Hi Mike_H,

The base of the Etapower pot appears to be considerably thicker than the side walls. This was probably a requirement to stop the pot warping whilst the heat exchanger fin sections were welded to the base (presumably using an electric welding process). The walls of the pot seem to have then be turned down to be made thinner to lighten the pot. The pot is then hard anodised, which makes the aluminium surfaces much tougher. Its quite a clever piece of production engineering considering the thickness of the aluminium fin section on the heat exchanger. Overall the heat exchanger on the base seems to be reasonably robust but might damaged if abused i.e dropped from a height on to rocks etc.

What would have been useful would have been a neoprene cosy to insulate the side walls to help further with heat transfer efficiency by reducing heat loss from the pot and a stuff sack with a neoprene base to protect the heat exchanger part of the pot.