Expanded Backpacking Pot Criteria

Why We Love The Heat Exchanger Pot For Backpacking

This feature has been around for ages, but until recently, it was only ever designed into integrated systems like Jetboil Flash or MSR Windburner. Seeing heat exchangers on standalone pots is relatively new, popularized by Jetboil Stash, and can now also be found on the Olicamp XTS. At time of publication, it is only available on aluminum pots.

A heat exchanger is comprised of a corrugated aluminum ring affixed to the exterior base of the pot and supported by struts. It encircles the burner’s flame, and collects heat directly underneath the pot, increasing the amount of heat transferred from flame to water. The corrugated fins reduces thermal loss due to wind and prevents heat from drifting away, without entirely cutting off airflow.

According to Fire Maple, the heat exchanger base increases stove efficiency by 30% and our own testing approximately validates this conclusion. In 35F temperatures with 5mph wind, we saw the following results:

• Soto WindMaster Stove + TOAKS Titanium Pot boiled .5L water 3 minutes using 13.1 g of fuel.
• Soto WindMaster burner + Olicamp XTS Pot boiled .5L water in 2 minutes using 8g of fuel

However, it also concentrates the heat, making the base hotter. This increases the likelihood of burning drier foods to the bottom, and is correlated with pots that are better for boiling water and worse at cooking food. That said it is still entirely possible to safely and easily cook food using heat exchanger tech. However, we recommend cooking foods with higher water content, such as soup, and/or using extra olive oil.

Because it is the only pot feature that improves the performance of your burner, we feel that any pot with a heat exchanger is superior to any pot without. We use heat exchanger pots 100% of the time, and recommend you do too.

Ultralight Heat Exchanger Pot Criteria

• Target weight sweet spot: 5-7 oz
• Target volume range: 800-1000 ml for 1-2 campers
• Preferred materials: aluminum if heat exchanger. Titanium if no heat exchanger. aluminum if gourmet cooking.
• Heat exchanger base: very very strongly preferred
• Siliconized handles: preferred
• Fold out handles: mandatory
• Silicone lid grip: preferred
• Functional lid: mandatory
• Screw on lid: optional for cold soaking
• Fuel canister nesting capability: 4 oz mandatory, 8 oz preferred
• Non stick coating: helpful for gourmet cooking, otherwise not needed

Why one liter is the perfect all-around size for a backpacking pot

We think a 1L pot is the perfect all-around size for a backpacking pot. It’s large enough to cook an absolutely massive meal for one person, or a respectable meal for two. When only boiling water, such as for freeze dried meals or making coffee, you have enough volume to boil liquid for two campers at once. All 1L pots are large enough to nest a four ounce fuel canister, and most are large enough to nest an eight ounce fuel canister.

Furthermore, it doesn’t take up too much bulk in your pack and minimizes weight. Strictly speaking, if you plan to cook a full size meal for two people out of the pot every time, we would recommend the 1.3 L size. If you only ever, ever cook solo, you might choose one as small as 800 ml. Though this can get finicky, harder to eat out of, and harder to clean. But given that a 1L pot can serve one or two people very effectively, it’s just far and away the most universal option.

Materials Matter – Titanium Pot vs Aluminum Pot

Both materials have their merits, and neither is strictly better than the other.

• Pros of aluminum: Accommodates heat exchanger base. Lightweight. Durable. Affordable. Good heat transfer. Even heat distribution. Better for cooking.
• Cons of aluminum: Heavier and less durable than titanium.
• Pros of titanium: Ultralight. Very Durable.
• Cons of titanium: Does not accommodate heat exchanger base. Expensive. Poor heat transfer, uneven heat distribution.

Aluminum Heat Exchanger Pot vs Titanium Pot Without Heat Exchanger

In cold and windy weather, we always recommend bringing a pot with a heat exchanger base. However, in warm, calm, and otherwise fair conditions, the weight savings of a minimalist ultralight titanium pot could be more advantageous and desirable than the thermal efficiency of an aluminum heat exchanger base pot. Based on our testing, a heat exchanger base saves 0.2 oz of fuel for each pint of boiled water compared to a minimalist titanium pot. So depending on the length of your trip and how much cooking you intend to do, a heavier pot with heat exchanger could save weight even if the pot body is 2-3 ounces heavier to start with. But for short trips (2-3 days) in fair weather, an ultralight titanium pot is slightly more weight efficient.

More ultralight backpacking pot features

There are a number of other backpacking pot features worth discussing. For starters, we always prefer a backpacking pot with siliconized grip handles and lid knob. Compared to exposed metal, it decreases the likelihood of getting burned, which in turn increases backcountry safety. We also appreciate a pour spout for increased accuracy while distributing boiling water. Another good backpacking pot feature is a secure lid, that can be snapped on and stays on while tilted up to 90 degrees for pouring. A screw-on lid, such as is found on the Vargo Bot XL, is useful for cold soaking and other niche applications, but is not universally necessary.

History and Backpacking Pot Evolution

Until recently, backpacking pot innovation had gone largely stagnant. Long ago, we used stainless steel; next came aluminum; and finally titanium – heralded for its exceptionally low weight and high strength (but also poor heat transfer and uneven heat distribution). 

And there the category sat, unchanged for decades, until the release of Jetboil Stash Stove in 2020 – the first semi-independent ultralight backpacking pot with a heat exchanger base. This inspired the Olicamp XTS, which has already been knocked off by others. And here we are today, officially having entered the era of the heat exchanger backpacking pot. We can’t wait to see how more brands innovate in this space! But for now we are enthusiastic about the entries into this new category.