A low cost, ultralight Titanium cook pot alternative for backpacking that you can make yourself? In this video, we’ll take a look at a lightweight, inexpensive (okay, pretty much free, if you like coffee) backpacking cook pot that you can make from a Chock full’o Nuts
My thoughts and review of the Fenix HL21 LED Headlamp
Manufacturer’s Specifications:
Light source: Cree XP-E LED (R2)
LED lifespan: 50,000 hours
Output: 97 lumens (high); 43 lumens (mid); 3 lumens (low)
Runtimes: 2 hours, 3 minutes (high); 5 hours, 43 minutes (mid); 53 hours (low)
Extra function: SOS
Distance: 93 meters
Intensity: 2158 candela
Impact resistance: 1 meter
Waterproof rating: IPX-8, underwater 2 meters
Dimensions: 2.6 by 1.3 by 1.9 inches / 66 by 33.7 by 48.8 millimeters (LxWxH))
Weight: 41.1 grams (without batteries)
Battery: one 1.5V AA (Ni-MH, Alkaline) battery
Accessories: diffuser lens, spare O-ring
What size pack should a beginner get for backpacking and hiking? That’s what we’ll be discussing in this video.
Below is a list of the packs seen in the video, but they are really just examples of some of he different categories of backpacking packs and hiking systems. There are lots of great packs out there to fit different uses and body types. It’s all about finding the right system for you.
EMS Longtrail 70 – Men’s Backpack
Osprey Hornet 46 – Unisex Backpack
Gregory Deva – Women’s Backpack
Surplus Alice Pack – Medium
Surplus Load Bearing Vest equipped with butt-pack.
A look at what’s in my pack for a recent Winter Backpacking Trip. Full Gear List is below.
Gear List:
(32lb Base + 7lbs Food & Water = 39lb Total Pack Weight)
EMS Long Trail 70 Backpack
Kelty Salida 2 Tent (3 season tent, not actually built for winter)
Zero Degree Down Sleeping Bag – Kelty Cosmic 0
Therm-a-rest Z-Lite Sleeping Pad
Klymit Inertia X-Frame Sleeping Pad
EMS Packable Pack – Used as pillow (but it’s really a stuffable daypack)
Nalgene 1 liter water bottle inside EMS insulated hip pouch.
Disposable 1 Liter Water Bottle kept in Pack
1 Liter Platypus Bladder for backup water storage
DeLorme PN-60 GPS
Paper Maps and Forest Service Print-Outs if available
Brunton Classic Compass
Layers of various synthetic clothing (worn plus spares):
(long underwear, short sleeve and longsleeve shirt, EMS fleece lined pants)
MontBell Ultralight Down Parka – 800FP
Water Proof Outer Layer – EMS Thunderhead Jacket and some cheapo synthetic track pants
Garmont GTX Snow Boots
Carhartt Sock Liners paired with EMS Mountaineering Socks
Outdoor Research Rocky Mountain High Gaiters
Kahtoola MICROspikes (ice traction for boots)
Alps All Terrain Snowshoes 25″ (make sure to get the right size for your total weight)
Swiss Gear Hiking Poles
EMS ‘Altitude’ Mittens with fleece inner gloves
Regular gloves, knit ski cap, balaclava etc.
‘Light My Fire’ Mini Fire Steel, waterproof matches, small lighter
PTEC Byte Headlamp & Preon 2 Penlight
Leatherman Squirt Multi-tool (2oz)
2 ReVive Solar ReStore chargers for video camera, phone, etc
Spare Batteries! (AA, AAA, cell phone)
Large trash bag, paracord, extra assorted zip-lock bags
Toiletries — TP, toothbrush, toothpaste
First Aid Kit — Bandages, antiseptic, ibuprofen etc
Chap stick
Duct Tape — wrapped around credit card
Superglue — Small single use tubes
Space Blanket
Tin Can Cookset
$8 Ultralight Canister Stove with small Jetboil 4 Season Mix Fuel canister
Light My Fire Spork
Meals and snacks for each day: Ramen Noodles, Mountain House Pro-Pak dehydrated dinner, jerky, trail bars etc.
Instant Coffee!
Exploring a few methods. strategies, and choices of sleeping pads for backpacking, bugging-out, and lightweight camping.
Pads seen in the Video and Specs
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Therm-a-Rest Women’s ProLite Plus Sleeping Pad – Weight 1lb,5oz / R-Value 4.6
Therm-A-Rest Z-Lite Sleeping Pad – Weight 14oz / R-Value 2.6
Klymit Inertia X-Frame Sleeping Pad – Weight 9.1 oz / R-Value not listed
Pack shown is an EMS Longtrail 70 Backpack (with top pouch removed)
Taking a look at an $8 clone of the MSR Pocket Rocket Stove. I recently ordered this piece of little piece of gear as an inexpensive way to start experimenting with Canister Stoves. My current go-to setup is a DIY alcohol stove that I love for the light weight (ultralight actually), but Winter is coming, along with cold weather, and the price was right. See where this is going?
The manufacturer claimed a weight of 3.9 ounces. According to my scale, that includes the case (that I’ll never use), so the true weight rang it at 3.25 ounces. I didn’t have an MSR Pocket Rocket to weigh at the time of filming, but the REI website lists it at 3oz, so the weights are similar. The $8 clone also boasts a Piezo Ignition system, which the real Pocket Rocket actually doesn’t come equipped with. Most wouldn’t rely solely on a Piezo ignition without an a reliable, back-up fire source though, so that’s not really the end of the world. It also probably adds a bit of weight, but if you’re hardcore enough, you could probably snip it off.
Now let’s see if it works…