More flexibility than 700 or Mini-Solo
I ordered this along with the Trek 700 Mug and the Mini-Solo so I could compare them all. This is the one I ended up keeping.
Trek 700 vs Mini-Solo: These are about the same in size/weight but the Mini-Solo comes with a mug and is 50% more expensive. It's the nicer of the two.
Pros: I kept the Trek 900 because it's only slightly larger than the 700/Mini-Solo models but the size allows for the storage of 2 of the larger fuel canisters (8oz/227g) or 1 canister and a stove. The mesh bag is extra tall so you could also put a fuel can + stove inside the container and stack another fuel canister on top and close the bag around it. This flexibility is great for extended trips.
It can boil enough water for two people at once (4 cups), is more stable than the other narrower units and only adds a marginal increase in size/weight. For me personally, it fits better over the flame on my stove so there's better heating efficiency. It also nests with several other Snow Peak sets/mugs if you want to go that route.
Cons:
I wish the handles were insulated like my old Evernew product. I put heat-shrink around them to help out. That frying pan thing is fairly useless. I would have preferred a simple lid to keep the size down or a drinking mug like the mini-solo.
It's marked at odd measuring increments. The imperial measurements on the side are 10, 20 & 25 ounces and the metric measurements are 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 liters. FYI, I think the .4 liter mark is about the 2 cups you need for cooking Mountain House.
The Snow-Peak titanium spork is too tall and does not fit in the canister. I had to put it between the canister and the mesh bag.
Overall: It's a very light, compact and efficient cookset for either one or two. Snow Peak could definitely improve a few aspects but it's certainly worth the modest sum.
SaoDavi at
REI on
07/07/2011
Excellent design!
Includes only the minimum of what you need, unlike all other mess kits, which have lots of pieces you never use.
The pot is big enough to boil 1L of water.
The handles get hot sometimes (gloves fix that problem) but they cool down pretty quickly.
Measurement markings on the pot are at 10, 20, and 25oz. Most things you need to add water to require 8oz. You can either eyeball it or use the lid/pan to measure, it is almost exactly 8oz.
Its unique design prevents you from getting your mess kit mixed up with everyone elses.
When packed, the pot is big enough to store Snow Peak Giga Power stove and fuel and more inside (small towel, hobo tool, etc.) If the stove and fuel are the only things in the pot, there is some extra room and they rattle around inside.
The handle on the lid/pan locks in place when extended.
The lid/pan is the perfect size for everything except tin foil dinners and fish. On every backpacking trip I pack in a frozen steak, and by dinner time it has thawed out and is ready to cook. This pan doesn't hold a steak or a fish very nicely. It is possible just to eat them right off the foil, but prefer something more sturdy.
Overall, an excellent product. No real problems, lightweight, sturdy, durable, easy to clean.
DEFENDO 2 at
REI on
08/08/2008
I was surprised !
I bought this pot because I loved the other Snow Peak stuff, like th 700 pot, insulated mug and my favorite, the titanium stove.
At first I didn't take it with me on hikes because I thought the pan (the lid) was too small and thin.
But then at home, when I found myself of either having to do the dishes, because the pan was at the bottom of a pile of dirty dishes, or use my Snow Peak 700, as a male would normally do, I decided to put off doing the dishes.
The titanium pan worked great. The secret to using a small thin pan is simple. Oil the pan before use and every once in a while move the pan so it doesn't sit on the same place over the flame. My chopped sirloin steak came out great.
I used th pot to make soup. Surpriseingly, on medium flame, the contents of my soup did not burn. I had expected no more then boiling water, but it turns out its more capable.
Why did I give it only 4 stars?
Because I like to see a stiffer handle.
I like to see a more vertically stiff handle so the curves at the bottom meet without me making a concious effort to match them.
TheObserver at
REI on
01/01/2009
Excelent Buy
This set is great. I read some comments about a lack of stability and and issues with the lid. I cook on a Primus stove and I have had absolutely no problems with it. Even during a roaring boil, this pot was extremely stable.
As for the lid/fry pan, if you fold the handle down and make sure that its over one of the arms of your stove, there is no problem with stability. And since the handle is already down, you don't need grabbers to lift it. Fold out handles were a LITTLE BIT hot after boiling 25oz (3 minuets on my stove) but once you remove the pot from heat, its fine. Fold out handles are very sturdy.
My only complaint is that I wish the handle for the fry pan had some type of locking mechanism when it is folded for storage. Other than that, this kit has it ALL.
A normal size gas canister, not just those small snow peak ones, can fit inside this unit with no play on the sides. Fits perfect and has room for a stove.
Foguinho at
REI on
07/07/2010
Perfect for that long hike!
I bought this cookpot 50 miles into the 2,176 mile AT hike and never looked back. I still have it and use it today. It's a great size, and the lid/frying pan can double as a shallow cup for hot cocoa. It's perfect to fry an egg in (use some sort of butter or oil, though). The measurement on the side is a great help, and the titanium frame is very sturdy. It's big enough to cook a whole Lipton Side in and to store your alcohol stove in, but not too large as to take up unnecessary room in your pack.
My only complaints are; 1.) the handle on the lid has to be squeezed together in order to stay protracted. If you pick it up without a steady squeeze, there's a good chance that your mashed potatoes are going to hit the ground as the pan handle collapses and 2.) the mesh bag it comes with is flimsy and a bit loose-fitting for my tastes. When it ripped, Snow Peak's cust. serv. was more than happy to ship out a new one, though.
Voodoo at
REI on
03/03/2009
Love it.
I purchased this to update my old aluminum cook set. I chose this particular size over the others because my hand can easily fit inside of it to clean it out, and it is not overly bulky. I have only used it to boil water to heat my son's bottle while on an urban hiking trip to the DC cherry blossom festival. It was perfectly stable on my snow peak giga power stove, and heated half a quart in no time flat.
My primary interests are solo/group backpacking where I occasionally cook a meal for two. I cannot wait to hit the trail with this.
Note: the fry pan lid is rather small for cooking, and does rattle in your pack. A rubber band from a head of lettuce fixed the rattling problem quite nicely. But hey this makes for a really light weight, yet expensive, bear bell ;)
James Gais at
REI on
04/04/2013
Let's be honest
I have to agree with the complaints about this system's handles. They are thin, not terribly stable, and man-o-man do they get hot. But seriously now, is it that difficult to grab a bandanna, and temporarily call it a "potholder?"
This system works well if, like me, your backcountry cooking consists mainly of boiling water for drinks/freezer bag meals. Plus, the lid is a great skillet for some basic culinary feats-- I've used it to tast nuts, caramelize apples and onions, and even to grill little cheese sandwiches (although the intense heat conduction required me to use more oil than expected).
If you want something that enables you to cook massive pots of stew for a large party, look elsewhere. But if you hike on your own, make simple meals, and want to save volume/weight, this ain't a bad choice.
Rodent Whisperer at
REI on
10/10/2011
Almost Perfect Solo cookset
This cook set is almost perfect for the solo hiker. The pot is just big enough for a meal or drink and it heats very quickly. The downside to this set is the handles. They also get hot very quickly and you have to wait until everything cools off before you can grab the pot or pan. It seems there could be some design improvements in that regard. In addition, the handle on the pot locks into the unfolded position, but it's a little difficult to unlock it. A pouring spout would have been handy, too, for draining noodles.
Other than that, this is a great little cook set that barely weighs anything! It's just barely big enough to fit my MSR Simmerlite. And it matches my titanium spork!
Brandon the Destructor at
REI on
06/06/2008
What you see is what you get.....
I have owned and used the heck out of this cookset for 3 yrs now. My description says it all. It is a very simple no frills cook set. My MSR Pocket rocket and large can of fuel fit in there perfectly. It is a little slippey on the top of the Pocket Rocket, and the hadles do get a little warm so just wait about 30 seconds.. But those are minor problems. It is durable, I have burnt noodles onto the bottom and scrubbed them off with river rocks. It now has a nice petina from some campfire cooking. For the durability, weight, and price it can not be beat!
Jkayaker at
REI on
04/04/2010
This is a no brainer---Purchase It
I bought this with the smaller 700 (ml)? version. The smaller version fits inside this one like a glove and of course you know the stove fits inside that one. We just came of a section hike of the AT and this was constantly used for boiling water and a small amount of cooking. The reason I love and will always carry both size pots is they give me the ability to boil water and drink a cup of coffee or have oatmeal at the same time. Then boil more water for clean up, its just a piece of cake using these pots.
plucker at
REI on
10/10/2011