lightest HE pot

Try:

http://www.opticsplanet.net/primus-etapacklite-1-2-liter-pot-with-colander-lid.html

http://www.backcountry.com/primus-etapower-pot-1.0l?CMP_ID=PD_GOO001&mv_pc=r101&mkwid=s8KkfdAPN|pcrid|10024201027

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/HikingCamping/CookwareUtensils/Cookware/PRD~5015-696/primus-etaexpress-pot-1.0l.jsp

http://store.primuscamping.com/cookware/eta/backpacking/etaexpress-pot-1.0l/

(Best price)
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=primus+etaexpress&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=7898981979&ref=pd_sl_5hiiywyuzf_b

More info here:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/primus_etaexpress_pot_1l_orwm08.html

Anybody have a clue what this pot weighs alone? No frying pan, no lid – just the naked pot?

Thanks for the suggestions.

Are there any titanium versions? Or is it not possible to attache the heat exchange to titanium?

Keep in mind that titanium can withstand very high temperatures, but its thermal conductivity is much lower than aluminum. Then, if you were trying to attach two different metals, it would be problematic.

Titanium is great only if you can take advantage of its unique characteristics. It is much stronger than an equivalent thickness of aluminum. Therefore, a typical cook pot can be made out of much thinner metal if it is titanium. And, if the metal is much thinner, it is likely to be lighter in weight. But, thin titanium has a worse problem with thermal conductivity (which is why it is not great for subtle cooking).

Titanium cook pots can be handy if you cook over a hot wood fire.

–B.G.–

Let me make sure I have this correctly.
Would I be correct to say:

Titanium pots are lighter but less efficient at transferring heat.

Aluminum pots are heavier but more efficient at transferring heat.

Thus by going lighter, I am giving up cooking speed?

Has anyone done the math or some tests to see how significant the difference is between titanium and aluminum pots? Both are so crazy thin that I would have a difficult time accepting that Ti pots are at any measurable disadvantage to aluminum pots in terms of thermal efficiency.

It's not like these are chef quality pans made form 1/4" thick materials.

I'm more than will to accept that I'm wrong but without the numbers to prove it, I'll stick to my feelings on this one. I'm willing to bet the condition of the surface (emissivity) will have a larger effect on boil times than the material from which the pot is made. I think it was David Thomas (I'm really bad recalling names from memory) that did some tests to prove that painting the bottom of your pot black has a significant improvement in efficiency.

BM

When you cook at a level that backpackers do, the heat efficiency of Ti is not a issue. Ti is a little heavier metal, but much stronger, thus can be made thinner, thus will be lighter. I'd pick Ti every time.
It seems the lightest option would be the Jetboil Ti Sol Companion cup. Cut slits in the bottom and use w/ any stove. Read the 3 part thread here on the Gear forum on the mod.

Titanuim is ~2X as strong as Aluminum (yield & ultimate strength)
Titanuim cunductions heat ~1/8th as well as Aluminum

A Ti pot w/ 1/2 the thickness of a Al pot will be:
About as strong and conduct heat about 1/4 as well.

For boiling water in a standard pot, this makes little difference (as you guess) b/c each pot's thermal resistance to conductivity accounts for very little of the TOTAL resistance to heat xfer from fire to the water. As David Thomas and Stuart Rob have pointed out, the majority of the resistance is at the hot gas-outer pot boundary. I guess it would be similar to discussing thermal conductivity of a wool vs a synthetic baselayer in a sleep system for everest high camp…

When we start talking about the "HE pot" fins, Al vs Ti becomes a little more important…to what degree, idunno.

For cooking in the pot, Al vs Ti becomes importance because it will be harder not to burn stuff in the Ti pot (Ti's low conductivity promotes hot spots) and harder not to melt the Al pot (Al will melt at 1200F vs 3500F for Ti).

I have yet to find any pot as light as my Aluminum "stanco greasepot" for 1.25L (2.3 oz w/put lid).

As far as "HE pots" go I have an Olicamp XTS pot in the mail (Curt Peterson clued me into it). Specs from the vendor are 6.7oz, 1L and $30. I'll post more when I get it in.

"Titanium pots are lighter but less efficient at transferring heat. "

As I recall (from other BPL threads), the amount of heat that titanium fails to transfer but aluminum would is well under 1%.

Where this does matter is that with aluminum you get a more consistent temperature across the bottom of your pot/pan, so it's better for frying. Ti gives you more of a hot spot in the center. There are also far better non-stick coatings available for aluminum than titanium, so omelette fans and meal burners should stick with aluminum, while water boilers are easily ahead with Ti.

Just having aluminum and a non-stick coating isn't enough to fry well though. You also really need an adjustable output stove because any stove on full blast is still going to burn your food on there.

I would say folks get the heat transfer property of titanium mixed up with the product made from titanium. Sure the element Ti is a crappy conductor of heat relative to aluminum (copper is even better), but in the pot with its super-thin walls, the inherent poor heat transfer of Ti is negated (didn't know the heat lost in the transfer of heat a titanium pot is < 1%).

The heat resistance of Ti is evident when I magically grab my Ti cup by the rim after several seconds off the stove. In this case, the extra 1/2" or so of Ti above the scalding water provides a lot of heat resistance. A similar Al cup remains a hellish cattle brand, waiting to imprint my fingers for what seems hours after it comes off the stove.

I've long lost my micrometer, but I bet the closest thickness of a typical titanium pot is about the same thickness as a soda can, and we all know how durable those are…

I have and love my Optimus Terra Weekend HE. Without the lid, just naked pot, weight is 206 grams (7.3 oz). I highly recommend this pot. FYI they also make a cozy for rehydrating, 70 grams or 2.5 oz, that the pot nests into perfectly. In case anyone is wondering the lid/fry pan, which completes this set, weighs 77 grams or 2.8 oz.

So why no steel pots at 3X strength and density of AL?

Plenty of steel pots available. Nice, heavy steel pots. Last you a lifetime.

Thank you all for the great suggestions. I have a ton of pots to look into now.