Picking up a Hot Pot

Various silicone treatments that can handle high heat or a thin UL silicone hot pad sold at cooking supply stores

I second Steven on the silicone hot mat from housewares, just trim it down. Also, the little silicone grippers that look like conjoined thimbles.

I remove the handles from all of my pots and use my wool glove liners or a bandana as my pot holder.

I only boil water in my pot but yes a 1-2 oz pot cozy helps tremendously in keeping your food warm and maximizing your fuel efficiency. I just bring my water to near boiling temperatures, add it to my pasta or whatever (in a freezer bag,) and then leave it in my cozy for as long as needed. Seems to lose about 1* per minute but I haven't done extensive studies on my cozy's performance yet.

From a weight penalty perspective, the cozy pays for itself in fuel efficency.

If the handles can easily be removed, find some silicone tubing to slide over them. A quick spray of WD-40 will help thread the silicone. I do this with all my pots, including my MSR Titan kettle (which I think you also use).

I made a lid for my Snow Peak 600 out of a thin silicone baking sheet. I cut it right to size so there's no overhang to burn. It has a little nylon cord handle.

This doubles as a gripper for the pot handles. Be warned that the silicone gets pretty hot, but upon removing it as a lid, it will cool off in a few seconds.

Here's the thread :

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=35377

Separate handles also work well and you have a bit more time before your fingers burn while you eat out of your pot. I like the Trangia ones, but then a Trangia was my first cookset/stove. I think almost every company makes some ranging from not so light to very light, with silicone grips and without.

Max,

Since noone mentioned it yet, to clarify:
You can get a cozy for your pot or you can get a cozy for your bag. Whichever one you will be cooking in.

(http://www.trailcooking.com/store/cozies-and-accessories)

Thanks for the advice guys. I like the idea of the silicone grippers AND the pot cozy, but I will probably just opt for the grippers. I don't mind if my food loses heat- it's still food.

I have the Toaks 750ML pot, which looks to be a copy of the Stoic 700ml pot. I was originally going with the Titan kettle, but the shipping from Amazon was going to take weeks (not pleased!). I saved some money with the Toaks pot.

Silicone electrical tape wound around the handles- anyone use this to success?

I myself like carbon felt: lightweight and a great insulator. Cut out a small round disk and you can use it as a pot holder.

I have those orange silicone things that you stick three fingers in. With a handleless Trangia frying pan, you still have to set the pan down quickly otherwise it gets hot. Kinda disappointed in them but they will work when grabbing an edge. I believe I got them from Fast and Light.
Duane

I did what Gary mentioned to my Titan Kettle.

I used this silicone tubing:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FMYW4I/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and it worked out great.

I just use my pot for boiling water. I tried using a DIY reflectix pot cozy on my pot and actually cooking with it, but didn't care for it. However, I use a cozy on my plastic food bowl with lid and it works great.

Silk Bandana. I already carry it, so no extra weight. Has a multitude of uses besides potholder, especially since it's 3'x3'.