Cooking gear ie pots & pans

I am going to have to buy some cooking gear soon. What I would really like is billies, or some sort of pots that stack inside each other. We used to be able to buy billies like this years ago but these days can't seem to find any.

The sort that get sold for backpacking ie Trangia etc are too small, as in basically, too shallow and I don't think the handles are robust enough

There are sets sold by mobs like Coleman but they seem to be large. I don't need a 5 litre pot for just the 2 of us

Maybe I'm fussy, but choice seems limited over here

What do you all use and does anyone know of a proper nestling billy set (found one on ebay some time ago, can't find it now, but reluctant to buy off the net as I'd like to see the item first)

See what you mean about the handles -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6-Pce-Camping-Cooking-Billy-Can-Pots-Pans-Set-/220280346554?pt=UK_SportingGoods_Camping_CookingSupplies_ET&hash=item3349bb57ba - very good price at only £12.99 but I agree it would be better to purchase something that you actually want and would last, even if it costs more.

Exactly the same set at £27.50, cheeky !!! www.canvastentshop.co.uk/cooking-accessories/6pc-billy-can-nesting-set/prod_107.html

Wouldn’t these be better as they certainly look well made? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-CAMPING-COOKWARE-7-PIECE-COOK-SET-Inc-POTS-AND-PANS-/380299940558?pt=UK_SportingGoods_Camping_CookingSupplies_ET&hash=item588ba492ce
Even better, just found this Kampa set at a decent price of £22.00, non-stick as well. Now I've found these, I shall probably buy a set myself. Thanks Vixen! -





www.camperlands.co.uk/kampa-chow-non-stick-cookset.html

Knock yourself out! www.kampa.co.uk/cookware/nosh.html

I've got one of those old type billy cans like in Tom's ebay link, that I bought at a jumble sale when I was still in scouts (something like 16 or so years ago) and it's been great. It's a "bulldog" brand one and it has taken loads of abuse and hs spent more time over a fire than a gas stove and still keeps on going.

Have been tempted by the set off ebay before but just have my suspicions they will be quite flimsy.

That is my thought Chris, some of the aluminium billies these days are quite flimsy and bend out of shape
There are so many compact stackable pots for backpacking it is not funny but not a great choice in the original billy type.

There is a great looking set available in the US but finding someone that sells them here, or will ship out is not so easy (and the postage costs might change my mind)

One of the links in the post above leads to yet ANOTHER Coleman set I've not seen before. They don't look to bad. Wonder if I can find a set to look at over here somewhere

It's seeming at the mo that most stuff is geared towards use over a gas burner and is a bit like normal kitchen stuff but with folding plastic handles and fancy teflon coating - most of the stuff available that is any good for hanging over a fire is heavy and bulky (or often cast iron) so there surely is a gap in the market somewhere for decent, more compact stuff that doesn't feel liek I could squash it with one hand and that can be put into service on most heat sources.

I'd say to keep an eye out at jumble sales and car boot sales etc as the chances of finding new look quite slim!

That billy of mine is approx 6" or so wide, 5" or so deep and is a nice usable size for two of us, and with a bit of practice, can even be poured out of like a kettle one handed - I'd say it's got to be one of the most used bit of kit we have.

We have just bought set which is on pictures above. It is nice solid kit, just do not expect non stick layer last long.
I can not see any reason why you would not use one on open fire/ just do not buy one with plastic handles/. We had similar one for years and cooking on open fire was very easy. You just have to clean it afterward.

Have you had a look at the Tatonka range? The first set seem a little expensive to me, but seem to look quite good.
Tatonka Family cook set
and the second lot are sold as singles but i have been told that they do nest.
Tatonka Kettles

Cheers
Louis

We have Lodge cast iron cookware to cook main meals, so we just needed something smaller for snacks.

If it's cast iron cookware you're looking for you can't go far wrong with Robert Dyas stores they do all manner of cast iron and alumunimun non stick stuff and the prices are not that bad.

You can allways change them in store if your not happy or have a problem with them it can be a little more different from ebay.

Tescos sell some thing similar to the ones in the pic (but no teflon coating) believe it or not they are VERY are good..mine are 6 years old now

lou1661 wrote:

Have you had a look at the Tatonka range? The first set seem a little expensive to me, but seem to look quite good.
Tatonka Family cook set
and the second lot are sold as singles but i have been told that they do nest.
Tatonka Kettles

Cheers
Louis

the tatonka kettles are really good - I know someone who has one and it stores well (no sticky out bits like spouts or handles) and it pours well.

delica wrote:

We have Lodge cast iron cookware to cook main meals, so we just needed something smaller for snacks.

Lodge - the rolls royce of Cast Iron cookware!

By aware of cheap cast iron cookware made in China...will not last long and taste of food is different.
And of course LODGE is the best

Just ordered the Kampa set through Amazon

Margaret

Thanks for the link

delica wrote:

By aware of cheap cast iron cookware made in China...will not last long and taste of food is different.
And of course LODGE is the best

Of course it tastes different ... they always use too much Soy Sauce!!!

gemini wrote:

Just ordered the Kampa set through Amazon

Margaret

Thanks for the link

Glad to be of service. Let us know what you think of 'em, as I say I am thinking of getting a set myself. Ta.

Tom Mc wrote:

gemini wrote:

Just ordered the Kampa set through Amazon

Margaret

Thanks for the link

Glad to be of service. Let us know what you think of 'em, as I say I am thinking of getting a set myself. Ta.

They look very good. I will test them next week in Holland.

Came home from swimming this afternoon to find a parcel - yep it was my pans ! How's that for delivery service.

They look very good and nest securely however the frying pan although ideal for poaching and saute ing is rather too deep for normal egg frying.

Looking forward to usingthem on our next trip away and reading other folks comments.

Margaret

I gather it was the CHOW Non-Stick Cook Set?

No we ordered the 'Gastro' set also non - stick with fold away handles

Margaret

gemini wrote:

No we ordered the 'Gastro' set also non - stick with fold away handles

Margaret

Hang on a mo...Where does the "WE" come in ?

YOU ordered it for YOU to use when camping.

mike

...... but you eat the contents therefore they are for us !!!!!!!!!!

Margaret

Calm down calm down, this is turning into the M & M bun-fight. Perhaps you shouldn't have ordered that frying pan after all, it does look quite heavy and scary!!!

delica wrote:

By aware of cheap cast iron cookware made in China...will not last long and taste of food is different.
And of course LODGE is the best

I'd have to argue that point. I have a cheap Chinese cast iron pot, a big one, it works just fine and there is no taste effect. I had a smaller one also, and used it inside the house to cook stews & curries etc and the inside surface was lovely & smooth and cooked very nicely

Aussies might argue that Furphy are the best cast iron pots I don't.....they all seem to work OK to me

Vixen wrote:

delica wrote:

By aware of cheap cast iron cookware made in China...will not last long and taste of food is different.
And of course LODGE is the best

I'd have to argue that point. I have a cheap Chinese cast iron pot, a big one, it works just fine and there is no taste effect. I had a smaller one also, and used it inside the house to cook stews & curries etc and the inside surface was lovely & smooth and cooked very nicely

Aussies might argue that Furphy are the best cast iron pots I don't.....they all seem to work OK to me

Any of our cast iron stuff is generic and probably chinese too - I like to season my own so haven't noticed any funny tastes either. I'd still like some Lodge stuff though