MSR Quick 2 Pot Set

All that I need from camping pots. They're very light, durable, non-stick, and compact—perfect kit from MSR!

To be honest I never agreed with the idea of paying top dollar for a camping pot. I used to travel with a simple battered old aluminium pot I got for free with a van I bought while travelling in New Zealand. That pot served me for years, and it even had a lid you can lock to the pot.

But every good thing comes to an end and I started to really worry about how much aluminium flakes I'm actually consuming with each meal :) Plus I really desired a non-stick cover to simplify the task of cleaning.

So after a long time of considerations and searches I found the updated version of that old pot with the MSR Quick 2 Pot Set. It put it to a daily use during some long-distance hikes. (all pictures are with the Primus Omnifuel for scaling)

Volume:

I do like to have a good dinner on the trail, usually composed of rice and lentils, so unlike hikers that eat freeze dry meals, a big volume pot is a necessity for me. These pots come in perfect volumes—1.5L for two persons and 2.5L for more, you can just leave the one you don't need at home. Both pots have pressed volume marks to them.

Cover: 

Not much to say except it is non-stick and it is durable to scratches, perfect.

Lid and Handle:

Two clever designs that make these very compact. The handle can be dismantled and switched between the two pots, thus saving weight. The handle locks sturdy into place and even when tipped a pot full of rice sideways it didn't fail.

The lid is simple with a rubber grip that allows you to lift it no matter how hot it is. The lid has holes to filter water and a small groove that can lock into the pot itself (only in the 2.5L). The lid has an inner ring that allows it to seat tight on the 1.5L pot, so again, one lid for two pots. Oh and the lid can be used as a plate! :)

The coolest thing about the lid and handle is that the handle can fold over the lid and lock on the rubber grip, letting you carry the pot safely to where you wanna eat, or just to keep your food warm (works only with the 2.5L).

Cooking Time:

I have to admit I never concerned about it too much. It heats up well like any other pot. It is thin so I guess the heat capacity is low.

Overall Durability:

The red plastic ring around the rubber grip on the lid broke apart quite early, and it got me worried for what's coming, but fortunately that's the only durability issue I had, and it didn't affect anything except cosmetics. The handle connects to both pots by a plastic rod and though it seems highly prone to fail, so far it hasn't.

Bottom Line: If you look for a fairly priced pot set which is lightweight, durable with a clever design and all the features you can want, look no further.

NOTE: The non-stick coating is on BOTH pots for this kit, contrary to the web description.

Lightweight, insulated handle (read: no more frozen fingers!), non-stick coating, tight-fitting lid, compact, and the perfect sizes: 2.5L for snowmelting, 1.5L for summer.

But the smartest thing is the handle that locks on the lid to hold it closed: no more fiddling with rubber bands to keep everything inside when you're on the move. The price tag is reasonable, and it even comes with a tiny packtowel!

Overall a very sweet piece of gear! I don't know of any other cookset that meets all the criteria stated above.

I haven't had a chance to test the durability yet, but being an MSR product I'm not worried. Just remember to sand the bottom of the pots if you don't want your meal to slide off the stove.