Why kelly kettles?

[forestwalker]

I am slightly confused as to the actual utility of the kelly kettles. They appear to be great for boiling water, but need the add-ons to be usefull for anything else. Why not just carry a small billy and e.g. a hobo stove? Same space, about the same weight, not quite as efficient for boiling water, but better all round utility. Or have I missed something?

 

[Chris G]

IMHO you haven't missed anything. The KK is very good at doing exactly what it was designed for, but today's campers/hikers/bushcrafters want something more hence the popularity of the hobo stove.

 

[Shambling Shaman]

It is horses for courses, you are right about size/weight thing but if you a boiling lots of water for lots of people then its quick and fuel efficient.

 

[forestwalker]

It is horses for courses, you are right about size/weight thing but if you a boiling lots of water for lots of people then its quick and fuel efficient.

A specialized tool, IOW. Nice for what is is good for (in particular if you are short on firewood or have no other need of a fire).

If I had one I might consider it instead of a regular open fire kettle, or if 80% of my outdoor cooking needs was a quick kettle of tea (or if I lived of food-ina-baggie).

 

[scallywag]

If you haven't got much fuel than KK is ideal. You don't need much additional stuff to use it for cooking, you don't even have to buy them - make them yourself.
The thing is, it's a big piece of equipment and not everybody feel good about it. Nevertheless, a nice invention.

 

[Pignut]

I agree, they are good at boiling and not so good for anything else!

 

[John Fenna]

Its like having a kettle in your kitchen at home...kettle for boiling water fast and efficiently, pots and pans for cooking in on the stove....
If you only want to boil water it is ideal - for cooking you are better off with other kit!
Not a piece for light weight, fast moving camping, but ideal for those times when you can afford extra bulk in your kit (ie canoe camping or moots) or for long term outdoor dwelling.

 

[Cap'n Badger]

I think they're a top piece o' kit....used one fer years. (though me mate blew up me last one.)
Ye needs hardly any fuel...ye can boil a load o' water (real quick!) fer brews, packet rice, washin'....... while yer doin' that, ye can cook yer bacon, sausages, eggs etc on the top or on the embers in the pan.... an' it doubles as a water carrier.Ye can also take them on public transport an' planes wi'out any hassle from the 'dangerous fuel' police..lol
If ye don't have fuel t' make or are 'allowed' t' make a ground fire...they're the puppies nuts.
Tho I will concour with the weight o' them.

 

[Pignut]

Its like having a kettle in your kitchen at home...kettle for boiling water fast and efficiently, pots and pans for cooking in on the stove....
If you only want to boil water it is ideal - for cooking you are better off with other kit!
Not a piece for light weight, fast moving camping, but ideal for those times when you can afford extra bulk in your kit (ie canoe camping or moots) or for long term outdoor dwelling.

Spot on!

Never found the embers in the bottom last long enough to cook properly

 

[FGYT]

I think its usefulness has been some what watered down by the new small versions we know originally they where bigger units usfull to boil water for a group who had other pots etc for cooking. giving hot water for Brews, filling cooking pans and washing up like a olde Tea urn
BUT if you have one and like it etc its fine

ATB

Duncan

PS Dad was given an antique version i mean to try

 

[scallywag]

I just found a thread by KK enthusiast "Kelly Kettle (Pics)" Some really appreciate KK.

I first come across KK on TV, guy called Wojciech Cejrowski (Polish traveller - Member of Royal Geographical Society) used it on the desert. He emphasized how defficult it could be to get any fuel there It was not a KK promotion, just showing sth usefull. BTW, the guy is great.

 

[Shewie]

I love my KK, it's fast, uses little fuel and does excatly what it says on the tin.

It's a good excuse to get smokey aswell

Not sure about buying the pot stand and accessories though

 

[RobertRogers]

I also keep the large version in my preparedness cache. When the ****, I know I can efficiently boil water for drinking.

 

[Toddy]

I like mine it came with the cook set but not the top loading pot stand.
Until I was given a hobo stove I often just took the base unit along to use as one.

It's not so much that it's heavy, but that it's bulky. If I have to carry it any distance it can be an annoyance, but for every other type of meet up it's absolutely the bees knees and I rarely go without it.

Hot water, quickly, efficiently, cleanly, and in good quantity

It's not even fussy about the fuel. I've used packaging litter before now and I know someone who used dry cowdung in his, he said it burnt like 'fast peat'

Astonishing how much fun it can be too It's the playing with fire thing

cheers,
Toddy

 

[stickbow]

Hi All
Just had 4 days away with the grandchildren and all we took to cook on was a Gillie kettle (similar to a KK), the kids went and got the wood for each meal and I showed them how to light it and keep it going, we used a pot holder on top to heat the food and then cooked on the base unit after the water boiled, I found a few charcoal bricketes and put a couple in the base at the start and they were great to cook on.
All the hot water we needed and 3 cooked meals a day. it cost nowt to run and we had a lot of fun using it.
A great bit of kit if you can carry it but when packing small I use a Jetboil pcs.

 

[harryhaller]

We need a review, Kellykettle versus Swiss Fieldbottle (aka rocket or vulcan stove?).

There wouldn't probably be a winner - but we could see which best fits our preferences - price, weight, function - SF is for a quick cuppa for one or two people - certainly not for making tea for a brigade, whereas the KK (I don't have one) seems better for a more people and for circumstances where the weight isn't so important.

As I said, I've never used the KK and have only just started playing with the SF. If anyone has both, a comparison would be interesting.

 

[rik_uk3]

I am slightly confused as to the actual utility of the kelly kettles. They appear to be great for boiling water, but need the add-ons to be usefull for anything else. Why not just carry a small billy and e.g. a hobo stove? Same space, about the same weight, not quite as efficient for boiling water, but better all round utility. Or have I missed something?

I agree with you, they boil water and thats about it.

But, if you have spare cash they are worth having as they work well at their job. To me they are a luxury toy, nothing more really.

 

[Hammock_man]

I can see they would be efficent on fuel for a simple brew or to add boiling water to a dry mix. Mind you I like my swiss volcano and that was much cheaper!!!

 

[Toddy]

I've got both, and it's horses for courses really.

If there's only me, maybe one other to make for, then the Swiss one is so small and lightweight that it wins.
If I'm out for longer than a day's walk, or there are more folks, then the kettle wins hands down.

Enough hot water to wash with as well as a stable base to cook on, and I don't need to lug fuel around either.

Price wise the Swiss one is a bargain, but the KK is just such a useful bit of kit I reckon it's worth every penny I paid for it.

It's so simple that it doesn't need valves, washers, fuel lines, pre-heaters, fuel bottles or specialised tools to keep jets clean, it just works reliably, every time, anywhere I can have a bit of a sit down.
It's the ultimate multi fuel kettle but no getting away from the bulk of it, though it is easy enough to carry.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[smoggy]

I have an eco kettle, which comes as a complete cooking kit (unbeatentracks) mid way between the kelly's in size and a bit more reasonably priced. The only attachment that wasn't included was a pot stand, which I made.....
I find I can use it to boil and cook for two nicely, but usually use it in combination with my Hobbo stove, having said that I usually have the car to carry wieght and bulk so a bit luxurious really.....
They are good no denying it, but they are not the be all and end all....personal preference ultimately.

Smoggy