GSI Halulite Double Boiler or Similar?

Posted by: Mumblez

GSI Halulite Double Boiler or Similar? - 06/22/08 11:41 AM

I'm looking for a new pot for my alcohol stove setup. I currently have an Evernew .9L Non-stick Titanium Pot. The downside to this pot is that titanium doesn't work nearly as well as Aluminum at boiling water, and it is a little wobbly on top of my Brasslite.

I really like the look of the .5 liter part of the GSI Double Boiler. It would be the perfect size and the aluminum should boil water faster than my titanium pot.

Unfortunately, no stores in my area sell the GSI Double Boiler. Does anyone have any suggestions on a pot that is similar to this one in size and materials?
Posted by: sarbar

Re: GSI Halulite Double Boiler or Similar? - 06/23/08 09:16 PM

Reason why is it was discontinued this past year - since they brought out the Soloist and Dualist <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> The Soloist is pretty much the same, just better thought out.
Posted by: gmagnes

Re: GSI Halulite Double Boiler or Similar? - 06/24/08 06:40 AM

Sarbar
Is the soloist built to use as a double boiler? Looked from the photos like the insulated, smaller pot wasn't designed as a double boiler. Is that incorrect?
thanks
Gerry
Posted by: Mumblez

Re: GSI Halulite Double Boiler or Similar? - 06/24/08 10:09 AM

The new GSI Soloist Cook System is probably the one I'll end up getting. It is only one pot, so no double boiler and the single pot is much larger than I need. I was looking for a pot closer to .5L. I'm also not sure if the pot will be stable on top of my Brasslite stove.

GSI Soloist:

http://www.rei.com/product/768512
Posted by: lori

Re: GSI Halulite Double Boiler or Similar? - 06/24/08 07:45 PM

Altrec.com is selling off the double boiler for 21 bucks.
Posted by: sarbar

Re: GSI Halulite Double Boiler or Similar? - 06/24/08 07:53 PM

I had the Double Boiler for a couple years and found all I used 99% of the time was the big pot of the two. It was pretty much a Soloist without all the fancy doodads <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
The little pot was ok, but really too small to use. Probably the best thing GSI did was redesign the handle. On the original Double Boiler the handles were BAD. They liked to flop.

Personally I would recommend a Ti or steel cup instead of the small part of the old style double boiler. More stable for boiling a cup of water.

Now, if one wanted it for snow melting? Then yes, a good buy!
Posted by: Franco

Re: GSI Halulite Double Boiler or Similar? - 06/24/08 09:25 PM

Two great myths:
Titanium is lighter than aluminum
Aluminum boils faster

Titanium is heavier than aluminum but stronger, hence the walls are usually thinner so the pots are lighter. For a boil only use, because the walls are thinner they will heat up your water at about the same rate as a similar sized/shaped aluminum pot.
Keep in mind that a wider pot is usually more efficient than a taller one. IE 500ml will boil about 20% faster inside a 13cm wide pot than a 8cm mug even using a narrow flame.
Franco
Posted by: gmagnes

Re: GSI Halulite Double Boiler or Similar? - 06/25/08 07:13 AM

I have the double boiler and like it. I tend to use it to keep things warm (such as soup) while I'm boiling water or making pasta or rice in the larger pot, which is very nice. In effect, the smaller pot serves as a cover for the larger pot while boiling water. I also found that despite its small circumference, I could make a scrambled egg for myself in the small pot in the morning, so it served me as a skillet as well. Also, the smaller pot served well as a pot to eat soup out of. There are lighter setups, but all in all, I've found it to be a pretty functional combination of pots.
I do agree about the handle design though--it's clumsy. I've been tempted to just take them off and use a pot grabber, which would also make use of cozy easier as well.
Gerry Magnes
Schenectady, NY