Owner Review of the MSR Titan Kettle

 

Tester Bio

 

Name:  Mark Orton

Age:  27

Gender:  Male

Height:  5’7”  (1.70 m)

Weight:  175 lbs  (79 kg)

E-mail:  Backpkrmn at aol dot com

City:  Vacaville

State:  California

Country:  USA

Date:  March 1, 2004

 

Backpacking Background:  I have been hiking and backpacking my whole life.  Backpacking became a serious hobby for me in the mid 90s.  I have hiked several sections of the Appalachian Trail (AT), taking on 100+ mile sections at a time.  I have also hiked 100 miles (161 km) along the Vermont Long Trail.  Living in California gives me access to some great backpacking opportunities out here, such as the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).   I try to get out at least once a month on an overnight backpacking trip and at least once a week on a dayhike.  Once a year I plan an extended trip, a trip that is at least 100 miles (161 km) long and will take the better part of two weeks. 

 

In the past couple years I have begun converting to the ultralight way of backpacking.  I am known amongst friends as a gear head, I always have the latest and greatest lightweight gear.  I now have a basic pack weight (without food or water) of less than 10 lbs (4.5 kg). 

 

 

Product Information:

 

Manufacturer:  Mountain Safety Research (MSR)

Model:  Titan Kettle

Year of Manufacture:  2002

Manufacturer Website:  www.msrcorp.com

Listed weight:  4.2 oz (118 g)

Actual weight:  4 oz (113 g)

Volume:  .85 L (.9 qt)

Dimensions:  4.5 in (11.4 cm) wide by 3.75 in (9.5 cm) high

MSRP:  $39.95 US

 

 

Field Information:

 

Locations where tests were conducted: I have used this kettle while backpacking along the Appalachian Trail in Virginia, the Pacific Crest Trail in California, and many other overnight excursions throughout California.

Description of Locations: The locations in which I have used this kettle have ranged from humid moist environments at near sea level, to dry arid environments at around 10000 feet (3048 m).  The terrain of these environments has varied significantly.  I have used the kettle in wet, muddy conditions, and in dry rocky areas. 

Weather Conditions: This kettle has been used in a pretty broad range of weather conditions. Temperatures in which I've used the kettle have ranged from the mid 30s F (0 C) to over 100 F (38 C). I have used it on both dry, sunny days and overcast and foggy nights.

Backpacking Experience with this Product: I have used this kettle both on overnight backpacking trips and on shorter dayhikes.  It is the only pot carried for extended backpacking trips. 

Style: This kettle has a tight fitting lid that allowed me to use it on uneven ground.  When set on the ground I didn’t worry about my food or drink spilling out.  Its lightweight titanium design made it a pleasure to carry.

 

 

Field Report:

 

While preparing for a 9 day backpacking trip along the Appalachian Trail (AT) in Virginia, a friend and I were visiting a local outfitter.  While there buying our last minute supplies, a small pot caught my eye.  As I picked it up to examine it, its weight astounded me.  It was so light!  I asked the salesperson about it and he told me it was the brand new design by MSR, the Titan Kettle.  After learning that its construction was of titanium, I decided that I would make this small pot mine.  I purchased the Titan Kettle and it immediately went into my pack for this 9 day trip.  Out of the pack came the beat up old aluminum pot I had been carrying for the past decade.  It was time for a change; the next 9 days became the initial test of my new piece of gear.

 

The stove I was using on this 9 day AT backpacking trip was the MSR Pocket Rocket.  The Pocket Rocket is a lightweight canister stove.  It is very compact and easy to use.  Its flame output is focused into a very small area, no more than a few inches (7.5 cm) wide.  This fit very well with the Titan Kettle since the base is only 4.5 inches (11.4 cm) wide.  All the meals we ate on this trip were of the boil water and add to the pouch type meals.  Since the maximum amount of water required for these meals was 16 oz (473 ml), we were able to boil the water in the Titan Kettle without any problems. 

 

An advantage to this Titan Kettle that I discovered during this trip was that I no longer needed to carry a mug.  The Kettle served as both a pot and a mug during our trip.  After boiling water for our dinner, we would then boil some more and make our nightly green tea.  My backpacking partner would sip his tea from his insulated mug, while I would sip mine straight from the Titan Kettle.  The only disadvantage that I found with this setup is that the liquid cooled much faster in my Titan Kettle than it did in his insulated mug. 

 

The Titan Kettle performed flawlessly throughout the entire trip.  We did not try to cook in the kettle, just simply boil water.  The kettle cooled quickly after cooking, and the handles stayed relatively cool when cooking.  We found that there was no need to remove the top of the pot while cooking to see when the water started boiling.  It became apparent very quickly that a boil could be recognized by the large amounts of steam shooting out of the pour spout and the vent hole on top of the lid. 

 

I was sold on the idea of lightweight gear before this trip, however, during this trip I was introduced to some even more innovative ways to cut pack weight.  On the AT I saw many people experimenting with homemade alcohol stoves.  After returning home I started making various types of alcohol stoves.  Each one was tested with the Titan Kettle and I found one design that I stuck with for a little while.  As most people have found, the durability of the homemade soda can stoves can be a problem.  I soon found Brasslite.  I ordered and began using the Brasslite Micro stove.  This stove was great, and worked with the Titan Kettle amazingly.

 

Once I started using alcohol stoves, I found a slight problem with the Titan Kettle.  Due to the high flame output of the alcohol stoves and the small base diameter of the Titan Kettle, flames would come up the side of the pot.  This led to hot handles.  I have remedied this by carrying a bandana that functions as a pot holder when I pick the Titan Kettle up off of the stove. 

 

I have been using this current setup, the Brasslite Micro with the MSR Titan Kettle for about a year and a half now.  I have no intention of switching my stove or my pot at this time.  I have noticed that when hiking solo and carrying dehydrated foods, it’s hard to keep the water in the pot hot enough to dehydrate the food.  There is a simple solution to this problem though, the Pot Cozy.  There are various ways to make one, using old closed cell foam sleeping pads, or going to the hardware store and purchasing Reflectix brand ducting insulation.  I purchased a prefabricated one from AntiGravityGear.com.  The Pot Cozy is the best accessory to this kettle that I have.  It not only keeps my food warm longer, it also saves on carrying fuel.  You can use the cozy in the place of simmering, when recipes call for simmering.

 

One concern I had when I initially purchased the Titan Kettle, was its durability.  The lightweight metal and very thin construction was a serious concern for me.  Up to this point I have not babied the pot in any way.  It has taken falls down rocks, it has been blown from camp in gusty winds.  I have yet to dent or distort the Titan Kettle.  The titanium, although very thin, is very strong.

 

 

Summary:

 

 I foresee the Titan Kettle being one of the last cookware purchases I make.  It is large enough to carry my pot holder bandana, the Brasslite Micro, the windscreen and a lighter, yet small enough to fit in any small nook in my backpack.  In my ever lightening backpack, this pot has earned its keep!