In an emergency, you can boil water in paper, like a paper cup or similar container. Water boils at 212*F, paper burns at 451*F.

we used to boil eggs in styrofoam cups filled with water in the Scouts. Not environmentally friendly, but this was like 1980 and people still threw EVERYTHING out the window while driving back then. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Anyway, I wouldn't want to eat anything cooked in styrofoam nowadays, but it was a pretty neat trick seeing the top melt where there was no water, but the cup remaining intact.

If you gut, skin, debone, decapitate, and fold, you can stew a small squirrel or chipmunk in the Nalgene cups. It just looks kinda funny, and you are constantly adding water so it takes forever. The USGI canteen cup DOES hold about twice as much, and is the best arguement in favor of that canteen.

Mark, if you are looking to repack in mess tins, check Major's Surplus and Sportman's Guide, one or both of them frequently have Euromil surplus mess tins from either France or one of the low countries that is about 7.5x5.5x2.5. Leave out the third, inner piece, and pack your gear into the two shells. It leaves you with a container to hold your kit while you cook, or you can cook two things at once (not the worst idea if you if you have to boil water- the fire is making more heat than the boiling can use). As I said elsewhere, I'm pretty sure my car running over it wouldn't hurt it. VERY similiar, although with a lower end (IMHO) handle is the British mess tin.

Unfortunately, I can't find it at Sportmans Guide, and Major's website is misbehaving right now.

If you are looking for the best bang for your buck, try a Wally World grease pot. They hold about a quart of whatever, weigh almost nothing. The ultralight camping crowd has been very fond of them for a long a time, they weigh maybe 8 ounces and run about five, six bucks. Look around by where they have the tooth picks and measuring cups, it is in a funny spot in the planogram. Keep the inner strainer/steamer tray or not is a personal call. Down side is that there is a small rim along the inside, that either needs to be done away with, or cleaned with a cut down toothbrush, and it has not handle. If you carry a leatherman or similiar, you are fine, otherwise you want to pick up a small pair of pliers to tuck into it and use as a pot grabber.

It's the top item on this page
Very good write up on it

You can see pictures of both here. I use both, but the mess tin is the core items. If I have to shed the rest of the pack, unless I'm about to go into rapids, being chased by an angry mob or something equally immediate in it's lethality, I'm taking three seconds to pull that out.

I have an old military canteen cup which has served me well for years. You can stuff it with all kinds of things to reduce the space it takes up, and it weighs very little, resuseable and durable.

I have gone a slightly different route over solid containers. I use the art of origami and thin aluminum to make a pot that is 6 inches square and 3 inches deep yet will fit into a wallet.

While you could start with heavy duty aluminum foil I decided to go a bit heavier for something that would last longer. This is to use disposable aluminum cookie pans or sometimes labeled as oven liners. These are essentially double or maybe triple the thickness of the foil. This heavier foil also results in a sturdier pan. But you still need to manuver it caregully to prevent it from unfolding when full.

I cut out a square 12 inches on a side. Using paterns of origami that can be found all over the web you can fold this into the aforementioned box that is liquid tight and reasonably ridged. Folded flat it produces a 6 X 6 inch package. Then if folded in half this gives a 6 X 3 inch packet less than a 1/4 inch thick. This packet is about the size of several stacked dollar bills. Hence will easily slip into the bill compartment of any wallet.

Yes wear and tear will eventually wear holes and need replacement. But it is very cheap, light weight and compact.

The British pattern 58 water bottle can be combined with a steel mug.

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That is what I use but am looking serously at the Trangia Mess tin.

Raspy, I like the idea of the disposable aluminum cooking pans. They are thicker and more sturdy than foil, but much lighter than my Sierra cup.

I may check that out for my PSK. I just want to have something on hand for the short hunting trips, where "if" something went wrong I would be covered.
Any longer trips with more gear, the Serria cup would be going anyway.

Some others mentioned the Mess kit. I have one, but they are klanky in the woods, so it compromises the stealth that I want as a hunter. Great for camping / hiking though.

Thanks to all for the ideas, and sharing of info. Much appreciated!

From a post below: Nalgene bottles nest neatly in a Snow Peak Ti 700 Mug. That mug with your Nalgene based PSK would make for a nice contingency kit.

Mark_G,

Like you have have small cooking pots, but I also keep taking them out of my CamelBak. They have more bulk than I am willing to deal with for something I am not likely to need. My favorite pot is the Primus Kettle. It is flat, easy to pack, has a wide lid to use as a regular pot but also has a spout for heating water for freeze dried foods.



The Ritter PSP uses an 18" x 18" square of HD aluminum foil for cooking and boiling water. This is what I keep in my CamelBak all the time. It is light and takes up little space. To make a cooking pot I fold it in half twice to get four layer thickness. I then crease it in thirds. I fold up the sides with the corners sticking out. I then roll the corners to get a water tight, square pot. It's sturdy and holds water. It also has many other uses.

I was wondering if anyone has experience with Sierra cups? They always struck me as being too shallow to be very useful.

I don't own one, but the Space Saver cup seems to be just about right to me.

Personally, I've always relied on my stainless steel GI canteen cup. While the kidney shaped cross section is awkward for some purposes, it can be and advantage when heating pouched ready to eat foods while still in the pouch.

- Tom