Boy Scout Mess Kit

“I need to get a fairly inexpensive, and of course light, mess kit of some sort.

Last time we went we used my buddies old 3 piece Boy scout mess kit. Seemed lightweight and to teh point.

Anyone have any recommendation on mess kits, or any feedback on using a boy scout mess kit?”

“im a scout and i have a 7 year old mess kit pot. all i did was use my skills of metal works and bent out the bottom. if you look at one they are very shallow which is okay but if you are really hungry you need something bigger. just get a hammer and a board and bang out the center making it deeper. after you do that lay it down on the bottm and make it flat on the bottom so you can sit it down, and then you will have a deeper cheap bowl instead of a shallow pan.”

“I used one for years. They're light and cheap. Some folks say aluminum isn't good for you, though. I use an MSR stainless set now. It's heavy, but very durable. BTW, some say that titanium may have similar toxic effects as aluminum, but I haven't researched that.”

“The aluminum on boy scout mess kit is crap, IMO. Used it for about a year and then upgraded to some stronger aluminum. I may have just had a cheaper quality mess kit tho. There is nothing conclusive about the link between aluminum and health.”

“so many too choose from...

check out what your really eating on trail and get a kit to handle just that.

just boiling water? how about a coffee pot?

aluminum is ok. 1 tums has more aluminum in it the a life-time of cooking will ever do.”

“WalMart has a pretty good mess kit for like $16.00. Ozark trails brand.”

“Rosey, did the mess kit have the official BSA stamp on it? The BSA kits the boys in our troop use seem to be a cut above the other crap”

“the new types are okay i like my old one because it will never be destroyed but it is true the new ones are crap they bend easily they look thicker and stronger but they arent if you can get an old one i suggest it”

“I think you are right Limpy. If I remember correctly, mine was knock off. The Old Man just couldn't spring for the real deal! LOL!”

“in all i think they are all pretty much the same except what they are made of the only thing that is gonna make a huge differences in weight is the size so if you are wanting a big dinner all the time you are gonna have a bigger pot and if something small and simple you can get away with a BSA mess kit
BTW it is no secret that bsa sucks for gear i think the only thing i use by them is mess kits and the book”

“burn through knockoff bsa messkits... for years I just brought the top off of a decent cheap knockoff and a pot lifter... that was my mess kit, cheap and light”

“Bsa messkits are small, almost useless....i have burned through them with a whisperlight..and a coleman peakone....also even water will stick to the bottom. too flimsy for me...i say just get a good liter pot and a cup...”

“I still use the litle pot from a BSA kit that's now almost 30 years old. That and a little REI folding skillet along with my coffee/bourbon cup and I'm good to go.”

“I found a cheap two quart non stick pot at Walmart.

It is a 2 quart and weighs 10 oz. Too heavy for one person, but they make a 1 quart that was only available in a cook set.

It was mirro made by wearever

I am still looking. Anyone find a website with the 1 quart?”

“I think there is a difference in the gauge of aluminum in the knockoffs against the bsa or mirro ones(they used to be the same, I supect bsa was made by mirro),the kits work well for single use,, I often go with the frypan/plate/pail from one, and a surplus canteen cup,, between them they cover what I need,, when you learn how,, you can bake in em too,, can't do that with a grease pot or higher priced gear”

“Depends if your just cooking for yourself or others. If just you I use the new Primus lite pots. The new one I got has a pour spout also and holds the fuel canister in it very good pot just under $25.00
Barbara”

“I've been searching to no avail for a bulk quantity of the Al pots w/lids that come in a BS mess kit.

Can anyone help with wholesale info???”

“I have the Kit form Wal-Mart it is stainless steel with a copper bottom. It is very nice for the price. Having said that I upgraded to MSR “What ever the black aluminum one is” it is very nice and light and I got it on a good sale.”

“I don't know about getting them wholesale but the BSA gear store is scoutstuff.org maybe there is something there for you. You can also call BSA supply division and maybe someone there can help you out.”

“I use the Ozark Trails kit that Phaedrus mentioned. The small pot is the only piece I bp with, lightweight and heats up water real good.”