STORM KETTLES REVIEW, SHORT VERSION
This set out to be just a quick comparison of a couple of small kettles from the Storm Kettle people.
Then I realised that It would be really easy to make it really very quick.
"You need to buy one of these sort of kettles (there are many makes out there), 'cos the first time you see it boil you'll laugh for joy, they're that much fun.
Go buy one!"
Or........
LONGER VERSION
So here's something longer, more detailed, and less good for the soul, so forgive me for not stopping now.....
If you want volumes, sizes, weights etc, hunt down the specs, this is more of a how to live with, user guide.
First off, I've no connection with the makers of these kettles, the Tornado Boiler Company, or any outdoor supplier etc. this is just me, and my experiences from the use of them.
Most folk stumble on the Storm/ Kelly/ Ghillie kettles when a mate gets one. Then, impressed, they end up with one. Thus it was with me. And I bought a 1.5 litre boiler a few years back. Nice, I fell in love instantly.
Mine now has a non standard stainless steel firebox and new chain but is pretty much what you get.
But it IS big. Proper big if you like coffee AND motorcycling.
I looked around, chose, and my missus treated me to the F1 Storm Kettle for my birthday. It is NOT big. Perfect for camping, throwing under the scooter seat, bike pannier, and rather stylish.
Re capacities. In easy terms, the F1 is one big mug, the F2 is two big mugs and so on, the F4 being 1.5 L.
Operation is the same, safety in use requires the same care. That is;
SAFETY
Never boil with the bung in.
Never boil dry or leave unattended when lit.
Never light a fire beneath it with no water in the kettle.
The firebox stays hot for yonks, take heed, and never light it in your tent or indoors. It'll burn your carpet and she'll get really tight around the eyes. Not good.
F1 KETTLE
Here then is the difference. The F1 has a Neoprene jacket that allows the direct handling of the kettle, not requiring the use of handle or chain. Very neat and no, the sleeve does not catch fire.
I expect this layer of insulation speeds up boiling, and it will certainly keep your water hot longer. It has a built in handle (webbing), and can be removed for cleaning or to make a knee support (hey, I'm old!).
Great to be compact without sticky out bits, easy to store and pack.
When I bought mine, the aluminium version came with the Lomo bag seen in the pics. This is no longer the case, and I think the case is only standard with the Ti version.
It's available still as an option. Afaik. I could be wrong so check with your supplier.
THE COMPETITION
I looked at a few "back packing" kettles (M Kettle, Back Country Boiler etc) before this but was always put off be the flat tops, allowing three things to happen.
First, it's more difficult to feed fuel in the top without dropping bits in the water.
Second, small twigs burning hot make fine ash that can easily settle in your water.
Finally, when the kettle boils, the water bubbles up onto the top plate, and can dribble down the sides, putting the fire out or reducing it (you might want a second boil up).
It will also wet the sleeve (not good for storing dry tinder when back in its bag).
The dome top of the Storm, and the spout, eliminates or reduces this. It must be harder to make this way so they must have found this out too, the hard way.
I must say I prefer the hard rubbery bung on the F1 to the cork on the other kettles. I'll be looking to get something similar for the F2.
FIREBOX
You'll notice the fire pan fits in the kettle base. Neat. Also (in common with all of these kettles) it has a hole/holes in it. This is the air feed, and must face into the wind for maximum heat, minimum boil time.
With my Bushbuddies, we have three different make kettles, all 1.5 litre, so the first thing any man wants to do is line 'em up and race to the boil.
It's too variable to call but I can't say that the stainless, black anodised, or my ally one works best. But it's fun to get a gallon of boiling water in a wood in 5 minutes at zero fuel cost!
But I digress.
So the holes go into the wind but keep your spout upwind to avoid ash.
Starting is easy enough and you'll find yourself gathering stuff for this. Dry packaging, birch bark peelings (smokey but excellent) and other stuff you'll discover. I use hand antibacteria gel (alcohol) if it's cold and damp, but dry tinder works every time regardless.
HOLLOW
To that end, I keep tinder and a first boils worth of wood/fuel in the chimney of the packed stove. DON'T carry water in it then expect the tinder to stay dry unless it's bagged.
This is easy on the F1 as it stays in it's waterproof Lomo bag. It's just as easy in the F2, but with even more space.
I found an airtight tub that fits in the stored firebox and contains lighter (why not?), coffee, tea, spoon, alchol gel, and the tub becomes a cup.
The dry tinder/ fuel is in an old tent peg bag in the chimney.
It's all space you're carrying so why not use it, and it's light stuff anyway.
F2 KETTLE
The F2 here is the F2Ti, an anodised version that claims to be a little tougher. Time will tell but it does look nice.
The obvious difference, size notwithstanding, is the more traditional design, chain and handle.
Capacity is twice the F1 but size difference is minimal. I think this is the sweet spot in the range, thermo efficiently making enough for a brew, and enough to make a Pot Noodle or instant refill.
For me, it's the one.
It DOESN'T come with the bag shown, but is supplied in a bag. I consider the waterproof bag here essential because of the way I use these stoves. Ymmv.
The only other addition is the cap for the chimney. It's only purpose is to protect the bag. The one I sourced to bag the F2 is nowhere near as good/tough as the standard Storm Kettle supplied F1 Lomo bag.
So, where was I?
PROS-
All these types of kettles are zero maintenance, robust, and independent of power, gas, pressures and shop bought fuels.
Fuel is abundant and free (Pine cones, dried dung for example).
Zero running costs.
It's BRITISH.
CONS-
Might not come with the bag you need. Hollow construction makes them seem bulky ( but can have its advantages).
Initial outlay can seem high (see pros).
Only boils water, not a stove as such ( imho, see first two safety rules, ymmv).
In short, outstanding. These will make you smile and save you money, go try one!!!!
Do I need three though? Not sure but if I had to choose just one, it would be the mid sized F2.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
This set out to be just a quick comparison of a couple of small kettles from the Storm Kettle people.
Then I realised that It would be really easy to make it really very quick.
"You need to buy one of these sort of kettles (there are many makes out there), 'cos the first time you see it boil you'll laugh for joy, they're that much fun.
Go buy one!"
Or........
LONGER VERSION
So here's something longer, more detailed, and less good for the soul, so forgive me for not stopping now.....
If you want volumes, sizes, weights etc, hunt down the specs, this is more of a how to live with, user guide.
First off, I've no connection with the makers of these kettles, the Tornado Boiler Company, or any outdoor supplier etc. this is just me, and my experiences from the use of them.
Most folk stumble on the Storm/ Kelly/ Ghillie kettles when a mate gets one. Then, impressed, they end up with one. Thus it was with me. And I bought a 1.5 litre boiler a few years back. Nice, I fell in love instantly.
Mine now has a non standard stainless steel firebox and new chain but is pretty much what you get.
But it IS big. Proper big if you like coffee AND motorcycling.
I looked around, chose, and my missus treated me to the F1 Storm Kettle for my birthday. It is NOT big. Perfect for camping, throwing under the scooter seat, bike pannier, and rather stylish.
Re capacities. In easy terms, the F1 is one big mug, the F2 is two big mugs and so on, the F4 being 1.5 L.
Operation is the same, safety in use requires the same care. That is;
SAFETY
Never boil with the bung in.
Never boil dry or leave unattended when lit.
Never light a fire beneath it with no water in the kettle.
The firebox stays hot for yonks, take heed, and never light it in your tent or indoors. It'll burn your carpet and she'll get really tight around the eyes. Not good.
F1 KETTLE
Here then is the difference. The F1 has a Neoprene jacket that allows the direct handling of the kettle, not requiring the use of handle or chain. Very neat and no, the sleeve does not catch fire.
I expect this layer of insulation speeds up boiling, and it will certainly keep your water hot longer. It has a built in handle (webbing), and can be removed for cleaning or to make a knee support (hey, I'm old!).
Great to be compact without sticky out bits, easy to store and pack.
When I bought mine, the aluminium version came with the Lomo bag seen in the pics. This is no longer the case, and I think the case is only standard with the Ti version.
It's available still as an option. Afaik. I could be wrong so check with your supplier.
THE COMPETITION
I looked at a few "back packing" kettles (M Kettle, Back Country Boiler etc) before this but was always put off be the flat tops, allowing three things to happen.
First, it's more difficult to feed fuel in the top without dropping bits in the water.
Second, small twigs burning hot make fine ash that can easily settle in your water.
Finally, when the kettle boils, the water bubbles up onto the top plate, and can dribble down the sides, putting the fire out or reducing it (you might want a second boil up).
It will also wet the sleeve (not good for storing dry tinder when back in its bag).
The dome top of the Storm, and the spout, eliminates or reduces this. It must be harder to make this way so they must have found this out too, the hard way.
I must say I prefer the hard rubbery bung on the F1 to the cork on the other kettles. I'll be looking to get something similar for the F2.
FIREBOX
You'll notice the fire pan fits in the kettle base. Neat. Also (in common with all of these kettles) it has a hole/holes in it. This is the air feed, and must face into the wind for maximum heat, minimum boil time.
With my Bushbuddies, we have three different make kettles, all 1.5 litre, so the first thing any man wants to do is line 'em up and race to the boil.
It's too variable to call but I can't say that the stainless, black anodised, or my ally one works best. But it's fun to get a gallon of boiling water in a wood in 5 minutes at zero fuel cost!
But I digress.
So the holes go into the wind but keep your spout upwind to avoid ash.
Starting is easy enough and you'll find yourself gathering stuff for this. Dry packaging, birch bark peelings (smokey but excellent) and other stuff you'll discover. I use hand antibacteria gel (alcohol) if it's cold and damp, but dry tinder works every time regardless.
HOLLOW
To that end, I keep tinder and a first boils worth of wood/fuel in the chimney of the packed stove. DON'T carry water in it then expect the tinder to stay dry unless it's bagged.
This is easy on the F1 as it stays in it's waterproof Lomo bag. It's just as easy in the F2, but with even more space.
I found an airtight tub that fits in the stored firebox and contains lighter (why not?), coffee, tea, spoon, alchol gel, and the tub becomes a cup.
The dry tinder/ fuel is in an old tent peg bag in the chimney.
It's all space you're carrying so why not use it, and it's light stuff anyway.
F2 KETTLE
The F2 here is the F2Ti, an anodised version that claims to be a little tougher. Time will tell but it does look nice.
The obvious difference, size notwithstanding, is the more traditional design, chain and handle.
Capacity is twice the F1 but size difference is minimal. I think this is the sweet spot in the range, thermo efficiently making enough for a brew, and enough to make a Pot Noodle or instant refill.
For me, it's the one.
It DOESN'T come with the bag shown, but is supplied in a bag. I consider the waterproof bag here essential because of the way I use these stoves. Ymmv.
The only other addition is the cap for the chimney. It's only purpose is to protect the bag. The one I sourced to bag the F2 is nowhere near as good/tough as the standard Storm Kettle supplied F1 Lomo bag.
So, where was I?
PROS-
All these types of kettles are zero maintenance, robust, and independent of power, gas, pressures and shop bought fuels.
Fuel is abundant and free (Pine cones, dried dung for example).
Zero running costs.
It's BRITISH.
CONS-
Might not come with the bag you need. Hollow construction makes them seem bulky ( but can have its advantages).
Initial outlay can seem high (see pros).
Only boils water, not a stove as such ( imho, see first two safety rules, ymmv).
In short, outstanding. These will make you smile and save you money, go try one!!!!
Do I need three though? Not sure but if I had to choose just one, it would be the mid sized F2.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Last edited:
