Kettles....why?

[Andy BB]

Now I know that many are very fond of their kettles (and some I know are particularly fond of their Eagle kettles from Norway..).

And far be it for me to criticise anyone loving their shinies, or packing unnecessary stuff!

However, I do wonder why there is this love for kettles. It is a sole purpose piece of kit - ie boiling water. A pan with a lid is just as efficient, and has other uses besides. (a preliminary list would include bowl to eat out of, mixing bowl, cooking pot, using the lid as a cutting surface/plate, makeshift oven etc etc etc)

Can someone explain it to me?

 

[Shewie]

A kettle can be left over the fire for brews whilst other pots are used for cooking. If it's a backpacking trip and your carrying then I agree, I wouldn't take a kettle then.

I think a kettle works better in a group camp whether it's a trip or just a meet.

 

[Man of Tanith]

i use kettles when
A im taking the kids as shan of tanith can operate a kettle safer than pouring water from a billy can
B there is a group of us as it can just be kept topped up and on the fire
C if i aint walking!

 

[Expat]

I NEVER take my kettle - can't find anywhere to plug it in....

 

[British Red]

When you look at a Trangia kettle - its just a shallow billy with a spout surely? So...like a billy....but easier to pour from!

 

[ex-member BareThrills]

you never heated rat packs in a kettle andy?

 

[jacko1066]

I take my little £1.50 Tesco ally kettle everywhere I go!! It weighs about 250g and boils a litre of water!!

It means I can get a brew on while in cooking or eating from my pot!!

 

[Mouse040]

A lot of the places I go mean water is a worked for commodity as I hike for long distances and carrieing water in volume is a back ache
Having a kettle means no waste eve coffee washing up morning coffee without the need to empty my kettle to use it for something else

 

[rg598]

I never carry one for the reasons you mentioned. A pot and a metal cup get the job done for me.

 

[Tiley]

There is a certain appeal of minimalism but I find that if I take my Eagle kettle along with my Crusader mug and its lid, I have a good way of boiling water and a safe way to pour it. If I need a 'pan' to cook in, I've got the Crusader and lid to tick that box. Sometimes, I put a stove inside my pot (if I am carrying one); in my kettle, I put my brew gear (tea, coffee, hot chocolate powder, soups, etc.).

As has been said, it's a much safer way of pouring boiling water but, for me, the kettle-or-pot debate depends on how I'm feeling and, to a degree, what I'll be eating.

 

[rik_uk3]

Now I know that many are very fond of their kettles (and some I know are particularly fond of their Eagle kettles from Norway..).

And far be it for me to criticise anyone loving their shinies, or packing unnecessary stuff!

However, I do wonder why there is this love for kettles. It is a sole purpose piece of kit - ie boiling water. A pan with a lid is just as efficient, and has other uses besides. (a preliminary list would include bowl to eat out of, mixing bowl, cooking pot, using the lid as a cutting surface/plate, makeshift oven etc etc etc)

Can someone explain it to me?

Are you the type that bungs a tea bag in a mug at home? Utterly barbaric practise, just because one is 'roughing' it does not mean one should lower ones standards Andy.....where will it all end? We already have one or two seemingly sensible members here using 'sporks' good gosh alive the whole country is going down the pan.

 

[Bumbler]

Here in Norway, amazingly the Eagle kettles are not all that popular. It's the tiny lid. Most look for one with a large lid as possible, so that you can cook other foods in it.
But and there is a big BUT. We are coffee drinkers, and you don't want anything else than coffeee being brewed in your coffee pot.

I am not a coffeee drinker however, and got the Eagle kettle, and I only boil water in it. I could of course boiled the water for my brew in the Zebra billy. But I like to cook everything in one go. And I do not like to cook my prridge, and then have to clean out the porridge from the kettle, so that I can boil water in it. So my standard cook kit now (for use over the fire) is the Eagle kettle, an eagle frying pan and my zebra billy.

Hope this was not to confusing

 

[dump of the stig]

ive got to agree with the poster! BAH kettles, pointless things

 

[Jared]

When you look at a Trangia kettle - its just a shallow billy with a spout surely? So...like a billy....but easier to pour from!

Yeah, or Mors Pot. Which is a tallish billy with both side and bail handle.

 

[bearbait]

Are you the type that bungs a tea bag in a mug at home?

Yes. I also add boiling water to the mug. The tea bag remains in the mug until the beverage has been consumed. Then the tea bag is squeezed out and the remnants drunk. This is how I make and consume tea, both at home and away. It is my custom. I also drink wine from a plastic mug. However I have never used a spork but I do posess one. Now I'll just get my coat as I'm off to the pub with my buddies Conan and Genghis...

 

[dwardo]

Next folk will be adding sugar and milk whilst the teabag is still in the cup.
Must admit I dont take a kettle when on the move but at my local play wood I have a big old 2L kettle thats constantly on the go. Makes purifying water so much easier.

 

[santaman2000]

Yes. I also add boiling water to the mug. The tea bag remains in the mug until the beverage has been consumed. Then the tea bag is squeezed out and the remnants drunk. This is how I make and consume tea, both at home and away. It is my custom. I also drink wine from a plastic mug. However I have never used a spork but I do posess one. Now I'll just get my coat as I'm off to the pub with my buddies Conan and Genghis...

You're more civilized than I am then; I drink wine from the bottle.

 

[drewdunnrespect]

because as some one said i eventually will only use coffee pot for coffee

 

[John Fenna]

The only kettle I use is a Kelly Kettle - and that only for group use ...

 

[Toddy]

Depends what I'm doing.
I have a humongus kettle that just sits on a tripod at the side of the big fire pit and quietly soaks up the radiant heat....hot water always available Easy for tea, coffee, cooking spuds, topping up stew, or just water for washing. Wouldn't carry it any distance I didn't need to though.
The kelly kettle is brilliant, not heavy, but it is bulky. For shore or woodland, or a days workshop or work then it has no peer; it is simply superb. Eight cupfuls of boiling water in a couple of minutes, and it's really efficient fuel use too.

My wee lightweight aluminium one weighs almost nothing; for camping it's excellent, no juggling pots to have clean hot water. That's all it gets used for; hot water. It fits neatly inside my little folding handled frying pan (I'm veggie, stir fry is a daily occurance, a good non stick pot means I don't even need oil or fat to roast the veggies/nuts in a stir )

"Kettle's boiled!" or "The water's boiling!" ?
Where's the tea? and who minded to bring chocolate digestives?

cheers,
Toddy