STANLEY Nesting Two Cup Cookset Adventure

A well made bit of kit. I only wish it came with a pouch to protect it. Should be good for boiling water for coffee or heating soup. I don’t think I will use it for any other kind of cooking, because of the tall shape, nevertheless it is perfect for what I need.

I sold camping gear at a major outfitter for a number of years, and I’ve been a gear-junkie for over half my life. I can’t believe I’ve never come across this set before now, but I haven’t. And I also can’t believe how absolutely perfect this set is for a minimalist expeditioner, at such an unbelievably low cost. The price is fair as-is, but I would expect it to cost three times as much since inferior designed sets by well-known ultralight brands usually cost a lot more, and since the price of stainless steel has gone up so much in recent years.

Here’s what is amazing about this cookset…

PERFECT SIZE FOR ONE OR TWO MINIMALISTS. Usually, a cookset that is designed for two will be appreciably larger, but if you’re a minimalist and like to keep things simple, there is plenty of space here without overdoing it. The pot holds 24 fl. oz. which means you can toss in a typical can of food, such as chili or spaghettios, and heat it right up without having to fill it dangerously to the brim. It also happens to be exactly the right size for two or three cups of instant hot chocolate, and enough for the water requirements of many prepackaged dehydrated meals. In my experience a lot of cooksets are either a little too small or (far more commonly) larger or more awkwardly sized than they need to be. I much prefer a narrow, taller pot to a really wide, shallow one, but they can be hard to find. This one is perfect.

ACCEPTABLE WEIGHT. Backpackers who count every gram may grumble to see that it’s made of stainless instead of titanium, but the weight will be quite acceptable to all but the most obsessive ultralight folks. The stainless steel is thin enough to minimize weight without being so thin as to deform easily under pressure or heat. I’ve seen other stainless sets made from such thin gauge metal that they actually “oil can” (warp or deform) when they get too hot. Not with this set. I’ve also seen stainless sets so thick they felt like a brick to carry. Again, not with this set.

VERSATILE DESIGN. Nested inside the set are two 10 oz. plastic cups, sized perfectly for a cup of hot chocolate or a small bowl of hot food. They also are quite thick, so they don’t transfer heat to your hands. I poured in some steaming hot chocolate and could barely feel the warmth as I gripped the cup. That means you don’t have to wait for the pot to cool a bit before pouring the contents into the cups. The lid of the set is stainless steel and contains a series of small 1/8″ diameter vent holes (a row of six holes on one side, and a single hole on the opposite side). At first glance, their purpose is to release steam to show you when your food is hot, which is already a nice feature. However, I also realized that they are designed so they can be used as a strainer to strain water away after cooking pasta or another hydrate-able food.

A small plastic tab on the lid offers a cool place to grab the lid even after several minutes of cooking. Other reviewers have noted that the tab can melt over time, but I suspect that would only be after extended cooking. I saw no problems with melting after six minutes of boiling water. The tab is tensioned so that it lays flat when packed away, but can stand erect while cooking (for easy grabbing without burning your fingers).

A folding wire handle on one side of the pot snaps down into place for cooking, and has a small “spreader” bar that slides into place so you don’t accidentally pinch the wires together to release the locked position inadvertently. When you want to fold it up, you slide the spreader bar back, squeeze the wires together, and lift. The handle rotates up and snaps down over the top to hold the lid on (and the contents in) during transit. Since it is wire, it diffuses heat quickly. After several minutes of cooking, the handle was barely warm and easy to hold. It is slightly longer than the handles on other cookware I’ve used. That, combined with the taller height of the pot, seems to keep it cooler than the (similar) wire handles on other compact cookware I’ve used.

On the pot, there are also measuring marks imprinted in the stainless for 6, 12, 16, and 20 oz. (or 237, 355, 473, and 591 mL, respectively). These marks are visible on both the inside and outside of the pot, so they allow quick, easy measurements when you need a precise amount of liquid to rehydrate a meal or cook to a recipe.

OUTSTANDING PRICE: After having owned several nice cooksets from SnowPeak, MSR, and Brunton, each of which cost in the $40 to $80 range, I was not expecting this cheap set to be so nice. It looked good in pictures, but I wholly expected to receive something flimsy or shoddily made. Fortunately, I trusted some of the positive reviews. As it turns out, the set is very well made and should stand up to a lifetime of camping if properly used and maintained.

NOTES: The Stanley Adventure Camp Cookset fits perfectly on my MSR Pocket Rocket stove. I built a gimbal mount so that I can use this as the perfect cookset-on-the-go aboard my 20′ sailboat. It’s ideal for making hot chocolate or heating a quick lunch when I’m sailing.

Simple is best. No flashy lights or gimmicks…just a sold, lightweight, dependable piece of kit. Easy to clean? It practically cleans itself. Even the two cruddy green cups are not that bad. If you’re flying solo and just want something that will always work and last forever while never slowing you down, this is your piece of gear forever. Not to sound corny, but you could pass this down to your kids or a friend. It will last forever if you take care of it. Twenty-five bucks? What a great deal. I love mine. I use it every day, sometimes in the house just for fun and because it works so well. Buy one, you’ll see. No frills. Just a bad to the bone product that does more than you need every time you use it. Buy one, you’ll see.

A good sturdy cup. The handle and lid work great. It’s a good size also. Be it boiling water or cooking. Comes with two plastic cups that nest inside. Overall I think it’s a sturdy, lightweight,easy to use cup.

What’s not to like? Perfectly sized water boiling and drinking solution for camp cooking that perches nicely on top of a JetBoil or other small camp burner and packs neatly into a compact package for transport. Great for making and drinking that morning coffee or even just heating up some hot dogs. The cups do a great job of keeping your coffee hot and your hands cool and the little pot conducts heat well while giving you a handle that remains cool to the touch.

Top marks.