Camp Cooking Pot made out of. . . Paper!
July 19, 2012, 10:06 am / Categories: Food / Hydration, Camping
Most all cooking pots are made of metal. Energia USA makes its pots out of paper. The company’s Hexa Pot product is a disposable paper cooking pot made for “picnics, camping, backpacking, on the go, or traveling,” as the company puts it.
Why? Instead of having to wash a pot after use, Energia USA cites, you can toss them in the recycling bin or trash. “Time you would spend scraping, rinsing, washing and putting them away can be used for other things instead,” the company’s Kickstarter page says.
We unfolded one of the origami-like pots this month and put it on an open flame. The Hexa Pots feel like they’re made of the same sort of hard, waxy material as seen on take-home boxes you get from a restaurant. (Official company description is that the material is a “special non-toxic waterproof multi-ply paper.”)
After unfolding, we filled our demo Hexa Pot with water and fired up a camp stove. Flames licked the underside of the pot, though there was little smell and no smoke.
In a few minutes, tiny bubbles formed under the hot water, and then a roiling boil began. We poured the hot water on some camp food and set the Hexa Pot aside.
The bottom of the paper pot was yellowed and slightly warped, though not burnt. We threw the one-time-use product away per the instructions, however, another boil or two could likely take place in the pot before it needed to be discarded.
Energia USA sells the Hexa Pot as an “eco-conscious” product. That description seems odd as it’s a disposable item, whereas something made of metal will last for years or decades of use.
As a backup plan or emergency pot, the Hexa Pot might have its place. The paper pot folds flat and weighs very little, letting you stow it away with little fuss.
The company markets it for backpacking as well as survival scenarios, including disaster situations. It can be used for sterilizing contaminated water by boiling in times when there is no access to drinkable water.
To us, the emergency or backup use seems bonafide. But for backpacking and camping, we’re going to stick to metal pots.
The Hexa Pots are sold for $5.50 to $7 apiece, depending on the pot type. Buy direct from Energia USA or, beginning in August, on Amazon.com and other retailers.
—Stephen Regenold is editor at GearJunkie.
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yeah let me carry 7 or 8 of this into the woods for $20+, then bring them home (because no open flames allowed in most of my backpacking territory) so i can then throw them out (our city can’t recycle most waterproof parer)? don’t think so. emergency/disaster? yes great idea. good luck with the backpackers though.
ps why is there an ad of a man with a rifle over there? i like guns and all but is GJ leaning another way?
@gnarlydog: The Hexa Pot is less for those car-camping or otherwise not concerned with optimizing for weight and bulk, and more intended for climbers, kayakers, etc on overnight or multi-day trips. Planning for no trash or ease of handling is an effective way to minimize undesirable “leave behinds” in the field.
@Sweets2k, @Andy: You are correct!
In an area that allows cooking with flame (even a small portable type stove) you can use the Hexa Pot and then, when the pot is dry, it will burn using that same flame. Yes, @Andy you are correct – In a no-flame area or if you plan to pack and eat only cold foods then there is no need for the Hexa Pot.
Our most frequent comments from customers are that the pots are used to boil water for coffee or tea in the morning, repacked, and then used to prepare a soup, stew, curry, etc for dinner.
So it appears from our feedback that the most common recreational use is for a couple or small group to go through one per day. Cost from Amazon is $5.49 for a package of two (HPO-2S), so it can be as low as $1/person/day on average depending on the size of your group. This strategy has been popular for folks planning a weekend trip (two nights).
http://hexapot.com/amazon.html
The strongest response we have received regarding “leave no trace” issues refers to cleaning. Since the Hexa Pot is not washed and re-used after cooking food, it helps reduce introduction of soaps and detergents to the environment.
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Thank you for taking a look at the Hexa Pot! MSRP for the large is $3.99 and $2.99 for the small. Cost/each is lower in a pack of two, and there is a special promotion available right now. (http://hexapot.com/preorder.html)
For ultra-tight camping or adventure trips such as climbing excursions or kayak overnights, the most common compliments we receive refer to the flat-pack shape vs the bulk of a metal pot, and that there is nothing to pack out.
Follow @HexapotCustSvc for posts on #Camping #CampKitchen #Climbing #Kayak #GreenBusiness #Survival #DisasterRelief #CleanWater #Recycling