This cookset (or the pot anyway) may replace my Snow Peak Ti Mini Solo as my go-to kit for boil-only cooking trips. That's what this set seems ideal for. The set includes a 24 oz stainless steel pot with lid, and two nested, 10 oz insulated plastic cups. Together the whole set weighs in at 13 oz; but 5.5oz are for the cups - the pot and lid itself is only 7.5 oz.
The pot is 3.5 inches in diameter and 5.5 inches high (it actually nests inside my Snow Peak Mini Solo), and has a sturdy folding handle that holds the lid on when closed. The lid itself fits snugly, has a plastic temp-resistant lifting tab, and strainer holes for draining water - nice! This lid is much nicer than the one on my Snow Peak Solo, but as I mentioned in a previous post, it is a perfect fit for both pots. The only concern with the lid is the attachment of the lifting tab, which looks like a press-fit dimple - we will have to see how it hold up to some punishment. I haven't had a chance to measure the typical boiling times with any of my alcohol stoves - I'm hoping that I can get enough burn time to not only boil water, but to also cook some rice noodles or ramen.
The cups are nice - they are not very light, but not terribly heavy; and being insulated they are good for drinking hot beverages without cooling off too fast or burning lips. The cups also feel pretty good in your hands. When the cups are nested in the pot, it does not leave much additional room for other accessories; but with them removed, you can stuff a lot in the pot for travel. An interesting note - my military Svea alcohol stove rests in the flaired section at the top of the pot, leaving a nice amount of space below for a rag, firesteel, and other odds-n-ends. So, the cups are probably doomed in my kit - but we will see.
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| Swiss Army Ranger Volcano Stove |
One other alternative that I am considering for boil-only cooking is a Swiss Army Volcano Stove. I really dig old-school gear, and this set is cool...It includes an aluminum windscreen/potstand, with a nested 32 oz corked aluminum water bottle, and a 20 oz aluminum cup/pot. The whole setup weighs about 13 oz. I've seen them selling for as little as $12 - I think I'll have to get one.
I'm a big fan of this pot as well. Your assessment was spot on mine after using it for the last three months :)
ReplyDeleteIf you have not got a Swiss Volcano your missing out on a lot. That is a gem of a bargain as well as a lot of fun for yester year of those in the outdoors long before you. It carries water for you. Dont listen to what others say about the cork stopper it wont kill you or be gross. Believe it or not people used wooden stoppers for years even when they where green with moss or algae and it wont hurt you. Its super light weight and a pleasure to use. If you dont want to burn wood in it it works great with a "Open" burner alcohol stove inside. Soda cans dont work as well but you can use them. Its just that the closed windscreen will heat that soda can burner to hot and make the flames burn in overdrive boiling water fast if thats ok with you but not good if your cooking. It will burn the alcohol semi quick if you use the soda can because of the heating of the soda can burner and forcing it to burn fuel faster. I use a simple and I mean simple burner a travel sized shaving cream aluminum can bottom cut off to about 1.25 inches tall and used stainless steel at first for a wick in it then got some carbon felt instead for the wick. Works like a champ. Now this stove is made for boiling water and making soup but you can cook on it you just need to use a some cross bars on the top to hold a small pot or if pot is bigger no cross bars. That set up can be done but it is a bit un stable. You can stablize it some how with some kind of wooden holder or burry it in the dirt a bit or sand which I do while on the beach. Cooking that way is great and works well with wood. If you using alcohol for longer timed cooks you will need to refill burner cup and I suggest needle nose or leatherman tool pliers to get burner out and refill. What I actually do is use a brass tube and put it in the burner cup after it goes out or I blow it out and then poor alcohol through brass tube into cup burner and volah extra fuel to burn longer cook times. You can even cook with Esbit fuel tabs which work well for rice in the cup provided. I use that cup for a lot of stuff as its the perfect size and those folding handles are a pleasure to have. You can even boil water in the bottle just be sure to take cork stopper off. I say give it a try and order one. There is not to many things you can buy for 15 bucks that will give you so much millage. A tip of the hat to you for a man that enjoys the outdoors. Hope my info helps and encourages you to give this stove a try.
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