Category Archives: Camping/hiking gear

My Fire Kit

#backtothehills, Camping/hiking gear, hiking/backpacking/camping, outdoors

I’ve not done an outdoors related post for a while, or as some more hip and younger folks would say “in a long minute”.

Either way the fact remains it’s been board games and dogs mainly on here.

So let’s try and even things up with an outdoors related post.

Recently I got a DJI Osmo 360 2 camera. So I’ve been doing some test footage with it. Just to see what it allows me to capture in various situations.

One test was the short video below where I decided to film the contents of my fire kit and my canteen holder/bag contents for fire starting.

I think it’s general/common knowledge given in many YouTube videos that you have redundancy in your fire kit. Usually three ways to get a spark. So if one fails etc etc.

My little fire kit has a fourth because it’s so small and takes up so little space really.

In my canteen bag/holder (a Helicon one iirc) I also have a “basic” fire kit.

Usually the fire kit goes in the bag if I’m out playing with one of my twig/wood burning stoves. But the canteen bag kit is permanently in one of the bag’s pockets. So if I have the canteen I have a fire kit of sorts no matter what stove I’m using. To be fair these days my preference for lighting a meths stove is a ferro rod.

Anyway enough rambling and on with the short movie.

Fire kit items in the video:

  • Forest Fundamentals Zipped Organiser Pouch for the Nesting Stove
  • Forest Fundamentals Artisan Mini Fire Mat for the Nesting stove
  • BCB Fireball Ferro Rod & Striker
  • British Army Windproof/Waterproof Matches (from a ration pack)
  • Bic lighter
  • 2x Forest Fundamentals Fire Plugs
  • Pathfinder Mini Inferno Fire Disc
  • 2x homemade version of fire disc
  • US Military Spark-lite fire starter
  • Some odd ends of paracord 

From the Forest Fundamentals Pocket Fire Kit:

  • Handmade Waxed-Canvas Fire Mat
  • Hex Bellows & Wax-Infused Jute Rope
  • Telescopic bellows from a Polymath Spitfire Pocket Fire Lighting Kit

Canteen holder contents:

  • Forest Fundamentals Beast Fire Starter & Stealth Striker
  • BCB Strong Match Safe filled with British Army Windproof/Waterproof Matches (from ration packs)
  • Bic lighter in an Exotac Men’s Waterproof Firesleeve 
  • Fat wood from a Forest Fundamentals Fire Lighting kit

Obviously in both kits my first port of call is the bic lighter. If that fails for whatever reason, most likely it’s run out of fuel, it’s on to the matches. With the third and final option being the ferro rod. And yes there is a fourth option in the main kit of the Spark-lite.

For me starting a fire is about minimum effort, ease, and speed. I want my fire going as quickly as possible. That’s why the lighter is the first option.

Yes there is more to starting a fire than just what you are igniting it with. There is what tinder you are using, your wood, weather conditions, etc, etc. I usually have at least a couple different types of tinder with me, and carry my own wood (there is a logic to this that I’ll go into one day).

So that’s my fire kit.

It’s been a day or two…

#morningbrew, Brew kit, Camping/hiking gear, hiking/backpacking/camping, life, the universe, and everything, outdoors, still alive

… since the last post.

Naturally life has been happening. The respite between heatwaves seems nonexistent.

However having the basha setup, plenty of water available, and a cold tile floor, the dogs are able to cope with the heat.

I did get a 1977 printing of the Scout Handbook. I had one of these in the late seventies when I was a Boy Scout.

I’m trying a new coffee supplier who had a deal on some Brazilian beans, and I threw a packet of coffee from Peru in as well. Because Diogo.

A 1977 printing of the Scout Handbook
Diogo confirms that my Peruvian coffee is legit

Games have been played. But they will be covered in the round up post.

I got a new folding mug, a Dutch Army Surplus Folding Cup.

I’d seen these used in various YouTuber videos. So was curious about it.

A Dutch Army surplus model can be picked up cheap enough. As can the Wildo civilian version. The only difference I can tell is that the civilian one is available in a variety of colours.

It’s smaller than I thought it’d be. But folded up it’s tiny. I can see the attraction. In fact I like this form factor a lot.

However with liquid in it seems flimsy.

Dutch Army Surplus Folding Cup

Having a cup of coffee for me is an experience. I like my coffee. It’s not just about using a great coffee. It’s how you brew it, and for me the drinking.

I didn’t find drinking from this cup a great experience. That flimsy feeling of the cup with the coffee in. The handle was just too small, and felt even flimsier! In contrast I love drinking from both my Kupilka cups. I find the experience of using them fun, they invoke almost a pioneer/explorer/viking feeling.

I really want to love this cup. But if that drinking experience isn’t pleasant, it doesn’t matter how great the coffee is the enjoyment will be diminished.

Testing, 1,2,3,Sibilance

#backtothehills, Camping/hiking gear, hiking/backpacking/camping, outdoors

The last couple of days I’ve been testing a couple of items that I’ve had for a while now. Mainly because I’ve not really checked them over since buying them, and they need that before using them in anger.

One draw back, even hinderance, that does put me off is that I have a small garden, which is 50% or just over concrete. And until recently a quarter was taken up with a shed (I now have to get the contents to the dump).

The first was the Dutch Army poncho that I have.

The poncho is designed to be used in conjunction with the Dutch Army hooped bivy bag (which I also have and need to test).

Dutch Army Poncho

I don’t know the dimensions of the poncho. However it is smaller than the Aldi tarp. I’m going to guess this is 6ft by 4ft approximately. So not much living space if being used as a shelter. But being a person under 6ft in length it would provide adequate cover for me. And when used in conjunction with the intended bivi or any bivi it is perfect for providing a bit of additional cover from the elements whilst in the bivi.

Having missed the previous days constant rain (which the Aldi tarp handled really well) to test the waterproofness of this poncho, I had to resort to using a hose pipe.

As you can see from the photo above the water beaded nicely on it.

The second item I was testing was the British Army basha.

And yes those are Diogo’s paws you can see
British Army Basha

This is much bigger than the poncho, with plenty of living space under it.

If you compared the material used by the basha with the poncho. The poncho is made from a heavier, more durable material. But that makes sense because the poncho is designed to be used as its primary function first and as a shelter secondary. So is more likely to receive wear and tear while in use.

This too handled the hose pipe test well. However I did notice about three pinholes near seams. So I need to see if these need repairing or not. So ideally I need a good bit of rain to see if they are an issue or not.

I’m not sure what the neighbours think going passed seeing the tarps/poncho setup. However apart from testing the said item. The main point having one up is to provide shade for the dogs in the heatwaves we have been experiencing.

But that’s the testing of those two items done. And I can be fairly confident they will perform as expected when used in anger.

I made a stove!

#backtothehills, Brew kit, Camping/hiking gear, Cooksets, hiking/backpacking/camping, outdoors

Many, many months back I bought a compact blade care kit that had this small tin of blade balm in it.

That small tin was calling to me to do something with it.

The it being to turn it into a stove.

So after cleaning it out, and purchasing some carbon felt. I cut a strip of carbon felt to go inside the tin and put the carbon felt in it.

This turned the small tin into a spill proof meths burner. Probably the simplistic stove you can make after just pouring fuel into an empty can.

A meths burner that works very nicely with the Fire Maple titanium lotus solid fuel stove.

Sadly the flame is too big for the mocha pot, going up the sides.

However it works perfectly with a canteen. Plus it just needs to boil enough water for my Kupilka 21 Classic Cup or maybe some noodles.

I do have plans for this particular setup of my stove, the Fire Maple titanium lotus solid fuel stove, and my Keith titanium canteen set.

But I’ll go over them in another post.

Some morning brewing

#backtothehills, #littlemonsters, #morningbrew, Brew kit, Camping/hiking gear, Cooksets, hiking/backpacking/camping, outdoors

Instead of several posts I decided to just do one big post instead.

I start off with a morning brew using my trusty Trangia burner, triangle stand, and kettle.

I’ve been using these paper pour over filters to make the coffee. They work better with deeper cups. I think they’d also work with loose tea. But not sure how well.

Should be in gallery below!
Morning brew using disposable paper filters

After walking the little monsters I decided to shake things up and make porridge on my Trangia setup using a BCB canteen cup. I used one of my over night oats packs I made for camping. I finished off the oats with some golden syrup (a little packet liberated from the breakfast bar at a premier inn).

Breakfast

Then this morning I decided to finally fire up my SEROTONIN Firefly Mini Stove with the Firefly Easy Pot Stand. It’s been sitting unused for months since getting it.

I used a BCB canteen cup with a third party metal lid.

I did see some of that gasification burn taking place. Which is always cool.

I like the little “table” for protecting the ground underneath and for collecting any hot ash. It’s the reason I went with this model over the Alpkit version of the earlier model. Plus the pot stand is nice.

I used slightly less wood than I did with the Firebox 5” stove to get a boil.

And finally I’m going to finish with some photos of the little monsters.

It’s been fun sitting outside with them, allowing them to enjoy the good weather.

Dolly using Diogo as a cushion

Morning brew 7Apr26

#backtothehills, #morningbrew, Brew kit, Camping/hiking gear, Cooksets, hiking/backpacking/camping, outdoors

“One from the vaults…” Frankenfurter

Today’s brew was made using a stove from my stove archives (2008) and is a real blast from the past. This stove is called the gram weenie!
This whole setup is about 110g if memory doesn’t fail me.
Yes that is an American Heineken tin as the pot, and chicken wire as the pot stand.
The stove has a wick inside, not sure what the stove is made from. I think the base from some small aerosol can if I was to hazard a guess.
I can’t remember who made the stove, but they are a genius.

Here is a video I did 17 years ago of the stove.

You are not going to be doing anything but boil water with this setup. Plus it’s not the most bombproof of setups. Well the burner might be. But the rest.

It’s a fun stove for the ultra light.

Morning brew 6Apr26

#morningbrew, Brew kit, Camping/hiking gear, Cooksets, hiking/backpacking/camping, outdoors

This morning I brewed up using the Polymath Phantom. Which is the perfect meths burner to use with the BCB Crusader Mk1.

I really like the Mk1 as a complete system. I particularly like the stove firm factor. Sadly it doesn’t work with the Trangia without using a stand of some kind to put the canteen on.

However it’s not the end of the road because the Phantom, Speedster, or just the Fire Dragon fuel blokes can be used with it.

I’m trying to think why. But I’m becoming a big fan of canteen cups. I just like using them to cook or boil.

Even if I didn’t use the water bottle and mug from the Mk1, and took just the stove and canteen cup. The burner, fuel, lid, plus stuff for the brew would all fit in the canteen cup.

Ok would it be as light as say a similar set up with titanium pots etc? There wouldn’t be much in it I’d imagine.

Is it the form factor? Do I prefer the shape of the canteen cup over the “traditional” round pot? I think I do.

The only thing I’d change about this setup? I’d prefer a metal lid to the plastic one.

Morning brew 4Apr26

#backtothehills, #morningbrew, Brew kit, Camping/hiking gear, Cooksets, hiking/backpacking/camping, outdoors

I started off this morning “processing” some kindling (bought from a garage ages ago) and chopping up a couple of small birch branches I’d picked up on previous walks. The tool I used for this today was my Swiss Army Ranger Grip 55 knife.

Either of the two Mora knives I have could have been used for the kindling, and I could have used my Silky Pocketboy to saw the birch. However the one knife I know that is always in the bag for sure is the Ranger Grip 55. The reason I went for it was the size, and the saw blade. So if it can’t be used to “process” wood or saw branches it’s no good. Yes it’s a back up, but it’s also potentially the main tool as well. This was a good test. It wasn’t lots. Just enough for a fire or two. The branches were cut into chunks that could be used with both Firebox stoves.

The “processing” of the wood was not just for another day. My second brew of the morning was going to be made with my new Firebox G2 5” stove. The stove arrived at the same time as the titanium box pot.

It’s my first time using it since it arrived just over a week ago (if my memory serves me right, it might be slightly longer). This stove will be my go to stove when camping with the car. Backpacking it’s the titanium Nano G2 everyday.

I used one of my home made fire starters to start the fire. You can see in the photo below how much of the kindling I used. Add a couple of bits of the birch and that’s all the wood used to get water boiling. That’s not a lot of wood at all.

The canteen cup is a BCB British Army one. The cups handles meant it had to sit high on the stove.

Swiss Army ranger grip 55
Swiss Army ranger grip 55
‘Processing” kindling
My fire starting kit

I have to say I do like the leather wallets Firebox do for their stoves. They add to the experience, almost a retro, old world vibe.

Obviously once the whole brew thing is over the main draw back of using a wood burning stove is the soot on whatever pot/canteen you are using. Well soot gets everywhere. So it’s best to wipe off as much soot as possible with a damp cloth/sponge once everything is cool. And that’s exactly what I did.

No doubt about it a fun way to start the day with.

Morning brew 2Apr26

#backtothehills, #morningbrew, Brew kit, Camping/hiking gear, Cooksets, hiking/backpacking/camping, outdoors

On this overcast, damp morning it was the turn of the Speedster Stoves 30ml Spill Proof Meths/Alcohol Burner to be used with the Fire Maple Lotus Titanium Solid Fuel Stove to make the mornings brew.
It’s a great combo that works well.
I should point out in the UK that we cannot use the intended fuel with this stove. The Fire Dragon fuel is not a good combo with this stove with the slots in the base. So this makes a great light, compact base for something like this speedster stove.
The pot is a Trangia small mess tin, which not only holds the stove setup above but also the Trangia small mess tin insert cover, the Trangia multi disc for the small mess tin, a third party chopping board (not decided which I like the most yet), a small Nalgene bottle for fuel.
All this is stored in the Trangia roll top cover for the small mess tin.
I like this as a grab and go brew kit. Mind you it’s not the only one I have. I like options so I can choose on the day. I’m weird like that. I let my mood on the day choose what stove set up I use. Along with my intended use. Some setups are better for just boiling water, while others are more flexible on what they allow you to do.

I have to say I am enjoying this weeks morning projects of playing with the stoves. It’s good to keep the skills up to date.

Morning brew 1Apr26

#backtothehills, #morningbrew, Brew kit, Camping/hiking gear, Cooksets, hiking/backpacking/camping, outdoors

It’s bin day so before I even contemplated having my first coffee I had to put out the bin bags for two houses. You’d be surprised how much rubbish an old lady with a cat generates.
However once that chore was over my thoughts turned to making the first caffeine hit of the day.
It was only going to be made one way this morning, using the new Fire Maple pour over kettle that arrived yesterday. The stove I used was also by Fire Maple, their Greenpeak 1. The pour over was the pajak flat v60 pour over.
Even with the Greenpeak not at full blast boiled the water very quickly thanks to those heat fins on the base.

The pour over kettle fits inside a G3 but you aren’t going to get the rice cooker in as well. If I recall the marketing material correctly the G3 should fit this and the cup/pot. Not sure about a stove fitting either. I can see possibly something like the BRS3000 fitting. But the Greenpeak 1? It’s going to be tight if it fits at all.

Obviously with the design being a detachable handle so it can be stored in the G3, the handle does have a bit of wobble or looseness. I’d also be concerned about the seals used and the wear and tear on them.

I have to say size wise this is perfect for the solo camper. The 350ml capacity also perfect for a single mug of java.

A nice addition to the options available for that caffeine fix outdoors.