I've been spending as much time outdoors as possible for as long as I can remember. I tend to gravitate towards all manner of outdoor recreation with hiking, camping, backpacking, kayaking, and mountain biking topping off the list. I've been camping all my life, summer vacation as a kid was a weeks worth of car camping at the beach.  Friends of my parents used to take us hiking in the mountains with an occasional overnight trip. Since then I've been hooked. I'll hike or camp in any weather, in any season. That can range from 10 below zero F (-23 C) in the snow to 100 F (38 C) plus heat. That's the beauty of living in New England. I try to hike at least twice a week, more if I can make time for it.

This set looks like a winner from the get go. As an overall package it's got it all. Two sized pots with lids, warmers for both, pot grabber, stove, and wind screen. The instructions with the stove are complete and detailed, as are the Cozy instructions. Both have equally effective warnings regarding proper usage of both.

Starting with the pots, fit and finish are excellent. The pots sport a black finish, better to radiate the heat from the stove, or so I hear. Both pots have fitted lids, and natural finishes. Both lids also have a wire grab loop for removing them from the pot. One thing of note here, the 2 quart lid's handle is off set from the center, thus making it impossible to lift off evenly . Another thing I noticed with regards to the grab loop, both in fact, there's no way to keep them standing up when in use. Other lids I've used have had a means of keeping the loop up for ease of use, keeping your fingers away from a hot lid. I can't say if this will actually be a problem here, but it's something I'll keep an eye on. The smaller lid has the loop placed in the center, and as a result of the construction, cannot lie flat, which makes it easier to grab when using.

The cozies are a completely new item for me. I've never had the need to keep food or water warm, it usually doesn't last long enough... The idea behind them is great however. Why use up unnecessary fuel to simmer something when the cozy can slow cook it for you... That's the idea anyway. We'll see if I can master the technique without burning myself or the cozy.... Both cozies have a slot cut in the side to ease pot insertion and cozy lid placement. The cozy and cozy lids are made from an insulating blanket material, with a thermal tape to hold its shape. The lids are the same material, with a foil tape tab as a handle.

The pot grabber is a run-of-the-mill type thing. Grabs the pots lip firmly and evenly.

The Stove is an all together new thing for me. I've grown accustomed to the white gas or butane type stoves. I've never had any reason to try another type, although I've tried the Esbit thing with little success. Anyway, the stove itself is made from an aluminum can, Mt Dew to be exact and stands about two inches tall. The pieces are held together with more of the foil tape. Dozens of tiny holes are punched around the perimeter to either vent the flames, or to act as the port for the flames itself. I'll find out when I light it. Yes, I'm chicken. But I'll do it as soon as I find some denatured alcohol. The windscreen is a piece of aluminum with tabs bent at either end to hook it into a circle.

I've also got to buy a few steel tent pegs, as all I've got now are aluminum, and the directions specifically state not to use them, with the lower melting point and all.

The entire kit nests nicely into each other, stove and grabber into little pot, little pot into little cozy, little cozy into big pot, and big pot into big cozy, nice and neat.

My test strategies are simple. As a whole, to see if the kit works, and how well it works. If it'll boil water in good time, if there's enough fuel to cook with, since the directions state not to use more than 2 oz at a time. I'll see if the cozy's hold up to 6 months worth of use. If the no-stick coating stays on there. And I'll see how the whole thing holds up to 6 months of use.