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Mama's Kitchen Cook Set by AntiGravityGear
Initial Report - July 7, 2003
Contents
Reviewer Information [return to top]
Name: Chuck Kime
Nickname: Fuzzy
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Height: 5'8" (1.72 m)
Weight: 229 lb (104 kg)
Email address: ckime AT nelsononline DOT com
City, State, Country: Norwood (Philadelphia suburb), PA, U.S.A.
Date: July 7, 2003
Product Information [return to top]
Manufacturer: AntiGravityGear
Model: Mama's Kitchen Cook Set
Year of Manufacture: 2003
URL: http://www.antigravitygear.com
Listed weight: 14.4 oz (408 g) total
Measured weight: 14.3 oz (405 g), scale accurate to 0.1 oz
MSRP: $49.95 USD
Features (from web site) [return to top]
- 2 Quart pot w/ lid - 5.9 oz.
- 2 Quart pot cozy - 1.4 oz.
- 3 Cup pot w/ lid - 3.8 oz.
- 3 Cup pot cozy - 1.0 oz.
- Clamp Handle for the pots - 1.4 oz.
- A "Tin Man" alcohol stove - .4 oz.
- Windscreen - .8 oz.
Arrival [return to top]
I arrived home from work on 7/2 to find a small box, about 7 in x 7 in x 7 in (18 cm x 18 cm x 18 cm), waiting on my step for me. After being a good gear tester and informing the list and my test Monitor of its arrival, I opened the box and started my investigations. Inside the box the entire set was in a plastic bag, similar to generic grocery-store bags. Inside the bag, on top of the cook set, was a folded sheet explaining the founding of AntiGravityGear (to provide money for backpacking equipment for Boy Scouts – kudos, gentlemen) and listing hiking/trail organizations that they now support.
Tucked alongside the bulk of the set was the clamp handle (pot lifter) wrapped in tissue paper. I set this aside then lifted the lid of the large cozy, by its foil tape “handle”, to enter Mama’s Kitchen. The 2-quart pot slid fairly easily out of the cozy. I removed the pot lid to find the small cozy, which needed to be pulled from the pot, as it was a bit snug. After loosening the top of the small cozy I removed its lid, which was a little more difficult than with the large cozy since it has no handle. The 3-cup pot seemed like it was going to be difficult to remove from the cozy without gripping the rim, so I continued to go through the various components until I could do so more easily. Removing the pot lid, I found a small paperboard box containing the stove, a sheet of pot cozy instructions, and a small piece of foil tape, about 2 in x 2 in (5 cm x 5cm), for making field repairs to the cozies. Upon opening the stove box I found an AntiGravityGear business card, a Tin Man stove sealed in a thin plastic bag wrapped with a slip of paper, and a sheet of warnings that includes a “hold harmless agreement”. The slip of paper stated that opening the plastic wrapper indicated acceptance of the hold harmless agreement. I set the stove down and finally removed the small pot from its cozy. I had everything lined up on the counter at this point and realized I hadn’t yet seen the windscreen, so I went looking and found it nestled comfortably around the inside of the large cozy. It amazed me how much “stuff” – useful stuff, at that – fit into such a small package.
Description [return to top]
AntiGravityGear has some of the best, most detailed photos of gear I have seen on a website. Any details I may have missed in my descriptions should be readily answered by simply visiting their site.
Overall:
This set was very well thought out, as the various bits and pieces fit together without much wasted space. The only additions I will definitely make to the set itself for normal carrying will be a cotton bandana (wrapped around the pot lifter to protect the inside of the pot) and a small plastic measuring cup used to fill the stove. I may also add a homemade pot stand if I don’t get the hang of using tent stakes to support the pot.
WEIGHTS - CLAIMED vs. ACTUAL
| COMPONENT |
CLAIMED WEIGHT |
ACTUAL WEIGHT |
| 2 quart pot w/ lid |
5.9 oz (167 g) |
5.9 oz (167 g) |
| 2 quart cozy |
1.4 oz (40 g) |
1.3 oz (37 g) |
| 3 cup pot w/ lid |
3.8 oz (108 g) |
3.7 oz (105 g) |
| 3 cup cozy |
1.0 oz (28 g) |
0.9 oz (26 g) |
| Clamp Handle |
1.4 oz (40 g) |
1.3 oz (37 g) |
| Tin Man stove |
0.4 oz (11 g) |
0.4 oz (11 g) |
| Windscreen |
0.8 oz (23 g) |
0.7 oz (20 g) |
| Totals |
14.7 oz (417 g) |
14.2 oz (403 g) |
| Complete Set |
14.4 oz (408 g) |
14.3 oz (405 g) |
| Note: The discrepancy between the "Totals" line and the "Complete Set" line in this chart can be attributed to rounding of the numbers, not any error on anyone's part. |
Large pot:
The 2-quart (1.9 liter) pot, which measures 6¼ in wide x 4¼ in high (16 cm x 11 cm), is constructed of lightweight aluminum and has a non-stick coating inside and out. The lip of the pot is rolled out to prevent any contents from getting stuck under the lip when pouring or eating. The lid, which rests on top rather than slipping around the outside of the rim, is made from uncoated aluminum and has a fold-down ‘D’ ring handle mounted off-center.
Large cozy:
The cozy is made from “very light weight foil backed insulation”, which reminds me of silver-coated bubble-wrap approximately ¼ in (6 mm) thick, and is held together with foil tape inside and outside the vertical seam and all around the outside of the bottom seam. The cozy lid is made from the same material and has a small piece of foil tape attached in the center for use as a handle. The cozy, like all of AntiGravityGear’s cozies, is cut to be about ½ in to 1 in (1 cm to 2.5 cm) taller than the pot, lid and cozy lid, and is meant to be folded in around the top to seal the assembly during use. There is also a warning label on the outside of the cozy instructing not to put the cozy in direct contact with flame, as it is only an insulator.
Small pot:
The 3-cup (710 ml) pot, which measures 5½ in wide x 2¾ in high (14 cm x 7 cm), is constructed from the same material and in the same way as the 2-quart pot. Similarly, its lid is made like the 2-quart lid, except that its handle is centered and shaped to be tall and narrow when folded up for use.
Small cozy:
This cozy is identical to the large cozy with two exceptions. First, it fits the smaller pot. Second, the lid of this cozy does not have the foil tape used for a handle, instead having a slit that the handle of the pot lid extends through.
Clamp handle:
The clamp handle, or pot lifter, is made of uncoated aluminum and is made to clamp onto the top rim of either pot without damaging the lip. The gram weenie in me thought about drilling holes in the handles to lighten it up, but I would be concerned about strength if I was to lift the large pot when it was full. I would also not make a modification of this sort until this test was completed.
Stove:
The Tin Man stove, which measures 2½ in wide x 1½ in high (6 cm x 4 cm), is of a relatively standard design – as standard as “homemade” soda-can stoves can be, I suppose. It is an unpressurized design, with an inner wall and a series of small holes drilled around the perimeter of the stove. There are no slits cut to aid in the joining of the two sections, and a strip of foil tape sealing the entire joint. According to the web site the stoves are also sealed with a high-temperature epoxy, although this is not apparent from visual examination.
Windscreen:
The windscreen, which measures 23 in long x 2½ in high (58 cm x 6 cm), is constructed of uncoated aluminum sheet, which is slightly heavier than that used in soda cans. Both ends of the windscreen are folded over about ¼ in (6 mm), and can be slipped together to form it into a ring that is a little larger around than the large pot. When the ends are not connected, the windscreen can be coiled to fit inside the large pot or cozy, and possibly inside the small pot without becoming creased. I would not attempt to put it inside the small cozy, however, as the pot is already such a snug fit.
First Impressions [return to top]
This is a great looking cook set, and a very innovative approach. I have been looking forward to these products coming on the market ever since one of the folks at AntiGravityGear mentioned trying to get the pots manufactured. It should be fun to put Mama’s Kitchen through its paces. I only wish I hadn’t had so much to do over the holiday weekend that prevented me from actually using the cook set.
Field information [return to top]
I intend to test the cook set on upcoming Boy Scout troop camping outings, usually at least once per month, and try to get in a few 5-10 mile (8-16 km) hikes with the boys, both separately and during the outings. All of these outings, other than stand-alone hikes, will include a minimum of 2 nights of camping, with temperatures expected to be from lows around 25 to 30 ºF (-4 to –1 ºC) to highs around 95 to 100 ºF (35 to 38 ºC). Elevations will range from sea level on a day hike to approximately 2,000’ (610 m) for a week of summer camp in August. I will also be spending a week in late July at Philmont Scout Ranch, elevation 6,500’ - 12,441' (1,981 m - 3,792 m). Even though the troop brings cooking gear (i.e. two-burner propane stoves and huge pots), I plan to pack for these trips as I would on a solo or 2-person hike, in addition to what I need for troop camping, so that I can test the suitability of the set for this purpose, and to help introduce the boys to the lightweight concept.
I will be testing/evaluating the following items:
- Boil times for a given (identical) quantity of water in each pot on the “Tin Man” stove. Variables will include quantity of water, height of pot above stove (from zero to ??) and amount of fuel used. This will be to determine which combination will be best for each situation. Additionally, I will compare the results from Mama’s Kitchen to my existing set-up, and also use my homemade pot stand (cut-down fruit can) with each test combination.
- Size of meals that can be prepared in each pot. My son (12 years old) also attends these outings, and may be joining me when I hike without the troop. While we (leaders) usually try to get the boys fed first, so we can prepare and eat our meals in peace (yeah… right), I think it would be nice for my son and I to eat together when it is just the two of us. I will cook a variety of meals – including oatmeal, Ramen noodles, and some dehydrated stews and pasta meals – to try to find a functional limit to the set.
- Effectiveness of the cozy(s). How hot will they keep food for how long? Will it be enough to fully prepare the meals I am making?
- Effectiveness of the windscreen with different pot diameters. How adjustable is the windscreen, and how well does it pack into the set?
- Cleanability. With the lip on each pot rolled out instead of in, and a non-stick coating, there should be very little clean-up necessary besides a wipe and rinse after each use.
- Packability. I keep my current pot inside a cut-off 1-gallon (3.8 liter) plastic milk jug, which serves as a wash basin. I am interested to see if Mama’s Kitchen will fit inside my sink. :-)
Things I like [return to top]
- Lightweight.
- Compact.
- Good use of space.
- Company benefits Boy Scouts and hiking/trail organizations.
Things I don't like [return to top]
- I have never used tent stakes for a pot stand. I’m not sure how this will work out.
Backpacking Background [return to top]
I started car/trailer camping with the family when I was about 5. I enlisted in the Army Reserve during my first year of college and spent 17 years fine-tuning my packing methodology - by the time I separated from the service, I was down to what I thought was a respectable 75-80 lb (34-36 kg) load. When my son started Cub Scouts, I brought my 60 lb (27 kg) ALICE pack (review may be found here) for a weekend. We got to Boy Scouts in the Spring of 2002. We camp, monthly, in locations ranging from the Chesapeake Bay area (flat and lightly wooded), to the Pocono Mtns (flat spots hard to find and very wooded), and in all seasons.
Lightweight (and ultralightweight) sites have led me to seriously rethink my gear choices. I plan to start doing more hiking/backpacking on our monthly scout trips, taking along as many scouts as are willing, to a) get in shape (yeah, yeah, I know, round IS a shape), and b) determine what I really need to take along. I am relatively confident that I will be able to reduce my 3-season pack to 20 lb (9 kg), before food, fuel and water, by the time this season is over.
Thank you for your time.
Chuck Kime
a.k.a. Fuzzy
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