From the hundreds of kettles on the market, we’ve taken a look to find the best small camping kettles useful for small group camping so you can boil water for tea, meals, and more in the great outdoors!
Overview
Image | Product | Features | Price |
 | Stanley Adventure Cookset |
| |
 | Bulin Camping Kettle |
| |
 | KingCamp Stainless Steel Kettle |
| |
 | GSI Outdoors Glacier Kettle |
| |
 | Alocs Camping Kettle |
|
Sneak Peek: Best Small Camping Kettle
Stanley Adventure Camp Cook Set
- Only stores 0.6 Liters
- Highset handle easy for pouring and keeps cool
- Easy to clean
- Includes 2 insulated cups that nest within the set
- Less than 8 ounces of weight without the insulated cups (13.9oz with)
What to Consider When Buying Small Camping Kettles
Weight
As with any camping gear, the weight is going to be more important the further your planned campsite is. For backpackers, every ounce will make a difference. For primitive campers, you have a little more leeway to choose heavier materials as long as you don’t mind carrying it a quarter mile or more!
The main factor influencing weight is the material the kettle is made of.
Material
There are two types of small camping kettles on this list known for keeping weight down – Stainless Steel and Anodized Aluminum. Both stainless steel and aluminum are known for being light and suitable for backpacking. Aluminum will conduct metal faster than stainless steel which may affect your boiling time. Stainless steel is very durable and can handle higher heat than aluminum. Aluminum kettles are significantly lighter (up to 92% lighter!) but cannot stand as high of heat. If you plan to use an open fire, let the fire die down to hot coals or use a shovel to pull some embers out and place the aluminum kettle atop the coals. Aluminum kettles may also be more prone to rusting if they are left wet or exposed to the elements for long periods of time.
Capacity
The last major consideration is the capacity of the kettle. Keeping in mind that one cup of tea may run you 8 – 16 or even over 20 ounces of water, depending on which type of camping mug you’re using, a couple or small group will need to identify how much they plan to make each time to determine the optimal small kettle capacity without sacrificing a ton of weight.
Detailed Reviews
1. Stanley Adventure Camp Cook Set | Best Small Camping Kettle
The Stanley Adventure Camp Cook Set is a small backpacking pot with two included insulated cups for drinking coffee, tea, or soup. While there’s no pour spout included, the open mouth design of the pot makes it easy to clean and the small size makes it as easy to pour as a traditional kettle. Leave the cups behind and it’ll only add about 8 ounces to your pack weight!
Pros
- Only stores 0.6 Liters
- Highset handle easy for pouring and keeps cool
- Easy to clean
- Includes 2 insulated cups that nest within the set
- Less than 8 ounces of weight without the insulated cups (13.9oz with)
Cons
- Only stores 0.6 Liters (Pro or con depends on your needs!)
- No pour spout
2. Bulin Camping Kettle | Small but High Capacity Camping Kettle
The smaller size of the Bulin camping kettle is an anodized aluminum pot designed for ultralight water boiling. Adding only 0.6 lbs to your pack weight, this little stove fits more than you’d expect! The 1.6L kettle will serve up boiling water in about 5 minutes for 2 or more people in a jiffy. The design itself helps prevent spillage using a small spout to reduce splashing and a rolled top to prevent lid splash during the boil. If you’re a thirsty camper who is worried about some of our smaller options, this is the kettle for you!
Pros
- Integrated seat for small camping stoves increasing heat retention
- 1.6L Capacity good for 2 people who want a little room in the pot
- Boil time around 5 minutes
- Handle locks up to prevent melting when being used
Cons
- Design centered on backpacking stoves as opposed to open fire or other uses
- Handle cover is not fully fireproof and may melt in high flame situations
3. KingCamp Stainless Steel Kettle | Well-Designed Small Camping Kettle
The KingCamp is a 1.2L camping kettle built with aesthetics in mind. Designed with a bamboo handle, this kettle only weighs 10.5 pounds and comes with an included filter if you plan to make tea or coffee right in the kettle. For pour-over backpacking coffee options, the shallow spout reduces splashback but does make it slightly more difficult if you use a low mug or cup on the ground.
Pros
- Handle locks upright to avoid a hot handle
- Different aesthetics than most camping kettles
- Integrated filter for loose leaf tea or coffee
Cons
- Bamboo handle prone to burning if used on an open fire
- Weighs more than other options on this list
4. GSI Outdoor Glacier Stainless Steel Kettle
GSI is long-known as a reliable high-quality camping gear brand focused on stoves and cooking accessories for backpackers. The Glacier Stainless Steel kettle is another success in a long line of camper cooking products! This kettle is perfectly paired with the GSI Glacier Camp stove as the bottom is designed to nestle into the burner to reduce heat loss and improve boiling time to as little as 2 – 3 minutes.
Pros
- Stainless steel design great for open fire or stovetop use
- Handle locks up to prevent it from getting hot during use
- < 1L capacity perfect for 2 people
- Weighs under 0.6 pounds
Cons
- Small size can boil over if not careful about the amount of water
- Lid may come off when pouring due to loose setting
5. Alocs Camping Kettle
With a unique design and weighing in at only half a pound, the Alocs camping kettle is one the best small kettles around. The 1.3 L capacity is enough for a little over two cups of coffee or tea but may be on the higher side for a smaller camping kettle. Boasting a boil time around five minutes, you can go from tent to coffee first thing the fire is started and coals are hot. The kettle ships with a cloth to help protect your hands when pulling this off the coals or opening the lid.
Pros
- Aluminum design can be used over the open fire
- 1.3L capacity gives more flexibility than the smallest kettles
- Kit includes heat protection cloth
Cons
- Higher weight than many of our other options
- Flammable handle needs extra caution in high heat settings
- Smaller top opening and flared bottom makes it slightly more difficult to clean than other kettles
Conclusion
These small camping kettles should be able to suit most campers needs! Whether it’s the simple Stanley Adventure or the bamboo KingCamp, the market is full of different camping kettles of every size. Want more options? Check out our other kettle gear guides!
