View Full Version : What size is your pot?
Wilderbeast
09-08-2010, 22:45
HI all,
Wanted to make a poll to see what size, and which pots, people carried. I ask because I'm thinking of getting a Tatonka kettle and I'm trying to decide which size to get.
The scenario is for a 3-4 day trip, just catering for yourself and perhaps just one other person.
Cheers,
Will
EDIT: I should say that for the purposes of the poll, a billy can with a frying pan lid counts as one pot.
Also the "+ pan" could be a kettle or other implement !
Mesquite
09-08-2010, 22:49
14cm zebra billy can. No idea of capacity though
little 12cm billy and a metal mug.
drewdunnrespect
10-08-2010, 01:43
tiny 10cm billy plus crusader mug and a old school army billy as frying pan
Zebra billy sizes are (according to http://www.thebushcraftstore.co.uk/zebra-billy-can-stainless-steel-10cm---auto-lock-lid-772-p.asp) are
Size 10cm 12cm 14cm 16cm
Capacity Ltr 0.75 1.25 2 3
Pints 1.65 2.75 4.4 6.6
Graham
0.9 ltr Trangia kettle + Crusader mug
- Sometimes I add a Primus Litech frying pan, but always ended up not using the thing ...
- I've got an SnowPeak 600 mug on order, that I'm going to use when going UL(-ish) / less militairy look
I had a 12cm Zebra, which I sold as it was just to heavy.
I have pots from 0.75l to probably 5l and a lot depends on how and what you cook.
For two people with "one pot" meals - say a tin of stew, tin of peas and tin of potatoes, then this would fit into the 1.6l Tatonka pot and still leave you comfortable to stir without slopping the food over the edge of the pot, or being overly concerned about water boiling over. If you use a pot with a pot grab with this size of pot its still easy to end up with the pot grab messed up with the pot contents.
For two of us, we use pots around the 2l mark, and I bought the 2.5l Tatonka + 1.5l teapot for use on an open fire but on a stove tend to use a 1.7l eta heat exchange pot most of the time, but occasionally the 2.1l eta heat exchange pot.
For one person, if trying to minimise bulk, I would look at something just above the 1l ( the 12cm (1.25l) Zebra billy seems a good choice) or for two people (but not ridiculous for one) the 1.6l Tatonka or 14cm (2l) Zebra.
Graham
Size matters. For one person less is best.
but if you have lots of water purification to do as I sometimes do then a mid size is best or two small ones
0.9lt titanium pot into which my Bushbuddy fits perfectly. Sometimes use the lid to fry the odd sausage.
DaveBromley
10-08-2010, 09:25
I use This (http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-backpack-2-camping-pans-p142522)
got it in a sale but works perfectly and fits snugly inside an ikea pot hobo with a bit of persuasion
Dave
Mainly use 120cm zebra billy for lightweight & solo hikes
Also have a 4L Cast iron Dutch oven and a 2L zebra billy for fixed camp, especially when with mates
Will soon remove the bail handle on the small zebra as it gets in the way when packing & i want it to nest within larger pots and hobo stove.
depends on how big a brew you drink ! I usually take the crusader set up for just a quick bimble but the 12cm zebra for a day out any longer and I'll take a .75Ltr. kettle as well. A few weeks ago I took a mate out and lent him my crusader set when we stopped in the hills for a brew I used a heinz sponge pudding tin hobo and the zebra plus a 250ml. cup and we both had a 1oz. tobacco tin with sterno and x3 solid fuel tablets. I was drinking my brew while he was moaning that I'd got the better burner I pointed out that they were both the same but I'd only put 2 cups of water in mine and he'd filled his with a liter of water and was he going to drink that much ? indeed did he fill the kettle at home to the top ? No was his reply and he poured 500ml. of warm water back into his water bottle and waited for the rest to boil. :D
just thought I'd share cheers Danny
Mainly use 120cm zebra billy for lightweight & solo hikes
A 1.2M wide billy can on the fire... that is something I would like to see.....
Only joking. I have a 12cm Zebra and they are a good bit of kit for a couple of people.
A 1.2M wide billy can on the fire... that is something I would like to see.....
Only joking. I have a 12cm Zebra and they are a good bit of kit for a couple of people.
Doh!! school boy error!! Boy do I feel a plonker LOL!
John Fenna
11-08-2010, 18:17
Something big enough for ratpak boil in the bags, plus a small frying pan does me ...or if super light weight just my Jetboil :)
Boil in the bag rules for light weight traveling.
If going heavy weight then it is - one 2 liter pot, one sub litre pot, one kelly kettle, one Dutch Oven, one cast iron frying pan (small), one bakestone....minimum!
half an ounce for the weekend !! sorry just joking !!................not done that for years !!! ha ha ha ha
I've just done a 3 night, woodland, camp with the kids and brother inlaw. 2 adults & 4 kids.
We took a cast iron griddle and a 16cm Zebra billy. All cooking done on the fire, usually in 2 shifts - kids first then adults.
When solo, I usually take a .9L Ti pot and either a Ti mug or a Crusader mug.
Simon
I usually take a 1-2 litre pan and my Eagle Products kettle. It's always good to have hot water for a brew AND washing up after the feast!
born2roam
16-08-2010, 08:07
Depends on the mood I'm in... and when or where I am going.
For two people 4 days, trangia set if no fire allowed (alcy and/or omnifuel)
Or if the other person has one and it is boil in the bag: (steel) crusader mug or the like
With crusader mug maybe a frying pan (depending on food & mood)
or just one 3 liter billy can (lid = frying pan)
Like Mors Kochanski once wrote: you can boil 1 liter in a 3 liter pot, not the other way around.... I know simpless but important when to melt snow etc.
Grtz Johan
I normally have to do the cooking for everyone. So i got a aluminium pot set. consists of 3 size pans and a kettle. all meshes together. Ideal to make spuds while boiling a kettle and maybe some veg in another pan.
bilmo-p5
10-09-2010, 18:35
Lately I've been using a Primus Eta Power 1ltr pot (over a Svea 123) more than anything else. Often use a Tran 27 too.
Graham_S
10-09-2010, 18:36
I can manage quite happily with a mini trangia which has a 0.4l pot (IIRC) and a small frying pan.
Quite a good little stove too.
I prefer something a little bigger for normal use though.
jonnie drake
10-09-2010, 18:50
deffo under one litre, no point having any nore for a solo kit. I have a 2 pint alu billy with frying pan lid, sometimes I just use the lid as it is deep and holds 400ml easily on it's own, more like a mug really.
bearbait
16-09-2010, 05:44
I mix and match my MSR Duralite set: two pans and a deep fry pan with a universal lid and pot grab. (From their website looks like they no longer do it - or their marketing folks have changed the name!) It's non-stick and has coped with reasonably careful extended use on both my multi-fuel stove and on open fires - on a rack - admirably. It's not the lightest gear but has been robust enough, amongst other things, to bake pizza and cookies using the Outback Oven. If it wore out or I lost it I'd buy again, or its equivalent.
i use a sweedish army stainless set
i think its around 1.5 litres at a guess, it goes in the fire, over the fire, on the trangia, everywhere,
my mates use lightwieght alu setups, but i cope with the extra weight knowing its much more versatile ,
so its usually me that does the bulk of the brew ups,..
"get 't' kettle on Stu" is a much heard cry around the fire.
I am wondering whether to get this pot as my only pot. What do you think? Its 52g and 400ml (350ml useable). I was thinking that dehydrated packs need 330ml so this would be good enough. It could then be used as a mug once a second batch of water was boiled. Do you think this is too small? We are talking about trying to go as light as possible, I am already in the lightweight category (6.8-9kg or 15-20LB) towarsds the bottom end and trying to become SUL (4.5-6.8kg or 10-15LB). Alien species to some but there are others on here like me.
http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product513.asp?PageID=100
I am wondering whether to get this pot as my only pot. What do you think? Its 52g and 400ml (350ml useable). I was thinking that dehydrated packs need 330ml so this would be good enough. It could then be used as a mug once a second batch of water was boiled. Do you think this is too small? We are talking about trying to go as light as possible, I am already in the lightweight category (6.8-9kg or 15-20LB) towarsds the bottom end and trying to become SUL (4.5-6.8kg or 10-15LB). Alien species to some but there are others on here like me.
http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product513.asp?PageID=100
For that I use a SnowPeak 600 Ti (single wall). It copes with enough water for both a meal (dehydrated; eat from the bag) and a drink all in 1 go. Personally I wouldn't go for anything less. If you have a bigger pot, take it out and mark the 350ml on it and only use that amount. See if it works, if not increase the amount ;) Saves you buying unnecessary kit (read: hassle with the Mrs).
My cook kit consists of Tatonka meths burner - which sits inside a Bushbuddy - which nests in a Tatonka 1 ltr kettle - which in turn nests inside a Tatonka 1.6 ltr kettle. This covers all bases for me - heating options, pots, frying pans etc etc. I also have a Handpresso for making real Espresso coffee and have a small Kuksa for the Espresso and a large Kuksa for Americano.
If I'm with my girlfriend I will also take along an Outwell SS kettle, which hangs over the fire so we always have hot water available.
I recommend the Tatonka kettles - they're not quite as robust as the Zebras but they're not far off. The shape (wider base) suits me better and the lid/ frying pan works very well.
For your needs - you could possibly get away with the 1 ltr if you're on your tod (depends how you eat in the field) but for two I would say definitely go for the 1.6 ltr.
1 litre Jetboil and soon a Snowpeak 700. The Jetboil caters for me on solo hikes and days out. I tend to carry a mug aswell, 400ml.
Will, you saw my pot I used at the bushmoot - you don't need much more than that and a mug for most meals - My pot can't be much bigger than the one you've got from mr fenner - you can still fry up in these silly little things, though a full fry up would be difficult I agree = ) You just gotta think what you're cooking and what you can get away with. My criteria is to make a dinner _and_ a cup of tea.
Don't forget there's no silver bullet - if you're going on a week walking, take as little as possible. If you're going on a few days in the woods, take a billy set.
Boil in the bag you can't go wrong with and not forgetting you can eat them cold if you're desperate! All those I tried out on the bushmoot were very tasty (Though looked awful) and I've since tried the army rat packs - my main issue with those is whilst the dinners are tasty, I hate beans which is all the breakfasts seem to be made up of!
You can also get meals in a can - like chicken in white sauce, various curries, chillis etc. They're all good, though you'll probably need rice which'll dirty your pan requiring washing up and you can't use the water for washing up.
like every one else it depends msr alpine set when with wife at base camp
french mess kit when out on my own under 1 ltr i think