MSR Alpine Stowaway 1.1L Backpacking CookPot Evaluation

Backside Line

The MSR Alpine Stowaway 1.1L cookpot gives superior sturdiness and warmth dispersion at a hard-to-beat value. CleverHiker gear analysts and editors might feed a military with our assortment of Stowaways, however we’ll be sincere, they’re often utilized in automobile tenting eventualities. Nonetheless, they work nice with quite a lot of range setups, can deal with extra concerned meal plans, and so they final eternally.

The chrome steel pot presents a stark distinction of strengths and weaknesses. It’s removed from ultralight and takes up a major quantity of pack area. Thus, it’s finest used with a bunch that can divvy up shared objects.

On the upside, cooking on chrome steel feels quite a bit like cooking in an actual kitchen. It heats up slowly and evenly, providing rather more management than titanium or aluminum. Though it may be cussed to wash relying on what was cooked in it, there isn’t any fragile non-stick coating to wreck. It’s additionally good that in your final backcountry meal, you may simply lock the lid, stuff it within the pack, and convey it dwelling to wash within the kitchen sink.

Talking of sturdiness, the Stowaway can simply stand as much as years of cooking immediately on a hearth or abuse from clumsy backpackers. It’s even sturdy sufficient to make use of for self-defense when you so select.

Though the Stowaway lacks some frequent cooking options, it’s by far probably the most sturdy one in our information to the most effective backpacking cookpots.

How We Examined

Our complete testing of the Alpine Stowaway pot spanned a number of real-world eventualities. We evaluated its non-stick properties by way of egg-cooking trials and measured boil effectivity with 500 mL of water. Discipline testing within the Rocky Mountains allowed us to judge efficiency throughout numerous circumstances and range setups. 

Cooking Efficiency

The MSR Alpine Stowaway is nice for minimalist base camp cooking. Chrome steel heats up a lot slower than different cookset supplies reminiscent of titanium or aluminum. Though this ends in a slower boiling time, it considerably reduces the burn danger.

The chrome steel can also be comparatively thick and distributes warmth extra evenly. This even warmth distribution makes for evenly cooked meals, and the thickness of the metal retains warmth for longer. The massive pot diameter additional distributes warmth evenly and makes cooking simpler. These attributes collectively imply that warmth is less complicated to regulate total.

Since chrome steel is extensively utilized in dwelling and business kitchens, the Alpine Stowaway is pretty just like what most individuals are used to cooking on. This makes it splendid for newbie backcountry cooks or those that like a bit of extra management for in-depth base camp cooking.

The draw back of chrome steel is that it’s not the simplest to wash, so it’s a good suggestion to pair it with some metal wool.

Weight & Packability

Weight and packability usually are not the Alpine Stowaway’s sturdy fits. The tradeoff to chrome steel’s comparatively superior cooking potential is its added weight. 

The Alpine Stowaway 1.1L is likely one of the heaviest pots that we examined, with an total packed weight of 14.7 ounces and a capacity-to-weight ratio of 107mL per ounce. At almost a pound, this pot will add a major quantity of weight to your pack, so it’s finest used with a pair or a bunch that divvies up shared objects.

The 1.1 model of this pot will take up a major quantity of actual property in your pack as effectively. The general packed quantity of about 147 cubic inches is massive even for a one-liter pot, and the big diameter eliminates the power to pack it in a facet pocket. The quick, squat form of the pot solely accommodates a 4-ounce gas canister, albeit with loads of further area for a backpacking range. 

The folding deal with and latch maintain the lid securely in place, but it surely’s a good suggestion to carry alongside a cleansing fabric to cut back rattling from the additional inside area.

Usability

The simplicity of the pot lacks fancy bells and whistles, but it surely cuts down on price and gives simple performance. The chrome steel cooking floor, though semi-non-stick, lacks a non-stick coating and generally is a exercise to wash.

The deal with is sturdy and in a position to maintain quite a lot of pot weight, and it stays cool when cooking. It additionally folds up and latches to carry the lid and the pot’s contents in place. Though the latch is safe, we discovered it will possibly get caught and be a bit of awkward to work with.

The minimal pot lid doesn’t have any drain holes, a pour spout, or a stress launch. Whereas the simplicity is perhaps a downfall for individuals who take pleasure in extra concerned cooking, it makes for safe storage of leftovers. The lid additionally includes a small deal with, but it surely tends to get sizzling.

As a result of the bottom of the pot is so massive, with a diameter of about 6 ¼ inches, it’s best used with bigger backpacking stoves. Ultralight stoves lack adequate stability, which might result in spillage or worse.

Sturdiness

One other energy of chrome steel, together with its wonderful warmth management, is its superior sturdiness. The thick chrome steel is unlikely to warp or bend even after years of use over excessive warmth. You can even prepare dinner immediately on sizzling coals with this pot, which isn’t one thing we’d suggest for skinny titanium or aluminium. 

The deal with and latch are probably the most noticeable weak factors on the Alpine Stowaway just because they’re the one shifting components, however even these elements are very strong. 

The Alpine Stowaway is the proper pot for anybody who’s tough on their gear or enjoys cooking over a hearth. It’s so heavy-duty that you can even use it for self-defense.

Ought to You Purchase the MSR Alpine Stowaway cookPot?

For anybody who appreciates practical simplicity, at-home cookability, cozy over-the-fire cooking, or a killer price range purchase, the Alpine Stowaway 1.1L is a no brainer that can final a lifetime of untamed meals. 

What it lacks in options, it makes up for with wonderful cooking efficiency. Though it takes some time to boil water, the thick chrome steel heats up slowly and evenly, similar to your pans at dwelling. It’s nice for newbie backcountry cooks or anybody who enjoys sautéing contemporary meals within the backcountry.

Though it’s undoubtedly not ultralight, the folding deal with and latch maintain every part securely, eliminating the necessity for a stuff sack. In a bunch setting the place gear weight could be distributed throughout a number of packs, the 14.7-ounce weight isn’t too heavy for a sturdy, home-style cooking floor.

The Alpine Stowaway is perhaps the proper pot when you’re a bushcrafter who loves cooking immediately on the fireplace or somebody who often automobile camps however sometimes desires to backpack shorter journeys.

What Different Backpacking Cookware Ought to You Contemplate?

In our full information to backpacking cookware, we’ve examined cooksets for each backpacking fashion.

MSR Fusion Ceramic 2-Pot Set Evaluation: This cookset gives the most effective cooking efficiency of any cookware on our checklist with its use of light-weight, ceramic-coated aluminum pots. Though it’s a bit of heavier than the Stowaway 1L, it contains two massive pots. 

Stanley Journey Nesting Two Cup Cookset Evaluation: That is one other ultra-durable chrome steel cookset. It’s tall and slim versus quick and large, which lends itself extra in the direction of soups and sizzling drinks than cooking, but it surely’s lighter and comes with two cups.

Evernew Titanium Pasta Pot 1L Evaluation: The Pasta Pot is the most effective steadiness between an ultralight cookset and helpful options. It doesn’t prepare dinner meals as evenly as stainless, but it surely has a large base and a sturdy deal with.