How to choose the right kettle for a hike - types of kettles and practical tips

An indispensable attribute in the arsenal of every outdoor enthusiast is a camping kettle. In general, a bowler hat can be called one of the most important components of tourist equipment. Before you go camping, you need to buy a camping kettle. After all, there is nothing more pleasant than the fact of cooking and eating food in nature.

The camp kitchen is very rich in recipes - you can cook almost any dish in a pot. Shchi, borscht, fish soup, mushroom soup, pilaf, pasta or porridge - this is not a complete list of what you can cook on a hike. Suppose that you are already ready for a hike, but you have not yet purchased such a necessary piece of equipment, you will probably have a question - how to choose a camping kettle?

You need to take the choice of a bowler very seriously, because a lot depends on the right choice. Depending on the metal from which this utensil is made, such characteristics as strength, weight and cooking speed change. But you should know that each bowler has its pros and cons.

Consider what boilers are.

1. Aluminum

Aluminum pots are lightweight and do not rust. Of the minuses - it can burn out on a fire (if there is no water in it at all), it is very poorly cleaned, and besides, it is not recommended to clean it with sand or strong detergents in order to avoid removing the protective oxide layer.

But this is not a problem if, out of ignorance, when you came home after a hike, you used some iron sponge to clean the soot and damaged this layer, it can be easily restored, just pour water into the pot and leave for about an hour - the film will completely recover.

2. Stainless steel

The main differences are strength (if it is not riveted, but cast), durability and ease of maintenance. Compared to an aluminum pot, it is much easier to clean, but it is about twice as heavy in weight. Resistant to mechanical damage. Water boils faster in it, but also quickly cools down.

3. Titanium

Titanium pots significantly outperform aluminum and steel pots in many ways. It is unpretentious to cleaning, it can be cleaned with sand or any detergents. The food in it stays hot longer and practically does not burn, but when cooking, the food must be stirred for uniform heating.

Titanium pot has very high strength and corrosion resistance. It is lighter than stainless steel but heavier than aluminium. The only downside is the price, but by spending it once, you will provide yourself with a great camping kettle for years to come.

What kind of bowl should I choose?

1. Normal spherical shape

The most important advantages of this form are the convenience of cooking and washing. Also, such bowlers evenly warm up on the fire, unlike oval ones. The only negative is the inconvenience of transportation and overall dimensions. On the other hand, you can easily put some auxiliary utensils such as saucepans inside such a pot, which will save space in your backpack.

2. Oval

The oval-shaped bowler is convenient for transportation, it can be easily placed in a backpack and does not take up too much space. But cooking in such a pot is not as convenient as in a round one, and, as we have already said, the heating of the water will not be as uniform. Various army bowlers have this shape, but it is worth noting that army bowlers were originally intended only for eating, and not for cooking.

bowler handle

You should also pay no less attention to the handle of the camping pot. You need to make sure that it is firmly attached to the pot to avoid such nuances as the content of the pot in the fire or serious burns. It should be strong, should not bend and be too thin.

Pot volume

Usually the volume is calculated as 1 liter per 1 person. That is, if you go on a hike alone, then you will completely manage with a liter bowler. If five, then you need a 5-liter. The best option for all cases is a 3-liter pot, it is also desirable to have a second pot for boiling water with a volume of 1 liter. A large pot will serve you for cooking, in the second you can boil tea.

Summarize

Now, after reading our article, it will be easier for you to decide on the choice of a camping kettle. We, in turn, will express our opinion on this matter. So, the best option would be a bowler hat with a volume of 3 liters, with such a unit you can walk both alone and in a small company. For the convenience of cooking, it should be spherical in shape.

The material, of course, matters, but any one is quite suitable, if the price of the issue does not scare you, then you can take titanium. It is quite light, durable, easy to clean, the food in it does not stick and stays hot for a long time. It would be nice if the pot had a lid that can be used as a frying pan, and it would also be nice to have an extra pot for tea.

Prepper's bowler hat

Since our site is dedicated to survival, we should also mention the category of so-called survival bowlers. Many survivalists use an ordinary army bowler hat or airborne bowler hat, someone modifies and refines them in every possible way, making them for themselves, someone leaves them as they are. Some prefer military bowlers, which are equipped with the armies of other countries.

Now you can buy an excellent universal camping pot, already equipped with various needs - a gas burner and a cylinder, a mug and a spoon, all this is a ready-made kitchen set for a trip. If you often get out into nature, so to speak, in one, then this option is perfect for you.

We also advise you to watch a video on this topic, we have made a small selection of video clips, watching which will help you choose a camping kettle. You will see reviews of various pots, experienced survivalists will tell you about the features of camping utensils and what you should pay attention to. We hope that this information helped you, if you have any questions or suggestions for improving the article, leave a comment, your personal opinion is very important to us!