Need help with a mess kit

B

Big philly 1

Joined
Oct 28, 2005
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327
Hello, I'm in the market for a good mess kit. Single person kit.

I would like it to be strong and light.. Also of good quality.

I was in a couple big name store today and there all crap. So $50=75 bucks is about what im lookin to spend.
Thanks for the help. Phil

Sorry. Im gonna be using it to cook hambergers, hotdogs, chili. I dont mind weight. Im young. mostly gonna be using it over a stove.sumtimes a fire.
 
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Primus and MSR have quality mess kit's. How many pieces do you need? I guess that a single pot with a lid, handle, a cup, spoon and fork should sufice for most needs.

If you are going to really cook stuff (not just boiling water for freezedried pouches) or you expect to be melting ice/snow to make water (high altitude or winter) you will need a fairly large pot. Arround 1,5l or so. If you don't plan on doing such things, a 0,75l pot should do the trick.

If durability is an issue and weight is not, stick to stainless steel. If you are into fast and light gear, coated aluminum (or even titaniun) will be a wiser choice.

I hope this helps,
Mikel
 
It really depends on what you want to do. Are you using mainly freeze-dried meals? If so, it's much simpler. Are you planning to fry eggs and bacon? Any gourmet cooking? Are you cooking with a stove or over an open fire...or both?

For solo, I just like a good mug and small pot. I've had good luck with Snow Peak titanium and MSR's stainless stuff. Also Zebra Stainless stuff is pretty solid construction...I like their Loop Handle Pot (various sizes available and decent prices):

Zebra loop-handle pot

Snow Peak Trek 900 is at the top end of your budget, but it's the lightest for a decent solo kit as is their titanium Mini-Solo Kit.

On the cheap end (but still quite functional) is a simple old 3-Piece German Mess Kit...I really like the bail for open fire cooking. Add an inexpensive nesting steel cup like the Olicamp Space Saver Cup and you have a great kit for under $20.00.

Another (little more expensive) pot is MSR's Stowaway Pots (again, various sizes)...decent handle for open fire-use, and you can fill it with plenty of food and it will lockup securely for packing.

Best utensil I've come across is the Vargo Outdoors "Scork"...just a Spork, but with the back end as a can opener: http://www.gearforadventure.com/Phot...oductCode=1480

Look for a decent pot with bail or long handle for cooking over a fire/coals; possibly a small bowl and a decent mug...that's about all you need for solo camping unless you want to explore different cooking techniques.

I'm planning on picking up a stainless wok for some campfire meals...I suspect it will be too big for backpacking, but for car camping it will do fine.

ROCK6
 
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Walk into an REI and browse the pots and pans section, in person. You ought to be able to find something nice there.

CHEERS
 
Walk into a resale shop, find a 2 quart stainless pot and take off the handle, steel cup, and fabricate the spoon/fork. OR...get that ole GI folding handle fry-pan/plate. Bring pliers when you camp. :)

I don't trust aluminum for cooking/drinking equipment.
 
B. Philly - you really need to be more specific about what you want the mess kit to do for you before I can offer advice. Do you just want an eating kit (plate, bowl, cup, utensils)? Do you need cooking pots/pans/utensils? What kind of cooking to you plan to do? Do you need a stove? Again, even that depends on what kind of cooking you plan to do. Are you car camping, canoe camping, backpacking?
 
I carry a MSR stowaway pot, a naglene with cup, and a titanium spork. Serves me well for solo.
 
When I need a pot, I use a 1 liter stainless steel teapot. Usually, though, because I dislike dehydrated food, I use a small camp woc and a canteen cup.

Roc6, if you get the chance, I'd try the woc. I've used one for a couple of years now and love it. You can do anything with it. To save weight when I'm backpackng, I leave the lid home. But using the woc means I'm not limted to the dehydrated backpacking food.

When I'm back country camping, I can bring the lid and a small pot (also with a lid) that's fits in the woc (I use one of the little pots that came with the old - probably boy scout - mess kits) and bake (you put a little water in the bottom and kinda steam it, but the little tin inside has to have a lid to keep the batter from getting water-logged).

Actually, I haven't tried this yet, but, when I use the dehydrated backpacking food, I think I can get by with an ESBIT stove and a canteen cup. First boil the water for the food, then, while the food is rehydrating, light another tab and make some tea.
 
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