Ultralight Bowl?

[Rocco Speranza]

Currently I use the cup on the bottom of my Jetboil.
http://shop.jetboil.com/index.php/spare-parts-group/sol-aluminum-spare-parts.html

It works well,

has measuring marks
big enough for what I eat
light
Keeps me from having to clean out my who pot when I make oatmeal.

Minus the plastic connectors that are supposed to hold it onto the Jetboil.
When I go to clean it out those seems to make it harder as my towel gets caught on them and food gets stuck in them.

I have looked for a bowl similar to this that is that light weight, but couldn't find one. Any suggestions?

[rOg w]

deleted

[Rob E]

You can try using a small round ziploc container. I use the "ziploc Twist 'n'loc" size small. It works great. Lightweight and inexpensive, about $1.50 per bowl.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/ZIP-TWIST-ROUND-2C/14862647

http://www.ziploc.com/Products/Pages/TwistLocContainers.aspx?SizeName=Small

I can't recall the weight off hand, but it is lighter than any bowl I've come across. I don't take the lid, and I shaved off the lip around the threads because I didn't need it. The bowl fits very nicely in my 900ml Ti pot.

[Steven Paris]

Do you still want it to go on the bottom of your JetBoil?

If not, you could dremel those tabs off, leaving behind the 3 or 4 indentions that would make a handy spoon rest.

[Rocco Speranza]

Yeah, I don't want to modify it because I might sell the Jetboil one day. Also, that wouldn't really fix one of the problems of my towel getting caught on the non-smooth edges. I also should note I use a 1.3l Ti-Tri now.

Wish they would make that Snowpeak 1oz, but could be an option. The Jetboil cup is 1.1oz if I remember right. I keep forgetting to use the plastic wear as stated above. One problem I might have with those is food staining, but I think I'll have to try some and see if they work.

Anyone know a more ultralight version of the Snowpeak? Smaller and a little thinner?

[BlackHatGuy]

The Cotton Bowl? Generally some lightweights in that one…..

[Marc Shea]

I would take a look at GSI. They make several different sizes of bowls that may be able to fit on the bottom of the jetboil.

http://www.gsioutdoors.com/activities/pdp/ultralight_nesting_bowl_mug-_orange/ultralight_backpacking

They are usually about $8 for the set of two. Individually they will come close to your 1 ounce weight limit. I believe that a set that I have has gradations, however you would want to double check.

Secondly, you might consider the Snowpeak silicone bowls http://www.snowpeak.com/accessories/http-www-snowpeak-com-accessories-parts-html/hybrid-trail-silicone-bowl.html or http://www.snowpeak.com/accessories/http-www-snowpeak-com-accessories-parts-html/silicone-cup-for-mini-solo.html

Finally, maybe the titanium cup from snowpeak http://www.snowpeak.com/accessories/http-www-snowpeak-com-accessories-parts-html/mini-solo-cup.html this is my go to mug and bowl, and fits over the bottom of another set that I have.

[Dale Wambaugh]

The Snowpeak Ti bowl is bargain. For a plastic bowl, the ones used by Panda Express (fast Asian food) are a great freebie. I'll have to look for a Ziplock that fits my pot and stove– I like that idea, keeping the pack clutter down.

[John Rowan]

I've heard a number of people recommend the Kraft single-serving Easy Mac bowls (obviously, you can eat or dump the Mac as you please). I have one in my food bag and don't really use it, but it's plenty functional. It's cheap, light (I think something like 0.6 oz), durable enough, and reasonably heat-resistant.

I'm talking about these: http://www.amazon.com/Kraft-Easy-Triple-Cheese-Microwave/dp/B0029K38GC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1370552787&sr=8-4&keywords=easy+mac

[Rocco Speranza]

I forgot about those Mac and Cheese Bowls!
If I remember right, they have graduations on them as well?

I'll have to get some next time I go to the store.

[Barry Cuthbert]

Cut the bottom 5-6cm off a plastic 2 litre milk bottle.

[David Thomas]

+1, Barry, on the bottom of a HDPE milk carton. One quart, half-gallon or one-gallon, depending on the diameter you want. Cut to be as deep as you want (using sturdy scissors is FAR safer and more controlled than using a razor knife). Especially if you cut them somewhat shallowly, something between a plate and a bowl, you can stack multiple ones together. That's what I do for family trips and something I recommended for Scout groups looking to save weight or money. Otherwise, as a single bowl, I'd look for that diameter into which my stove barely fits.

If you're lactose intolerant or you object to the subjugation of diary cows, you can dumpster-dive at the recycling center (Number 2 Plastics HDPE – high density polyethylene) and an unlimited number for free. It will smell of sour milk, but HDPE goes through the dishwasher just fine (it has higher AND lower temperature limits than other common plastics).

If you want a thicker plastic (but I've never had the milk jugs fail), detergent jugs and kitty litter also come in HDPE containers, but are thicker (and often more rectangular in shape. Again, run it through the very hot water and caustic detergent wash of a dishwasher prior to use and after a trip.

HDPE is wonderous stuff. Food grade. Resists many solvents (gasoline, alcohol). Maximum Temperature: 248°F / 120°C – so you can use it as a dipper in boiling water. Minimum Temperature: -148°F / -100°C – I use it to -40F, it is the base of most skis, and dog-sled runners and sees -55F in that application. It doesn't glue well, but repairs can be made with hot air welding or, my favorite in the field – lighting a strip on fire and dribbling the molten drops into the area to be repaired.

[Eric Blumensaadt]

I used a GLAD fridge bowl. Once I cut 1/2 inch off the top it fit perferctly inside my small 3 cup cook pot that I use for solo cooking.

For winter with a 1 L. JetBoil pot I use something a bit larger, a Cool Whip bowl and lid. The lid keeps food warm if you have to attend to something while eating such as getting more snow to melt or refilling a fuel bottle.

[John Rowan]

There is one marking inside (it's a "fill to here" line for the mac). I just did a quick check and it's 3/4 of a cup.

[Dale Wambaugh]

You can get fruit juices in the HDPE jugs too if you want to avoid the cow-ness. I've used the bottom of a gallon size for a wash basin, dog dish, salad bowl and paint tray to boot (not all the same jug, mind you). Could make a good rain hat if it fits :) They don't weigh much, and you can stuff them full of other items so they don't take up much pack space.

[Justin Baker]

Cotton kills, you should know this Doug.

[Jani Kikuts]

A simple insulated 3 cup ziploc bowl, thought about making my own but in reality would spend at least $15 on the components. Weighs 1-7/8 ounces and insulates very well. http://www.antigravitygear.com/antigravitygear-3-cup-bowl-cozy.html

Hey All,

I was at the store a couple days ago and in walking past the Mac&Cheese and I remembered this post, so I grabbed one of the single serving bowls (cost me 89 cents) and just threw it onto my scale.

It looks to be (after taking off the wrapper):

11.97 grams
0.422 ounces

Capacity I would put at somewhere around 480ml, maybe a little less, so call it 16 ounces.

Next I fired up my JetBoil to get some super hot water going and poured it into the little bowl and it held its shape. It did soften up a bit, but it held its shape enough to be usable. To be expected, it is designed to go into the microwave.

Anyway, now we know.

+John Abela

[John S.]

Abela, that is what I use at work to eat my oatmeal out of..lol. Nice size.

[Ken Strayer]

Lots of good suggestions so far. My only comment is not all HDPE plastics are food grade, and not all plastics in general are food grade. Ensure it is a food grade container before using. Non food grade containers are known to leach chemicals from the plastic into the contents of the container.

[David Thomas]

Ken,

My thought about HDPE being food grade is that there are not plasticizers or residue of precursor chemicals (e.g. Bisphenol A (BPA) left behind in polycarbonate), etc used in HDPE production or molding. Nor am I not concerned about low-toxicity contents that are highly soluble (drain cleaner, alcohols, etc) because I wash all containers throughly . I wouldn't reuse a container that had held high-toxicity materials like pesticide.

But if you know of a formulation of HDPE that isn't food-grade, please post or send me a citation.

[Rocco Speranza]

Thanks John!

I'll probably stop past the store tonight since I forgot over the weekend.
That should put my bowl/Spoon at 1oz.

[J C]

I've just been inspired to use one of those bowls the Asian takeaway places use down here to put soup in. They are about 1L, very light, somehow quite insulating (can pick up with hot soup in it) and come with a lid. Might post a pic next time I get one.

[Corey Downing]

I've been "collecting" #5 PP plastics from yogurt and sour cream containers, even made a cozy for the 16oz sour cream container. I assumed that since these containers are dishwasher safe and come with lightweight lids that I'm OK to use them but I'm open to enlightenment.

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