Enamel ware is the easiest to keep clean and its poor heat conducting properties makes it for some things preferable. It has a tendency to chip and flake under rough handling or in cold weather. This latter fault can be remedied to some extent by gradual warming of the article before exposing to fierce heat. Enamel ware is not much heavier than other ware that is sufficiently strong for outdoor service.
Aluminum alloy is a boon to the camper, it being the ideal material for certain outdoor utensils. It stands up in all climates—tropical, frigid north, in use on horseback trips, in canoe work, sledging or on the hike. It is much the lightest material we have. Any sporting goods dealer can supply you. The unalloyed aluminum is too soft and easily bends out of shape with hard usage and dry heat, hence a stiffener is added yet without appreciable change of weight. Aluminum alloy has few merits beyond lightness: it is a quick heat conductor, hence the cup had better be of some other material such as enamel ware so as to save the lips from blistering. Also under the application of dry heat to an aluminum fry pan the food sticks and burns so the fry pan is preferably of light stamped steel. However, where lightness is the great desideratum all parts of the cooking kit should be made of aluminum alloy.
The most commonly used outfit is the one mentioned, consisting of fry pan, kettle, cup, knife, fork and spoon with perhaps a canteen. The first three articles represent the essential components of an ideal individual mess kit and provision for these in some shape or form is made in most every mess kit combination you will come across. The above outfit I have used for years, gotten together in the first place because the parts were easy to get hold of and then they were retained because they did the work expected of them—they withstood the “acid test.” The large tin cup, Army pattern, I carried at my belt where it is easy to reach and thus escaped the trouble to nest. In it I steeped tea thus doing away with a special teapot. The kettle of tin was used for boiling water, making stews, etc. Its wire bail I luckily lost and therewith attached a chain bail which stays put when suspending the pot over the fire and it is not cumbersome when packing away. The fry pan is a small Number 0 size with socket for extension handle. It is covered with a tight fitting lid and thus does duty as a baker. By heaping coals upon it one gets the envelope of hot air.
The United States Army Meat Can combines a frying pan and baker: the deep bottom also serves as a soup plate and the lid as a serving plate. When the lid locks in place over the pan by the hinged handle it becomes a roomy receptacle for lunch carrying on the march, the metal ring on one end allows of its attachment to the soldier’s belt or the whole thing can be stored in the pack sack. It is an ingenious contrivance and ideal for the tramper’s use.
A large aluminum alloy tablespoon, a small steel fork and the sheath or pocket knife or flat stick which displaces the table knife completes the kit. On certain trips where water is scarce I add a second hand, felt covered Army canteen.
Regarding inspirators, broilers, fire irons and other clap-traps, let it be known that though seemingly insignificant they furnish more details to look after, but as a rule they do not possess sufficient advantage to pay for the care and labor of transporting on a light trip.
On a hiking trip the combined fry pan and baker will be used. With this very acceptable breadstuffs can be coaxed out of camp fire heat, dough and the frying pan. Indeed in emergency the frying pan itself may be discarded and in such a contingency one can make very good bread by winding the dough around a cleaned stick and slanting it up by the side of the fire.
Canteens are nearly always a necessity in mountainous regions where your work carries you on the ridges high above the valleys where the streams are. In the desert a special water supply must be planned for. In ordinary hunting or tramping trips the smaller Army canteen supplies the more urgent needs. Where the water supply is contaminated it is necessary to boil and filter the water for drinking. This can be done at mealtimes and then cooled and carried in the canteen for use on the march. The purpose of the felt covering of the canteen is to keep the contents cool by the evaporation from the wetted felt.
As a rule one will, on a light trip, carry no folding grate or fire irons as supports for utensils. Rocks, logs or earthen trenches will take their places and one does not have to tote them around.
In choosing the hiker’s light weight mess kit take only those component parts that are really needed and have these as strong, light and compact as is possible.