Thursday, June 21, 2012

$3 All-In-One Cook Kit: Who Says Enjoying The Outdoors Needs To Be Expensive?


Who says that we need to spend a lot of money to enjoy the outdoors? The above video shows how to make an "All-In-One" cook kit that includes a cook pot, stove, stand/windscreen, and even fuel! This cheap little combo is very easy to put together and is a safe alternative to DIY alcohol stoves. The kit features an 10cm Imusa mug that serves as a versatile cook pot, a stand/windscreen which wraps around the stove/fuel canister for easy storage and transport, and a diethylene glycol fuel canister with a 2 hour total burn time. The materials used for this cookset can be obtained at your local dollar store and Walmart. The liquid "diglycol" fuel used in this system is a great alternative to methanol based gel chafing fuels in that it produces a higher heat output (approx. 890 BTUs), is non-flammable and safe, and can be sealed for later use. The heat output is not nearly as great as with typical backpacking stoves such as those that use alcohol or butane/propane fuels. This stove system does produce a nice mid-range burn however and allows for diversity when preparing meals other than those which simply require boiling water. All-in-all, a good option for the occasional weekend hiker, the "budget backpacker", prepping, or simply as a backup cooking source in an emergency.