custom Lite Trail cook Kit

[DAN-Y]

Just checking in to see how things are going with the custom Toaks pots. Should I build more kits and what size pots? Anyone experiencing problems?

[Matthew / BPL]

Dan, I have only two pieces of gear that I am 100% satisfied with. One of them is my handleless 550 cone setup. It fits my needs perfectly. I use it exclusively with Esbit 4g tablets. I’m using a 4Dog lid which saves a few grams. It’s a dream. Thank you for putting the kit together for us.

[Erik Hagen]

I’d certainly buy one.  Pot preference would be the 550.

[Michael Schwartz]

Dan,

How about a 750 size pot?

[Eric Blumensaadt]

James,

 

Nice looking outfit. Have you done any boil time testing?

I have a TD system with the Sidewinder stove, 3 cup Open Country anodized aluminum pot & lid and Inferno gassier woodturning insert.

My most common use is with ESBIT. I’ve made my version of the Brian Green fuel tab holder which is to use the original Gram Cracker fuel holder with an aluminum insert that has 1/8″ sides to contain all the liquid residue for a much longer burn time. Using this setup with just one standard size ESBIT fuel tablet I can boil 2 cups of water and simmer it for 13 minutes (after bringing it to a boil) to cook spaghetti.

So far it seems the Caldera Cone system is the optimum setup for ESBIT use. Its protected windscreen and especially the directed heat seem to be the key elements.

I do use the Inferno insert for winter camping as I have to melt snow in a 2 liter JetBoil pot for water and that requires a lot of fuel. Like ESBIT, when cooking with wood you must clean the pot after each use.

 

 

 

 

[DAN-Y]

Eric, how does the Toaks 900 (wide) measure up to your 3 cup Open Country comparing in size/weight?

http://toaksoutdoor.com/titanium900mlpot.aspx

Toaks 900 wide

Titanium
Weight:

Pot with Lid: 3.6 oz (102g)  Pot only: 2.6 oz (73g)
Capacity:

30 oz (900ml) (measured to the top of rim)
Diameter:

5 1/8″ (130mm) (internal)
Height:

2 5/8″ (68mm)

[DAN-Y]

Ok, Eric is not available. did a google for info.

Open country weighs 3.8 oz.  Toaks weighs 3.6 oz.

 

Open country volume 850 ml  Toaks volume 900ml

 

Open Country dimensions 2.625 x 5.375   Toaks  5 1/8″ dia. x 2 5/8 deep

 

So I conclude the Toaks 900 is better than the Open Country 3 cup.

I’ll be making kits using the Toaks 900, Toaks 550 light and Toaks 750 light.

 

[Clifford Deakyne]

Dan

Interesting that you mix decimals and fractions for the dimensions.  OC is supposedly smaller at 850 ml but is the same height and 0.25″ larger in diameter.  Unless the dimensions are ID versus outside of lip, that makes the OC almost 10% larger volume than the Toaks.

No issue though,since I don’t think you can get the OC 3 cup any more!

[DAN-Y]

Clifford, quick search and post, you get what I copy :-)))

That’s correct……………no more OC3’s  That leaves us with the Toaks 900. The handles on it are thin and awesome. All the comforts of an all around great pot for the right person.

[Eric Blumensaadt]

Dan, I measured my Open Country 3 cup pot outside diameter at 5 1/8″. Inside is 4 7/8″.

If the OC  3 cup is no longer available then the TOAKS is your pot. Is TD no longer offering the 3 cup sidewinder option?

Both pots are so close in dimensions that they have virtually the same height-to-width ratio. It’s that ratio which makes them most fuel efficient when compared to taller, “skinnier” pots and mugs. And when ESBIT is the fuel that efficiency is paramount.  Besides, I like my plastic measuring/drinking cup and cut down plastic ZipLoc bowl arrangement. Usually for me these few extra ounces is worth avoiding the “one mug” cook set aggravation.

When it comes to handles I prefer aluminum pot grippers B/C I also use them on my “one egg” skillet for frying freeze-dried omelette, pancakes and, in winter, sliced ham. I love COSTCO’s spiral sliced ham baked with dozens of cloves stuck all over in the slices. Mmmmmm…

Yeah, the frying pan is more weight but usually worth it for the eggs and pancakes. I “live to eat”, like the French, not “eat to live” like the Russians.

 

[DAN-Y]

Eric, here is what’s being said over at trail designs about the ultra light Toaks 900:
“”This is the LIGHTEST 900ml pot you can buy!   The highly popular 900ml titanium pots that most ultralight hikers use now has a new superultralight entrant! The good folks at Toaks have come up with a killer design that is lighter than all the current brands out there and works with our Sidewinder!  It includes large fold out insulated handles and a mesh stuff sack with a pocket for your spork or lighter!

Features:

Thinner titanium material reduces pack weight
Formed and rolled edge provides extra strength
Insulated handles
Vented lid
Handles folds away for  compact storage
Mesh stuff sack with storage sleeve””

When I was stationed in France back in 66-67 I ate like the locals did. Horse meat,  available only one day per week. Rabbit with heads left on when cooked, usually stewed, snails and frog legs and also tripe. I have narrowed down my eating to freezer bag cooking Mountain House meals and one cuppa to wash it down with. Treats are usually Atkins protein bars (peanut butter :-)) 5min max to rehydrate a Mountain House dinner. I have 2 Toaks 900 pots I’m working on for my wife and I.

[Donna C]

Dan, I am happy with my set up.  In fact, I am headed out this morning for a long day hike up in the Shenandoah’s and will bring it along for some hot soup for lunch. Solo hiking has it’s moments of pleasure.  : )

[DAN-Y]

Thanks Donna for the update:)  I get out into the woods every day to listen to the birds and squirrels. In the evening hours flocks of geese settle in on the river and do their honking. Owls hoot every evening close by. Can’t get enough of it :)

[Gregory Stein]

Oh, is it just me walking very carefully to not step on scorpion or snake in Negev Desert?

I gave this little setup a try. Wow. I have a 650ml Toaks Light pot with ridge made by Dan. So I tested a different for me way to cook:

I boil the water (usually 14-16 minutes with Starlyte-Modified-Modified stove, does it have a name yet?)

then I put some coucous into Cook-in ziploc bag from packitgourmet.com

I pour half of the water into the bag

Then in the remaining half I put a tea bag

Then put the ziploc bag with couscous and water back into the pot (with tea bag)

Put the pot into cozy

Wait

Viola! Tasty dinner + cup of tea! I eat out of zipoloc bag (yeah, long handled spoon/chopsticks!) and drink tea out of pot.

 

 

This setup is really hits that most UL threshold for me:

pot + lid: 80 gram

starlyte-MM: 16 gram

TD cone: 21 gram

reusable cook-in bag: 8 gram

mini bic lighter: 11 gram

250ml fuel container: 8 gram

long spoon: 12 gram

wood chopsticks: 6 gram

TOTAL: 162 grams for total kitchen. WOW

as for boiling times, yes they are on a longer side. But who care? As for efficiency, I couldn’t get two rolling boils out of single starlyte-MM in this setup. At the late phase of burning (10 minutes or so) a great flame comes out of cone holes. I suppose this is because the whole thing get really hot and causes intense vaporization of alcohol. I need to test it more scientifically. So don’t count too much on my feedback.

I also tried Isopropyl alcohol. Got faster boils (10-12 minutes) but the soot oh that’s SOOOOOT… is terrible. And please don’t do this in tent. The smell is bad. It could be toxic.

[DAN-Y]

Gregory, it’s easy to see the scorpions and snakes in the desert. Where I am(in the woodlands) it’s hard to see the timber rattlesnakes and the aligators that come in from the cypress sloughs. I have to walk(slowly) and watch very carefully ;)

I heat my water to almost boiling, pour into ziploc bag, wait 5 min. and eat. No cozy needed. I use Mountain House meals bought in bulk and repackaged into meal size. I use less than recommended water and wait time for efficiency. :-)

Glad the kit is working well for you.

 

[Thomas Willard]

Dan- I have the 750 that you made for me. I use esbit 70% of the time. Two 4 gram cubes gets me water hot enough for food and coffee.  Lately I’ve been using the Starlyte alcohol burner in lieu of esbit and love it.

I replaced the stock lid with a Ruta Lucora lid and put everything into my GG Warm Sack. By using the warm sack, I don’t miss having handles at all. I put on some snow peak hot lips and it’s just like using an insulated mug.

What I really wish you were making are more Starlyte XL’s with that pot support that wraps around it when not in use.

[Gregory Stein]

Yes, starlyte XL is awesome stove. I use it more often than small versions. Also they fit wonderfully in narrow top pots.

[Diane Pinkers]

Is there any benefit to using the XL over the regular Starlyte,  in terms of faster boil times? Can the XL be used in the Trail designs cone?

[Gregory Stein]

Yes and yes, but it will be less efficient because the vaporization is more intense (after the fuel gets hot it will burn faster). XL stove is more an overnighter stove in my opinion. Also, if you are going to use it with cone, order one with smaller opening or with a valve.

[Diane Pinkers]

With a valve? How does that work? I missed that iteration of the stove.

[DAN-Y]

The XL is the stove of the future. It works well in the cones after I modified it. When I migrate to the “North”  in the Spring of 2017 I will start to make the XL in large quantities. The one with a sliding valve was made for drought stricken areas to conform to fire regulations that a stove must have a shut-off valve. Adapt and survive ;)

[DAN-Y]

I did 7 tests with the Toaks 900 being supported by a ridge on top of a Straight Wall windscreen.

3 cups of 55 degree water (start temp) was brought to a boil and continued to boil for approx. 2 min. using 1 standard size Esbit cube. This occurred in all 7 tests.

There was a slight breeze while doing the tests outside.

The windscreen fits vertical inside the pot hugging the wall of the pot. The windscreen is welded in a complete circle and is easily placed in and out of the pot. I won’t be able to make a video until after the Thanksgiving holiday. Leaving on vacation Monday morning.

The diameter of the pot is such that a straight wall support is very stable.

Here is what the pot looks like on top of the windscreen/support:

[Packman Pete]

So Dan, the straight wall windscreen fits inside the pot, hugging the inner wall?? When the windscreen is holding up the pot, it is a larger diameter than the pot. When it is tucked inside the pot, it is a smaller diameter than the pot. So, does it bow or flex when it is inside the pot? How does it fit?

On the other hand, if this performs similarly to the TD sidewinder, but fits in the pot with a lot of room left over, you have a winner on your hands. I would buy both a 900mL and a 550mL version if/when they become available.

[DAN-Y]

Pete, the windscreen/support has a small part that sticks out from the wall while in storage and that little part makes it easy t grab hold of when comes time to remove it from the pot. Plenty room for utensils inside pot.

[Packman Pete]

Thanks, Dan. It looks awesome!

BPL’ers, you should get excited for this.

[Author]

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