MSR Path Mini Solo Backpacking Cookset Evaluate

Backside Line

After placing the MSR Path Mini Solo by means of its paces on miles of path and plenty of nights within the backcountry cooking completely different meals, it earned a spot as certainly one of our all-time favourite cooksets. Its steadiness of weight, cooking efficiency, sensible options, and sturdiness make it an excellent alternative for any backpacker. 

The hard-anodized aluminum is extremely scratch- and heat-resistant and has higher cooking efficiency than its titanium counterparts. It takes a minute to warmth up, however it does so extra evenly, so you possibly can really feel assured about not burning your meals. It’s not very non-stick and generally is a bit cussed to scrub, however that’s par for the course for a lot of backpacking pots.

We love the additional options included with the Path Mini Solo, just like the plastic measuring cup, lid with drain holes, pot lifter, and extra insulated pot grip. Every function contributes to the general versatility and ease of use of this prepare dinner set.MSR packs a ton of worth into this very reasonably priced package, but when optimum value financial savings is what you’re after, check out our full listing of our favourite backpacking cooksets.

How We Examined

We evaluated this cookset’s metrics with thorough, quantitative exams – from boil time to non-stickiness to warmth distribution. Along with the “sciency stuff”, we convey you outcomes based mostly on real-life backpacking from the excessive peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the arid setting of the excessive desert.

Cooking Efficiency

The thick aluminum pot provides the MSR Path Mini Solo barely higher cooking efficiency than titanium pots. One consideration is that this pot heats up extra slowly than others we examined. This isn’t needed when you solely must boil water, and it’ll burn a bit of extra gasoline. Nonetheless, this may also be a profit; the pot disperses warmth extra evenly, making it much less liable to creating scorching spots and burning meals.

Our ‘egg take a look at’ of scrambling an egg in every pot with a pat of butter reveals loads concerning the pot’s efficiency. The egg left behind within the pot was distributed evenly, with no localized areas of burning. Egg yolk readily caught to the underside and was a bit cussed and tough to scrub. Fairly customary for backcountry pots and simply solved with…extra butter. A part of the ultralight, calorie-dense meal plan!

The anodized aluminum pales compared to the non-stick properties of ceramic or teflon, so it’s greatest to prepare dinner soupy meals or maintain an in depth eye in your meal so you possibly can elevate the pot off the direct flames.

Weight & Packability

MSR superbly balances cooking efficiency with weight and packability with the Path Mini Solo. The package has a complete weight of seven.4 ounces or a minimal weight of 5.5 ounces for simply the pot and stuff sack. The 750 mL pot has a capacity-to-weight ratio of about 184 mL per ounce, which is common amongst the cookware we examined. 

The broader pot diameter makes for glorious packability for longer journeys. It simply accommodates a 4-ounce gasoline canister with room for MSR’s PocketRocket 2 range, a lighter, and the included pot lifter. The pot neatly nests into the plastic cup. Altogether packed into the included mesh stuff sack with a drawstring enclosure, the package takes up a really cheap 80 cubic inches. When packed full, the parts match snugly along with minimal rattle.

Usability

The MSR Path Mini Solo is among the most extremely featured ultralight cooksets in our information to one of the best backpacking cooksets. It comes customary with a ton of options, together with a lid with drain holes and a pour spout, pot lifter, insulated pot grip, polypropylene bowl/measuring cup, and a stuff sack. 

The separate aluminum pot lifter stays cool and supplies a agency grip whereas cooking, whereas the insulated rubber sleeve ensures the pot is user-friendly for ingesting and consuming. 

The plastic pot lid contains a rubber deal with and loads of sizable drain holes for straining. We notably like having a see-through lid to observe our cooking progress. The lid additionally contains a bigger pour spout, which additionally doubles because the entry for the pot lifter, so the 2 aren’t suitable collectively, which doesn’t actually make sense. The pot itself solely features a 0.5L marking, however the polypropylene cup is sufficiently marked with metric and imperial graduations. All the plastic parts are hot- and cold-safe.

Though a number of the options are barely redundant, just like the pot lifter and pot grip, they make for very versatile ease-of-use.

Sturdiness

The pot itself, constructed from hard-anodized aluminum to extend warmth and scratch resistance, is exceptionally sturdy. Though aluminum is extra vulnerable to the weather than different metals, the thickness alone will increase its longevity and makes it much less liable to warping. Not like some skinny titanium pots, we weren’t capable of flex the Path Mini Solo with our naked fingers.

Though we haven’t had any failures to talk of but, the parts most definitely to interrupt are the polypropylene lid and cup and the aluminum pot lifter. The cup is constructed from a skinny, versatile plastic that might be straightforward to crack underneath reasonable stress. 

The lid is barely extra sturdy, however it’s nonetheless plastic, which is inherently weak to cracking. The aluminum pot lifter is held along with a single pin and will probably fail if subjected to extreme abuse, however you’d actually should biff it on the path and at that time you’ve most likely fearful about different damaged path instruments, like your bones.

The stuff sack is constructed from a easy mesh, a fabric generally utilized in different prepare dinner units. Nonetheless, we respect the strengthened backside to extend its abrasion resistance.

Ought to You Purchase the MSR Path Mini Solo?

The MSR Path Mini Solo is a wonderful alternative for a variety of backpacking abilities and kinds. From the seasoned ultralight thru-hiker to the novice backpacker, its ease of use is each sensible and welcoming.

The aluminum pot, with its gradual and even warmth distribution, supplies a barely enhanced cooking efficiency for the ultralighter who likes to prepare dinner a meal barely extra subtle than boiling water. Sensible options like a measuring cup, drain holes, and an insulated pot grip additional improve its vary of use so that you just’re by no means left improvising. 

MSR impressively packs all of those options into an ultralight weight simply over 7 ounces. As well as, they thoughtfully designed every element to subsequent collectively whereas leaving loads of additional area for gasoline, a range, and different cooking necessities. 

Aside from the delicate plastic cup, the Path Mini Solo doesn’t endure many downfalls, making it one of many highest high quality and greatest valued prepare dinner units out there.

Obtained a backpacking buddy? This additionally comes within the Duo for a bigger capability.

What Different Backpacking Cookware Ought to You Contemplate?

If the MSR Path Mini Solo doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, take a look at our full information to backpacking cookware for all kinds of choices.

Toaks Titanium 750mL Evaluate: The Toaks 750mL is as easy and ultralight because it will get with a weight of simply over 4 ounces. It’s the identical measurement because the Path Mini Solo and even has just a few drain holes on the titanium lid.

SOTO Thermostack Combo Evaluate: For people who like cooking in aluminum, the Thermostack Combo is a wonderful, uniquely featured choice. As an alternative of a separate measuring cup, it features a pot cozy and double-wall insulated mug – good for winter tenting.

Snow Peak Titanium Mini Solo Evaluate: This set is absolutely titanium with a separate measuring cup just like the Path Mini Solo, however you possibly can prepare dinner on it as nicely.

GSI Outdoor Halulite Boiler Evaluate: The Halulite Boiler is one other hard-anodized aluminum pot with a extra minimal function set however a bigger cooking capability and unparalleled sturdiness.