Kelly Kettle

R

razorsdescent

Joined
Jan 16, 2005
Messages
2,938
Any experiences with this thing? Any experiences with the Backcountry Boiler or similar systems. Thanks for any input.
 
One of my uncles uses one on horseback trips with his forest ranger buddies (he's retired, but still goes out). Its pretty limited in what it can do, but that said, it doesn't use much fuel to boil the water, its easy enough to carry enough dry kindling to get it going several times in rough weather. Might not be the best choice for backpacking, but it does the job nice and easy.
 
A few years ago, someone asked a question about a stove similar to the Backcounty Boiler. In doing so, the poster referred to the stove as a kelly kettle. Shortly thereafter, a representative (and I think it may have the owner) of Kelly Kettle chimed in to remind everyone that only a Kelly Kettle is a Kelly Kettle, and that it was not a generic term. He also said that Kelly Kettle would be introducing a very lightweight backpacking model within months. That was all quite a while ago. I periodically check their website but, so far, the hoped for version has yet to arrive.

Edited to add: My memory of how things happened (unedited) above was a bit faulty. That said, you can see the posting from Kelly Kettle in the 4th post here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/785816-Mini-Volcano-Kettle-Made-In-England!

The promise of an ultralight Kelly Kettle was from 2010.
 
Last edited:
The 'boiler' is a fast way to heat water by way of a design, much like an old coffee pot, that features a central flue. The surface area exposed to the burning fuel is greatly increased and so much less fuel is needed.

The designs are not altogether new, but construction with lightweight materials would be a natural evolution. An interesting search would include Benghazi boiler (used by New Zealand troops WWII) and Thermette as well as Kelly kettle.

From Cashe Lake Country copyright 1947 I quote "I worked out a new kind of cooking pot I have been wanting to try ever since I read about the kind they make in faraway Tibet. It seems they don't have much fuel in that country so they have to make a little go a long way. Their pot is supposed to heat a whole stew with not much more than a handful of grass. It is like an old-fashioned tin coffee pot with a flue right up through the middle so that the heat works on the bottom of the pot and the wall of the flue, which gives a large heating surface."

I have a copper boiler, large capacity for lots of hot water for long-stay camps. I can cook on top of it as well when boiling water (tall though), rope it over a bank to fill ... It has advantages if there is space and weight capacity for more than a billy.
 
I have a Kelly Kettle. They're great for what they are - a way to quickly boil water with natural tinder. The 'chimney effect' works very well - you can boil water just as fast as an MSR Whisperlite, in my experience.

However, they are bulky compared to other options that now exist. Great for a basecamp, car camping, etc. For backpacking, I'd take an Emberlit and a ti pot.
 
I have a couple Kelly Kettles (the small one in Aluminum and the large one in Stainless Steel). I've used the small one on dayhikes and the large one while car-camping. I love 'em. They get sooty, but are efficient and speedy. I've considered getting a small one in Stainless, but it's lower on my list of "must haves".
 
I have used one of the Kelly kettles, and while they work as advertised, they are bulky for what you get. It's not the weight, it's the bulk.
 
Had one back when there was only one size. Worked well, but like others have said, it was bulky.


Scott Free said:
A few years ago, someone asked a question about a stove similar to the Backcounty Boiler. In doing so, the poster referred to the stove as a kelly kettle. Shortly thereafter, a representative (and I think it may have the owner) of Kelly Kettle chimed in to remind everyone that only a Kelly Kettle is a Kelly Kettle, and that it was not a generic term. He also said that Kelly Kettle would be introducing a very lightweight backpacking model within months. That was all quite a while ago. I periodically check their website but, so far, the hoped for version has yet to arrive.

Edited to add: My memory of how things happened (unedited) above was a bit faulty. That said, you can see the posting from Kelly Kettle in the 4th post here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/785816-Mini-Volcano-Kettle-Made-In-England!

The promise of an ultralight Kelly Kettle was from 2010.
Click to expand...

On a somewhat related note, they have a new base attachment coming out this month and have trademarked the name "Hobo Stove" for it. :rolleyes: (ETA: I see it was mentioned in the link.)
 
Last edited:
Hmmm, seems like the standard opinion is that they work pretty well but are pretty bulky. I guess I am going to have to find a place that sells these in person and see if they are too bulky.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top