Budget friendly backcountry cook kit

btplass

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Jun 1, 2017
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102
I just posted this video on my YouTube channel highlighting what I use for my backcountry cook kit.

I know over the last few years I'd put some time in finding frugal options for backpacking cookware.

There are many different ways of going about this, here's just an example of what I've settled on for boiling water in the backcountry (or tailgate for that matter)

I'd be interested in hearing/ seeing from others and what has worked for you while on a budget.


Thanks for watching
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fngTony

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I have the Stanley set. If you just use the pot and lid it’s 7.5oz. The cups are nice to bring unless it’s a really weight sensitive trip. My stove for the last five years has been the primus classic trail stove. It’s a brick at 7oz but it’s also tough and reliable. I also bought the little cup from Walmart (550 mil?) it’s a lighter option and the Stanley lid fits it.
 

Mosby

WKR
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Jan 1, 2015
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You can build a really cheap cook kit around an IMUSA 12 cm mug, a tin foil lid and a brs stove. Works well and would be difficult to find anything less expensive.

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Mikedlaw

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Sep 27, 2017
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Location
Southern Idaho
I have the Stanley set. If you just use the pot and lid it’s 7.5oz. The cups are nice to bring unless it’s a really weight sensitive trip. My stove for the last five years has been the primus classic trail stove. It’s a brick at 7oz but it’s also tough and reliable. I also bought the little cup from Walmart (550 mil?) it’s a lighter option and the Stanley lid fits it.
Haha. I've had that stove for ages. It's heavy by today's standards but I've never had a problem with it.

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fngTony

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Haha. I've had that stove for ages. It's heavy by today's standards but I've never had a problem with it.

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For sure it’s a tank and I only paid $20. I did pick up a UL brs stove for this year. Figure it it’s backup to my hunting partner’s and a 2oz convenience to not share one stove.
 

bamagun

FNG
Joined
Sep 14, 2018
Messages
93
Location
alabama/florida
Not sure if you qualify or not, but if you do, you can piece a kit together on expertvoice for around half MSRP. (GSI, OPTIMUS, STANLEY, ECT are on there)
 
Joined
Mar 4, 2014
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I have made an entire set out of beer cans. Pots, pans and spatula all from drunken stupidity. It worked and was light weight.
 

Cng

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Feb 9, 2019
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238
Location
KY
I used the Trangia Solo for years. I know a lot of folks around here don’t like alcohol stoves, and I know they’re not good for melting snow and all that, but I think those are pretty great little kits. You can use the lid to fry a fish if you catch one, too.

I bought a Vargo cup to go minimalist, but I later found a Snow Peak cook set with bowl, fry pan lid and nesting cup for $1.25 at Goodwill, and I think that’s just about the perfect cook kit. It’s not usually cheap, but as others have said, you can get an Imusa for next to nothing. If you were to add the pot and lid from a Trangia Solo and a BRS, you’d have a pretty similar kit that’s fully functioning and could handle just about anything. Use just the Imusa for freeze dried meals, or take the whole kit for coffee and actual cooking.
 
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In someone's favorite spot
The first two posts cracked me up because I had an Optimus pot and lid that I used for a while before I gave it to my son, and replaced it with a Stanley pot. LOL

Like Fng4life said, the Stanely pot - although "only" stainless steel - is very lightweight and it's durable as hell. Neat thing is, any Wal-Mart has them. Even the one in our tiny little town.

My stove has been an MSR pocket rocket for many years now. No reason to change.
 

fngTony

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The first two posts cracked me up because I had an Optimus pot and lid that I used for a while before I gave it to my son, and replaced it with a Stanley pot. LOL

Like Fng4life said, the Stanely pot - although "only" stainless steel - is very lightweight and it's durable as hell. Neat thing is, any Wal-Mart has them. Even the one in our tiny little town.

My stove has been an MSR pocket rocket for many years now. No reason to change.

Ya but I got my Stanley for a $1.50 at goodwill
 

huntineveryday

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Apr 8, 2019
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I've got a Stanley set, but not the same one everyone has with the two cups. I had to look a little to find one, but ordered this set off Amazon. It was around $20 and has worked well. I get my pocket rocket, spork, and mini towel in there, but not the fuel.
 

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btplass

btplass

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I've got a Stanley set, but not the same one everyone has with the two cups. I had to look a little to find one, but ordered this set off Amazon. It was around $20 and has worked well. I get my pocket rocket, spork, and mini towel in there, but not the fuel.

That looks like a really nice cup, how's the weight?

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huntineveryday

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Apr 8, 2019
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251
The pot on my set is shorter and wider than the pot with the two cup set. I threw it on the scale over lunch. Full set, cup and lid, and pot and lid. I've had it a few years now. I remember looking at Walmart online and Amazon to find it. 20 oz of liquid fills the cup/bowl pretty full. The pot can boil 24 oz well, with room to spare (the pot has 16 and 24 oz markings you can see)
 

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as.ks.ak

WKR
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Aug 22, 2015
Messages
751
Location
AK
I can’t recall the price of the Olicamp stove. But this is my ultralight run and gun type cook kit. Crazy light, I’ll use my pack and some rocks as a wind block if I need one when I boil up water for a dinner. It’s not perfect. But it never is when you’re shaving oz!

-that small fuel canister is full too.


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MOSO 300

FNG
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Oct 16, 2013
Messages
86
Can you nest the fuel bottle in the Stanley set ?

Not a 230 but a 110.
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I have two, and love the smaller one. That’s a 1.8l winderburner for reference. I stick a stove, tin foil wind skirt and short spoon in mine, pack fuel separate. Never been a big deal.


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Joined
May 9, 2019
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I went ultra cheap and got the Stanley set and the Coleman iso stove and stainless cup all at Walmart for under 40 bucks total and grabbed a fuel canister that fit into it at another location for 4 dollars and it works great.
 
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