Why I am no fan of the Zebra billy cans, or billy cans in general

[FishyFolk]

Here it is:

http://youtu.be/dWhx_GpFJnU?t=11m8s

[BJ]

I prefer a spout on things too. T^

[alvino78]

love my zebra ...................but it always has a kettle in it lol!!!!

[Stamp]

I just pack a pair of gloves, problem solved.....

Also seen a video on how to make a handle from a stick to pour easily.

[FishyFolk]

I just pack a pair of gloves, problem solved.....

Also seen a video on how to make a handle from a stick to pour easily.

By using a tea kettle you avoid the problem all together. And if it is one with a wide lid, like the GSI I can use it for all the things a billy is used for. Including cooking porridge, stews etc, and it will sill be easy to clean.

But here are my cons and pros for both as I see it:


Zebra Billy can

+ Durable stainless steel, built like a tank with a sturdy handle
+ Comes in many sizes
+ Relatively resonably priced
+ DIY wood burning camp stoves fit inside to make a complete cooking system

Cons

- Heavy
- Handle is a space hugger when packing it (some people remove it and replace with a wire handle)
- Water can't be poured from it safely without extra tools like gloves, trangia handles or improvised pouring tools.

Conclusion:
Great quality cooking pot if you do not need to pour water from it to f.eks hydrate a freeze dried meal, tea or coffee.
The killer of the usability for me is the handle and the pouring. I can improvise the tools needed but it is a chore.

GSI Glacier stainless tea kettle

Pros:
+ Large lid, means it can be used to cook food as well as water and still be easy to clean.
+ Spout makes it easy to pour water
+ handle locks in upriht position
+ handle folds down and make it easy to stove away
+ Sturdy stainless steel construction

cons
- Large 16 cm diameter takes up more room than my 12 cm billy can
- Only one size available
- twice as expensive as the Zebra billy can.
- I own a Zebra billy and a stainless steel tea pot allready (with a tiny lid)

Conclusion:
It can do all that a zebra billy can do, and still be a tea pot. And it's safer to use + i can probably fit more stuff/food/spice etc inside it since it's bigger.
What holds me back is the price.

http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Cook%20Gear/Cooking%20Accessories/GSI%20Glacier%20Stainless%20Tea%20Kettle/Test%20Report%20by%20Katie%20Montovan/2013-01-05%2012.52.28%20copy.jpg

[ian c]

I have a zebra billy can and I don't use it that often to brew up as have a small 1Ltr trangia kettle, I also have a small frying pan and my crusader cup that gets used for boiling water, warming boil in bag food and for the must have brandy.

[FishyFolk]

I have a zebra billy can and I don't use it that often to brew up as have a small 1Ltr trangia kettle, I also have a small frying pan and my crusader cup that gets used for boiling water, warming boil in bag food and for the must have brandy.

Thats another thing...I have had this thing for several months, and carried it with me on several trips. This was the first time I have used it. And that only because it was about time I did so.

With the GSI I can leave the tea kettle I always bring anyway just becouse it's better for boiling water at home, and use the GSI for that, and still have a good kettle for a porridge or a stew.

[Johnnyboy1971]

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=mors+kochanski+pot&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari#biv=i%7C0%3Bd%7CpfpNxk6U_aFaCM%3A

An alternative.

[jus_young]

I can see what you mean Rune.

I have used the MSR Titan Kettle for some time now, and apart from occasionally using my little 'one egg wonder' fry pan on static camps, this is my only cook pot, kettle, plate, bowl when out on trips.

http://www.cascadedesigns.com/msr/cookware/rapid-cooking/titan-kettle/product

[Rasputin]

Oh dear Rune, It looks like your stuck between a rock and a hard place,lol. But I do know what you mean. " C' est la vie":wink:

[FishyFolk]

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=mors+kochanski+pot&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari#biv=i%7C0%3Bd%7CpfpNxk6U_aFaCM%3A

An alternative.

Nice one. Just a little too big. But I like the design with a side handle and a bail handle. May be a contender for family sized cooking.

[FishyFolk]

Oh dear Rune, It looks like your stuck between a rock and a hard place,lol. But I do know what you mean. " C' est la vie":wink:

Yup, and whats more. If I get the GSI now (she knows about the Zebra), and she finds out, I am dead.

[Rasputin]

Yup, and whats more. If I get the GSI now (she knows about the Zebra), and she finds out, I am dead.

Yay i know that feeling Rune, I ran out of hiding places long ago. Sleeping bags are the worse things to hide ( " what another sleeping bag " ) obviously you cant keep them compressed... that would be easy to hide so youve got to take the flack. But £50 a month at the hair salon is OK. apparently ATB bro

[alvino78]

Yay i know that feeling Rune, I ran out of hiding places long ago. Sleeping bags are the worse things to hide ( " what another sleeping bag " ) obviously you cant keep them compressed... that would be easy to hide so youve got to take the flack. But £50 a month at the hair salon is OK. apparently ATB bro
funny that hairdresser thing......i spend £6 month sometimes every 2 and then they moan when you spend £30 lol

[Rasputin]

funny that hairdresser thing......i spend £6 month sometimes every 2 and then they moan when you spend £30 lol

Whats worse is I've cut my own hair for the last 15 + years, Oh the Inequalities ( In the manner of Sheldon ) lol:evilgrin: Women hey, cant live with them.... defo cant cant win an argument with them,lol

[roberts]

This is what I love about my Swedish mess set I use the lid with handle to sit the billy in and hey presto I can pour away

[Fraxinus]

This is what I love about my Swedish mess set I use the lid with handle to sit the billy in and hey presto I can pour away

I like that idea but I use the method which is nicely illustrated in the vid below.....however, until I looked the vid up again I had not realised it was made by a member here, thank you Mr Savage T^


http://youtu.be/cewqYld6Nqc

Always works for me but I do have an anodised camping kettle with a spout that gets used when in the camper van with SWMBO that I would happily take on solo trips for many of the reasons Rune gives :)

Rob.

[Adam Savage]

Thanks for the video plug Rob ;)

I must admit, my Zebra billys don't get as much use as they should. I have the 12cm and 16cm versions. The 16 is always in my pack, with a Tatonka H2O pot sat in the bottom (used to be the 1L Tesco kettle), a Coleman F1 lite, a folding spork, plus a load of instant meals, coffee sticks, tea bags, etc.
The billy is a lot easier to cook in than the kettle (H2O pot) as there is no lip to get in the way. I also never have a problem with the handle getting too hot to hold. If it's hanging from a tripod (or pot hanger) it is protected from the heat, and if it;s nestled in the side of the fire, I make sure the handle is pointing out with a stick holding it away from the body of the can.
Pouring can be a little more tricky, as it requires either a stick, or some kind of cloth (usually a bandanna or shemagh).

[Fraxinus]

Thanks for the video plug Rob ;)



You're welcome, until I saw your vid I thought the second indent in the bail arm was for locating the hook so it tucked into the windshield neatly when packed to reduce rattle.:D

Rob