5oz Ultralight Backpacking Cook System

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

Good stuff, I have to say that when I finally got around to experimenting with the cat stove it is one of my favorites over all my other alcohol stoves.

[@MattyOutdoors]

glad you like it

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

@@MattyOutdoors in all honesty finding your channel helped motivate me to expand my horizons to include proper backpacking. This year I am leaving my collapsible kettle in a bin, as much as I love it the thing is just way too bulky for what I need. Why not just carry my 550ml titanium mug that I have had for years or one of my 750ml titanium bail handles? I love my BRS stoves but why not just use alcohol? It isn't like I don't have a ton to choose from!

[@andrewkingstone890]

Great Video. I know I am a year late. Nice to see a fellow Canadian also. Look forward to using your tips this hiking season. Cheers.

[@MattyOutdoors]

no such thing as being too late!

[@thebackpackblazer3973]

Nice setup. I've tried about everything but an alcohol stove. My current go to is a 500ml Toaks and BRS.

[@MattyOutdoors]

I love the BRS, and if my current venture into alcohol stoves fails, I'll be right back to it!

[@maxlutz3674]

Nice setup. I went for 750 ml pot. It allows me to hydrate Ramen noodles directly in the pot. I like the cat can stove too. Mine is made from a can for canned sausage and one for canned vegetables. I use a rib in the vegetable can to measure my fuel. That works fine for me and requires no additional measurement. The fuel bottle could be marked with a permanent marker to allow pouring a defined amount of fuel. If the markers are set with the bottle upside down, the shotglass can be ditched. A little less weight and one item less to loose or break. Those who use fuel stabilizers or two stroke oil may consider buying bottles with the builtin measurement compartment and reuse them for carrying the fuel.

[@MattyOutdoors]

I've done ramen in the 550, put its pretty much full to the brim. That's genius about using the can ribs, im going to have to remember that and ditch the little shot glass!

[@whiteflower5603]

Sweet! I've been toying with changing over to an alcohol stove for the weight savings...this is great! And I have a plethora of disposable aluminum pans for windscreens and medicine cups around the house! I have everything (except the felt) and hubby is all up for building one...Thanks Matty! 😁😁😁😁

[@MattyOutdoors]

I'll warn you.. It starts with one, and the next thing you know, youre outside on the deck in -25 ripping open the recycling bags to get popcans, for more stoves. They're fun to play around with! Was great chatting on Friday, Lindsay and I had a lot of fun!

[@whiteflower5603]

Me, too! You are both so dear to me, like my own kids. No worries, I wont call you sonny! Lol!

[@danielluippold6239]

Love your vids, Matty! Hope life is finding you safe and healthy. My 12cm IMUSA kit weighs about the same but larger pot (I cook in it) + WS+ coozie+ super cat using an "airplane" soda can. Keep being!

[@MattyOutdoors]

Thank you, I very much appreciate that! I'm doing as good as one can be, given the current circumstances. Hope you're doing well also! Is that a pop can version of the fancy feast?

[@oxxnarrdflame8865]

Good kit, how did it work out for you? I made a similar 500ml Tokes kit, mine is for day trips and I carry fuel in a 2oz energy shot bottle stored in the stove. You can replace the steel tomato past can with an aluminum coffee drink can (find same diameter) and save 0.4oz. Dollar store aluminum baking pans will give you a good wind screen.

[@MattyOutdoors]

works great, still the exact set up I use

[@MiyagiontheTrail]

Love my Toaks 550. I ditched my handles & lid. Strategic bandana work replaces the handles & a little bit of aluminum foil for the lid. Great video! Cat cans rock!!

[@MattyOutdoors]

I'm pickin up what youre puttin down! I may have to play around with the foil lid! I think I'll keep the handles though, as i do tend to stick my pots on a fire whenever possible, so i think those I'll keep. But definitely going to experiment with the foil lid!

[@UnlikelyHiker]

I’ve been using that pot and the BRS for 2 years now. I hate cooking but I love hot coffee!!!!

[@MattyOutdoors]

I'm not a fan of cooking, so I only ever do home made dehydrated meals for my summer trips.

[@JustinOutdoors]

Have you calculated out what the weight difference will be for a 7 or 10 day trip using your alcohol kit vs your canister stove kit?

[@MattyOutdoors]

I haven't yet, but I like that I can more easily carry the right amount of fuel for a trip with the alcohol, by just taking 2oz per day (Only boiling for breakfast and dinner, and doing cold lunches). I think it'll all be fairly relative in the end.

[@MattyOutdoors]

@67schueppi 29schueppiwith a canister, you're forced to carry that full canister weight, even for just a single night trip. Whereas, I can carry just a few oz of alcohol for one. And, I just prefer the alcohol stove over hauling canisters around. All personal preference here.

[@jurgschupbach3059]

@@MattyOutdoors ok i agree for 1 or 2 day Trip but longer than 3 days you are hauling more weight because alcohol is far less energy efficient compared to the same amount of gas. up to 6 days you need 12 oz of alcohol for two hot meals a day my whole cook system inclusive wind protection and mini bic with a full 4 oz gas canister is at 12.7oz.

[@MrRourk]

Flat Cat sells the Daddio that will nest inside the IMUSA 12cm for dry baking. You just need a aluminum ring to raise the baking pan off the bottom. There are a few designs of simmer rings for the Fancy Feast Stove. All this weighs just a tad more than your current kit.

[@MattyOutdoors]

I've never tried the dry baking, I'm usually not in camp long enough in the mornings.. I usually get up, make a coffee, pack up and hit the trail, and eat breakfast on the go. But may look into something like that for a shorter trip

[@MrRourk]

@@MattyOutdoors its nice break from regular trail food. Weight is a factor. But variety is nice. I recommend for lower altitudes only.

[@2wheelsandatent]

Awesome Matty, I used my alcohol stove on my Moab/valley of the gods trip recently. I used it to get the fire started lol, I took it as a back up to jet boil like you suggested as well as to try an alcohol stove for the first time. We woke up cold and before sunrise so to get the fire started fast we dumped the triangia all on the logs and a great fireside breakfast began. Thanks for the tip on the fuel carrying bottle that was my biggest concern as my triangia leaked just a tiny bit. I wish you the best on your longer trips this year man. I am getting together with my KZbin hero again this year for some more Backcountry Discovery Route rides whih basically are 10 or so days of mostly offroad motorcycle riding through an entire state. This Year we are doing the Colorado BDR and the Utah BDR (Which I just became an ambassador for the Utah Backcountry Discovery Route!!!!!!!!!!). Thanks for the great tips and tricks keep them coming and oh yes I challenge you and Justin to try to get me into a hammock camp this year ie which budget friendly and user friendly hammock to get me off the ground for the first time Cheers!

[@MattyOutdoors]

For the budget hammock, check out the Ridge Outdoor Gear Pinnacle 11foot hammock. Hands down the best bang for your buck starter setup.

[@2wheelsandatent]

@@MattyOutdoors Damn, 48$ for all that I am going to have to try that out just for the heck of it, thanks

[@bobellamy7120]

Just ordered the 450ml toaks titanium cup /w lid for this year. And a gsi backpackers mug

[@MattyOutdoors]

those GSI mugs are the best!

[@BackcountryForward]

Matty Outdoors are you still bringing the GSI?

[@MattyOutdoors]

I'm going to try a few trips without it, and see if i can just use the pot for my coffee. #gramweenielife

[@mikeschiebel]

Nice setup, I went with the 750ml TOAKS. Do you find the 550ml does fine boiling 2 cups water?

[@MattyOutdoors]

Yah, I find the toaks 550 perfect for doing 2 cups of water :)

[@zackarymeinert2727]

If you get the Bic lighter with decorative shrink wrap and peel it off, you can see the fuel level easily.

[@MattyOutdoors]

good point!

[@BackcountryForward]

Dude that is one UL backpacking cook kit. I’m thinking of redoing my cook kit this year too. But I’m not sure I can go lower than the 750ml. I like doing one boil for my meal, evening de........ I was going to finish this sentence but I realized that I do two books almost every time anyways. This may have just convinced me! I’ve also toyed with the idea of buying a titanium mug instead of my gsi 😬 But I could never do alcohol. It just doesn’t make sense to me 🧐 But awesome vid man! Keep Moving Forward!

[@MattyOutdoors]

I thought about the mug too.. But I think im going to transition to just drinking my coffee from my pot, instead of carrying the GSI. The advantage to alcohol, is for an overnight trip, all I need to carry is 2oz of fuel. 1 boil for dinner, one for coffee in the morning. Thats my thought behind it, is being able to calculate out exactly how much ill need.

[@BackcountryForward]

Matty Outdoors oh yah I get it for an overnight or two. Just not for long trips. Man! Matty with no mug! You really are going full gram weenie!

[@Johnnywalleye1]

I use the same pot it works for me . I use the brs stove

[@MattyOutdoors]

I'm a big fan of the BRS stove as well!

[@DanBecker]

Nice job! I just ordered that pot myself. Too bad It’s taking like a month for me to get it. Oh wait.. I’m on lockdown 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@MattyOutdoors]

Well, just know that you've got one tiny kick ass pot thats going to arrive in a month! Thanks Dan!

[@HuckOutdoors]

Nice cookset bud. Very lightweight.

[@MattyOutdoors]

Thanks man!

[@devonhowton]

Hey sweet. I'm in your video. We'll have to get together and compare sizes..... haha I just re-did my cook kit too.

[@MattyOutdoors]

i love comparing sizes with you! 😘😘 #eggplantemoji

[@outdoorstransient1498]

Nice set up. I currently use the MSR Titan small, Toaks 550 ul minus lid, Snow Peak Lite Max, 110 gram canister of fuel, mini Bic, hankerchief wrapped around 550, and GSI potgripper. It is pretty solid, I have enough water for meal and coffee. Can drop down to only 550, but not nearly enough water for both. Would like to take my Snow Peak 450 double insulated mug with lid. Enjoy my coffee or tea nice and warm. I do have a MSR tea kettle that I will take out in winter, the pocket rocket deluxe will fit in there with room for other items. Draw back, not neatly nested. Be well, Terry.

[@MattyOutdoors]

I like a system that nests together nicely! And it sounds like you've got quite a few different options to play around with for different cooking setups!

[@danielkutcher5704]

Windscreen - MSR. Save some more weight and cut one out of an oven liner sheet or buy a titanium foil windscreen. I got one from Backpacking Light way back around 2005. Toaks makes one, but I don't know if it's thicker than the BPL one. If your windscreen isn't cut to size, but left longer, you can also use it as a fire ring, held in place with titanium shepherd hook stakes. Save fuel whenever you can. It sucks to be holed up in one place, pinned down by weather, wondering if you have enough fuel. Nice nights call for cooking fires, lousy weather calls for cooking under the tarp with a stove. Thanks for mentioning the plumber's carbon felt. Most people don't know what it is unless they've done soldering in tight quarters or have played with alcohol stoves. Here, check this out: www.uberleben.co/collections/fire-starters/products/tindar-wick Make your own with a carbon felt wick and a piece of aluminium tent pole. After you use it, dunked in alcohol, to start a fire, blow out the felt, remove it, and you have a compact mouth bellows. 👍😊

[@MattyOutdoors]

So many different things you can do with carbon felt! Awesome tip! . I'm definitely going to look into a titanium windscreen at some point, but they're hard to track down in Canada, and the shipping to get one here is pretty ridiculous, so I've just gone with what I have on hand for now. :)

[@surfandstreamfisher5749]

next time you make the stove leave the rim on the tomato paste can. it makes it stronger & you wont have a sharp edge to deal with

[@MattyOutdoors]

I actually dont have that option, because my can opener is the type that cuts the top completely off, so i don't have the rim. I should probably buy a different can opener!

[@awalkintherockies9475]

I never thought about alcohol stoves before. It would be a lot nicer having a refillable container to carry the fuel over those stupid propane canisters!

[@MattyOutdoors]

Alcohol stoves are a lot of fun to make, and to play around with. Once you start down the rabbit hole, youll be cutting up pop cans for hours

[@lilricky2515]

Great video, however this isn't a cook system, its a very light boil system, which is great for dehydrated/ freeze dried meals or pasta. But try cooking a piece of meat or fish with it or sauteing vegetables.

[@MattyOutdoors]

I appreciate the input! If I ever intend on carrying fresh food with me for cooking, I'll definitely bring the adequate cook ware for it. I pretty much only ever do home made dehydrated meals, so boiling water is all I do for cooking.

[@fishooksfull2827]

You people that count grams kill me, maybe I should try it sometime just to see how much better lighter it lol

[@MattyOutdoors]

Its just a different mindset for backpacking is all. We all have different goals on trail

[@markiankchik1338]

Why not go with twig stove, then you don’t need to bring fuel

[@MattyOutdoors]

I have a twig stove, and am not really a fan of sitting there continually feeding twigs into it. I just set the alcohol stove up, set a quick alarm on my phone, and let it do its thing for a few minutes