- Joined
- Feb 8, 2004
- Messages
- 4,172
Mess kits/Billy-cans are pretty much personal-choice items. Some of us have grown up with the just the coffee can and bail-wire handle, some have had the old WWII canteen cup, and some have grown up and tried to experiment with anodized aluminum and titanium along with different styles and stacking or integrated mechanisms. Bottom line, a good cup or mug that can be placed directly on the fire to boil water is worth its weight.
I think most all agree that a solid mug, cup or pot is high on the list of priorities whether backpacking or placing in your BOB. Now that we’re winding down over here in Iraq and I actually have a little time of leisure surfing, I ran across a site that makes traditional Civil War-era individual cups, mugs and the unique “mucket”. I’m not sure how robust a tin mug is (as some said they won’t guarantee the mucket if the user “destroys” it by having it heated without water), but I like the hobo-design of the lid, bail and handle.
http://www.jarnaginco.com/CWCupscookwareplates.html
I really like their smaller boiler cup:
I have found a few (I think made in Taiwan) stainless products, especially their larger mugs which come with a lid. Here's the Zebra Stainless Steel cup with lid:
http://store.sundogoutfitter.com/Ite...5?sck=19630833
Another mess kit I’ve always liked is the very inexpensive 3-piece German Mess kit (I think I picked mine up from buckshot’s trapping website). It has the integrated bail for hanging directly over the fire. Additionally, it provides some storage for food when packed up.
I also have the smaller coffee can with a bail…it easily nests a Nalgene water bottle. Of course, I splurged on a Snow Peaks 700 Trek large titanium mug that comes with a lid and if you remove the lid, it’ll nest the Nalgene water bottle perfectly. For those with a little love of surplus or on a budget, you can easily outfit yourself with a standard USGI canteen and canteen cup; add the little nesting stove (more for fuel bars than natural fuel), and it becomes a great little package.
For the solo trips or the BOB, what’s your Billy-can setup?
ROCK6
I think most all agree that a solid mug, cup or pot is high on the list of priorities whether backpacking or placing in your BOB. Now that we’re winding down over here in Iraq and I actually have a little time of leisure surfing, I ran across a site that makes traditional Civil War-era individual cups, mugs and the unique “mucket”. I’m not sure how robust a tin mug is (as some said they won’t guarantee the mucket if the user “destroys” it by having it heated without water), but I like the hobo-design of the lid, bail and handle.
http://www.jarnaginco.com/CWCupscookwareplates.html
I really like their smaller boiler cup:
I have found a few (I think made in Taiwan) stainless products, especially their larger mugs which come with a lid. Here's the Zebra Stainless Steel cup with lid:
http://store.sundogoutfitter.com/Ite...5?sck=19630833
Another mess kit I’ve always liked is the very inexpensive 3-piece German Mess kit (I think I picked mine up from buckshot’s trapping website). It has the integrated bail for hanging directly over the fire. Additionally, it provides some storage for food when packed up.
I also have the smaller coffee can with a bail…it easily nests a Nalgene water bottle. Of course, I splurged on a Snow Peaks 700 Trek large titanium mug that comes with a lid and if you remove the lid, it’ll nest the Nalgene water bottle perfectly. For those with a little love of surplus or on a budget, you can easily outfit yourself with a standard USGI canteen and canteen cup; add the little nesting stove (more for fuel bars than natural fuel), and it becomes a great little package.
For the solo trips or the BOB, what’s your Billy-can setup?
ROCK6
