Part 4- Four nesting backpacking pots for 300g

This post is about making up a kit of four large nesting pots that collectively weigh only 300g. They are made with two different but very similar sets of cheap food storage containers.

Background to four nesting pots

Over many years I have used a single set of stainless steel storage containers as multiple, cheap, efficient and nesting pots. In my case, I nest them over my ‘core’ one-litre cooking pot that also contains two stoves. Their price, volume and functionality compare favourably with a pot such as Snow Peak Trek 1400, SCS-009T (209g and 887cc capacity).

Here are some examples of alternative food storage containers that can be used as nesting pots: Amazon (US) or eBay (AU). The use of these for backpacking cooking has been described in a separate post: light cooking pots.

The four nesting pots for compact backpacking

This current post describes how two very similar but subtly different sets of food storage containers can create ultralight pots that are even more compact. The nesting pots are so compact and light that two pots can be carried for the weight and space of one normal pot. Even better, if required, four pots one-litre+ pots can be nested and weigh only 300g.

These bowls are apparently from two different manufacturers. The close fit of these pots with each other could be as a result of intelligent design. Alternatively, it might just be a case of a design ‘knock-off’ gone awry or the tool maker making a tiny mistake. No matter what the explanation is, they make the most weight/space-efficient pots I have ever seen.

Me

As a backpacking tinkerer, I could not believe my luck and it raised many great ultralight pot possibilities. The most obvious was that packing pots together this way provides space-saving and imparts considerable mutual protection from mechanical damage while backpacking. “Having two one-litre cooking pots in the space of one-pot makes a pretty attractive option for efficient shared backpacking cooking for multiple people. Cook dinner and make hot drinks at the same time.”

The following series of photos shows how compact the pots can be and that they can form a nice packworthy shape that can even house an outside cooking stove plus a tent stove.

Discussion of four nesting pots for backpacking

Can a cooking group have too many pots?

I find that abundant hot drinks and soups for rehydration and preparation of hearty hot dehydrated meals make high energy backpacking activities sustainable and enjoyable. This applies equally to summer walking trips where dodgy water (contaminated by Brumby crap) may need sterilization or to winter ski trips where snow can be melted for providing water. I have never had too many pots, but it does not mean that I take all pots on every trip.

Sharing a tent and evening meal cooking between two trekkers can save considerable backpacking weight and camp set-up time. As a bonus, I also find that it makes the activity more fun. Consequently, having multiple additional compact large nesting pots to add to a base kit provides great flexibility for shared cooking. “The divide-by-n-factor is also a very big weight saver when cookware is shared by n-people.”

Luxury group cooking with pots that don’t break your back

If luxury cooking was required for a group, four pots of about one-litre capacity could be carried compactly with a combined weight of only ~300g. Such pots can be used with a round blower stove that can fit inside the four pots. Such a stove can cook in two positions at once to make good use of multiple pots.

My blower stove that converts to a tent stove for snow camping can only cook one pot at a time in tent mode. However, extra pots are always welcome for dinner preparation, hot drinks and snow melting when there is a break in the cooking.

A call for team help to find the right nesting pots

The tragedy in all this is that I have been unable to purchase more of the B series pots. (After my first accidental purchase.) My best guess at this stage is these containers from eBay. The last photo in their advertisement shows pots with single rings on the bottom. However, I have learned not to trust such photos. Delivery of the pots and close inspection is the only true test.

So if anyone can identify the supplier of the slightly larger B series pots, with the single base rings (for the larger pots P1 & P2, please let me know so that we can share the knowledge.”Your help to sort this out would be appreciated, so please use the comments section at the end of the post or send me a message through my contact form.”

Here is a table of the distinguishing features of the A and the B series container/pots. I was a bit slow, to realize that there were so many little differences, so these might help to speed your search.

For ultralight DIY nesting lids for these pots, please see Part 3. Foil lids for light cooking gear. and also Part 6. Pot lid and frying pan for slightly more solid light lids.

Tim