New Kelly Kettle Review

[Marts]

As many people have been discussing these recently I thought you might like to see a review of the Kelly Kettle done by our slightly backward cousins over on Outdoor Idiots. In their own inimitable style as always

http://www.outdooridiots.com/features/200611/kellykettle/kellykettle.asp

 

[andyn]

loving the cotton wool fuse!

Cheers for an enjoyable lucnhtime read.

 

[Marts]

I like the useful warning about what happenss if you lift the handle while its still burning..

"Carelessly lift the kettle up by the handle while there is fuel still burning in the chimney. The handle will come up over the chimney, your hand will be on the handle, and your hand will catch fire, dripping molten finger-fat down the chimney".

 

[Wettstuff]

Brilliant, these guys sure no how to make folk laugh. not sure of some of the comments mind. oh well

Mark

 

[BobFromHolland]

excellent reading!
really inspiring as well. I'm really thinking of buying one myself.

Bob

 

[cyclist]

using green tea as fuel - never heard how much they pay in Japan for green tea?
indeed, very british, that type of literature
What do they soak tea leafes in, some stuff from italian citrus trees? Probably they´d take coffee with pine bark .....

Thanks a lot for the link, great reading.

 

[cyclist]

not a new review - but really interesting
http://gamma.nic.fi/~citybear/kelly/kelly.html

 

[Tiley]

A thoroughly enjoyable review. The Thermette avoids the molten-fingers-down-the-chimney hiccough. Personally, I think that they are superior to the Kelly version but they're harder to get hold of.

 

[tombear]

Yep, I've a small Kelly and a Thermette and I much prefer the Thermette. I've had no trouble with the folding handle on it and found that it fits (with a layer of karrimat padding glued inside) perfectly into a old PLCE bergan side pocket I got from the army stores for a couple of quid. I trimmed all the junk off the pocket except the flat loops and it straps onto what ever bag I am using just fine.

Ok its bulky but the weights not much and it boils a lot of water very fast. Mine didn't come with a base plate disc but a sheet of thick foil works as well (will get round to cutting a disk one day but the foils handy for parcelling the ash up if I'm disposing some where else)

A Kiwi mate took pity on me a sent me one straight from NZ as I couldn't find one in the UK.

I've heard there is a larger version thats on issue to the NZ army but can't find anything on it. Sounds ideal for group use.

ATB

Tom

 

[cyclist]

www.thermette.com/thermette_new4-04.htm - the big one is called "Magnum" and holds 2.5 gallons

and - what a big surprise - even the Aussies have a Volcano: the Eco-Billy (search www.google.com since I don´t have a direct link at the moment), also available in 2 sizes. It´s made out of stainless steel and has an integrated fire base. Same as the Thermette (aka Benghazi Boiler) it´ll leafe burned spots on the ground.

I´ve modified my 1pt Kelly to a safe handle.

 

[Deleted member 4605]

Wonderful review. It made me want a Kelly even more!

 

[tombear]

Cheers Cyclist!
I want a Magnum, I want one bad! I'll probably have to sell a kidney and the postage will be a nightmare but its got to be done!

:-{D)

ATB

Tom

 

[cyclist]

a friend introduced me to those volcano kettles long ago, actually it was in the wilderness of the remote Zambian bush (I even was on a one week Zambezi rafting tour with the Sobek guys). At that time I used an MSR, Before I had different Optimus, Phoebus, Bleuet etc. Those stoves continue life now in my stove collection.

Frequent Problems with pumps, jets, gaskets etc. made me think to find an alternative way to heat my meals on tour.
Thinking about volcanoe stoves: all I wanted was a smaller version - the 1pt. Kelly now teams up with a (modified of course - with Tatonka titanium pots) Trangia T27 (unfortunately the Caldera Cone wasn´t on the market at that time), both do the job perfectly
Eco-Billy also comes in a smaller size - it wasn´t available at the time I got the Kelly.

Aluminum pots causing Alzheimers desease is IMHO pure rumor - unless someone comes up with a real scientific research.
Copper, as used in the Thermettes, has similiar thermal chartacteristics as aluminum - unfortunately it´s a lot heavier.
Stainless steel (as used in the Eco-Billy) performs not as good as alumium and is heavier.
Dito for titanium

 

[tombear]

Once again, please excuse size of picture but I've uploaded some pics for another thread and added one of my Thermette.

At the back is the lined PLCE Bergan pocket wich neatly takes the boiler and the stand. I usually have stuffed inside it a square of thick Ally foil to stand it on and some dry tinder and a bag of those sawdust and wax fire lighters in case it refuses to light. Shown underneath the boiler here is the old steel plate I use when operating out of a car, too heavy and big for humping anywhere. On the right is the ring which is used on top with pots and pans. I've never used it myself.

A great bit of kit!

ATB

Tom