Some backpackers elect to take just cold food, so that they don’t have to bother with cooking, as the stove and associated equipment can be heavy and bulky. But hot food is a great way to end a long day on the trail, and backpacking pots are an important part of the equipment necessary to getting that hot meal. But there are many different options available, when it comes to backpacking pots, and you have a few decisions to make before you buy a backpacking pot.
Backpacking Pots
A few things to look at more closely when you are shopping for backpacking pots.- Material – There are a few different choices available when it comes to the material of your backpacking pot. Titanium is definitely the best, as it weighs very little and is also fairly durable, but it also costs the most. Aluminum and stainless steel are both cheaper, with their own positives and negatives.
- Size – This is an obvious one, but you definitely don’t want to overlook it. You need a pot that is big enough to cook food for you, and anyone that you’ve brought with you. With this in mind, it’s often a good idea to get a set of cooking pots, so that you have the right size for several different group sizes.
Best Backpacking Pots
A few of the best backpacking pots on the market right now.- Snow Peak Titanium Multi Compact Cookset - If you need more than one pot, this set from Snow Peak is a great choice. It comes with two different pots with two different lids. The lids both double as frying pans, as well, making it a versatile set of cookware. Each pan and pot comes with a folding handle, and because it's titanium, the each piece is about as lightweight as you will find, though also not cheap.
- MSR Alpine 2 Stainless Steel Pot Set - If you'd prefer something strong, durable and relatively cheap, and aren't so concerned about weight, stainless steel is an ideal material. This is a set of two pots, and one lid that fits both. You also get a pot grabber that will work with the lid or either pot. Just remember that because this is stainless steel it weighs quite a bit more than the more expensive titanium options.
- Evernew Titanium Non-Stick Pot - If you're going solo and only need one pot, then a single titanium pot is a great choice, though this backpacking pot comes in 7 different sizes, so there's something for everyone. What's different about this pot is the non-stick coating, which is fairly common on aluminum pots but not so much on titanium. Non-stick is especially great for cleaning up after you've done your cooking.
