kelly kettle

[Mongo]

Greetings all,
I am embarrassed to admit, I just learned of these today... yes, I am still the W&SS novice as I don't have much time to get out and about like most of you. However, I have the desire to do so... and my kids get into the day hike thing, especially when it involves some lunch and/or hot beverage.

The kelly kettle looks mighty interesting, as my fuel will be provided by a little foraging and a little skill in getting a fire started. There are three sizes: large, medium and small. I think the medium or small will be the ticket, and I am interested in your opinions on these. If I get one, I will get the kit version, which includes a small pot with lid, a handle, a two part grate and a two part thingy that allows the pot to sit on top of the chimney.

I'm thinking the small would be best, as it hopefully will fit inside a small backpack. Perhaps the medium would be a good bit of kit for my truck as a SHTF item and/or truck camping item.

So, who here has one of these... and would you recommend one? (yes, I did a search... so I know I should get some responses) Is the small one going to be big enough? Is the medium too big to stuff into a pack?

Thanks in advance for your answers and opinions,
Mongo

 

[Evolute]

I don't have one, but I've used one. I like them. Yes, I give them my recommendation.

 

[Sid Post]

http://www.kellykettleusa.com/ Don't miss the Tday sale.

With kids, I think you would out grow the small model pretty fast. The large and medium models are basically the same size (medium a little shorter).

I would get the large stainless steel model and a bigger day pack. Yes it's bulky but, it is also pretty lightweight overall. Add some cups, cook kit, and food/water and you're set.

Also, checkout http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=785816

 

[Mannlicher]

I am sticking with my MSR Pocket Rocket.

 

[Blue Sky]

These and similar products have been talked about for a while. I'm sure they work very well for fast boiling water, but they seem just too one-dimensional to me. You have to do something with the water after boiling, right? If all you want it for is to purify water for your canteen, I guess it would be OK.

 

[Guyon]

Mongo, for truck camping, that looks like a great piece of kit. Simple and functional.

YMMV, but for backpacking, you can go a lot smaller and lighter and still get water boiling quickly. 1.3 pounds (the weight of that smallest aluminum kettle) covers my entire mess kit and includes stove, wind screen, primer pan, .85L pot with lid, double walled mug with lid, spork, pot lifter, lighter, and fuel bottle with fuel.

Cost, of course, will be higher. I've never really broken down the kit above, but here are some numbers just for reference. I paid less than some of these numbers because I was patient and waited for sales on the pot and the cup, but I'll just go with Google Shopping numbers and use reputable vendors. I'll also include shipping charges.

$23 White Box Solo backpacking stove (shipped price, comes with wind screen)
$5 Trail Designs Prime-Lite priming pan (includes shipping)
$50 MSR Titan Kettle pot (ships free at Amazon)
$42 Snow Peak 300ml double walled mug (titanium) (shipped price)
$5 lid for Snow Peak mug (same vendor as for mug)
$8 Sea to Summit Alpha Lite spork
$4 aluminum pot lifter from REI
$5 fuel bottle, HEET fuel, and Bic lighter

What's that? $142, but it's a lot lighter on my back and includes all I need to cook some very basic meals on backpacking trips. I use a lot of dehydrated meals, so my "cooking" looks like boiling water most of the time.

If I want to cook rice, noodles, soup, etc., I have another isobutane canister-based set-up that is almost as light (~1.5 lbs) and can sustain burns much longer than the 12-15 minutes I get with the White Box Solo alcohol stove.

Mongo, I'm not trying to deter you from the Kelly. It looks really versatile because of the varied fuels you can feed it. But it strikes me as little bit heavy and bulky for a backpacking trip. Just wanted you to see a different take on a light weight mess kit for backpacking, and there are many such variations on this theme. I'm not exactly a "gram Nazi" when it comes to pack weight, but I have started being more conscious of ounces here and there.

 

[d_filgate]

I've had mine for about 2 years now. Works great for what I use it for.
Here is a pic of it out and about last winter, boiling water for a cup of tea.

Edit: If you order it, make sure that you get the pot attachment with it. Fits over the top part of the chimney and can be used for
putting a camp pan or pot on top.

Pros:
a) The Kelly Kettle and others like it work well, boil water fast, can be used for things other than just boiling water.
b) Can use just about any fuel that you find laying around.
c) Takes a surprisingly small amount of fuel to get the water boiling. I was very surprised at how little it took to get a boil,
the first time I used it.
d) It's quite light (even the stainless steel version)
e) No need to carry extra fuel.

Cons:
a) Most companies only offer an aluminum version. Kelly Kettle are the only ones that I know of that make stainless steel
b) You have to keep water in the kettle when in use. Can't be used dry if you only want to use the pot attachment on the top of the
chimney.
c) The first time you use it, it will leak from the bottom seam, until the metal heats up and seals properly.
d) It is a bit bulky, but I strap it on the side of my pack, with a bungy cord and it seems to work well.

1.5 liter stainless steel

 

[fmajor007]

Hey Mongo - don't feel bad about just learning about these. They're not yet mainstream "cool" (aka - backpacking lite) and require more patience than most Americans are used to in our microwave culture.

However, if you're interested in a product that provides you the opportunity to use/practice your firemaking skill, gets the boiling job done efficiently, uses available-nearly-everywhere fuel, and supports a non-Pacific Rim economy the Kelly Kettle is just the ticket.

I've only had mine a short time, but it really is a great product and Patrick and Seamus Kelly are good people. Granted, using the Kelly Kettle requires a small adaptation in thinking about camp setting/meals/drinks, but it's a very fun way to add a little something to your backpacking/hiking trips.

Going back to your question, i'd suggest the large stainless steel version. The small 1-pint size is perfect for 1-2 people, but for more people it's nice to have hot water for everyone all at once. The medium could be OK as well, but the size increase is vertical so it's "footprint" is pretty much the same as the large which comes in stainless steel.

I'll be buying a couple of the stainless steel ones for my work (part of my work is taking groups on outdoor excursions - year 'round), but needed the small for my personal use.

 

[Mongo]

Thanks all for your responses so far.

Next questions: 1). What are the pros and cons of stainless vs. aluminum?
2.) Does the carrying case allow attachment? i.e. molle etc.

 

[Guyon]

Hey Mongo - don't feel bad about just learning about these. They're not yet mainstream "cool" (aka - backpacking lite) and require more patience than most Americans are used to in our microwave culture.

I'll play devil's advocate here a bit and suggest that decisions to go smaller and lighter are less about being "cool" and more about being comfortable on long hikes. You cannot nest anything in the Kelly, correct? So space wise, there seem to be some drawbacks.

Patience has little to do with my own choices about a mess kit. I can get faster boils with a Pocket Rocket and a canister, but I like the way in which the very light and compact White Box nests neatly inside of the rest of my kit.

All this said, I'm intrigued by the Kelly design and am considering one for family car camping trips. I like that, as you point out, the Kelly encourages an owner to experiment with fire building skills. It'd be fun, from my son's perspective I bet, to help get a fire going and then feed the fire in the kettle.

 

[HornyToad]

I have the large stainless steel model. It boils water very well and because it is basically a chimney, the fire catches easily, burns hot and is easy to feed by dropping sticks down the top. Mine has never leaked. Although I did learn that if you fill it to the spout, once it starts boiling it bubbles out the spout and puts your fire out.

The Kelly family in Ireland are very nice and helpful. Good people.

I bought the stainless because I thought it would be sturdier but it is a little big. I guess they figured if it were smaller it would not be that much lighter.

The bag is very thin so I doubt you would want to hang it off a bag to carry.

I did not buy the pot rack because you cannot use it without boiling water and if I wanted to I could lay a couple of stakes across the top.

I am happy with my purchase.

 

[Les Snyder]

have you looked at the new surplus Swiss Ranger volcano stoves.... look like they might have a little more utility (a cut off wheel would probably open up the fuel feed hole at the base for a Trangia alcohol stove or gelled alcohol/paraffin can) and are a whole lot cheaper... I just ordered two but they haven't arrived yet

 

[Bushman5]

love my Kelly Kettle, i have the small aluminum one. Its perfect for one person, if you have kids or you GF/wife is with you, buy the big one.

the beauty about the Kelly Kettle is the fuel choice. You can burn ANYTHING in it, and it uses so LITTLE fuel to boil water its Un-American. The Kelly Kettle takes a few minutes to set up and use , something that the iPod Generation doesn't have the patience for. In other words 5 minutes and you have kettle of boiling water.

I have burned the following in it:

grass, dried cow dung, dried deer pellets, dry leaves, twigs, weeds, cattail fluff, bark, charcoal, coal, wasp nests, moss, fatwood, candles, motor oil, diesel, gasoline, kerosene, methyl hydrate, olive oil, whiskey, rum, newspapers, donut holes + donuts (found a few dried ones in my truck), carpet, cotton clothing soaked in bug spray, pine shavings, cedar shavings, bits of tree branches, split wood kindling, fire paste gel, alcohol hand gel, styrofoam , styrofoam soaked in various fuels, pinecones, birchbark, paper in the recycling bin.

you get the idea. The best part is that as the Kelly kettle gets used more and more, the "chimney" builds up a thick layer of soot, which actually makes the kettle heat up even faster, especially if you burn a lot of resinous fuels. One can actually get a mini chimney fire happening, which of course rapidly heats up the water.

 

[Guyon]

However, I have the desire to do so... and my kids get into the day hike thing, especially when it involves some lunch and/or hot beverage.

Mongo, my son really looks forward to "hot chocolate hikes" in the fall, winter, and early spring. There's something to be said about slowing down from a hike, taking stock of surroundings, prepping a hot beverage, and enjoying it together. Please let us know how you like the Kelly if and when you get one and post up some pic of it in use. :thumbup:

Some links on materials...

http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/right+cookware.html

http://www.backpacking.net/cookware.html

http://www.ehow.com/about_5427223_steel-vs-aluminum-cookware.html

http://www.hikingandbackpacking.com/articlebackpackcookguide.html

 

[desmobob]

I have the similar "Ghillie Kettle" which is pretty much identical but has a tea kettle style whistle instead of a cork stopper. I bought the smallest model, labeled as .5 Litre (it's aluminum). In practice, it boils about 24-26oz of water. This is fine for one or two people.

I find tht 90% of the time I use a stove in the woods, it's simply to boil water for coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or for dehydrated meals. The kettle is bulky, but light and simple and fuel is plentiful and free. Besides that, there's something kind of fun about using it. Mine came in a nylon carry sack which I usually just attach to the outside of my daypack.

Stay sharp,
desmobob

 

[ROCK6]

I wouldn't mind the Kelly Kettle or Thermette for the canoe or truck. I do like the concept, but the size is really an issue for me to backpack. I'm awaiting the deliver of the "Backcountry Boiler"...a domestic design that's being produced by gentleman from another backpacking forum. His design is smaller (capacity of 20 fl ounces) and weighs in at 8 ounces. Biggest plus is that his boiler can also be used to transport water with the plug...at least it's not waisted space

ROCK6

 

[fmajor007]

Hey HT, are you saying here that the ss version isn't much "sturdier"? Sorry, i'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer... I'm looking to buy the ss version for 1) it's sturdiness and 2) for longer life RE: the fire-bowl. I'm already planning on making a ss fire-bowl liner (of sorts) for my aluminum Kelly Kettle.

I bought the stainless because I thought it would be sturdier but it is a little big. I guess they figured if it were smaller it would not be that much lighter.

 

[KiljoyKutlery]

I own one, and still need some time with mine..but the kit is pretty cool, and the weight is super light empty. I would love to fully endorse them, but alas..I dont have enough dirt time with mine.

 

[kgd]

I'm with Rock on the size business. I really like my twig stove/pot combo. More versatile for cooking (e.g. doing noodles, rice, stews or oatmeal etc) and since the pot and stove nest within one another, the volume is minimized.

I do prefer a twig stove over other fuel-based stoves. Saved my butt a few times when the fuel gets left at home and you are staring at a high tech. piece of junk in the middle of the woods while trying to reconstitute your dehydrated meal with cold water. It works, but isn't quite as tasty.

 

[lilknifekid]

If you wanted to try out the concept before you buy one, you could try making a wood gas stove from tin cans. Just do a google search or youtube search and you can see some really good designs. I plan on making one real soon.