Hiker’s Pantry $20 Cooking System
You don’t have to spend a fortune for a lightweight cook system. If you spend a little time surfing the backpacking/camping/hammocking forums, you will find a ton of great ideas for inexpensive lightweight cook systems. This system is inspired by many of those posts.
The key to the way we cook on the trail is pre-trip prep and the ability to boil water. It isn't rocket science. My idea of a great meal at the end of a hike is one that I can get started, then set up camp, then enjoy. I basically boil water for a hot drink, a cup of soup, and a main dish. Sometimes I might add a protein bar but that doesn't really require cooking.
The system starts with a $6.97 Grease Dispenser from Walmart:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-Grease-Dispenser/32263277
First I remove the lid and unscrew the heavy plastic handle and replace it with a wooden bead. This shaves 15 grams off the pot. I purchased a container of around 9 million beads from the Walmart craft section for $4.97 since I am making 5 cooking systems; I figure that adds $1.
The key to the way we cook on the trail is pre-trip prep and the ability to boil water. It isn't rocket science. My idea of a great meal at the end of a hike is one that I can get started, then set up camp, then enjoy. I basically boil water for a hot drink, a cup of soup, and a main dish. Sometimes I might add a protein bar but that doesn't really require cooking.
The system starts with a $6.97 Grease Dispenser from Walmart:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-Grease-Dispenser/32263277
First I remove the lid and unscrew the heavy plastic handle and replace it with a wooden bead. This shaves 15 grams off the pot. I purchased a container of around 9 million beads from the Walmart craft section for $4.97 since I am making 5 cooking systems; I figure that adds $1.
Next, I throw away the strainer that comes with the pot (shaving 19 more grams) and drill 10 holes into the lid to allow steam to escape and to act as a strainer in a pinch.
When drilling the holes in the lid, you can guess on the location, mark your holes, or you can make a paper template. I use a paper template. Once I figure out how to post a link to a PDF on Weebly, I will add it here. Once the holes are drilled, you will need to debur the back side. I used a small file for this but a dremel tool or any number of other options would work.
Note that when you cook with this pot the handle gets really hot. I simply use a bandanna as a pot holder which I have seen a lot of other people do as well. However, one cool idea that I have seen but have yet to try is braiding the handle with some paracord. This should be easy to do if you want to give it a try.
When drilling the holes in the lid, you can guess on the location, mark your holes, or you can make a paper template. I use a paper template. Once I figure out how to post a link to a PDF on Weebly, I will add it here. Once the holes are drilled, you will need to debur the back side. I used a small file for this but a dremel tool or any number of other options would work.
Note that when you cook with this pot the handle gets really hot. I simply use a bandanna as a pot holder which I have seen a lot of other people do as well. However, one cool idea that I have seen but have yet to try is braiding the handle with some paracord. This should be easy to do if you want to give it a try.
pot_lid_hole_template..pdf | |
File Size: | 93 kb |
File Type: |
There are a lot of stove options out there but the king of cheap stoves (unless you want a DIY alcohol stove) is the Chinese cheapy that you can get from Amazon or Ali Express.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Ultralight-Backpacking-Canister-Camp-Stove-Burner-with-Piezo-Ignition-3-9oz-Gift/32246631742.html
http://www.amazon.com/Ultralight-Backpacking-Canister-Ignition-silvery/dp/B00ENDRORM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420066782&sr=8-1&keywords=ultralight+backpacking+stove
There are several downsides to these stoves but in my mind they don’t even come close to outweighing the positives. I have purchased 4 or 5 over the last few years (they all still work) and every one of them has had some issue (very minor) when they arrived. Usually the pot support feet don’t sit flat when they are folded out but this is easily fixed by touching them to a grinding wheel or with a hand file. Also, on about half of mine, the peizo ignition didn’t work until I bent it to the correct location over the burner. The ones that didn’t work, were sparking too near the edge.
As for the positives, the little stove works really well, is pretty gas efficient, simmers easily, isn’t real noisy, and is uber cheap. They seem to run between $4.50 and $8.50 shipped. Most vendors ship them from China and I believe the postal service must employ people to actually bring them over in a canoe because the shipping time is awful. Be sure to order them well in advance of your first trip or at least be sure that you pick one of the few vendors on Amazon that ship from the U.S.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Ultralight-Backpacking-Canister-Camp-Stove-Burner-with-Piezo-Ignition-3-9oz-Gift/32246631742.html
http://www.amazon.com/Ultralight-Backpacking-Canister-Ignition-silvery/dp/B00ENDRORM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420066782&sr=8-1&keywords=ultralight+backpacking+stove
There are several downsides to these stoves but in my mind they don’t even come close to outweighing the positives. I have purchased 4 or 5 over the last few years (they all still work) and every one of them has had some issue (very minor) when they arrived. Usually the pot support feet don’t sit flat when they are folded out but this is easily fixed by touching them to a grinding wheel or with a hand file. Also, on about half of mine, the peizo ignition didn’t work until I bent it to the correct location over the burner. The ones that didn’t work, were sparking too near the edge.
As for the positives, the little stove works really well, is pretty gas efficient, simmers easily, isn’t real noisy, and is uber cheap. They seem to run between $4.50 and $8.50 shipped. Most vendors ship them from China and I believe the postal service must employ people to actually bring them over in a canoe because the shipping time is awful. Be sure to order them well in advance of your first trip or at least be sure that you pick one of the few vendors on Amazon that ship from the U.S.
I typically don’t use a windscreen with this stove/pot combo but if you want one, fashioning it from Double layer aluminum foil is a piece of cake, you can then roll it up loosely and store it in the pot with everything else except the fuel canister. I did experiment with using the smaller fuel canisters stored in the koozie inside the pot and it can be done but I will need to get a smaller coffee cup if I want to do it on a regular basis. The larger fuel canisters can also be made to fit but there is basically no room left and disassembling the system is a pain. I don’t recommend it.
I am planning on making some bags from left over 1.1 oz ripstop but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.
For a drinking/soup cup I use the Coleman camping cup, also from Walmart. I paid $1.97 each for mine and got them in several different colors. If you want your soup in a different cup, an 8oz sour cream container is about the right size.
Add a home-made Refletix Koozie (about $2) in materials and you have a 400 gram (14 ounce) cooking system for $15 to $20. (less the fuel canister).
I am planning on making some bags from left over 1.1 oz ripstop but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.
For a drinking/soup cup I use the Coleman camping cup, also from Walmart. I paid $1.97 each for mine and got them in several different colors. If you want your soup in a different cup, an 8oz sour cream container is about the right size.
Add a home-made Refletix Koozie (about $2) in materials and you have a 400 gram (14 ounce) cooking system for $15 to $20. (less the fuel canister).