GSI Ultralight Soloist Cook System
by Rebecca Sowards-Emmerd
Initial Report: April 10, 2008

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Tester Information
Name: Rebecca Sowards-Emmerd
Email: rebecca@backpackgeartest.org
Age: 30
Gender: F
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Height: 5'5" (1.65 m)
Weight: 130 lb (59 kg)

I am usually a weekend warrior style backpacker, although I like to get out on longer trips a few times a year.  California has such variety in scenery and terrain that I am never lacking in a place to visit, and most weekends find me off in the mountains exploring new (to me) trails and peaks.  I follow lightweight, but not ultralight, backpacking techniques, but am known to carry a few luxury items from time to time.  In addition to traditional backpacking I enjoy snowshoeing, skiing, and snow camping, as well as long day hikes, geocaching, and peak climbing.  These activities are enough to keep me busy year-round in the great state of California.

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Product Information
Manufacturer: GSI Outdoors
Manufacturer's Website: http://www.gsioutdoors.com
Year of Manufacture: 2008
MSRP: $29.95 USD
Manufacturer Specs:

• Total Weight: .594 lb (9.504 oz) (0.27 kg)
• Measurements: 5.15" x 5.15" x 5.6" (13 cm x 13 cm x 14.2 cm)

Measured Specs:

• Total Weight (w/stuffsack and stove bag): 10.0 oz (283 g)
• Lexan Lid: 0.9 oz (25.5 g)
• Pot (with built in handle): 6.2 oz  (176 g)
• Cup/Bowl (insulated): 1.5 oz (42.5 g)
• Stove bag: 1.1 oz (31.2 g)
• Stuffsack: 0.35 oz (9.9 g)

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INITIAL REPORT
April 10, 2008

Description

The GSI Ultralite Soloist Cookset is a nesting set of cookware that includes a 1.1 L (1.16 Q) pot with a strainer/sip lid, a handle, a mug/bowl with neoprene sleeve, and a storage sack.  

The pot is made from a proprietary hard anodized alloy called Halulite.  GSI claims that Halulite is as light as titanium and also conducts heat better, which in turn leads to better fuel efficiency.  The hard anodized material is scratch and stain resistant.  From GSI's claims, it sounds like this material is a nice balance of aluminum and titanium.   Attached to the pot is a rubberized handle that collapses and folds over the pot to hold the set together when packed.

The lid is lexan and includes strainer holes for pouring out cooking water, and also an open 'Sip-It' side to allow for drinking out of the pot without a sloppy mess.  

The 14 fl oz (0.41 L) mug/bowl is made of a recyclable plastic and comes in a bright orange that matches the handle of the pot.  There is also a thin insulating neoprene sleeve that is removable.

The mug nests inside of the pot, and when the lid is on the handle snaps tightly into place on top, holding the whole thing together.  There is also a small 'stove bag' pouch for protecting the pot from scratches when a canister stove is stored inside.  

The set is designed to nest with a standard medium fuel canister as shown in the drawing right on the pot.

When all nested together, this all fits into the provided storage bag.

The nesting process in pictures:
The side of the pot provides a nice outline about how to nest the pieces.


I will be storing a medium fuel canister and my tiny Optimus Crux stove, which comes with its own padded storage pouch:



The fuel goes in the bottom, and the stove sets on top of the fuel canister.  On top of that, the cup sits upside down.  The lid goes on top of that, and the handle snaps into place on top to hold everything together.  The whole thing fits nicely into the storage sack.




The GSI website provides a lot of information that also comes with the set's documentation.  Important to note are the warnings regarding cooking and cleaning.  Many warnings are common-sense, but there are a few things to emphasize:

• Watch out for steam venting through the holes in the strainer lid!
• Be careful when grasping the handle - due to the difficult to control, high temperature design of most backpacking stoves, it is easy to overheat components of a cookset.  It is best to use medium and low heat.
• Do not use abrasive materials with the non-stick material.
• Strain off extra food bits into a waste bag to limit environmental impact.

Expected Field Conditions and Test Plan

Over the next four months I will be using the GSI Ultralite Soloist Cookset for all of my outdoor cooking needs.    I follow freezer bag cooking techniques, mostly with my own dehydrated foods.  I also enjoy Enertia Trailfoods for my dinners, and the cooking method for these are either freezer bag style or simple single-pot preparation.  In other words, my camp food preparation is usually simple, requiring only a couple of basic items:  a pot that boils water efficiently, a cozy for rehydrating, and something to stand my freezer bag in to keep it from tipping and to protect my hands from burning while I'm eating.   I also need something that is flexible enough to occasionally allow me to cook simple one-pot meals or pasta from time to time.   I sometimes treat myself to tasty boil-in-bag Indian entrees from Trader Joe's as well, so I like a pot that is big enough to handle one of these bags.

My test plan includes:

• How easy is the pot to clean in the field?
• How well does the pot pour?
• Is the mug/bowl the right size for freezer bags?
• Does the plastic of the mug/bowl hold on to odors and grease?  If I drink my coffee in it in the morning, will my evening sip of adult beverage taste like coffee, or for that matter, the spaghetti sauce from the night before?
• How efficiently does my stove pack with this set?  I use a small Optimus Crux canister stove.  It comes with a storage sack that allows me to fold up and nest the stove in the bottom 'pocket' of a medium sized fuel canister.  I expect this will pack nicely into the Soloist Cookset.
• Does the handle heat up or does it stay cool to the touch?
• How well does the lid strainer work?  Can I easily hold onto the lid while straining without burning myself?
• When using the Sip-It hole in the lid, does the lid stay on securely?   Is the material of the pot too hot to do this when making hot beverages?
• Home care:  After a week in the field, will the pot, lid, handle, and mug clean up easily at home?
• If I am able to get out to the snow before this test is complete, I will see how well this pot works for melting snow.

Over the next four months the GSI Soloist Cookset will be used on all of my backpacking trips.   So far, my planned trips include four days along the Lost Coast of California, known mostly for the relentless wind, rain, and sand.  Fortunately it has the scenery to make such weather a mere nuisance and not a deal-breaker!  But one must carry gear that can handle such conditions.  Other trips include a three day backpack in Northern Yosemite and a week along the High Sierra Trail in Sequoia National Park.  There will be many weekend overnighters as well, but these generally aren't planned in advance and destinations are often chosen last-minute.   Summer conditions in the Sierra are pretty consistent - warm and sunny days with nights around freezing, and occasional afternoon thundershowers.  I hope to get in another weekend or two in the snow as well, before winter conditions quickly transform into summer.

This concludes my Initial Report.  Check back here in two months for the Field Report.

 

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