I was surpised at Canoecopia this weekend that I was unable to find more nesting cook kits. (I found some at 2 different booths) I have beem digging around on the internet for about and half an hour now, and have found several different ones. I am just surprised I thought that there would be a wider variety. My group has shrunk from 6 to 2 this year so we are looking at getting a smaller cook set. What do people use? I have always used a nesting cook kit of some sort. Do most others use nested systems? Or is there a better option?

I like the GSI I just purhased. For me my group size got bigger... From 1 or 2 to 3 or 4. So I got the medium size with the 3 liter pot. But they have the smaller ones too. I think you should shop them carefully though to make sure you get what you want. I saw a Gander Mountain somewhere on the way home to MN from Copia.

I had... or still have the Blacklite from MSR which is a great option too.

Checkout Campmor for cook-sets/ any camping gear.
I just got their early spring catalog and they have all the name brands and a few I wasn't familiar with. A big selection of the GSI brand too.

Checkout Campmor for cook-sets/ any camping gear.
I just got their early spring catalog and they have all the name brands and a few I wasn't familiar with. A big selection of the GSI brand too.

I like the titanium line from Evernew largely because they offer a nice variety of pot sizes so you can mix and match to your own needs and still have everything nest.  They are wonderfully light weight.  The two problems with them, and I think this is true for all titanium pots, is that, because they are so thin you have to pay attention when cooking because there will be a hot spot.  The second thing is the non stick surface.  While its there its great and so far I've had no problems (only used my set for 1 season so far) but others have reported that the stuff peels and comes off which is not only a nuisance but somewhat of a health hazard as well.  That being said it is difficult to find titanium cookware that doesn't incorporate nonstick surfacing which I find annoying.

I have generally gone with the MSR line (after I finally got tired of the taste of aluminum from my old Camp Trails cook set).  My preferences (from least to most) are:

Alpine Classic (stainless steel)
Blacklite (coated aluminum)
Duralite (anodized aluminum)
Titan (titanium; uncoated)

All of my sets have at least a 2 liter pot and a fry pan (some of which require "upgrades" to have these components). The prices and weights of the sets roughly parallel my preferences ... higher preference; higher price; lower weight.  Unfortunately, if you want to go with an upgraded titanium set, you'd better be prepared to plunk down the price of a decent tent (unless you find them on sale, as I did).

The best overall choice (IMO) is the duralite set.

dd

p.s. If you decide to go with MSR stainless, let me know.  I can probably set you up at a price cheaper than you can buy (I need to make room for more stuff!).  I have a 3 pot set, a 2 pot set, a couple of the pots from the stowaway series, and a heat exchanged.  All are new, in original packaging.

Another vote for the MSR sets.
Trangia are good too.

I pack 2 of the smaller Trangia pots with non-stick & 1 MSR 1L pot that's just plain aluminum.  The MSR is firepit sooty while the teflons are kept clean.

It all packs up nice with my full Trangia kit.  A little extra weight, but with nice benefits of being able to have tea/coffee/hot chocolate around the campfire without having to burn fuel & deal with the stove.

What I have trouble finding are nesting pots with bails.

Preacher wrote on Mar 16^th, 2011 at 5:47pm:

What I have trouble finding are nesting pots with bails.

What I've added to my cooking set is one of   (You need to Login or Register (they are also available as a non-stick coated product).  My Titan set (inside its stuff sack) fits inside this "billy pot" and my skillet is parked on the bottom, with a small section of camping towel material to minimize rubbing, soot transfer, and racket.  This pot is the one that goes over the fire and is used for meals involving a large volume of liquid (e.g., soups, cooking pasta, etc.).  All of this is inside a nylon stuff sack that I stitched together.  This keeps soot particles on the sides of the pot from transferring to other things inside my kitchen pack.

dd

Thanks dd!  Yeah a pot bag is essential.  

DentonDoc wrote on Mar 16^th, 2011 at 6:11pm:

Preacher wrote on Mar 16th, 2011 at 5:47pm: What I have trouble finding are nesting pots with bails. What I've added to my cooking set is one of   (You need to Login or Register (they are also available as a non-stick coated product).  My Titan set (inside its stuff sack) fits inside this "billy pot" and my skillet is parked on the bottom, with a small section of camping towel material to minimize rubbing, soot transfer, and racket.  This pot is the one that goes over the fire and is used for meals involving a large volume of liquid (e.g., soups, cooking pasta, etc.).  All of this is inside a nylon stuff sack that I stitched together.  This keeps soot particles on the sides of the pot from transferring to other things inside my kitchen pack. dd

Glad to see someone else brings a big pot.  I have enjoyed the larger pot's versatility.  Mine is old and probably heavier than yours DD, but I nest everything else inside.  

prouboy

I feel foolish I never considered combining a pot or 2 from our previous set with a new smaller verision that the 2 of can use.
My intial thought was that we wanted a 2 pots, and frying pan. Then I question, do we really need a 2nd pot? Most of our meals are simple one pot meals. A couple times a trip we will make mashed potatoes or similar add on. Is the 2nd pot really necessary? Do we really need a frying pan? Could we simply cook the fish on the fire or use a pot. Ahh the details we consider in March with our trip still months away?
DD why do all your sets seem to not have the non stick coating? Do you feel the non stick does not hold up well? Is it a flavor issue?

"What I've added to my cooking set is one of THESE"


I've got a couple of "those"  - the bail always falls down and gets too hot to handle IF I don't jam a couple of matchsticks in between the bail wire and the pivot   I suppose I might be able to crimp the bend at the ends of the bail a bit to make it tighter, but matchsticks work


trouble finding pots with bial handles ?    a drill, and coat hanger can cure that -  I've even just pounded a couple of nail holes into aluminum pots to use for the coat hanger wire, but a drill is definitely neater

I usually keep a glove handy to handle those hot bails, but I like the matchstick idea.

I have made bails out of picture hanging wire before. It is stiff enough to stand up on its own, but flexible enough to fold or twist or lay down for storage.

Pat

Chicken092 wrote on Mar 17^th, 2011 at 12:08pm:

Is the 2nd pot really necessary? Do we really need a frying pan? Could we simply cook the fish on the fire or use a pot. Ahh the details we consider in March with our trip still months away? DD why do all your sets seem to not have the non stick coating? Do you feel the non stick does not hold up well? Is it a flavor issue?

I take more pots and necessary, I'm sure.  But then I don't like to clean pots in the middle of food prep.  And, since most of my cooking is over a stove (actually 2 stoves), I try to select a pot that reflects the volume of food I'm preparing (I'm thinking less wasted fuel to heat a larger pot than necessary).  Two stoves are used frequently.  For example, (a) start the pasta sauce re-hydrating (warm water, set aside), (b) start the pasta cooking, (c) cook the bread (and set aside; either transfer to another container to retain heat or cover the skillet with a melamine plate to keep the heat in ... the plate is also used as a cutting board or a place to plop the fried fish on a paper towel), (d) put the pasta sauce back on the fire for final cooking/heating.  That's 2 pots, a skillet and a plate  (and two stoves).  The bread was probably mixed in a plastic bowl ... I generally take two with lids ... the second is where I mix up the no-bake cheesecake.  They nest inside the smallest pot for transport.  I mentioned that a skillet caps one end of my larger pot.  The melamine plate is on the other end.  (BTW:  The plate was not something I had around the house.  I intentionally went looking for one.  The stuff is indestructible.  I sometimes even use it as a plate!)

Do I really need a fry pan?  No, I take TWO! (They come from other cooksets and both are coated)   I don't often fry fish, its more like pan seared. But I also use a skillet for fry bread, biscuits (fixed like fry bread) and pan cakes.  To minimize the amount of oil used, it is usually mixed with the batter.  All of these are "add water" mixed (biscuits are a Betty Crocker brand, if I remember correctly).

This is my earlier   (You need to Login or Register.  As you can see, it was coated and slightly tapered, both features I liked.  Unfortunately, after several seasons, the coating began to peal so I went with a non-coated version (previously identified).


Mad_Mat wrote on Mar 17^th, 2011 at 12:39pm:

I've got a couple of "those"  - the bail always falls down and gets too hot to handle IF I don't jam a couple of matchsticks in between the bail wire and the pivot   I suppose I might be able to crimp the bend at the ends of the bail a bit to make it tighter, but matchsticks work

I guess that is one solution.  I just took a pair of pliers and bent the bail supports in slightly.  Now I hear an audible click when the bail rotates up or down and the bail stays put in whatever position I place it.  (I also have leather gloves along on most trips.)

dd

Chicken092 wrote on Mar 17^th, 2011 at 12:08pm:

Is the 2nd pot really necessary?

Yes depending on your meal planning.  Sometimes I plan a more robust meal that needs separate cooking pots.
Being able to boil a 2nd pot while you eat out of the first is real handy.  Like a hot beverage after dinner?  Would you rather wash the pot while you eat or just have the hot water ready when dinner's done?  For the ounces it's a nice option to kick back and relax after dinner before doing the dishes.


Quote:

Do we really need a frying pan?

Most any camping pot worth its salt has a lid that is a frying pan.  It's a minor design consideration that allows Vince From Slapchop to say, "But wait there's more!  The lid is also a frying pan!  This amazing egg cooker will do eggs any style!  You want fried, it does fried.  You want scrambled, it will do that too.  Over-easy is as simple as a turn of the wrist!"


Quote:

Could we simply cook the fish on the fire or use a pot.

Yes you could.  However, the sides of the pot will get burned.  Splatter will hit the sides and scorch your pot.

Aversion to teflon could be health and cost related.  Over time it flakes off & you don't really want to eat that.  Then you have to buy new pots even though the only thing wrong with the pot is that the $10 extra coating is old.  If you want pots to last a lifetime, go bare.

I really like the picture wire idea.  Might even drill holes in a pot to try it.

One pot for water:
  (You need to Login or Register

And another two pots for food that look like this:
  (You need to Login or Register

Every year I set one of those two pots off to the side as I begin packing thinking I don't need it. When things get fine tuned it think, it nestles so well - why not so I always end up taking it and I'm always glad I did.  I have a bowl and a plate and a cup too. And just to be decadent, a fork and a spoon and a Lexan knife!

I did bite the bullet a few years back and stopped taking the ladle that came in so handy on group trips. I have asbestos fingers compared to most it seems. A stick works too.