Cooking “system” or cobbled together bits and pieces?
Discussion
Planning a few nights ultra-minimal camping next month. Space and weight both an issue as I’ll be going by motorbike.
Looking at cooking options, I’m split between my Jetboil or MSR Pocket Rocket.
Jetboil is a little faster, but is only good for boiling water IMHO, where as the PR is more versatile and considerably less bulky, even with a largish gas canister and a tripod.
Do I supplement the Jetboil with their own bespoke cooking pan, or buy a compact cook set (like this) to go with the PR? At the moment I just use a small normal frying pan or saucepan but they’re both too bulky for what I need.
I’m erring more towards the latter, but when I look at the burner, gas canister and cook set, what I’ve got before me is the component pieces of a Jetboil, but perhaps a little more compact and easily packed as it’s all separate.
Thoughts?
Looking at cooking options, I’m split between my Jetboil or MSR Pocket Rocket.
Jetboil is a little faster, but is only good for boiling water IMHO, where as the PR is more versatile and considerably less bulky, even with a largish gas canister and a tripod.
Do I supplement the Jetboil with their own bespoke cooking pan, or buy a compact cook set (like this) to go with the PR? At the moment I just use a small normal frying pan or saucepan but they’re both too bulky for what I need.
I’m erring more towards the latter, but when I look at the burner, gas canister and cook set, what I’ve got before me is the component pieces of a Jetboil, but perhaps a little more compact and easily packed as it’s all separate.
Thoughts?
No answer for you but I'll be interested in the replies.
I use a Pocket Rocket but I'm considering changing for 2 reasons.
1) It's difficult to leave a pan balanced on top. Quite often I have to hold the pan in place.
2) The whole thing is pretty unstable unless I can find a completely flat piece of ground.
I only use the system to boil water for coffee or to simmer a boil in the bag meal. So any pan needs to be big enough for something like a Wayfarer packet and also as light/small as possible.
I use a Pocket Rocket but I'm considering changing for 2 reasons.
1) It's difficult to leave a pan balanced on top. Quite often I have to hold the pan in place.
2) The whole thing is pretty unstable unless I can find a completely flat piece of ground.
I only use the system to boil water for coffee or to simmer a boil in the bag meal. So any pan needs to be big enough for something like a Wayfarer packet and also as light/small as possible.
sas62 said:
2) The whole thing is pretty unstable unless I can find a completely flat piece of ground.
I only use the system to boil water for coffee or to simmer a boil in the bag meal. So any pan needs to be big enough for something like a Wayfarer packet and also as light/small as possible.
Tried this?I only use the system to boil water for coffee or to simmer a boil in the bag meal. So any pan needs to be big enough for something like a Wayfarer packet and also as light/small as possible.
Only a fiver and works really well.
Regards BITB scoff, I tried some MOD rat packs in a Jetboil and it simply heats up too fast. Ends up burning what’s in the lowest inch of water whilst what’s at the top stays cold. They really are only any good for boiling water, which seems very extravagant.
I’m veering more and more towards a separate stove and cook set.
Had a look at the OEX version in-store and it’s very well made, and the little mug/lid/mini frying pan is probably just big enough to do a couple of rashers of bacon.
Because camping without bacon sarnies isn’t camping at all.
C0ffin D0dger said:
But depends on what you're after I guess, a bacon sarnie and a brew in the morning can be invaluable.
And there’s the thing.I’m debating if I can survive a few days away on the bike with just coffee and cereal bars in the morning, pub lunch then a chippy or similar in the evening.
I like food so will usually take both my MSR Windboil and the Alpkit Kraku (same as the pocket rocket) with a titanium mug.
That means I can boil water for drinks, boiled eggs, cous cous, boil in the bag dinners and rice noodles and heat up things I've prepared in advance like meatballs.
If you've no issue washing up, you can heat beans in your mug, or even bacon lardons first then add the beans or eggs over the pocket rocket, whilst boiling an egg in the jetboil and having a cup of tea with the boiling water once you've fished the egg out.
That means I can boil water for drinks, boiled eggs, cous cous, boil in the bag dinners and rice noodles and heat up things I've prepared in advance like meatballs.
If you've no issue washing up, you can heat beans in your mug, or even bacon lardons first then add the beans or eggs over the pocket rocket, whilst boiling an egg in the jetboil and having a cup of tea with the boiling water once you've fished the egg out.
I would go with bits an pieces.
Small stove, titanium mug (boil water directly in the mug for hot drinks), then a small frying pan and pot depending on what else you are cooking.
Wouldn't even buy a cooking 'system' as you probably don't need it all.
I would also buy some feet for the gas canister, makes them much more stable.
Small stove, titanium mug (boil water directly in the mug for hot drinks), then a small frying pan and pot depending on what else you are cooking.
Wouldn't even buy a cooking 'system' as you probably don't need it all.
I would also buy some feet for the gas canister, makes them much more stable.
gregs656 said:
I would also buy some feet for the gas canister, makes them much more stable.
Already have (see my post above)By “cooking system” I was referring more to enhancing my current Jetboil with one of their bespoke pans.
At nearly £70 I think I’ll pass and go with the thrown together collection of stuff.
Crossflow Kid said:
Already have (see my post above)
By “cooking system” I was referring more to enhancing my current Jetboil with one of their bespoke pans.
At nearly £70 I think I’ll pass and go with the thrown together collection of stuff.
I would. The pocket rocket is a small burner so not great for varied cooking. By “cooking system” I was referring more to enhancing my current Jetboil with one of their bespoke pans.
At nearly £70 I think I’ll pass and go with the thrown together collection of stuff.
I bought an Optimus Crux lite (the non folding one I didn’t need folding).
If you go this route I’d also recommend a mini lantern like a Primus micron or something like that, really nice way to get some light.
Optimus Cruz looks to me pretty much like a PR and a cook set sold as a bundle.
I’m slowly writing off the Jetboil idea. It’s quite a bulky player in the world of lightweight kit. The cooking pot simply adds to that, and with insufficient benefit to offset the increase.
For lighting, I already use a UCO lantern.
I’m slowly writing off the Jetboil idea. It’s quite a bulky player in the world of lightweight kit. The cooking pot simply adds to that, and with insufficient benefit to offset the increase.
For lighting, I already use a UCO lantern.
Crossflow Kid said:
Optimus Cruz looks to me pretty much like a PR and a cook set sold as a bundle.
You can by the burner on it's own - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Optimus-680005-Crux-Lite-...Paid much less than that but as an example.
I have a Trangia 27 with gas adapter and it is not light or compact. They're great for what they are but not for the OP.
You should check out the Primus or similar lanterns, the gas ones chuck out significantly more light than that little UCO.
Crossflow Kid said:
Some Guy said:
Trangia with a gas conversion.
Not really what I’d call compact.Gassing Station | Tents, Caravans & Motorhomes | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff