Nature's Secret Larder - New Kelly Kettle Stainless Steel Trekker Review

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Bushcraft Blog

New Kelly Kettle Stainless Steel Trekker Review
23rd March 2011

GET YOURS AT WWW.GREENMANBUSHCRAFT.CO.UK
Enter this code KELLYNSL and get £1.00 off your kettle! Go to and enter the code at the checkout. Please note this only applies for the kettles (not Kelly Kettle accessories)
Remember, Greenman have the best UK prices!

Trekker Kelly Kettle Review



As you should all know by now my reviews leave out the technical jargon and concentrate on what matters most, the performance! Here I take a look at the NEW Stainless Steel 'Trekker' Kelly Kettle and give you my honest thoughts. Before I continue, some of the text from my previous Kelly Kettle review maybe re-used if relevant to this review.

The Kelly Kettle is the original outdoor cooker/kettle. There are several copy-cat designs on the market now, but if you want the best, then get the original Kelly. Currently there are two stainless steel options and three aluminium examples, plus cooksets, pot supports and a mug.

The kettles come in three sizes, Small (1 pint), Medium (1.75 pints) and Large (2.5 pints). The new trekker is a small (1 pint) copy of its aluminium brother, but this kettle is much stronger and hardwearing.

Kelly Kettles / Volcano Kettles will boil water in 3 to 5 minutes depending on the fuel you're using. You can use any natural fuel, such as twigs, pine cones, leaves, grass, etc. Each is made from aluminium. They are essentially a double-walled chimney with the water contained in the chimney wall. Once the kettle is filled with water, simply start a very small fire in the base, set the kettle on the base and drop additional fuel (twigs, leaves, grass, paper, etc.) down the chimney (yes as simple as that).

Kelly Kettle Trekker Review


The large internal surface area of the chimney heats the water very quickly. When the water boils, hold the Handle at an angle of 90° to the Kettle - then lift the Kettle clear of the base.

To pour, lift it by the handle and tilt it using the cork chain (supplied) If additional water is required, simply refill the kettle with water and place it back on the base when the fire is still burning.  Refill the chimney with fuel and you can look forward to a second kettle full of boiling water within a matter of minutes.

Fancy a fry-up? That’s no problem either. Each kettle can be used with the cooking kit (sold separately).

Small Cooking Set

Large/medium cook set (fits both sizes of kettle)


The cook set can be used in two ways:


1. When the water boils, remove the kettle from fire base and place Grill Pieces onto the fire-base. Then simply place your Pot/Pan on the Grill pieces for cooking, adding additional fuel to the fire base as required. Fuel can be inserted through the air hole in the side of the base.

2. Using the Pot Support (sold separately) certain foods can be cooked quickly over the chimney of the Kelly/Volcano Kettle as it boils thus ensuring maximum fuel and time efficiency.

During transport, this Cook Set stores neatly inside your Kelly Kettle ensuring maximum space saving.

The Kelly Kettle has been used all over the world, under all kinds of circumstances. They are ideal for camping, bushcraft or fishing. They are great fun just to use in your back garden too.

The best part is that they are carbon-neutral, as they feed from fuel which is provided by nature, making them ideal to take on any adventure; it saves on gas bottles or liquid fuels, which take up space and also pose a small risk if being carried in a bag or car.

I often use a Kelly kettle. The small option is best if space is at a premium, or if it’s for single use, although the larger options will be better for small groups, etc.

The 'Trekker' has the following spec

  • Height .......27cm / 10.6 inches (Packed)
  • Diameter....14cm / 5.5 inches
  • Capacity.....1 Pint (UK) / 0.57Ltrs
  • Weight.......1.64lb / 0.74kg


VS

Auluminium model

  • Height .......27cm / 10.6 inches (Packed)
  • Diameter....14cm / 5.5 inches
  • Capacity.....1 Pint (UK) / 0.57Ltrs
  • Weight.......1.1lb / 0.5kg

 

As you can see, the new model is slightly heaiver, but this is not worry to my mind, as its a much more solid and stronger kettle, making it a fantastic option if it's going to be given a tough life!

Build 10/10
Price 10/10
Performance 10/10
Overall 30/30

CONCLUSION – It’s not all that often I give a perfect score, but Kelly Kettles are all built so well for the price, and perform like a dream, that I had no choice but to rate them this highly, and the same goes for the new Trekker. If you love the outdoors, and spend lots of time under the stars then one of these is simply a must.

 

GET YOURS AT WWW.GREENMANBUSHCRAFT.CO.UK
Enter this code KELLYNSL and get £1.00 off your kettle! Go to and enter the code at the checkout. Please note this only applies for the kettles (not Kelly Kettle accessories)
Remember, Greenman have the best UK prices!


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