It comes with the whole cook kit, Kelly Kettle’s sell it as an extra item. This may make the price closer to each other. But I would suggest that you either make or find someone that can make an aftermarket handle for the Thermette. I would not buy one and use it without a new handle. I can’t understand why they put such a poor quality handle on it?

Also if you like things that look great and look impressive the Thermette may not be for you. It’s not an item that is made to look good, but if you want something that works great and are willing to overlook its rough look it may be for you. It is a great performing item. I would say it works very well, better then advertised. The great thing about it is that the more the wind blows, the faster it boils the water. The wind makes the chimney effect work even better. In fact when the wind wasn’t blowing hard, I pointed one of those portable fans that have soft plastic blades (bought at the dollar store for $1.00) at the opening in the base. Doing this I was able to get the boil time down to 3-min or so. Not too bad for ½ gal of water. We used it to heat water for 3-people to take showers, it worked great.



The handles are its weak point, if you can fabricate new ones it’s a great item, if not you will be disapointed in it.




As far as packing it I used the cardboard box it came in, I reinforced it with duct tape and cut part of one side out for the new handle.

But I decided last week (while camping the whole week with it) that I’m going to make a wood box for it out of 1/8 inch plywood. I have lots of wood in the garage and I’m will put a hinge and a latch on it. It rained a little every day and I want to make a box for it that can handle rain. I have a friend that owns a lumber yard and has a dip tank with Woodlife wood preservative in it (like Thompson’s Water Seal only much better) I’m going to drown the box in it for a few hours to really let the preservative soak in. then give it several coats of polyurethane.

I just took a picture of it sitting in the original box with one side cut out, here is the picture.




I will also post a picture of the wood box I make for it when I get it done.