Anyone have real world experience with Kelly Kettles? The kettle appears to have some advantages and uses.

Pricey but efficient.

I have regularly been reminded of these devices and keep telling myself that I will/should/might get myself one. Unfortunately I get a stabbing pain in my rump every time I reach for my wallet and the pain reminds me that I have gone this long time without one and have always muddled through.

I get the same stabbing pain...however it is the g/f's foot and her saying forget it...

no real world myself but the are widely discused at a camp
stove site..used by the new zealand army in ww 2 and by fisherman in england in the 1900's..if you want lots of hot water
they are said to be really worth it..another company, Thermitte- not sure of the spelling--makes one with a handle on
the side that is said to be easy to use as you don't have to fool with the chain to pour..

You may want to do an ETS Forums search. IIRC there were several threads on this in the last two years, complete with links and several decent discussions.

Regards, Comanche7

These kettles were first knocked together of copper and tin in Ireland by the tinkers for fishermen. They would have been Kavanaugh kettles except we were paying those same fishermen to run german mausers ashore hidden inside a double walled boiler of the same concept. Thats how they got the money for the kettles and we continued with lost causes as a family tradition. The name kelly has utterly no historical connection, Clan Kelly being a bunch of lace curtain pubsmen and dancemen who are foolish enough to dance in the rain instead of brewing up a cuppa. Some brit had these cobbled up and slapped a catchy name on it.Kelly uses less letters is all. English fishermen sensibly go home at noon for tea instead of messing wtih these things out in the weather. Buy yourself a nice Sadler 'Brown Betty' and forget about it, unless the weather is about to make turf fires practical again, as tonight in California they are. Then the Kavanaugh kettles are marvelous affairs, as my old copper one has proven time and again.

I know what you mean Chris, McSwiney's are suckers for lost causes also......watch the wild geese fly!!!!

I also find these interesting but painfully pricey. A good description of its use on bicycling/camping trips can be found at:

http://kentsbike.blogspot.com/2006/01/kelly-kettle.html

I believe the original posts about the Kelly Kettle have disappeared into the mists of time here on ETS. However, there is a cool article written by Schwert (an ETS member) here:
http://outdoors-magazine.com/spip.php?article126

Dave, imagine finding you here. All the best. Alan W.