.

Primus’ philosophy is built on three core pillars: durability, repairability, and self-sufficiency. Every product is designed to last for years, even decades, and replacement parts are available to extend the life of the stoves and accessories.

Products offered by the Primus brand

Primus now offers a wide range of gas and multi-fuel stoves, compact cooking systems, fire starters, and outdoor accessories, designed for heavy-duty use on the go. The lineup also includes cookware, insulated water bottles, cutlery, and lanterns.

The brand is particularly renowned for two flagship products: the OmniFuel II, the most award-winning stove in Primus’s history, compatible with almost all fuels (isobutane, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, aviation fuel), and the Micron III, an ultralight stove weighing just 94 grams and delivering 2,600 W, combining extreme lightness with reliability in the harshest conditions.

Primus’s Commitment to Sustainability

With a goal of zero emissions by 2050, Primus is committed to an eco-responsible and forward-looking approach. As such, the company measures its emissions annually and implements concrete actions to significantly reduce its environmental impact. To date, Primus has reduced its emissions by 23% and its carbon intensity by 25%.