Billy Can

[giancarlo]

I'm on the hunt for a decent Billy now.

Saw these on RayMears.com and they look great, just wondering if there's anywhere else / any alternatives that people have seen or used?

Zebra 14cm Billy
(Can't seem to find this one anywhere else, sure it's about though)

I was thinking of getting the "Swedish Mess Kit" like Raz is going to use to make his Hobo Stove.. about £8.50
(good bargain for a quid Raz )

Any Ideas?

Cheers
Carlo

 

[Ed]

If memory of my travels serves me correct... zebra stainless steel cookware is from thailand.... they do billy cans... not sure if they are the same company as the ones on Rays site.....

The swedish mess tins are ok, but mine are aluminium..... I prefer stainless steel.

I have a Tatonka Kettle - 1.0 Litre on order from http://wiggle.co.uk/ from their cookware section.... have a look, they have quite a alot of good cooking pots.

:-D
Ed

 

[giancarlo]

Cheers Ed,

Looks pretty good that, Nice price too.
Tatonka Kettle
Only thing is that handle looks a bit "chunky", but that's probably a good thing.
You'll have to give us all a review when this comes down

You're probably right about the Zebra ones coming from Thailand, can't seem to find them anywhere on any UK online shops.

Cheers
Carlo

 

[Ed]

Only thing is that handle looks a bit "chunky", but that's probably a good thing.

Yep... your right... The handle is chunky (and not a thin wire type) as it locks in place which makes it easier when pouring....

Ed

 

[Viking]

I can higky recommend the swedish mess kit It´s cheap and durable. Gere in sweden you can buy them for less than £3 and if you want he hole kit it cost about £8 and it comes in both stainless and aluminium.

A pictue of a comple mess tin

 

[bigjackbrass]

Zebra: definitely from Thailand. These have a very similar handle to the Tatonka, by the way. The only places I have seen wire handle billies in any quantity are America and Australia, but then again it's not a mammoth task to fit one yourself. Personally I'm very happy with the Tatonka, which also has a frying pan for a lid. The locking feature on the handle is very useful when pouring.

 

[Matt]

If you are up for a home made alternative, you can buy stainless steel coffee/tea/sugar pots at TK-MAX for abour £3, then its just a matter of fitting them out with hangers and a handle for the lid.
:-D

 

[giancarlo]

Cheers for all the help fellas,
looks like i'll be going for one of those Tatonka's off Wiggle.

Already emailled them to make sure they're going to take the VAT off for me, yum yum

::Update::
"Unfortunatly we cannot deduct VAT as we are not setup for this at our end."
Bah! have to find it somewhere else...
or I might have to break my "not going to order from anywhere online unless the remove VAT for me" rule!

Cheers
Carlo

 

[Gary]

Another thing to consider.

Then using/buying cookware try to steer clear of Alumium as this is linked with Altshiemers disease. Also another down side of Ali is it can be burnt through.

Stainless steel should always be your first chioce as it is safer and more hygienic as well as being more robust. Top tip for billy cans - TK Max stainless steel coffee cans @ £5 all you need to is attach a handle.

 

[giancarlo]

Given in!
Can't find it anywhere else, so taken the plunge and got a 1.6 from Wiggle..
Still cheaper than the Zebra one, so can't complain.

Thanks for all the help guys
(it better be good!, grrr)

Cheers
Carlo

 

[Ed]

My Tatonka Kettle turned up this morning... First impressions are very good. Well made and a realy good handle on the pan lid (which surprised me). I'll let you know more when I've taken it out and given it a good use.

Ed

 

[giancarlo]

Nice to see yours has turned up.
Did you order it on Oct 6th when you posted? that's a fair few days..

Was worrying about mine, but i ordered it on the 9th so i guess i've got a few days to go then

Glad you still think it's good now you've got it, re-assured

cheers
Carlo

 

[Ed]

They have only just got them back in stock.... there is a backlog aswell.. but should only be a few days till yours comes through.
It seems a popular item... I can see why.

Ed

 

[ally]

I use both the swedish army cook set mentioned here and the swedish army 'volcano flask' pictured here: http://www.allthingsmilitary.co.uk/ishop/800/shopscr1174.html

you get a small water bottle, cup and stove/holder, very useful and flexible bit of kit, but remember to remove the cork before you start to boil the water in the flask, mine flew off into the undergrowth and scared the s^%$ out of me....

can cook with the cup in the stove or just warm on the handle etc....

no fuel need either, just ram it full of twigs etc

 

[giancarlo]

Wahhay,
My Tatonka Kettle is finally here!
looks good, not going to be able to test it for a while though

Thanks everyone for all the help / links / advice.

Cheers
Carlo

 

[tomtom]

wow i just found this thread so i signed up, would seem there are a number of us on the same search, i was wondering if you were includeing duthch ovens in this catogry, as i have a few links for them, though they are cast iron and heavy i would guess??

 

[Ed]

Actualy I wouldn't mind a cast iron dutch oven.... please post the link ummmm whole rabbit in a stew. As for the weight being cast iron, probably not the best thing for us light-weighters but great for camping or just in the back garden.
oh... and welcome to BCUK, glad you joined up and I hope you find something of interest to keep you here.


Ed

 

[Hoodoo]

Coleman makes a great cookset called the Outfitter with a nice set of nested billies. Cost can be really reasonable if you shop around. I think I bought the whole set for around $40 here in the states, IIRC. Probably $60 is closer to the normal price. Mears used/uses? the same kit. It's pictured in his book "The Outdoor Survival Handbook" on p. 17. I used it all last summer and it was excellent.

 

[Stew]

Actualy I wouldn't mind a cast iron dutch oven....... As for the weight being cast iron, probably not the best thing for us light-weighters but great for camping or just in the back garden.

Well get an aluminium one then!
http://www.survivalschool.co.uk/acatalog/Cooking_Equipment.html

and for some recipes and advice about dutch ovens,
www.scoutingresources.org.uk/downloads/ cook_dutchoven01.pdf

 

[bothyman]

For Dutch Ovens try

>> http://www.unbeatentracks.com/john-muirden/index.htm

They seem to have a good selection.