Open Country 700 Watt Dehydrator

So you have that new titanium cookware. Your 850 fill power down sleeping bag is almost weightless. Tents are a thing of the past...tarps are all you need. Congratulations on getting lighter and making your backpacking experience more enjoyable. I am confident you have one more area to improve. Your menu...

Prepackaged food is a great convenience. One can hike all day, setup camp, open a can of Chef Boyardee, and relax. Unfortunately your canned food was heavy, not nutritious, and boring. Several options are out there to change this routine. Many companies make freeze dried meals that only require boiling water. These meals are much lighter than canned goods and are generally more nutritious. These meals also include a hefty price tag and chemical additives.

The smarter, cheaper, tastier, and more nutritious way to go is dehydrating your own food. I understand it appears like a daunting task. After buying a dehydrator and experiencing first hand what dehydrating food entails I can honestly say...it is a breeze.

Six months ago I purchased the Open Country 700 Watt food dehydrator. This particular model features 5 trays (expandable to 14), a fruit roll sheet, and a perforated sheet for small items. A guide book and manual were also provided. I have dehydrated many different fruits, vegetables, and meats in this machine with great results. Temperature range is great (95-160 degrees) which allows one to prepare herbs to jerky. Drying is uniform and the build quality seems adequate. Dehydrating foods in bulk then vacuum sealing them allows me to always be prepared for my next backpacking trip. My only criticism of this machine is a lack of a power switch. Unplugging and plugging in the machine acts as its power switch.
All food dehydrators need a fan and thus will make some noise. At about a foot wide counter top space could be an issue. Remember however that this machine does not have to be in the kitchen. Your dehydrator can reside in any place that has power.

I strongly recommend you to start dehydrating your own meals. In a no time at all you will be creating a menu you would be proud to serve to company at home or on the trail.

Performance: 7.5
Quality: 8
Weight: N/A
Price: 7.5
Tilt: 9

Total: 8

Snow Peak Titanium Plate

Snow Peak always shows great attention to build quality and weight. While Snow Peak charges a high price for their wares I usually do not regret buying high quality items. The titanium plate I purchased over a year ago might be the only Snow Peak purchase I regret. Snow Peak delivered on quality and ultralight weight. The price is not even as bad as usual. My issue with this plate is where it fits in on my gear list. If I am going strict ultralight I am just eating out of my pot. If I need to serve more people than myself one person can eat out the pot and one from the lid. If I really need to have a separate serving dish I bring a bowl which is more versatile. In my past year of ownership I have used the titanium plate infrequently.

This plate cleans easy, is great to look at, and is very light (2oz). Be sure to have a thick layer of material between the plate and your lap because heat goes right through.

For those of you that must have a plate for the backcountry this is your go to product. In my humble opinion a bowl is more practical. Snow Peak does offer a titianum bowl which is lighter. I cannot however recommend it without trying it myself.

Performance: 8.5
Quality: 9
Weight: 9
Price: 6
Tilt: 5

Total: 7.5

REI $15.95, 2oz.

Brunton Raptor Isobutane Stove

So you just hiked for 15 miles. You started off with a good breakfast. The trail mix you munched on for lunch was tasty. Dinner time has arrived and something cold just will not do. What you need is something warm, soothing, and filling to recharge your batteries. Whether you are just adding boiling water to prepackaged meal or making your recipes, a stove is necessary.

Two years ago I asked Santa for the Brunton Raptor and he delivered. This stove has never let me down and creates a whole lotta heat. As you can see in the pictures this stove is very small. With the case it comes with and the optional stand (separate purchase required) this setup weighs in at 7.625 ounces. Without the stand the stove comes down to 6.875 ounces. When I received this stove as a gift it was one of the lighter stoves on the market. At the time of writing this much lighter isobutane stoves are available.

There are some great features on this stove. One enjoyable aspect is the ability to control the flame with ease. An intelligently placed handle/grip can be turned to a myriad of levels. Any stove can boil water but not all can cook delicate items. With the heat control the Raptor offers you will have an easy time cooking your morning pancakes. Another great feature is the penzo ignition system. To light this stove simply turn on the gas and push the little red button. The largest pot I used on this stove was 3 liters. Normally I am using my REI 1.3 liter pot (review here). In ideal conditions I can boil 2 cups of water in under 5 minutes. Air temperature and wind conditions will affect times. 8 ounces of fuel is rated to last 1.5 hours at full blast. A final advantage to the Raptor is cost. At $30 the Raptor is priced well below many other stoves. I must point out however that more expensive stoves are much lighter.

The main problem with isobutane stoves is the fuel canisters. 8oz of fuel weighs just about 15oz due to container weight. The fuel canisters are also bulky and waste pack room. When the fuel canisters are empty you have to pack them out.

For the ultralight crowd an alcohol stove might be the best option. In the next few weeks we will be testing penny stoves and will post our experiences.

For weekend trips or those people not very concerned with weight, the Raptor is an easy, effective, and reliable way to cook on the trail. Although I will most likely be moving to a penny stove setup in the near future, the Raptor was and still is a great stove.

Pros: Inexpensive, Small, Reliable
Cons: Many lighter stoves are available, requires heavy fuel canisters

Performance: 8
Quality: 8
Weight: 5
Price: 7.5
Tilt: 7

Total: 7.1

Available at Amazon $30, 6.875oz, 1.7 inches x 1.5 inches x 2.5 inches (folded)

Titanium Backpacking Pot

Lets face it,trail mix is good, but in the back country nothing soothes the soul like a good hot meal. Hot meals can vary from simple precooked "just add boiling water" meals to elegant 5 star dining. Regardless of your level of culinary fortitude you will need a vessel to cook in.

Several options are available on the market. Pots are made of aluminum, stainless steal, cast iron, and titanium. Each offers different advantages and disadvantages.

Aluminum is inexpensive and light but cannot handle intense heat.

Stainless steel is a worthy choice. It is inexpensive and conducts heat well. It is however a tad on the heavy side.

Cast iron conducts heat like no other material can however unless you have a pack animal with you (say an elephant) you just cannot carry it.

This brings us to titanium. Titanium is strong, durable, conducts heat well, and is extremely light weight. The only downside to titanium is on the fiscal side.

The only cookware in my load out is a 1.3 liter titanium pot from REI. This pot weighs in at 6 ounces. 1.3 liters is more than enough for one person but usually I am cooking for two or more. This pot features hinged handles for easy storage. A very tight fitting lid is also provided. Having a lid is important for getting heat built up quickly. This pot feels very solid and has seen much abuse over the past year I have owned it. Some other nice features include a pour spout and 500ml and 1000ml markings inside the pot.

This pot is non stick which has some pros and cons. An advantage is clean up is very simple. Non stick is also great for cooking items like pancakes or eggs. A disadvantage is non stick can wear over time and metal utensils should not come in contact with the non stick surface. From personal experience I can honestly say I eat right out of the pot using a titanium fork. I have not significantly scratched the non stick coating. With just a small amount of care and attention one can eat right out of the pot using metal flatware.

Overall I love this pot and am very happy I purchased it.

Performance : 8.9
Weight :8
Quality:8
Price:7
Tilt:9

Total score: 8.18

REI $59.50, 1.3 Liters, 6oz