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Reviews > Cook and Food Storage Gear > Cook Sets > MSR Titan Kettle > Owner Review by Ray Estrella
MSR Titan Kettle
TESTER INFORMATION
I have been backpacking for over 30 years, all over California, and in many of the western states and Minnesota. I hike year-round, and average 500+ miles (800+ km) per year. I have made a move to lightweight gear, and smaller volume packs. I start early and hike hard so as to enjoy the afternoons exploring. I usually take a freestanding tent and enjoy hot meals at night. If not hiking solo I am usually with my wife Jenn or brother-in-law Dave. The Product
Manufacturer: Mountain Safety Research, Inc. (MSR) Web site: www.msrcorp.com Product: Titan Kettle Year manufactured: 2004 MSRP: $39.95 (US) Capacity listed: 0.85 L (28.7 fl oz) Actual capacity (to brim) measured 29 fl oz (0.86 L) Weight listed: 4.2 oz (119 g) Actual weight: 4.4 oz (125 g) Weight of pot without lid 3.1 oz (88 g) Height measured: 3.5 in (89 mm) Diameter measured: 4.6 in (117 mm) Product Description
The Titan Kettle is a compact titanium pot aimed at the gram-counting Ultra-Light crowd. It is gray in color. The same as the skin on a fighter jet, and like Maverick in Top Gun, it helps me fulfill my “need for speed” down the hiking trails. Field Conditions
This pot has been on many trips above 14,000’ (4,267 m) in the Sierra Nevada and White ranges, and has been well below sea level twice in Death Valley. It has been used on frigid 17 F (-8 C) mornings on the John Muir Trail, and on trips that saw highs to 118 F (48 C) in the Kern canyon. I have carried it on about 700 miles (1127 km) of trails in the past two years. It has seen use in every park and forest in the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite down to Domeland. Observations
I own four different backpacking cook sets. I used to be into making pretty fancy meals on the trail, and have four-piece sets in stainless steel, coated aluminum and titanium. But since I bought this little kettle (swallowing hard a few times at the price tag) I hardly ever take any of the other cookware. In fact I liked it so much that a few months later I bought the company’s Titan Cup also. (See review.) I did add four marks inside of the cup with a permanent marker to be able to use it as a measuring cup; they can be seen in the second picture. I put them at 1 cup (three small or two large oatmeal packets), 1.5 cups (Mountain House Pro-Paks), 2 cups (Richmoor Natural High and Mountain House standard 2 serving size), and 2.5 cups (Backpacker’s Pantry meals). That is 0.24, 0.35, 0.47 and 0.59 liters for my metric friends. As can be seen I only use it to boil water for freeze-dried meals and drinks. I do not cook food inside the Titan. I think that the only thing that I would do differently about this pot is to give it some pressed in indentations at common measuring units. It would not add any weight, and would greatly increase its usability in my opinion. I have only used it as my mug for one trip. I did not like using that big a cup. I know I have been told I have a big mouth, but not big enough to keep coffee from splashing past when trying to drink from the Titan kettle. Hence the purchase of the matching cup. I love how tight the lid stays on. I can pour the entire contents out into my food bag or cup without worrying about the lid popping off mid-pour with disastrous results. (Ow, ow, ow, ow…my fingers.) An interesting example of the popularity of the Titan Kettle occurred in the Domeland Wilderness where I met a group of seven backpackers from the backpacker.com forums. It was my first time meeting any of these people. At dinner the first night we gathered at a great set of flat rocks to use as our common kitchen. Low and behold four of us had Titan Kettles. (They must be doing something right!) In conclusion I will reiterate that this is and will remain my favorite and most used piece of cookware. If they ever add the measuring marks it will even make it better. Here is a picture of it on the John Muir Trail. This report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org Report Writer Version 1. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved. Read more reviews of MSR gear Read more gear reviews by Ray Estrella Reviews > Cook and Food Storage Gear > Cook Sets > MSR Titan Kettle > Owner Review by Ray Estrella |