Reviews > Cook Gear > Cook Sets > MSR Titan Kettle > Owner Review by Anthony Smith

Owner Review
MSR Titan Titanium Kettle

Personal Biographical Information
Name – Anthony (TJ) Smith
Age – 30
Gender – Male
Height – 5’ 10” (1.78 m)
Weight – 155 lb (70 kg)
Email Address – tjsmith1946@gmail.com
City, State, Country – Pensacola, FL USA
Date – September 18, 2005
Background – I have been camping for a little over 5 years now. I have recently begun backpacking, and I am constantly adding new gear to my “collection” in an effort to get my gear list tailored more towards lightweight backpacking. Most of my trips are not more than one or two nights. I am planning some longer trips in the near future. My current pack weight is around 15-20 lb (7-9 kg) without food and water. I am a dedicated hammock camper and have tailored my personal gear to that aspect of camping.

Product Information

Field Information
Locations Used
I have used my Titan Kettle in locations in both Northwest Florida and Northeast Florida. Conditions during my use have ranged from sunny to rain, temperatures from a high of 96 F (36 C) to lows near 32 F (0 C). Terrain has included sandy areas, rocky riverbanks, pine forests, and marshy swampland.

Discussion
The Titan Kettle is currently my cookpot of choice for backpacking trips. It is sized right for my needs to cook for 2 people comfortably, and I can use it for 3 without a problem. As most of my meals are "just add water" type, the Kettle and its pour spout work great for this. The snug-fitting lid remains in place while pouring, and the handle is sturdy enough to allow me to hold the Kettle while pouring.
I have also used the kettle as a cookpot for somewhat more traditional cooking. The Kettle has done a good job for me, with only minimal sticking of food. This is partly due to the lack of a nonstick coating in the inside of the Kettle, as well as inattention while cooking on my part. I currently prefer a pot without nonstick coating, though, as I have had nonstick cookwear in the past with the lining scratched and flaking off. This caused more of a problem for me than the lack of nonstick coating causes. I have found that I can avoid most of the sticking issues while cooking by careful attention while the Kettle is over the stove flame.
I have used the Kettle with both homemade alcohol stoves and with a canister stove. When using the Kettle with the alcohol stove, I don't have a problem with the handle getting hot as the windscreen keeps the flame concentrated on the bottom of the Kettle. However, when using the Kettle with my canister stove, I have to be careful with the heat of the stove coming up the side of the pot and heating the handles. I have almost burned my hand on several occasions when using the Kettle with the canister stove. My solution to this is to keep a bandana handy when using the Kettle with my canister stove, and wrapping the bandana around the handle to pick up the Kettle.
The tight fitting lid of the Kettle is both a blessing and a curse. While it helps with pouring of hot liquids, it is a bit difficult to get off when needed. I have on several occasions splashed hot water onto myself while attempting to lift the lid off the Kettle. The best solution I have found to this problem is to take my spork and pry the lid off beginning at the pour spout and working around until the lid is loose.
The wire handles of the Kettle provided an interesting challenge. The wire used to form the handles appeared to me from first looking at it to present a difficult holding surface. This was not the case. The handles are surprisingly easy to hold the Kettle, and offer me sufficient control during use. The only problem with the handles I have had is occasional heating of the handle by my stove, and the hot handles are dealt with by using a bandana to hold the handles. The handles are very easy to fold in and out without requiring much effort. The handles stay very well in whichever position they are placed, either opened or closed. I have not experienced any problems with the handles moving from the desired position while in use.
An additional use I have found for the Kettle is as a drinking cup. The handles on the Kettle are similar in construction and mounting to the drinking cup I carry with while backpacking. For meals where I boil water, I have occasionally boiled extra water, left enough for a hot drink in the kettle, and mixed some hot chocolate powder in with the water. One article used and only one article for me to clean.
With the size of the Kettle, I am able to carry either my alcohol stove with windscreen, pot stand, and a small amount of fuel; or a fuel canister for my canister stove within the Kettle. As space is at a premium in my pack, being able to utilize every bit of storage space an important aspect of any gear I carry.

Would I Buy Again?
The MSR Titan Titanium Kettle has become a versatile piece of gear in my pack. It serves double purposes as both a cookpot and, when needed, as a cup. The light weight and and capacity are both assets to me, as is the ability to store other items within the Kettle while it is in my pack. The Kettle has become my primary cookpot, moving other more traditional pots to backup gear status.

Likes
1. Size and capacity
2. Light weight
3. Pour spout
4. Dual uses as pot and cup

Dislikes
1. Handles get hot while cooking if not careful
2. Food does occasionally stick to Kettle

Good and Bad
1. Tight fitting lid

Reviews > Cook Gear > Cook Sets > MSR Titan Kettle > Owner Review by Anthony Smith