More Kelly Kettle Testing: Twig Stove/Grill

[gerryg]

Here’s a few shots of some gear testing I have been doing at a fire pit at Hilton Falls on one of the trails.

My dog and I go hiking there a few times a week and will often stop at the fire pit late in the day to cook up some grub and boil up some water for tea. I’ve been using the Kelly Kettle for a while now and have come to enjoy it. Lately I have been cooking things on the small fire pan that comes with the kettle. It works pretty good as a small twig stove but takes a bit of practice to get the hang of it.

On our way to the fire pit.

Cooking on the twig stove with the KK cooking kit

Thai herb tuna in a foil pouch….very good and handy for the backpack

Tea, apples and BRK necker

“Those apples look ready to me” …Coal Creek Forge Poll Hawk, BRK Bravo 1

Building up a bed of coals and Coal Creek Damascus Roger’s Rangers hawk

Ranger Hawk

“I’m thinking we can probably get one more shrimp on that Bar B”…

“Did somebody say BBQ’d shrimp?”

I have learned a few things when using the twig stove:

* angle the openings into or away from the wind to control draft
* build the fire the same as usual, tinder, small stuff and gradually get bigger
* i'm going to make up a small grate to allow airflow under the coals

Anyway, I'd recommend the Kelly Kettle both for the quick water boiling and now also for the twig stove. With one piece of kit you have water purification, hot drinks and a small stove. It's not heavy and you can pack a lot inside it to maximize space. gerry

 

[sodak]

Nice review! Not to mention that it's fast!

 

[JCK]

I know this is O/T, but how do you like the bravo necker?

 

[siskaholic]

nice aparatus,i love the hawk too.

 

[chenko]

Wow nice! And it was fun too for sure! Would you tell me more about "cooking" apples that way? I'd love to try it out! Thanks for the pics!

 

[KiljoyKutlery]

Great looking gear. I love the Kelly, I have the same one. Also, where did you get that cup with the clip on it? I have to have one!!

 

[carspidey]

that was pretty cool man!!! nice...

i was about to say that looked like Thai curry

did you buy that little grill or you made it???

 

[gerryg]

Thanks guys, lot's fun trying stuff out in the bush

To answer your questions...

I love the Bravo Necker, and the Bravo 1 too. The necker is one I got for K9SAR, so that's why red and orange. It's a great little knife that I originally wasn't sure if it was worth the price, based on my Becker. I have now decided it was well worth it and I love it. I can see me getting another one of these. The sheath works really well and I consider it a smart way to solve the problem.

I love both of my Coal Creek Hawks, but that Ranger is a sweet tool. Steve Iley at CCF has made me see the light on the topic of hawks. I read a few people raving about them and decided to try one out. I ordered the Ranger and then picked up the Poll Hawk so I would have something to try out while I was waiting. I love them both but man that ranger is sweet...sorry I already said that.

Cooking apples is something I've done since I was kid, but usually a whole apple on a stick. For the twig grill outfit I decided to cut one up and see how it did. This is now something I do fairly often. Just heat the pieces up til they start oozing and you're good to go. I have an arrangement with my dog that whenever I cook anything over fire, we split it 50/50. That will explain that look in her eye.

The actual kettle came from Lee valley Tools. But that cup with the carabiner handle is from Kelly Kettle in Ireland. I got all the cooking gear including the little grill and the cup from them and it arrived in less than a week. They were very good to deal with. It's funny, everybody who sees that cup wants one. here's the link http://www.kellykettle.com/vmchk/Accessories.html?TreeId=2

The Thai curry tuna is a new product from Clover Leaf, here in Canadia. Not sure if it's in the US or not. It is a precooked Yellowfin Tuna Steak in a foil pack. Only 2.99 and it won some serious awards for innovative and healthy products. I now keep one of these in my PSK as it packs small. So it's usually tuna, apples and tea on the trail these days...the shrimp was a first try and worked well too.

glad you liked the post, gerry

 

[carspidey]

it was fun seeing you cook man... really nice...

i just showed the pics of your dog to my wife and she loved her... specially with her tongue like that...

 

[j williams]

Those kellys are cool....Id like to get one of those.

 

[Brad "the butcher"]

I like my kelly kettle, boils water for morning tea and oatmeal fishing faster than the coleman and better for warming hands.

My gsi .9litre kettle fits right on the inside rim of the fire stand to keep warm for steeping by the way.

I store it with dry wood in a stuff sack inside. Usually enough to boil it 2 to 3 times.

I want to try to cook a small filleted trout this year putting a little backpacker grill on top.

 

[Whiskey River]

So... you're the one out there burning and chopping up the picnic tables!

Oh wait, my Bad..... thats in Canada..... LOL.... carry on!