How to Make a Reflectix Pot Cozy for your Ultralight Cook Pot

[@anarchypoth13]

6 years later, this video is still perfect. Much appreciated!

[@BuckeyeHiker]

MUCH appreciated man! Will be hitting up the Depot this weekend. Thank you for putting in the time to do this. My wife and I (mid-thirties, house-kids etc) are newbies and have invested a ton of $ into our gear, and cheap functional stuff like this is a huge help to our fun and budget!

[@sintax77]

Good points. I've pondered the idea of making custom cozy pouch dedicated to dehydrated meal packs, probably would come in handy for deep winter trips.

[@brucewebb5251]

This is the best cozy instruction I have seen on youTube. Great work, Nice idea of the finger cozies. THANKS! Really enjoying your posts.

[@flon57]

a silicone wrist band will work great around the can or pot as a lip guard, so you don't burn your mouth

[@UrbanArmed]

Man, I'm so going to Home Depot at lunch today to get some reflectix and aluminum tape. What an awesome simple concept. Thanks.

[@sintax77]

Oh, yeah. We'll definitely be back up there trying our luck again this November. Always makes for a good time and a fun video.

[@sintax77]

No problem, glad to help!

[@garygomer7940]

Nice video! I purchased a larger roll of the same stuff to use with my sleeping pad for extreme cold weather conditions. Just roll it up with your pad and you barely know it's there. It provides a "cozy" night's sleep.

[@sintax77]

Great tip! I've thought of experimenting with that, but haven't given it a go yet.

[@geriaucoin8005]

awesome,thank you. We're in hurricane season and I plan on making dehydrated chili and veggies and meat. Just incase we need a hot meal. This will come in handy to place foodsaver bag over. Add boiling water to the food and let the food rehydrate. Will come in handy until power is stored.

[@TiMMyLuBe07]

Just a heads up. They use reflectix material to make those fold up sun visors for cars! I just found my old visor, and thus, have created a cozy for my pot. That way, you don't have to buy a giant roll and you can find sun visors all over the place for cheap, cheap, cheap!!!

[@lyzardecho9]

Good call. I got one at the dollar store.

[@NGinuity]

Great idea. I have two destroyed sun visors that I can't use for anything else.

[@ChannelTheron]

One thing I've started doing is making the cozy using the pot,like you did,or more recently my ikea wood stove(which my pot nests in),and not put the pot in it to keep warm,but use freezer bags.Then I can fold the freezer bag down around the top and eat from the freezer bag now shaped in form of a bowl(pot).I also like to decorate it a little with some colorful(neon) or camo duct tape:)

[@sintax77]

Oh, yeah. I went the glove route for a while myself. Even found myself wanting to pack a glove just as a pot holder at one point, haha. That's what prompted me to create a lighter alternative.

[@nickfish03]

I like your practice of leaving the top couple of inches exposed. I had made one recently where I went to the top and a little above (to sit a circle of reflectix right ontop of the pot), and it's sort of a pain to take the pot out. Think I'll give your model a try. Thanks

[@veganlayabout6859]

Brilliant idea! I have some spare reflectix, now I now what to do with it.

[@WoodsTrekkinAdventures]

Sintax,it works great! Thanks for the idea! I built the thing this past weekend and just used it for ramen in onion soup mix. Except, I tried Esbit tabs for the first time instead of alcohol. I just put the tab into the cat can stove. No problems. With a windscreen and a lid; my soup was ready for the cozy in about eight minutes. Not too bad...

[@sintax77]

Nice, I'm happy to hear that it worked out for you. Thanks for sharing the info on info on using esbit too. I still haven't experimented with that yet, but probably will one of these days, so it's interesting to know it works with the cat can setup as a backup or alternative. Do you still just put the pot directly on the cat stove and let the esbit burn inside?

[@Dondarasan]

Thanks. Love the grabber thing too.

[@davidmason9498]

Great video. Answered the question of what tape to use to join the pieces together. Hadn't thought of aluminium duck sealing tape.

[@WonderMonkey2]

Great video. The biggest thing I took away was the pot grabber. Loved it and I'll be making one very soon.

[@starshipfantastica]

Cool cozy video. I am definitely stealing that thumb grabber idea.

[@ChannelTheron]

That's what I started out with was the pouches,but I think theyre a pain to eat from.So after trying a pot cozy,and ziplock container instead,I thought hey I can use the pot cozy, like I did the pouch.Also this way,you can boil water,cook something in the "pot" cozy.Then be able to boil more water/use the pot to cook something else,some hot chocolate/tea,w/e.

[@nervousstranger]

I did a delivery to a place that makes the coating for the inside of cans I'd make extra sure that your cook can doesn't have that coating. It's pretty nasty stuff. I told the guy I used to cook out of those cans he said I wouldn't do it. also this wasn't a big Factory it was a testing place it was the scientist and engineers that come up with the chemicals to use.

[@flon57]

it also works to make a bag for you Mountain House dinners, keeps meals hot, and not your hands

[@cuchanu]

I wouldn't eat directly from the cozy, that's why people get cancer (little things add up)

[@blackfox2885]

@@cuchanu You put your mountain house packet w/food inside the cozy. You eat the food out of it's package the cozy just keeps everything hot.

[@vgrebel1]

i use the Reflectix as a sleep pad , i measure from neck to back of knee

[@dustincarson2257]

could at to a pad for winter too

[@lukestiles1344]

Hey Sintax77. You are great at doing vids to improve my gear. Are you ever going to go more into depth on your entire nesting system inside the pot? Not sure which brand you used for the smaller cup. Always a pleasure.

[@meawoodsman8321]

Nice video Sintax, I'm making one of these.

[@koch1187]

Great video ... just made one of my own ... followed your instructions ... turned out perfect ... thanks !

[@minustwelve]

Any chance some regular bubblewrap would work if you line it with aluminum tape or will it just melt like crazy at first contact? Seems like a dumb idea to pick up a whole roll just to make a cozy or two... Speaking strictly for myself here as I personally wouldn't have any other uses for the reflectix... Love the idea though and am now itching to get to the store just to see what's available for a cheaper solution. Awesome vid, thanks for sharing!

[@oldtimerlee8820]

You calling me dumb? lol I recently bought a roll. Yes, making pot cozies and pouches for re-hydrating dry meals in a bag. Grab/Go and Get Home kits for family and vehicles. So, more than "a cozy or two". Next, I'll use some of that roll to add insulation to ice coolers. Especially the large one that I use for frozen/refrigerated foods, if/when a hurricane or ice storm takes out the power lines for a few days. Reflextix can be used to keep heat in or heat out of vehicles used for camping or emergency shelter. Cut to fit windows. Reflextix can be used under a sleeping pad to help retain warmth in winter. Include some in a DIY sitting pad for the same reason. Depending on how low the temperature drops, can be used to help prevent water bladders and bottles from freezing. Personally, I wish I'd bought a roll a long time ago. Just 2-cents for anyone reading this old thread. Hope it helps.

[@YknotLearnall]

Nice tutorial on making a pot cozy out of Refectix. I realise there are a number of videos and websites and even commercially made pot cozys out of Reflectix but after looking at the spec sheet of Reflectix I'm not so sure Reflectix is the answer. It's "R" rating is low. It doesn't really offer any real insulating value. Doubling the thickness does little according to Reflectix themselves. And it's only good for up to 180°F, supposedly, it melts beyond that point. Boiling water is 212°F so... just saying. I'm thinking and looking at something with a tad more R rating, 3.9 per inch called Ultra Touch Radiant Barrier. Home Depot carries it as well. It's 3/8" thick. Made of recycled cotton fibers. Has a reflective side. And is more heat resistant. And better still, you might want to take a look at this page for some alternate ideas like Thinsulate or Wrap-N-Zap which is microwave friendly as well. And some off the materials/fabrics have scorch ratings of around 390°F shown on that page, and are designed for just this sort of thing. Here's the link: www.sew4home.com/tips-resources/buying-guide/thermal-fabrics-keep-hot-hot-and-cold-cold You might add a few grams using these other materials, but for me personally, I think they are much better suited for the job as a pot cozy than Reflectix is.

[@santiagodraco]

"It doesn't really offer any real insulating value..." I wonder then why they sell it? Unless it's one of the biggest scams of all time it does offer some value. How it works and it's appropriateness for a particular use is another issue. It's a radiant barrier and not "insulation" in the traditional sense. In any case before making assumptions about how well it performs it should be tested... say by taking a pot of boiling water and putting a cozy on half of the pot and then doing an infrared temperature check on each side. As I understand it a radiant barrier is useless if it is touching the heat source. So if you wrapped a pot in foil... guess what... it would show zero benefit. However in the case of Reflectix the inner bubbles isolate (to some degree) the outer foil surface from the pot and being clear also provide a radiant energy reflective surface to the heat energy transferring from the pot surface. It wouldn't be as effective as a closed cell foam cozy (for example) but it would add some value. All that being said there are a lot of people using these backpacking and they STILL use them and recommend them.... seems to me that would imply there's some benefit or we'd be hearing lots of people complaining about how useless they are. So I would have to think they work well enough for this intended use. So I ask those who use them and have ACTUAL data (not suppositions and opinions) how well do they work for you???

[@YknotLearnall]

Santiago Draco - I've made them and used them. Refractive properties it has... insulating properties some, but not much. Just a tad of research will tell you that. It's not designed with pot cozies in mind. It's designed with roofing in mind. It's designed to be used in conjunction with insulation. Lots of it in fact. There are other materials, as was offered up in the original post, that might suit better. Your test... would be interesting. But not in that manor as it would not give accurate results. A control pot. And then a pot in a cozy would show better more accurate results. And fyi.. a dish towel will work as a pot cozy.. they used them for decades with succuss. cheers...

[@tylerflowers4592]

The thumb protector is ingenious

[@hardrockcharlie1]

Duct tape works great if you don't have the aluminum tape. Nice job. BTW I have been using a grease pot from "Wally World" for a number of years but have since made one of your cook kits. Keep the videos coming.

[@kademan13]

You can find similar products internationally. I have found "Ayr-Foil" here in Canada.

[@korling99]

thinking of making one for a Ti pot with cut outs for the handles

[@bashfulbrother]

I saw a video here that showed how the Reflectix can be used as insulation in your shoes and gloves. Just draw an outline of the your shoes and gloves. Then cut it out about a 1/4" smaller than the outline. Put them in your shoes and gloves and you can even do a stocking cap, and you will be shocked at how warm you stay.

[@sintax77]

+bashfulbrother I think the main downside is Reflectix's lack of ability to breath though, so I imagine that condensation could become an issue under some circumstances.

[@bashfulbrother]

sintax77 Does foil work or does it not have the necessary insulation properties?

[@santiagodraco]

Foil alone would NOT work. Radiant barriers require distance between itself and the heat source... it cannot be touching it directly. It "radiates" heat back. If you used foil alone it would just transfer heat immediately. The bubbles between the layers provides that gap to allow for heat to be radiated back (away from the outer foil).

[@PureTazr]

Great video's as usual Thank you for making this I have been wondering how you made yours now I can make mine thanks again.

[@OutDoorZombie]

Good job on the cozy!!

[@timsbushcraftandoutdoors7634]

Yeah!! Great vid and back to the hardware store I go!!...Seriously, good job. Cant wait to make one.

[@robertfrederick9061]

could this be used in a hammock as a barrier to insulate a person's back from cold? It seems fairly flexible. Several layers could be sandwiched inside a sewn sleep sack. Unfortunately my local HD doesn't stock it.

[@clintonnovak4640]

have you ever tried using reflextix in your sleep system? for warmth.

[@lukechristensen7956]

I am really glad I came across this video. Your videos rock! Sintax! but one question wouldn't it be lighter if you left the bottom part of? Or do you some how need it?

[@oldtimerlee8820]

Bottom layer provides insulation from the cold ground or other surface. Holds more heat in longer, especially needed when re-hydrating / cooking meals in a bag. Direct contact with a cold surface can rapidly cool hot foods/liquids in the can.

[@DelLa-di8eq]

Awesome!! Thx for the video. Do you think that reflectix stuff would make a good makeshift sleeping mat?

[@sintax77]

Henry Pinpin I've heard of guys using it in hammocks and for additional insulation with other pads. I'm not sure how comfortable it would be on the ground by itself though. Might be a little too minimal.

[@silentpaw]

sintax77 I know they make sleeping pads out of this stuff, and I'd recommend it as a secondary sleeping pad for the winter. The reflective material will help send body heat back into the bag, and that bubble wrap inside really does work well to keep heat from escaping.

[@smak9h323]

I use it as a foot pad in my hammock since I have a 3/4 length quilt.

[@MrTangent]

Soup cans are lined with plastic, I thought? Why not get a titanium pot? I'm not adverse to saving money, but not if it endangers my health. Great cozy video, in any event! Will be making some for my Vargo/Evernew/Snowpeak/Heavy Cover titanium stuff. Thanks!

[@clupel1111]

Some are. In his pot video, he shows that it's a liner-free coffee can.

[@bbbmmm1713]

You can cook off the plastic from a food can before use, but how do you know you got it all.

[@murph6730]

Was getting ready to go buy some and notice that there are two types...single and double...02 and .31 thickness. Which one should I buy? Thanks!

[@matthewbrown7170]

Thumb grabber?? That thing is beautiful! That was like a Steve Jobs, "One more thing."

[@stellasmith2605]

Could you just wrap bubble wrap completely in the tape? Would that work the same as Reflectix? I don't see myself using either the wrap or the tape for future projects...

[@bbbmmm1713]

The Ace Hardware near me sells it off the roll by the foot.

[@williamtaylor6074]

That Reflectix stuff looks great, do you think it could be used as a roll mat? Looking for something that will keep the cold ground off me but I'm not to fussed about padding.

[@bbbmmm1713]

Not much padding from reflectix.

[@scottmoore4159]

You can substitute a cheap car windshield sunshade from the dollar store for the $15 worth of reflectix. Its the same material and you won’t have a huge roll left over.

[@richrobertson1078]

What are your thoughts on using this stuff to make a light weight lid instead of the can Lid I wonder if it would speed boiling time if it worked

[@sintax77]

Rich Robertson Interesting idea, but in my experience, it does shrivel up when exposed to high enough heat. Not sure if the steam would be hot enough to deform it as well? Worth some experimentation though :)

[@kirksfilms]

I got reflectix to make a pot cozy and one side was white and plastic. Hope it doesn't melt with heat.

[@MrArgenon]

You could make a fantastic ASMR video with that :P

[@RecluseAllKnight]

Thanks man great stuff

[@gordonsgreatoutdoors7523]

Forgot to buy the Aluminium tape! Will duck tape work?

[@jasonholloway9046]

Gordon's Great Outdoors Duct tape will work for 2 days then start coming off due to the heat.. I made pouches for freezer bag cooking with a bit of velcro to seal the top off. Works great - so I don't have to dirty the pot.

[@gordonsgreatoutdoors7523]

Thanks for the info and the tip :) will try it!

[@steved3549]

Just curious what editing software do you use?

[@timgrogan883]

Does reflectix come in different thicknesses ? Or is it all the same ?

[@blackfox2885]

As far as I've found, it only comes in one thickness.

[@UuddlerLeRoyBaStart]

Man. That's a lot to buy, just for a cozy. I could make different cozys... Idk. How much did that run?

[@sintax77]

I've been using that same $15 roll to make insulators for various gear for years now. Still have the aluminum tape too; it was probably like $5? Solid investment.

[@sintax77]

Adobe Premiere Pro CS6

[@mikerichard4950]

Great vid. Thanks, man!

[@johnlhigh]

i use left over reflectix to line the inside of my car camping cooler

[@gearedupoutdoors2980]

Good stuff Sintax...I made one of these after seeing you using it on a trip...just started my first channel and gave you a shout out in one of my vids. Check it out if you have some time to spare

[@sintax77]

Geared Up with hydroPsyche Right on, thanks, man!

[@luvelion]

Would this work for cold insulation too?

[@sintax77]

Cassandra West Yes. The middle layer is basically just bubble wrap. Works well for hot or cold.

[@ahilbilyredneksopinion]

Slick

[@friarrodneyburnap4336]

Now if you are a winter hiker you might need a cozy...

[@ontheroadwithjoy6266]

This is really nice looking. Free idea came to mind that would work, as well. Card board box or bubble wrap you may have laying around, cover in aluminum foil. And the dollar store shades sound super, since many of us won't have need of a whole roll of reflectix. I'm thinking why necessarily make a bottom as then you can just store it flat.

[@martin.feuchtwanger]

If you sat on a cold rock, your bottom might soon appreciate some reflectix! On the other point, storing the cozy around the pot is not going to take up much room and it might even provide some protection for the stuff sac or backpack from chafing against the pot..

[@MARLEYFANcbr]

The Home Depot has the best price on this stuff.

[@ke5ufg]

my foil tape failed after a while. next time I will use duct tape for structural and maybe tape over it with foil tape for looks only.

[@lukestiles1344]

Nvm about the smaller cup, watched the end of the video.

[@jamesreid2939]

i just posted an almost identical video.. please dont think i copied you or am a hack! lol.. yours popped up when i was clicking through my tags... your video is way better anyway.

[@derekshepard9525]

Why not just use the lid to lift it?

[@tylercandlerawesome]

Derek Shepard Are you being serious?

[@MrAdamNTProtester]

circupherence

[@virgiljohnny]

these full length commercials are killing me. You tube is getting worse than network TV...

[@friarrodneyburnap4336]

You really don't need a cozy . . .your food and or boiled water will be to hot to drink or eat for 20 minutes or longer....

[@santiagodraco]

Wrong. It will be too hot to pickup and work with...as in stir/etc. Cozy's aren't just to keep pots hot longer.

[@Alien2799]

Any concerns about handling the aluminum?