Snow peak mini-soloist cookset

[kgd]

A few toys from MEC came in today. Managed to get my Hennesey expedition hammock - but its pouring rain so I won't set it up until maybe tomorrow. Also bought a pair of Entrant rain pants (my 8 year old gortex ones are failing me now) and the Snow Peak Mini-Soloist cookset.

The cookset was brought to my attention by Brianbraintrust in his response to Ankar Sheng about titanium cookware. He posted the set fitting into a maxpedition 10x8" bottle holder which is what started peaking my interest. I already had a stainless steel GI-cup, but I was interested in this as an add on. We have to water bottle holders, so with the combination that makes three pots.

Above is a picture of my super cheap canned heat stove ($7 + fuel tab) at Cdn tire. This little package all fits into the column part of the 10x8" water bottle holder leaving the pocket free. I do need to slide the cross bars of the stove into the front pocket of the holder but they take almost no room.

It all stacks nicely togeter and then fits in. The stove and baffle fit on top and it all zips up nicely. A bit of a tight fit, but not too difficult to zip up.

Here is the larger pot, with about 750mL capacity next to the GI-cup (which holds about 550 mL).

Surprisingly, the combination of two pots + lid is just slightly heavier than the GI-cup.

Okay, so here is my take on it. Really, the titanium set is a rather expensive set up (about $60) for a nifty set of pieces (cup + pot + lid) that all stuffs together nicely with your nalgene water bottle. The GI-cup is about $14 and is a better value with no weight cost to it. However, the combination of pots seems a very handy choice that can help rationalize the purchase.

First, the larger capacity of the big titanium pop will let you easily boil enough water to do a couple of mountain house meals or a mountain house meal and a beverage. Second, it is really nice to have a separate cup for drinking and one for cooking. So you can have your pasta and your tea and enjoy them simultaneously. The lid helps increase the efficiency of the pot beyond that of the simple GI-cup.

We were considering buying 2 snow peak soloist sets, but now I'm kind of glad I didn't. The combination of GI-cup + the Snow peak set is a good one. I have a big pot and the GI-cup that can serve as an intermediate pot or cup and another cup that can be used to cook with or just drink out of.

Now for my little cooking demo. I used the cheap canned heat stove to boil 650 mL water. The water is ice cold right now.

Total time to my boiling pot and coffee + tea = 36 minutes Okay thats a long time to wait. However, as I mentioned the water was ice cold. Not the best little stove on earth.

more coming..

 

[kgd]

So next I cracked open my MSR whistperlight.

Six minutes to boil, and that included the warm up time of the jets. So I guess there is something to be said about my $100 stove versus the $7.00 stove. However, I can't get my whisperlight + fuel can to fit with my snow peak pots + water bottle.

So yet again there is a trade off. With my cheap canned heat stove, I can buy another baffle for $7 (including extra fuel cannister) and have two stoves packed with both my water bottle holders and water. Admittedly the cooking time, even with two stoves is still going to be longer than it would be to cook 1 thing at a time twice over with the whisperlight, but two stoves has its other sets of advantages.

So there it is. I'll start looking at other little fuel tab stoves later on, but I'm happy with this systems even with all of its trade-offs. Again, to re-cap, if you just want a decent little water bottle pot and are on a tight budget then just get a GI-cup. Its value packed. The $65 for the snow peak is I think worth it, but only when you really consider the versatility of two pots. I was a bit disappointed that its weight was actually more weight than the GI-cup. I know, its more pieces and more volume - but hey I was expecting a miracle for my money and what I got was a modest improvement. I have to justify it as a good purchase because the system holds more volume, has two pieces to it, a lid and it all packs into the water bottle holder.

With that, here are a couple of knife pics of the RC-4.

 

[Shotgun]

Very cool review. I was thinking about buying one of these sets too but now knowing that the set weighs more than just the cup, I think I'll just stick to the cup. I only use the cup to drink out of and for emergency water purification. I have a Trangia mini that I use to cook with and it's all one set. Might weigh a little more but then again I already have it and can spend $60 on something else. By GI cup do you mean GSI?

 

[JB in SC]

Nice review, I got the Mini Solo a while back (based on the same postings) and have really enjoyed it.

 

[Rotte]

Excellent review KGD. I really like these simple set-ups. I know some folks like complicated camping stoves and ovens, but I really prefer the simplicity and ease of these types of outfits.

 

[IH8U]

the whisper lite is nice, but I bet you could get a msr canister and a pocket rocket in your snow peak. The pocket rocket should fit if you remove the pot stand leg thingys and store the burner and the legs separately.

 

[kgd]

the whisper lite is nice, but I bet you could get a msr canister and a pocket rocket in your snow peak. The pocket rocket should fit if you remove the pot stand leg thingys and store the burner and the legs separately.

I might consider that, thanks. I've had the whisperlite for ten years now, so it certainly doesn't owe me anything

Brianbraintrust also sent me a pm about a little wood stove combo that might be worthwhile for him to bring up here publicly.

I should say, that if you went with just the Snow Peak titanium cup over the GI-cup, then you would certainly be saving weight.

On the GI-cup - maybe it is GSI-cup. I don't know. I've had this thing for a few years now and honestly can't remember the brand it was sold under. I bought it at a little outfitter shop in Peterborough (Wildrock outfitters). I went in looking for a pot because I forgot my cookset at home during a trip. The propriety asked me if I used nalgenes. I said yep, I do. So he pulled out the cup and showed me how it nested with the bottle. I just bought the cup that he had in his hand. Never even seen a tag or brand name or anything.

 

[tholiver]

Good review!
You bought a bunch of gear thats on my MEC wishlist, lol.
Might buy that cookset for next spring.
Will have to look at that stove the next time i get to Canadian Tire.
Bought the cheapy ($10) chem-tab Coughlan folding stove there this summer, actually works pretty good. Boiled 500 ml in 6 minutes (using 2 tabs).

Been flip-flopping between the Henessey and the Seedhouse tent.
I really want to try hammock camping but for the Newfoundland climate i'll probably go with the tent over the hammock.
Looking forward to a review of the Henessey!

 

[jca21]

i use my snow peak ti set with my snow peak giga power stove. it fits inside nicely and heats up real fast. i usually get a boil anywhere from 4-5 minutes.


great pics as always kgd.


cheers,


JC

 

[Rockywolf]

Like it! My set up is similar. I have used a folded piece of foil as a lid with the cup-works well to reduce boil time.

 

[Bushman5]

great pics/review!

I got me eyes on the MSR titan kettle.....however ever since getting a GI canteen and SS cup the idea of getting the Titan seems "meh".

 

[tholiver]

kgd you live in/near Ptbo?
I lived there 2000-2002 while going to Fleming college, did my internship at the pcma.
I miss a few of the pawn shops (like Hockleys), music stores, used book stores and of course the Ptbo Arms, lol.
Surprising amount of good used stores for a relatively small place.
The last year i was there i lived a few minutes walk from the Quaker oats factory.
Every-time i smell popcorn now i think of Ptbo! lol!

 

[kgd]

Good review!
You bought a bunch of gear thats on my MEC wishlist, lol.
Might buy that cookset for next spring.
Will have to look at that stove the next time i get to Canadian Tire.
Bought the cheapy ($10) chem-tab Coughlan folding stove there this summer, actually works pretty good. Boiled 500 ml in 6 minutes (using 2 tabs).

Been flip-flopping between the Henessey and the Seedhouse tent.
I really want to try hammock camping but for the Newfoundland climate i'll probably go with the tent over the hammock.
Looking forward to a review of the Henessey!

For s*its & giggles, I just might pull for the coghlans folding stove. I know exactly what you were talking about as I was debating between it and the canned heat one. I went with the canned heat because I thought it was more compact. However, I'll try them and compare them this weekend as a fun thing to do.

We are in the same boat with the seedhouse. I really worried about the hammock but then I finally got to try out the henessy that Brian Andrew's had set up and I liked it a lot. I already have a 3 season (Tarn-3) and 4season (Nunatuk) tent, just that they are big and bulky but they are used with my wife. The hammock is mainly for solo camping. So, far I'm really happy with the compact package it presents and weight. The seedhouse is just as light. I'm a bit concerned with the floor integrity and was told that you need to always use a footprint with it to keep the floor from getting damaged. With the hammock, I already have my eye on a bigger silnylon tarp (perhaps the Mec-Guide silnylon tarp) that can serve both tarp camping and as a big shelter for hammock + gear.

i use my snow peak ti set with my snow peak giga power stove. it fits inside nicely and heats up real fast. i usually get a boil anywhere from 4-5 minutes.

That sounds nifty. The only thing I get worried about is trying to locate canisters in the more fancy stoves. I just don't have any nearby outdoor stores in my vicinity and most places, like MEC, cannot send fuel canisters by mail order. I do have access to REI in Detroit. Maybe one day I'll just bite the bullet and try out one of the funky new canister stoves.

great pics/review!

I got me eyes on the MSR titan kettle.....however ever since getting a GI canteen and SS cup the idea of getting the Titan seems "meh".

Yeah - I love that little grey kettle. But like yourself, I've already invested in pots. At some point I have to ask, how much does the kettle shape really improve things over the versatility of a pot. A kettle will boil a touch faster but won't cook. A pot will do both.

 

[kgd]

kgd you live in/near Ptbo?
I lived there 2000-2002 while going to Fleming college, did my internship at the pcma.
I miss a few of the pawn shops (like Hockleys), music stores, used book stores and of course the Ptbo Arms, lol.
Surprising amount of good used stores for a relatively small place.
The last year i was there i lived a few minutes walk from the Quaker oats factory.
Every-time i smell popcorn now i think of Ptbo! lol!

Cool - I did my PhD at Trent and lived there from 1996-1997. After '97, I transferred my research to Hull with Canadian Wildlife Service. Yes - I used to frequent the Arms - they are closed now Peterborough and Lindsey are nice areas.

 

[Bushman5]

For s*its & giggles, I just might pull for the coghlans folding stove. I know exactly what you were talking about as I was debating between it and the canned heat one. I went with the canned heat because I thought it was more compact. However, I'll try them and compare them this weekend as a fun thing to do.

We are in the same boat with the seedhouse. I really worried about the hammock but then I finally got to try out the henessy that Brian Andrew's had set up and I liked it a lot. I already have a 3 season (Tarn-3) and 4season (Nunatuk) tent, just that they are big and bulky but they are used with my wife. The hammock is mainly for solo camping. So, far I'm really happy with the compact package it presents and weight. The seedhouse is just as light. I'm a bit concerned with the floor integrity and was told that you need to always use a footprint with it to keep the floor from getting damaged. With the hammock, I already have my eye on a bigger silnylon tarp (perhaps the Mec-Guide silnylon tarp) that can serve both tarp camping and as a big shelter for hammock + gear.



That sounds nifty. The only thing I get worried about is trying to locate canisters in the more fancy stoves. I just don't have any nearby outdoor stores in my vicinity and most places, like MEC, cannot send fuel canisters by mail order. I do have access to REI in Detroit. Maybe one day I'll just bite the bullet and try out one of the funky new canister stoves.



Yeah - I love that little grey kettle. But like yourself, I've already invested in pots. At some point I have to ask, how much does the kettle shape really improve things over the versatility of a pot. A kettle will boil a touch faster but won't cook. A pot will do both.

it is a pot http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_...4442619389&FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302696295

 

[sicily02]

Hi Ken, congrats on the solo set up. I know they cost but boy to me they are worth it.
I have several of them and use them with different kits. I just love um lol.

Bryan

 

[kgd]

Oh okay. That looks nice. Bigger than the pot on the solist by about 150 mL.

I assumed you meant this guy:

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442625443&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302696295&bmUID=1256345139791

Which I'll probably buy one of these days....Just to have it.

 

[kgd]

Hi Ken, congrats on the solo set up. I know they cost but boy to me they are worth it.
I have several of them and use them with different kits. I just love um lol.

Bryan

Well, since 88% of all your disposible income doesn't go to BUYING knives, you have lots of $$ for gear now don't you Bryan

How about a shot of your cooker with that big Warthorn blade of yours???

 

[tholiver]

Cool - I did my PhD at Trent and lived there from 1996-1997. After '97, I transferred my research to Hull with Canadian Wildlife Service. Yes - I used to frequent the Arms - they are closed now Peterborough and Lindsey are nice areas.

Trent is good school and has a nice cozy campus, lots of green-space there!
A classmate and good friend of mine did his conservation internship in the Arch department there.
And when i came back to Nfld to finish my Archaeology/Medieval studies BA there were two new Arch (pre-history) profs there, from Ptbo of course.
Actually for two or three years after i came back here i kept continually bumping into people from Ptbo,lol.
Sad thing about the Ptbo. Arms, i had heard the 2003 flood washed away the outside deck/patio, was hoping they'd rebuild/reopen the place.

 

[C_Kyle]

Nice review!

I have the Snow Peak Trek 900, the ti-spork, and the regular Giga-Power stove. They're excellent pieces of kit.

After reading your review, I made myself a cup of tea and fried up some roast beef. The Giga-Power on a very low setting, boiled 2 cups of water in the 900 pot in 3 minutes. It fried up a few slices of roast beef in about 30 seconds.

I was just looking at Snow Peak's website and saw this:

Trek 700 Starter Kit, complete with Giga-Power stove and Ti-spork.

The stove and fuel canister fitting inside the pot/pan is why I got the 900 about 3 years ago.