| Okay, first the Pros:
Lite weight, well finished, no burrs, nice design, the flask slips down inside the unit and rests on a wire stopper to put it close to the flames to boil water. The cup can also be used as a cook pot. Sold elsewhere here are gel pot mini cookers and those cans of fuel slip neatly in to this unit for a quick clean start. The whole unit nests together without blue prints.
Cons: First, the unit was new and unused, but the cork was covered with a thin green mold, not sure I can clean it up, I'm going to soak it in clorox and see if it cleans up, or I'll have to buy a new cork.The Cork as a stopper for boiling is good as it will release steam while holding in the surface heat while boiling, but the cork is unsuitable for transporting liquids, say like a thermos of coffee to the blind. That is a major oversight in design, it really needed a threaded stopper as well.
Then the unit is like a stove pipe and the bottom has no horizontal base supports to prevent tipping. This will need to be braced with stones in the field if a small skillet or other small pot was to be heated that was larger than the top.
NOTE TO FILE: While CTD has recommended their water bottle Molle Water bottle unit be purchased as a carry pouch for this rig, NADA. I bit and have to report being a misled, forget it as a pouch for this unit. CTD never checked the actual size. The pouch is three inches too short. Yes, the kit will slip in with some effort, but is just too tall for a zip up neat job. If the cup is carried elsewhere as well as the cork, it can work, but .... But what's good is two of these sterno cans will fit in the side pouch, along with your magnesium fire starter, fire tender, etc.. Had the pouch fit well it would be a tremendous outfit, and frankly all you'd need for a over night trek, or long stay in a blind.
For hunters who are packing everything all the time, this kit is not stealth, when staked for travel it rattles like a full kitchen of pots. But when you need a hot stove, this is it. |