Arriving nice and early in the post from the States was my GSI Pinnacle Soloist cooket, at my door 8 working day’s after I placed my order, pretty good, seeing that many UK outfitters would take this long for your order. The packaging gives a stupidly large amount of technical information about the product, strange seeing that it involves no working parts and is at the end of the day just a refined saucepan, however I suppose thats just a sign of the time’s as tech spec is everywhere, (and that maybe people that are into lightweight backpacking are somewhat gear freaks?)
The Pinnacle is the updated 2009 version, which has minor changes in the materials used as well as the inclusion of a telescopic spork. Hard Anodized Alluminium (Haulite) is still used for the pot, the interior of which now sports a Teflon Radiance coating, which is apparently designed specifically for camp cooking. The Plastic’s have been replaced and are now Bisphenol-A due to health concerns, and are now moulded rom Infinity clear polypropylene, whatever that is when its not at home? Either way between the changes in materials and addition of telescopic spork, the stated weight has increased from 270 gm’s to 305 gm’s (yet to personally weigh the set) with an icrease in price of $10. Personally I still think the retail price, circa $40 (£36 including postage from the states, the pound sucks at the mo), is very reasonable for what you get, titanium can stay on my oldskool powerbook and space shuttles for all I care.
Simple explosive diagram to help snug packing.
The main reason for picking the soloist cook-set, in my eyes, is that it keeps you’re whole kitchen in one compact piece; pot and lid, insulated mug and sipping lid, spork, stove (inside stove bag) and a 220 gas cartridge, all kept tidy in a water carrying stuff sack. Its a tidy little package and all fits in a space of : 134×126x126 (mm)
So what all do you get??
Inside the box, everything is housed snugly inside a light nylon stuff sack, which has a rubberised interior and bottom, and taped seams; the result being a watertight vessel which can be used as a kitchen sink, or to haul circa a litre of water (rather carefully.)
Out of the stuff sack, everything is still held tightly in place by the pots’ siliconiszed locking handles, so snug that they could be packed without the sack. Pinching the handles and rotating them 180 gives access to the rest of the kitchen.
First thing out is the pot lid, performs as both a lid/strainer for the pot, as well as a sip lid for the mug. With the knob lying up it sits comfortably over the pot, with a gap on one side to pour warm liquid out and a set of holes on the other for careful straining. Flipped over with the knob facing downwards it fits snugly into the bowl as to allow it to be used as a sip lid (a la disposable coffee cups) or just to help keep the contents of the mug warmer.
The bowl/mug is next out which sports volumetric marking on its interior to let you know how much water you are using, with a capacity of around 500ml. Wrapped around it is a neoprene-esque material which helps insulate the cup and ease handling of it, it is easily removed for cleaning duties.
The telescopic spork fits into the bottom of the bowl sports the same colour as the pot handle and mug, and extends to give you a handle of 97mm’s (145mm total).
Also to fit into your mug is your stove, in the provided soft suede like bag. My pocket rocket fits into the mug with a little bit of persuasion (2 prongs down, 1 prong up) however anything less compact will struggle. With the stove in the mug, again it takes a small amount of force for the mug to sit in the pot, however I think shaving a bit off either side of the mug will solve this issue.
Last thing into the pot is a 220 gas cartridge, which I unfortunately don’t have to hand right this moment, however will be added to the system to make sure of compatability with the pocket rocket and to irradiate any false promises by GSI.
Left to right (clockwise): Water-tight stuff stack, Streaming/Sip lid,Cooking Pot with siliconised handle, Orange mug with neoprene “insulating” sleeve, Telescopic spork (inside mug), Stove bag (pocket rocket inside)
The soloist pinnacle is a great looking cook-set, everything fits snugly inside each other to create a tidy and functional kitchen, in one package, to which you only need add water and food. If it performs as well as it looks and feels then It’ll be with me until its destruction!!
