Cook kit upgrade and pot comparison

[Bob Shuff]

Looking for advice on a pot upgrade for my solo cook kit.  I currently have a Toaks Light 650 with a Flat Cat Gear Snow Leopard screen/stove.  I’ve replaced the lid with a Ruta Locura Lid #2, and have it in the standard Toaks orange mesh stuff sack.  It’s a respectable 5.2 oz, including a DIY cozy and and a piece of carbon felt.  It’s not my lightest cook kit, but one I still use often, and I’m thinking of upgrading.

My initial issue was the lack of volume markings on the pot.  I know I could scratch on some lines or make markings on a spoon, but I would rather have a pot with markings.  Another issue is not having a good coffee cup that fits inside it – at least not with the wind screen and two titanium bars that hold the screen together.  3rd issue is I sometimes wish I had just a little more room for boiling water – not a lot, but a little more would be good.

One option (maybe the cheapest) is a newer Toaks 650, but it doesn’t solve my 2nd and 3rd issues.   Another option is an Evernew 700ml Pasta Pot (ECA521) or the Evernew Titanium Stacking Set 750/400ml (ECA278).  I think I can use the Ruta Locura lid on any of these – I’m not giving that up!  The Pasta Pot might fit a Snow Peak double wall 300 stacking mug.  The Evernew Stacking set would provide the mug and even a little more room for about the same overall weight when you compare the SP 300 to the Evernew 400.

Does anyone have the Evernew Pots and could recommend one over the other?  The Pasta Pot seems to get a lot of recommendations, but they may not want to have a separate coffee or tea cup.  I am willing to spend a few ounces on one for the convenience.

Thanks in advance for your advice.  Stay well!

[Bob Shuff]

I realized cook kit posts without photos are boring.  Here’s some recent #Coffeeoutside during a pandemic pics.  The pot is a Toaks 550 with no handles, but this is the Snow Leopard cook set that I’m planning to use with the new pot.

In case some are wondering why the separate cup?  This is why.  I might take instant/via packets some times, but other times I want something better.  I know that I’m not the only one.  This is the GSI Ultralight Java Dripcone, which weighs 10g / 0.3 oz on my scale (paper filter optional).

Another good coffee option is the Aeropress at 181g / 6.3 oz, and you can skip the separate coffee cup.  If you are going that far you might consider the Porlex Mini grinder (shown above) at 245g / 8.4 oz – it will nest inside the Aeropress!

I’ve been making my coffee on the weekends for a change of pace, and this is one of the reasons I was looking at upgrading my cook pot.  Who else is getting outside to make coffee like you would on the trail?

If you haven’t heard it BPL did a podcast on Backcountry coffee: https://backpackinglight.com/podcast-021-coffee-backpacking-backcountry/

 

[Jameson T]

Bob,

Why not just get the Toaks 750ml pot? Same as what you have currently but a little taller. Would then still fit the Ruta Locura lid, give you extra boil room, has volume markings on the side. It’s much cheaper than the Evernew and lighter if you go for the version without the handles. It can also nest a 450ml cup inside.

I also think the Evernew diameter is wider than the Toaks you have now so the carbon fiber lid wouldn’t fit.

Also – not to derail your thread but which Aeropress only weighs 6.3oz? Weight listed online shows 8oz for the standard and I’ve been unable to find a weigh listed for the Aeropress Go (sans included cup).

[Bob Shuff]

I think it’s just the original Aeropress, with the two main parts, metal disk filter and filter cap.  I checked it again and it’s still 6.3 oz.  They may have included some or all of the other parts: stir, scoop, and funnel, but they are completely unecessary.  I’ve considered the Aeropress Go – more for business travel than backpacking.  It’s lighter and has a smaller chamber, but comes with a cup and lid that it fits in.

Toaks 750 is another option. I was not aware of the handless version of the 750 – it’s almost an ounce lighter.

Ruta Locura doesn’t sell the lids anymore (sigh), but the website lists the stacking set and campanion cup as working with the lid I have.  I guess I thought it listed the pasta pot, but it doesn’t – good catch.  Always a tradeoff!

Does anyone has the weight breakdown for the stacking set pot and lid?

It seems the lightest option would be the Toaks 750 w/o handles, then the Pasta pot, but if I include cups in the mix the stacking set comes out ahead.

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

Snow Peak French Press?  It’s a little skinny.

https://snowpeak.com/products/titanium-french-press-cs-111

Bestargot Camping French Press Cafetiere

https://www.amazon.com/Bestargot-Cafetiere-Titanium-Multi-Functional-Capacity/dp/B0822FPSFT

 

[Eric Blumensaadt]

My go-to pot for all my backpacking stoves is the Open Country 3 cup anodized aluminum one that came with my Trail Designs titanium Sidewinder stove (Caldera Cone).

This pot has an idea height:width ratio that is most efficient. Tall and narrow ti “mug/pots” are inefficient in terms of fuel use. I need that efficiency when using ESBIT fuel tabs, my favorite non-canister fuel.

I’d get a CF lid if I could find one that fits but for now I use a DIY lid made from a disposable  aluminum pie pan since it’s lighter than the aluminum lid it came with.

[Bob Shuff]

Another weekend #coffeeoutside, this time with a new Flat Cat Gear Snow Leopard 2.0 stove from @jonfong.  I bought the Snow Leopard kit from him a couple of years ago, and while talking to him about pots decided to buy his upgraded stove.  It’s only 4 grams (6 with the sizer that also protects it from getting bent, or can be used to fix it if it does).

I boiled at least 2.5 cups in about 6 minutes and let it run a little longer while I pre-heated the airpress screen and cup, and some water to let the coffee bloom.  Then I filled the Airpress chamber and used the pot bottom to extinguish the stove and pur the excess alcohol back into my container.  I’m guessing it would have only taken 15-20 ml of fuel.  Granted it’s very good conditions, but I was impressed by the speed and efficiency for such a simple and lightweight stove.

The pot this week was a Snow Peak Mini-Solo that I handed down to my son a few years back.  I wanted to try the taller pot and have decided to go with an Evernew Titanium Cup FD60 (EBY270R).  The small Pasta Pot was a contender, but too narrow for my carbon fiber lid.  I thought about the Toaks 750 NH as recommended as well – but the 9 extra grams for the handles is worth it to me.  Thanks all for the recommendations.  I’ll post another #coffeeoutside when the new pot arrives – hopefully from somewhere better than the back patio.

 

 

[Bob Shuff]

closer shot of the Snow Leopard 2.0 stove and setup.  Note the stove is sitting on a small metal disk I have from somewhere.  It probably isn’t necessary since the stove requires no priming.

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