Good, cheap mug

[AlwaysHiking]

Any resources for a cheap alternative to the name brand (snowpeak, mont bell, vargo, etc...) mugs available? SS, aluminum, other? To be used only for heating liquids.


I've looked at a few surplus stores in the area and everything they have is a bit heavy.

I figured someone out there might know of the 'grease pot' equivalent in mugs.

Thanks in advance!

[Skidsteer]

The 'grease pot' equivalent in mugs is a 24 oz. capacity Heineken can.

Weighs an ounce.

http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/6/7/7/9/ChoppedHeinekenLid010_836436_thumb.jpg (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=15842&c=favorites)

[saimyoji]

The 'grease pot' equivalent in mugs is a 24 oz. capacity Heineken can.

Weighs an ounce.

[/URL][URL]http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/files/6/7/7/9/ChoppedHeinekenLid010_836436_thumb.jpg (http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=15842&c=favorites)


Actually, it weights a little more, until you drink the contents. :) Caution, you may need to practice your technique in making this mug, over and over. Practice makes perfect, right?

[Jack Tarlin]

I've used a lexan wine glass for years. Holds 10 ounces, weighs around 3. Good for hot drinks or cold, also, the stem unscrews so it packs away easily; plus, you can use the glass as a "dipper" in those springs or water sources that are too small or too shallow for a Nalgene or large water bottle or bag. This has come in very handy on many occasions.

It's also a nice item to have at day's end if you want to sit down and enjoy an adult beverage.

REI has 'em for about six bucks and they last forever.

[Skidsteer]

To be used only for heating liquids.


I've used a lexan wine glass for years. Holds 10 ounces, weighs around 3.

REI has 'em for about six bucks and they last forever.

How long do they last if you put a stove under them, Jack? :D

[AlwaysHiking]

Sorry, I guess I should have given a bit more detail.

I'm actually very familiar with the heine keg pot, I've experimented with them and I've borrowed a few mugs.

I'm personally a bigger fan of the mug than the heine keg pot. I like to drink from it occasionally, I left that part out of my original post, and the mug is just more comfortable.

I guess, specifically, what I'm hoping for is an off the shelf product equivalent to the name brand mugs (understanding the differences between materials) that someone may be aware of.

Not to say that I won’t continue to play with and experiment with the heine or any other pot I have, I just like checking out my options.

[weary]

Any resources for a cheap alternative to the name brand (snowpeak, mont bell, vargo, etc...) mugs available? SS, aluminum, other? To be used only for heating liquids.


I've looked at a few surplus stores in the area and everything they have is a bit heavy.

I figured someone out there might know of the 'grease pot' equivalent in mugs.

Thanks in advance!
I can't help much. I carry a stainless steel "Sierra" cup for quickly heating water for a hot tang or chocolate. For other beverages I use a 50-year-old plastic cup that originally held a pound of margarine.

Sierra cups must still be available. Mine is a bit dented from trying to scare away a black bear on the John Muir Trail. Margarine now comes in flimsy packaging.

Weary

[Tinker]

Stainless steel measuring cups, wherever you can find them. Usually they have attached handles, which you can bend down or cut off for convenience.
A word of warning, however. If you find the equivalent in aluminum and heat up drinks in it over a stove, you may very well burn your lips. Aluminum is one of the best conductors of heat I know of.
One experiment I tried is making hot drink cups out of shortie soft drink cans, cutting the tops off and putting plastic snap lids with drinking spouts on them (available at your local grocers during hot months:rolleyes: ) and placing them in those closed cell foam "cup coozies". They were such a success at keeping liquids hot that the plastic covers would soften and leak, and it took so long for them to get cool enough to drink from that it wasn't practical except possibly in temps. in the teens (tested in the 30's).
The cans are probably too thin to put directly above flame, however.

[bigcranky]

Primus makes a nice little pot/mug, holds a medium-sized fuel canister and a stove. Dunno what it weighs.

My personal choice is for the Snow Peak 700 Ti mug.

[russb]

Any resources for a cheap alternative to the name brand (snowpeak, mont bell, vargo, etc...) mugs available? SS, aluminum, other? To be used only for heating liquids.


I've looked at a few surplus stores in the area and everything they have is a bit heavy.

I figured someone out there might know of the 'grease pot' equivalent in mugs.

Thanks in advance!

YES! And since wally world stopped selling the original "grease pt" they have a different one and the same company also has mugs. There was recent thread about these not to long ago. here is a link to the company that provides the alumninum pots and mugs to wally.

http://www.imusausa.com/catalogo/aluminum_cookware.php

[AlwaysHiking]

Thanks everyone for your responses!

[HikeLite]

IMUSA mug at walmart.

[Gaiter]

if you just need a cup size mug, i think it is walmart that sells a small backpacking kitchen set (this one here http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=810C760T&categoryid=5170) the little cup in it is prefect, as a mug, its exactly one cup so you can use it for measuring, and its light
i threw the rest of the set away, only use/have the cup

[AlwaysHiking]

Thanks everyone for the replies!

[atraildreamer]

IMUSA mug at walmart.


Also available at any hispanic grocery store. They also make neat little greasepots. :)

[shelterbuilder]

Yes, they still make Sierra Cups - check Campmor on-line. The paper catalog only shows the standard size (8 or 12 oz. capacity, I think), but the on-line catalog lists the big one (16 or 24 oz. capacity), which is big enough to cook with. Since it's stainless steel, it will last forever (alright, almost forever; I ran over one of mine this Fall and crushed it flat!!). The "old-timers" in this group will remember how to hang this cup from your belt for easy access at springs and streams, and since the sides of the cup flare out at an angle, they are extremely useful for dipping water from shallow sources. They even used to make a lid for the big one, but that was years ago.

I don't know why they fell out of favor with the hiking community - they are a great little product!

[Montego]

Coghlans still makes the LARGE Sierra Cups. About 2 cup/500ml size stainless steel. Even has one on eBay in "sporting goods".

[Alligator]

I have a titanium sierra cup. Prolite gear sells them for about $13 but they are sold out, while REI has them for ~$19. REI lists the weight at 1.6 oz, prolite gear at 50 grams=1.76 oz.

[budforester]

Any resources for a cheap alternative to the name brand (snowpeak, mont bell, vargo, etc...) mugs available? SS, aluminum, other? To be used only for heating liquids.


I've looked at a few surplus stores in the area and everything they have is a bit heavy.

I figured someone out there might know of the 'grease pot' equivalent in mugs.

Thanks in advance!

My solo pots are 2- cup size (you gotta be creative to actually cook in such a small volume). One is wire- rimmed like a Sierra cup, but has a cylindrical shape; it was from WallyWorld, but I can't find them anymore. I'm trying another with folding handles; called Olicamp, but I don't see it currently on the Campmor site. Sarbar offers a similar- looking one called a glacier pot on her site (http://www.freezerbagcooking.com/fbcstore.htm).

[mkmangold]

I use an "Energy" drink can which works as my cup and pot to boil water. It fits nicely into a cozy and I found a cozy with a caribiner attached so I can sling it from any loop. It has a spillproof screw-on top. I'm thinking of adding a few rounds of fiberglass (from casting material) so I can actually grab it off the stove with my hand.
I'm old enough to remember when "hiking chic" demanded having a Sierra cup, so I'm delighted to hear about so many alternatives these days.

[Frolicking Dinosaurs]

You might like the Trangia Mug half pint (http://www.campsaver.com/Itemdesc.asp?ic=327568&eq=&Tp=) (about $7 - 65 gms / about 2 ozs)

[budforester]

Any resources for a cheap alternative to the name brand (snowpeak, mont bell, vargo, etc...) mugs available? SS, aluminum, other? To be used only for heating liquids.


I've looked at a few surplus stores in the area and everything they have is a bit heavy.

I figured someone out there might know of the 'grease pot' equivalent in mugs.

Thanks in advance!

I found a source for the camp- cup I've been using. With the wire rim similar to Sierra cups, one can actually drink from it. I may need to order some spares. Here's a link (http://www.texsport.net/stainless-steel-p-447.html).

[AlwaysHiking]

I knew I could count on you guys! Thanks again for all the resources. I really didn't see myself paying for the pricey titanium cups at the big retails.

High fives to everyone!

[Skidsteer]

YES! And since wally world stopped selling the original "grease pt" they have a different one and the same company also has mugs. There was recent thread about these not to long ago. here is a link to the company that provides the alumninum pots and mugs to wally.

http://www.imusausa.com/catalogo/aluminum_cookware.php


IMUSA mug at walmart.


Also available at any hispanic grocery store. They also make neat little greasepots. :)

I finally found some of these mugs. Really nice.

I like the smaller one best. It has a capacity of 20 oz., weighs 2.4 oz., and cost $1.77! Awesome value.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd238/acsskidsteer/IMUSA%20Lid/th_LidforIMUSACup002.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd238/acsskidsteer/IMUSA%20Lid/LidforIMUSACup002.jpg)


I came up with the perfect lid for it. Go to the grocery store and get a can of Bumblebee 'Sensations' tuna

http://www.aluminum.org/images/AluminumNow/0903/1feature_3b.jpg

Use a side cutting can opener to take the lid off:

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd238/acsskidsteer/IMUSA%20Lid/th_LidforIMUSACup003.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd238/acsskidsteer/IMUSA%20Lid/LidforIMUSACup003.jpg)

It's a perfect fit and even has a handy tab to lift it with! Mug with lid weighs 2.55 oz.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd238/acsskidsteer/IMUSA%20Lid/th_LidforIMUSACup005.jpg (http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd238/acsskidsteer/IMUSA%20Lid/LidforIMUSACup005.jpg)

[AlwaysHiking]

That's awesome skids!

I like your style!

[Lyle]

The "old-timers" in this group will remember how to hang this cup from your belt for easy access at springs and streams, and since the sides of the cup flare out at an angle, they are extremely useful for dipping water from shallow sources.

I don't know why they fell out of favor with the hiking community - they are a great little product!

:) I used to hang mine from the leather lash patch that was attached to the back of the lower compartment on my Kelty Tioga. To this day that leather is turned out at the edges where the Sierra Cup used to hang, ready to be taken off and a cool drink dipped from a stream or spring. It was in a convenient position so that I could just reach back and grab it, no need to remove the pack. With the leather turned out the way it was, it was just about as easy to re-hang the cup while hiking on after the drink.

Also agree, nothing, to this day, works as well for dipping from shallow pools. I still sometimes carry mine.

[WILLIAM HAYES]

I use a wally mart grease pot to heat water in and a campbell's soup container the kind you heat up in the micro wave as a cup.I generally cook in zip locks my turbo lite stove spoon lighter windscreen small scrub sponge pot grabbers and cup will fit in the greasepot-have used this for the past five years works well for me and weights next to nothing

[jaiden]

$3 mug, 1.8oz
https://www.end2endtrailsupply.com/Cookware.html

[Christopher Robin]

E.M.S. carries a 8 or 10ozs. stanless steel cup that the handles fold against the cup which I also use for heating water in fot $8.00.