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Primus ETA Power 1.0l Cook Pot
MSR Whisperlite International Liquid Fuel Stove
Light My Fire Spork XM
Light My Fire Spork Small
Thermos Thermal Flask
PRIMUS ETA POWER 1.0L COOK POT
Lowest Price Found: £32
Purchased: (2012) Husky Outdoors
Aftercare: (2014) Husky Outdoors
Sold: (2015) £22
Used for four months camping in Norway.
Carried on 130 Mile Footpath.
An efficiency focused aluminium pot and frying pan lid, lined with a non-stick coating.
My purchase of this 1 litre pot was based on originally needing the capacity to cook for two.
The 1 litre pot is a good size for two and more than adequate for a single person but overkill if you`re a minimalist.
The ETA Power is of reasonable weight for a non-titanium pot. The heat exchanger on the bottom improves efficiency for faster boil times. Quite simply, the larger surface area -created from the metal coils on the underside- conducts more heat than a flat based alternative.
Not only will you cook meals slightly faster but your fuel will last longer because of the heat exchanger.
This benefit does however add extra volume to an already sizeable item. Pack size is something that I scrutinise as much as item weight and it has led me to change my kit and adapt accordingly.
I owned two of these cook pots by Primus. I was kindly sent a replacement (which I decided not to keep) as my used pot had become mis-shaped over time. It was also starting to loose it`s non-stick coating despite only ever being stirred with a plastic fork inside.
I decided to also sell the original as I had moved away from cooking warm meals whilst on foot.
Carrying the item for two weeks hiking in Scotland and not using it once confirmed that I no longer wanted the extra hassle of cooking and spending time cleaning up. I preferred to eat cold food or purchase a warm meal when it was desired.
The series has since been updated with wider dimensions, a plastic lid and re-designed heat exchanger
being the most obvious changes.
MSR WHISPERLITE INTERNATIONAL LIQUID FUEL STOVE
-write up coming soon.-
MSR FUEL BOTTLE AND PUMP
-write up coming soon.-
SEA TO SUMMIT XBOWL
Listed weight: [80g]
Actual weight: [85g]
Lowest Price Found: £9
Purchased: (2012) Amazon
Materials: Silicon, Nylon
Used for four months camping in Norway.
The Sea To Summit Xbowl is a collapsible food bowl.
Sea To Summit make an extensive range of collapsible bowls, plates, cups and mugs which come in a range of colours and sizes.
Made from a stiff plastic base and flexible silicon sides; the Xbowl simplifies packing-up after a meal, as once flat it will easily slide into a small gap in your pack.
Relatively light for its usability, the compact bowl provides a bit of luxury whilst out on the trail.
Doubling as a really useful chopping board, the base is where all the weight lies; providing rigidity to an otherwise malleable item. This makes the bowl capable of standing up on uneven ground and easier to hold whilst containing boiling liquids.
There are metric measurements (100/150/250/500ml) inside the bowl and if filling the bowl to it's rim, it will manage to hold ~650ml of liquid. When piled up high, the Xbowl holds a very substantial meal.
After vigorous use, multiple times a day for 4 months, the Xbowl holds it's own in a pack list.
It harbours odours after a while but with a good wash and enough air they will disappear. Unbelievably, my bowl has lost all traces of food odours (to the human nose), despite me thinking it may no longer be good for future use. The Xbowl is quick and easy to wipe clean with no tricky spots for food to get trapped in.
The Xbowl is great for hot meals and liquids. It is comforting to have such a good container in which to refuel from whilst out in miserable conditions.
As with the Primus ETA Power cook pot, I purchased this item for my first hiking trip. I was sharing the experience and meals with a friend, so we decided to purchase these bowls to divide our meals from the pot. We used them to drink coffee and hot chocolate, they were fantastic.
Since my first outdoor trip in Norway, I have switched to a disposable paper cup/bowl which can be obtained from a convenience store for free. This alternative is significantly lighter; it holds the same capacity, it is still very strong and rigid and can be easily replaced. For simply eating cereal and cold meals, you need look no further. I prefer this option for it's weight savings but would still opt for the Xbowl (or eat out of the cook pot itself) if I needed the reliability in very remote or cold conditions.