SOTO Thermostack Combo Backpacking Cookpot Assessment

Backside Line

We put the SOTO Thermostack Combo’s 4-season functionality to the check on winter backpacking journeys and ski journeys within the Rocky Mountains, and it didn’t disappoint. 

The tightly becoming lids and insulated cozy hold meals heat noticeably longer than different cook dinner units, so your meals doesn’t go chilly fairly as rapidly in chilly situations. The double-wall insulated mug affords yet one more layer of consolation when temperatures plummet. 

The cooking efficiency of the Thermostack doesn’t exceed any wild expectations, however it’s on par with ultralight cookware. The hard-anodized aluminum pot distributes warmth higher than titanium, and the chrome steel mug effectively retains warmth. 

Though there are a number of parts, the set maintains an impressively light-weight design, packs down properly, and can be utilized as particular person items or as a whole equipment. For the ultralight backpacker, SOTO affords a ton of worth on this modular, 4-season cook dinner set.

For these in search of a extra minimal ultralight possibility or one thing that may cook dinner for the entire household, take a look at our full information to backpacking cookware.

How We Examined

Along with evaluating every particular person part in a managed setting, we put the Thermostack to the check within the faculty of arduous knocks. As a result of it’s a 4-season cook dinner set, we acquired out into the Rocky Mountains in the course of the winter months, cooking piping sizzling meals in its 750mL pot and sipping cozy drinks in its insulated mug.

Cooking Efficiency

The cooking efficiency of the SOTO Thermostack Combo simply holds its personal subsequent to different light-weight pots. However the bonus of the Thermostack is that it affords a bit of additional consolation. The 750 mL important pot is created from hard-anodized aluminium for quick and even warmth distribution. 750 mL is the right measurement for a single-person meal, and the medium diameter of the pot is less complicated than the tall/slim kinds.

Though the pot doesn’t function a non-stick coating, it retains cussed meals like eggs at bay pretty effectively, so long as you stir usually. If meals is left to take a seat within the pot, nevertheless, cleanup would require an honest quantity of elbow grease. That’s to not say the SOTO Thermostack can’t cook dinner contemporary meals, however it’s greatest suited to brothy meals like ramen. 

The most effective a part of the SOTO Thermostack is its chrome steel and titanium cup combo, which nest collectively to create an insulated, double-wall mug. We wish to warmth water rapidly within the titanium cup after which pour it into the stainless cup earlier than nesting them collectively for a fast, comforting beverage.

Weight & Packability

The burden and packability of the SOTO Thermostack Combo strike a contented center floor amongst all our examined cookware. It’s nearly double the burden of the lightest pot on our checklist, however removed from the heaviest. Nonetheless, because it’s a three-pot set, you may select what to carry and what to go away at dwelling for every journey. 

For comparability, we measured the full weight of the set to be 10.8 ounces, and the minimal weight (comprising a 750 mL pot, pot lifter, lid, and stuff sack) to be 5.7 ounces. The capacity-to-weight ratio is common for pots of this measurement at 188 mL per ounce.

All parts nest collectively neatly with barely sufficient additional room for a small backpacking range and a lighter. A further 4-ounce gas canister received’t match contained in the pots, however it should sit on high of the pots and keep secured contained in the prolonged mesh collar of the stuff sack. In case you choose to go away the smaller cups at dwelling, a 4-ounce gas canister will match contained in the bigger 750 mL pot. All parts collectively (not together with gas) take up about 94 cubic inches of pack area.

Usability

The SOTO Thermostack Combo options distinctive design parts that make it significantly well-suited for cold-weather tenting. The primary of which is the insulated coozie/storage sleeve. 

The insulated coozie is created from tarpaulin and a laminated aluminum sheet to maintain your meals hotter for longer. The lids additionally assist with this endeavor with a tightly becoming silicone seal. Collectively, the lid and comfortable effectively retain warmth and cut back cooking time.

For added consolation in chilly situations, see the included cups – one chrome steel and one titanium. The chrome steel cup nests snugly into the titanium cup with the included collar, making a double-wall insulated mug that retains your drink sizzling and your hand good. The mug additionally comes with its personal tightly becoming lid.

For a deal with, the combo comes with an aluminium pot lifter. The lifter has a squeeze grip, however it doesn’t get sizzling like some hooked up handles. It’s appropriate whereas the lid is on, however proves to be a bit awkward. 

So as to add the toppings to this cake, each lids are geared up with drain holes and a pour spout. Neither is as efficient as on some bigger pots, however they get the job carried out.

Sturdiness

There are plenty of completely different supplies and parts to contemplate by way of sturdiness with the Thermostack, however total, it’s constructed to final. The 750 mL pot is created from hard-anodized aluminium for fast and even warmth distribution and good cooking efficiency. This one requires probably the most care, nevertheless, as aluminum is the least warmth and scratch-resistant of all of the supplies. 

The 400 mL cup, which acts because the outer wall of the double-wall mug, is created from titanium. Probably the most burly and sturdy of the three is the chrome steel 350mL mug (interior wall). The chrome steel is the heaviest and retains warmth one of the best.

The weak factors of this equipment are the pot lifter and the plastic lids. Though the lids are fairly sturdy, plastic is inherently susceptible to warmth and cracking, so simply strive to not stomp on them or toss them within the fireplace, and also you’ll be good.

Ought to You Purchase the SOTO Thermostack Combo?

The SOTO Thermostack Combo is a flexible cook dinner set appropriate for varied kinds of backpacking. The 750mL pot (when used alone) is mild sufficient even for probably the most ultralight backpacker’s requirements, and the insulated mug and comfortable present added consolation for individuals who recognize the luxuries of dwelling. For winter tenting, we might even contemplate the total equipment vital and effectively inside ultralight winter pack weights.

Whereas titanium pots do little greater than boil water effectively, the aluminium 750 mL pot gives a contact extra cooking efficiency. It’s barely thicker than most titanium pots and disperses warmth extra evenly. 

The sensible Thermostack design successfully turns this equipment right into a 4-season cook dinner set. The tight-fitting lids, insulated cozy, and double-wall mug do a superb job at retaining meals and drinks heat in chilly temperatures. 

Though there are a lot of parts and shifting components, SOTO didn’t neglect packability of their design. The pots nest collectively neatly with sufficient area for the pot lifter, a mini lighter, and even SOTO’s bigger Windmaster range. 

Total, the SOTO Thermostack Combo is good for the 4-season ultralight backpacker or anybody who enjoys a bit of additional consolation year-round.

What Different Backpacking Cookware Ought to You Contemplate?

For funds buys or family-sized cooksets, take a look at our full information to backpacking cookware. 

Toaks Titanium 750mL Assessment: This totally titanium pot is probably the most fundamental, most ultralight possibility on our checklist and a very good funds purchase. 

Evernew Pasta Pot 1L Assessment: The Pasta Pot is a big capability titanium pot with helpful options for varied sorts of cooking. It lacks the 4-season compatibility of the Thermostack however is likely one of the greatest all-around pots on our checklist.

MSR Path Mini Solo Cookset Assessment: That is mainly the Thermostack with out the additional 4-season options. It has a pot lifter and a plastic lid. As a result of it’s a thicker aluminum pot, it cooks and cleans up equally to the Thermostack.

Snow Peak Titanium Mini Solo Assessment: Just like the Thermostack, the Mini Solo is a two-pot set. It lacks 4-season consolation however is all titanium, so it’s lighter.