These are vintage surplus military mess kits with a design dating back to WWII - they are tried and true under harsh conditions. Older versions were constructed of stainless steel, while newer models are made of aluminum. If you look online, you can find them for sale either used, or in some cases New Old Stock (NOS) for the aluminum versions. I ordered my aluminum version from a military surplus in the UK (Military Mart) for around $25 (and $8 shipping); but I've seen them on ebay for less. Mine was new, but showed signs of being in storage for a long time.
This mess kit is about the size of an large-ish primary school lunch box (10" x 6" x 4"), and weighs in at around 36 oz (2.25 lbs) with a few ounces of alcohol still in my fuel bottle. This kit comes as a 5-piece set, including: a painted steel windscreen that everything nests inside; a 5 cup aluminum pot with a bail handle; a 2.5 cup aluminum pan/lid with a folding handle; a plastic alcohol fuel bottle (~8 oz); and the famous Trangia or Svea brass alcohol burner.


I love this mess kit for overnight and weekend backpacking trips when I'll be cooking for more than one; and the Svea stove is really the only burner that I regularly use with any mess kit. I plan to purchase a modern mini Trangia stove with winter attachment and simmer ring as an upgrade - and when I do, then I'll post a comparison review. I'll also write up a separate post regarding the correct care and feeding of the beloved Trangia/Svea burner.
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Esbit Alcohol Burner & Trekking Cookset |
UPDATE: I recently obtained a new Trangia Mini 28-T Mess Kit to supplement my old favorite Army model...Read about it here.
The Swedish Army stove are really as excellent as described - I was very lucky as when I bought my two I paid the extra £1 for stainless steel versions. A bit heavier admittedly, but they are truly bombproof compared to the aluminium version. Sadly these stainless steel ones seem to have all but disappeared, those offered now are 'collectors' items' and command silly prices. Definitely worth trying to spot a 'rogue' stainless one in a pile of aluminium ones if you can!
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