Category Archives: Camping

Bargain Cook Set – Stanley Camp Cook Set

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I decided to stop at Target the other day and wandered over to the camping section to see what they had to offer. I usually don’t shop at Target for my backpacking needs. I was surprised to find a bargain-priced cookset in the Stanley Camp Cook & Cup Set. I already have the GSI Soloist, which I’ve already reviewed but I think this pot would be  a good purchase for someone looking to save a little money.

Stanley Camp Cook Set:

Where Purchased: Target
Cost: $14.99, plus tax

Pot Construction: Stainless steel, single wall (cups are plastic)
Pot Diameters: Top section: 3.75″, Middle section: 3.56″, Bottom edge: 3.25″
Pot Height (with lid): 6″
Weight (full kit): 13.60 oz.
Weight (just pot and cover): 7.85 oz. 2 Cups: 5.75 oz.
Pot Capacity: 24 fl. oz.
Measurement Markings: Yes

  • 8 fl. oz. (237 mL)
  • 12 fl. oz. (355 mL)
  • 16 fl. oz. (472 mL)
  • 20 fl. oz. (591 mL)

Pour Spout: No

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Pros: This seems to be a well made pot. It has measurement markings viewable from the inside. The folding handle locks in place and the lid has vent and strainer holes. It came with a tag stating “Grill Ready” but I would be careful as the lid handle may melt over an open flame. If I were to use this pot for backpacking I wouldn’t use the included cups, both of which fit nested inside the pot. At 5.75 oz the cups add unneeded weight. I would just use the pot and lid at 7.85 oz.

Cons: Because of the narrow bottom (3.25″) I find this pot doesn’t sit as firmly on my stove as I’d like. I prefer something with a wider, more stable bottom. The pot is also too narrow to nest an MSR 4 oz. fuel canister. I don’t know if the narrower Snow Peak canister would fit as I didn’t have one available.

Summary: If you’re looking for a low-cost, light-weight pot the Stanley Cook & Cup Set is a good buy. You will want to check the width of your stove beforehand. If you use alcohol stoves you may want to take a look at this site http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGWxpn_mRO8&feature=relmfu . The author has done an excellent video of reviewing what alcohol stoves will work with the Stanley Pot.

Backpacking Cookset

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I recently decided to replace my old TexSport cookset I used for backpacking for something a little lighter. The old set was stainless steel and had three pieces that nested one inside the other:

Texsport Stainless Steel Backpackers Cook Set

There was nothing wrong with the set but I found myself usually only taking one of the pots on most of my trips. My only need for a pot was to boil water for making a meal or a hot drink. I donated the set to a local Boy Scout troop and set upon finding a replacement. After some investigation I ended up purchasing the GSI Pinnacle Soloist from REI. Fortunately for me REI just opened a store and I received a $20 coupon in the mail to use at their Grand Opening. It was a deal I couldn’t refuse.

GSI Pinnacle Soloist

Where Purchased: REI
Cost: $44.95, plus tax

Pot Construction: Anodized Aluminum (bowl is polypropylene)
Pot Diameter: 4.5”
Pot Height (with lid): 5”
Weight (full kit): 9.20 ounces
Weight (just pot and lid): 7.65 oz.       Bowl: 1.55 oz.

Pot Capacity: 37 fl. oz.      Bowl: 14 fl. oz.
Measurement Markings: No
Pour Spout: No

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Pros: This seems to be a well made pot and comes with a bowl that stores inside the pot. It’s made of anodized aluminum and has a non-stick coating. I’ll use this mostly for boiling water but it’s good to know in case I decide to actually cook something in it. The folding handle locks in place and is silicone-coated. The lid has strainer holes and an opening for pouring. The base is wide (4.5″) and gives it a nice stable foundation on my stove. Because of the wider diameter I’m able to fit the MSR 4 oz. fuel canister along with the included bowl. There also shouldn’t be any issues with the narrower Snow Peak canisters. I think this pot would be okay over an open flame but I’d be keep the handle away from the flames and wouldn’t use the polypropylene lid. The pot with lid and without the bowl weighs in at 7.65 oz.. The bowl adds another 1.55 oz and I haven’t quite decided if I’ll take the bowl along. I just may and see how useful it is.

Cons: The pot doesn’t have any measurement markings whatsoever. The bowl does have 4, 8, and 12 oz. markings but they are difficult to read.

Summary:I would recommend the GSI Pinnacle Soloist. It’s wide, stable and allows for the nesting of fuel canisters. With a capacity of 37 fl. oz. it allows boiling enough water for two (standard) dehydrated meals with a little to spare for a hot drink. As I had a $20 discount this was a no-brainer for me. I don’t care much for the included bowl but I look at it as an added ‘extra’. I did compare the Soloist to the Snow Peak Mini Solo Cookset and the Snow Peak 900 while at REI. I found those to be too narrow for my intended use and I wanted something with a little more capacity.

I hope this review has been helpful to someone out there.

Update: 11/5/2012

Used the Soloist on a 3-day trip to Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The pot worked like a champ. We’ll see how it stands up long-term but for now I’m not disappointed. I used it with a new Iso-Pro canister stove that I picked up on Amazon. I’ll use the stove a couple of more times before I do a write-up.