I need to finalize a camp cook set and I really like the functionality of some of the GSI cook sets, but they are heavy. I was thinking then on just buying a small ti pot. However, recently I was told that you can only boil water in ti and not cook in it. Is this true? Is there a good compromise between a 3 oz ti pot and a 10 oz aluminum or SS one? Thanks.
Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6800
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
I prefer anodized aluminum for real cooking--it distributes heat so much better and is far less apt to end up with scorched food stuck to inside. It's worth the extra couple of ounces! Of course, I rarely cook--just boil water to rehydrate my home-dried (or occasionally supermarket) food. Titanium is fine for that. I do take a small aluminum fry pan when I'm fishing, just on the off chance I might catch something. It's less than an ounce more than a Ti fry pan.
For those on a budget, consider the Stanco grease pot (just toss the grease filter). Amazon has it for about $10 and you may still find one for less at KMart as I did. Yes, it gets dented after a while so is good for only 2-3 years, but you can buy half a dozen for the price of one Ti pot. Because it's thin, though, it's primarily for boiling water.
Edited by OregonMouse (03/02/1512:10 PM)
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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey
Beber, I run the GSI Pinnacle Dualist (have 2) and Soloist (only one). They are really not that heavy when you consider what all they have in them and nothing says you have to take everything that comes with the kit (though we shucked the cheapy collapsable sporks on the first opening and replaced them with nylon-like $0.89 centers out of REI. Much better, easier to clean, and can't scratch the inside of the pots). If you don't want all 4 bowls and such, leave two at home, etc. That I can keep my MSR stove, fuel, cooking oil (small nagalene-like canister), cleaning gear and everything else in side of either of them saves room.
I was sold on them the first time I saw them when someone else in our group was using them. I wondered why he spent the extra $$$ on the Pinnacle vs. the regular. He deliberately burned a pair of eggs, handed me the regular one and it took some significant scrubbing over half an hour to get most of it out. He simply flipped the pinnacle upside down, tapped the bottom, then wiped out the residue with a paper towel. Six seconds or less and good to go!
Two years and probably 60 trips later they still look/perform brand new. Add to that I get bored and cook things like rice, pasta, or stuffing at my desk while I'm on the computer (it's fun and amuses the cats), and have even used them on the stove at home (gas) when trying new things before taking them on the trail and so far I'm 1,100% satisfied. Easy to cook with, consistent, strong, clean, and remain in new condition for ages? What's not to like for around $50-65?
x2 on the dualist. Ours has been used and used and still functions as new. Pasta with the lid with strainer, scrambled eggs with no sticking. I've had lots of cookware, I'll never use anything else. I choose to carry the little extra weight for my wife and I because it's just so darn functional and we can eat really well with it.
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