Ultralight Outfitters "Beer Can" Cook Pot & Stove Kit

Tester: Rosaleen Sullivan

Age: 55 years

Gender: Female

Height: 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)

Weight: 180 lb (82 kg)

E-mail: rosaleen43 (at) msn (dot) com

Home: Eastern Massachusetts, USA

Date: October 5, 2005

Manufacturer: Ultralight Outfitters

URL:  http://ultralightoutfitters.com/

Color: n/a

Year of Manufacture: 2005

MSRP: $ 14 US

Product Specifications: (from the website)

            Silicon Rubber Lipguard

Stainless Steel Tray for solid fuel

Stainless Steel Stand

Stainless Steel No-fold Windscreen

Lexan Spoon

Weight: 4.4 oz (125 g) with customer-provided pot 

Kit Parts          Pot on stand with windscreen                                                               

Product Description

The "Beer Can" Cook Pot & Stove Kit appears to be just as the manufacturer claims. The stand seems to be made of bent and welded wires that are about the diameter of a jumbo paper clip, plus a small dish-like "pan" to hold the fuel. The open cylindrical-shaped wind screen fits around the stand, leaving a slit for air exchange. The fuel pan sits about 1.25 in (~3 cm) above the cooking surface, the stand is about 4.5 in (~11 cm) in height, assembled. The fuel pan hangs 1 in (~2.5 cm) below the pot. (For those who have yet to appreciate using fuel tablets, there seems to be an optimal efficiency zone between the tablet platform and pot. An article posted at the Thru-hiker website shows a distance of 1.25 in (a bit over 3 cm) producing the fastest boil time to a specified quantity of water. With the indent in the can bottom, the pan height should be just about perfect.) A white "silicon Lipguard" fits around the top edge of the cook pot. As far as I can tell, the stand and screen are stainless steel, as stated. The stove stand that I have does not sit flush on a flat surface. (It may be a result of imperfections inherent to individually hand made items.) The Lexan spoon appears as shown on the website, and I would call it "soup spoon" sized. The purchaser is responsible for procuring and preparing an approximate 25 oz (~.75 L), straight-sided beer can for the pot, and aluminum foil (recommended) or another cover for the pot lid. Some brands that work with this set up are Fosters, LaBatts, and Molson. Heineken cans are not straight-sided, and therefore, they do not work with the stand. My tested weight of the kit, beer can, cut down aluminum can lid, and spoon was 4.8 oz (136 g), rather close to the manufacturer's specified weight. (The measured weight in ounces did not change when I removed the can lid, so it appears not to make much difference.) My comments about the Good Cook can opener and Lexan spoon are at the end of this report.

Test Plan and Locations

I plan to use this stove on a series of day hikes in eastern Massachusetts. In November, we have two national holidays each of which will allow me three-day weekends, my favorite interval for backpacking trips. I anticipate that I will choose from one of the many long distance trails with which New England is blessed for one or both of those weekends. Weather and gas price predictions will influence the trail choices. I plan a minimum of 2 overnights for the Field Test and a minimum of 3 overnights in the Long Term Test phase. In most of Eastern Massachusetts, we are on a coastal plain with rolling hills and some rocky areas. In fall to early winter, we can anticipate temperatures to vary widely, with some summer-like days following days with snow squalls. I should be able to get testing time in over a variety of conditions in the test period.  

In addition to cooking during backpacking trips, I will use the stove/stand/beer pot close to home, and with Esbit, other solid fuels, and small alcohol stoves. I intend to ascertain whether or not I can count on using this stove should I be unable to resupply with Esbit along a trail. 

The information given on stove use seems to indicate that the stove and beer can pot should be used to boil water to add to dry, nearly instant foods. It also refers to cooking soups and tells the user not to let the rice boil dry. So, it seems to hint that an experienced outdoor cook MIGHT be able to go beyond the "boil water and dump" method I frequently use. As it happens, I've used a beer can pot with a homemade wire stand off and on for several years. Using my homemade items, I've cooked foods such as Lipton Noodles and Sauce and salmon chowder. I will try similar foods in addition to boiling water. I suspect one key to success in this endeavor will be finding foods that are boiling in a proportionally large amount of water, absorbing water as the fuel decreases over the course of the burn. Time and testing will tell if I'm right. 

While the kit met with my expectations as set by the website, I was disappointed in the assembly directions printed on the box. On the side of the box is a series of pictures. The "arrow" meant to show the bottom support should be turned over really wasn't clear to me, nor was it intuitively obvious how and on which end to place the section that holds the fuel tablet and snugs around the can bottom. With some tinkering, I did get all the pieces together and now can assemble or disassemble the stove kit quickly. I also found no instructions as to whether or not it is safe to cook with the Lipguard in place. I have a couple of new cake pans that seem similar, so I tried cooking with the Lipguard in place. The flames from the Esbit did not reach the Lipguard in no-wind conditions. 

Preliminary Testing

Taking advantage of a weekend home alone, I used the "Beer Can" Cook Pot & Stove Kit to prepare one supper and some hot beverages. Boiling water for coffee was simple, as I expected. I proceeded to prepare a meal similar to one I might have on the trail. I poured water to about 2/3 of the pot's capacity, and added cooked chicken. As the water boiled, I added the contents of a "chow mein" packet (dry noodles, dry vegetables, and flavorings) and some dried parsley. The water boiled before the Esbit burned out, so I had a few minutes to get the water to reboil with the added food, and could stir the food frequently as the boil waned. Once the food sat a few minutes, the noodles were "done."

I found it a bit cumbersome to lift the pot full of hot liquid or food. The filled pot is too heavy to lift with a bandana wrapped around the silicon Lipguard, as the accessory slips off. The website claims that the can/pot, windscreen, and steel stand can be assembled so that the pot becomes an insulated cup. I did like that I could make the double walled cup, but it was too hot to handle with my bare hands. If I can feel a lot of heat through the windscreen/outer wall, I have to doubt that the set up will keep heat in the way a foam sleeve can. This can be important to foods that need a longer "simmer" or set up time.

I'm also concerned about the tack welded (welded in spots) stand wires separating from each other and pot stability. The stand wobbles now on my flat tile countertop. This doesn't bode well to me for using the stand on less than ideal surfaces along trails. The stand bottom didn't seem to get hot, so I feel cooking surfaces will be safe from the burning fuel, at least.

Test points to study

Ease of packing

Stand/pot stability

Functionality: how stove works (with Esbit, or other fuels as backup)

Functionality of assembled kit plus can as insulated drinking, cup/food bowl (insulated cup suggested on site)

Ease of unit assembly/disassembly

Durability/signs of wear over test period

Heat transfer to stand/damage to undersurface

Time to cool down for handling after use

Likes, So Far

The stand has a snug fit around my beer can pot.

The distance between the fuel tray and pot bottom seems ideal.

The stand and windscreen pack around the pot compactly for carrying.

Dislikes, So Far

The box directions are unclear.

The stand appears not to sit flat, causing some wobbling of the set up.

Additional Information

For this test, each tester was given one of the Good Cook Safecut Can Openers. The website instructs that this type of can opener is needed to efficiently remove the beer can top without leaving any rough edges. It lists this brand that they sell, and one other as giving satisfactory results. I was definitely happy with how well the Safecut Can Opener worked. I have tried using several can openers to remove beer can tops prior to this test, and was dissatisfied with each of them. I was surprised that a small reinforced rim was all that remained after cutting the beer can with this Good Cook Safecut Can Opener. The closest I could come to this result was to score the inner lid several times and wiggle pieces out. It was time consuming and nearly guaranteed cut fingers. The rough edges demanded grinding with a file or "Moto Tool-type" device. My old method was time consuming, tedious, and, frankly, somewhat dangerous. My husband was so impressed with the cut can that he dug out another beer can to try the opener himself. He likes this can opener as much as I do.

For anyone who has seen or used Lexan spoons, about all I can add is that this one appears to be the "soup spoon" size (large spoon bowl). For those unfamiliar with Lexan utensils, most that I've seen have a hard plastic "feel," withstand a surprising amount of heat, weight, or other stresses, and are usually an off white to grey color. This is not to say that Lexan utensils are indestructible. I've melted spoon edges slightly as I've stirred food in pots over a heat source, and melted/warped forks while trying to roast hot dogs over a fire. From my experiences while using Lexan utensils in the past, they seem to be quite durable if not abused.

Thanks for reading my report,

Rosaleen Sullivan

Tester Background/Style

I’ve been backpacking off and on for about 20 years. I’m still in the process of “lightening up.” Normal gear includes a hammock, down bag and jacket, hiking poles, and an alcohol or fuel tablet stove, retooling gear for each trip. I also make some gear, and often nudge myself out of a design daydream on the trail. Most trips last 3 days, but I have backpacked 10 days straight. While most of my journeys are within New England, I’ve hiked the length of the Smokeys National Park, the Grand Canyon, and other trails far from home.