Archer Challenger 5 Plus: Multifuel Heating Made Easy

The Archer Challenger 5+ combines robust build with versatile design, offering short legs, tall legs, or a logstore base. A practical and efficient multifuel stove that adapts perfectly to your space and lifestyle.

November 28, 2024
By Reece Toscani
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Stove Spotlights

A New Challenger Appears

The stove market is packed with choice, but every so often a model comes along that feels purpose-built for today’s homeowners. The Archer Challenger 5 Plus Multifuel stove is one of those models. Strong, practical, and stylish, it’s been designed to meet the real demands of British living—whether you’re heating a snug cottage, a suburban semi, or a modern rural retreat. With its blend of heavy-duty engineering and contemporary looks, the Challenger 5 Plus is quickly carving out its place as a dependable option for anyone wanting warmth and reliability without compromise.

Design and Build Quality

At first glance, the Challenger 5+ impresses with its solid presence. Built from heavy gauge steel with a cast iron door, it has the reassuring weight and durability that every good stove should offer. This isn’t a delicate, fussy piece of furniture—it’s a serious heater that’s designed to last for decades with proper care.

The finish is metallic black, giving a subtle shimmer under firelight. It’s versatile enough to suit both traditional and modern interiors, and you can choose between a black handle for a seamless look, or a stainless steel handle for a little extra flair.

Flexibility is a theme here: the Challenger 5 Plus is available with short legs, tall legs, or a logstore base. That means you can adapt the stove to your room’s layout and style—opt for compact proportions in a tight fireplace opening, or go for the logstore version to create a bold freestanding statement with extra storage beneath.

Style Choices and Installation Options

One of the biggest strengths of the Challenger 5 Plus is its adaptability. By offering three base configurations, Archer Fires have ensured that the stove will suit a wide range of settings:

Short Legs – Ideal for installation into an existing fireplace or inglenook.
Tall Legs – Creates a more elevated stance, perfect for modern hearths.
Logstore Base – Adds practicality and visual impact, with storage for logs neatly integrated.

Pair this with the choice of handle finishes, and you have a stove that feels personal rather than one-size-fits-all.

The convection side panels reduce clearance requirements, so the Challenger 5+ can often be installed closer to walls or furniture than non-convection models. This not only makes it more practical in tight spaces but also provides peace of mind for safety.

Looking for more inspiration before you decide on the Archer Challenger 5 Plus Multifuel Stove?

Explore our full range of multifuel stove spotlights to compare different models side by side.
Not sure whether multifuel or wood-only is right for you? Read our guide: What’s the Difference Between Wood and Multifuel Stoves?
Interested in maximising efficiency? Check out our article on how convection stoves improve heat circulation

By understanding the Challenger 5+ in the wider context of today’s stove market, you’ll be better placed to choose the perfect model for your home.

Multifuel Performance

As its name suggests, the Challenger 5+ is a true multifuel stove, capable of burning both seasoned firewood and approved smokeless coals. This gives homeowners maximum flexibility, especially valuable in regions where smokeless fuels are still popular for their long burn times and consistent heat output.

When burning wood, you’ll benefit from the stove’s airwash system, which keeps the large glass viewing window clear and lets you enjoy the flames in full. The firebox is carefully engineered to maximise combustion, ensuring more heat for your home and less wasted energy up the chimney.

The Challenger 5+ also features convection side panels, which are more than just cosmetic. These allow warm air to circulate between the stove body and the panels, gently pushing heat out into the room. The result is a more comfortable, even warmth, and reduced clearance requirements to nearby combustible materials—a real advantage in smaller living spaces or modern homes where every centimetre counts.

Efficiency, Heat Output, and Ease of Use

While exact testing figures vary depending on the installation and fuel type, the Challenger 5+ sits comfortably in the mid-sized multifuel stove category, offering an efficient, reliable burn suitable for medium-sized living rooms.

Controls are straightforward, with dedicated air intakes allowing fine-tuning of both primary and secondary combustion. This means you can quickly achieve bright flames when lighting the stove, then dial it back for a slower, steadier burn once a good bed of embers has formed.

Because the stove is constructed from both steel (fast to heat up) and cast iron (excellent heat retention), you get the best of both worlds: a quick response on cold winter mornings, and a longer-lasting glow into the evening.

Specifications at a Glance

Nominal Output: 5kW (4-7kW Range)
Efficiency: 86%
Fuel type: Multifuel (wood and smokeless coal)
Body material: Heavy gauge steel
Door: Cast iron
Finish: Metallic black
Handle options: Black or stainless steel
Base options: Short legs, tall legs, or logstore base
Features: Convection sides, airwash system, adjustable air controls
Approvals: DEFRA Exempt, ECODesign Certified

Why Choose the Archer Challenger?

The Challenger 5 Plus embodies what many stove buyers are looking for today: robust build, efficient performance, and design flexibility. It’s equally at home as a practical family heater or as the centrepiece of a stylish open-plan living area. By balancing affordability with the kind of features you’d expect from premium models, Archer Fires have created a stove that feels like a smart long-term investment.

The Archer Challenger 5 Plus Multifuel Stove proves that reliability doesn’t have to come at the expense of style. With its sturdy construction, flexible configurations, and efficient performance, it’s well-suited to anyone who wants the confidence of a stove built to last. Whether you’re replacing an ageing model or choosing your very first woodburner, the Challenger deserves a serious look.

Thinking about installing the Archer Challenger 5+ in your home? Browse our multifuel stove collection for more options, or check out our latest buyers’ guides
to help you choose the right model. And if you’ve already had experience with the Challenger, leave us a comment below—we’d love to hear your thoughts.

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Reece Toscani

Reece has over two decades in the fireplace and stove world — testing, reviewing, and occasionally getting covered in soot, all in the name of wood-fired home heating. He cuts through the nonsense, busts the myths, and shares straight-talking advice to help you enjoy your stove without the confusion. From Fireplace Products to Redefining Woodburners, if it burns wood, he’s probably tested it, fixed it, or argued about it. Now, through Woodburner Insights, he shares that experience with the world — both here and on YouTube.