I exchanged email with the Tin Man in which he explained that the hard-anodized pots do not have any additional non-stick coating. This is exactly what I want, non-stick over HA is just taking an incredibly tough finish and making it less durable.

Since I already have a bunch of Reflectix I’ll make my own cozy for it. The AGG prices are really reasonable, especially for the pots, which are uniquely low-priced and light.

AntiGravityGear 2 Qt. Aluminum Non-stick Cook Pot – AntiGravityGear.com

Here is it. 2 quarts, hard anodized, 5.9 oz. $17. Sign me up.

Compare to the Snowpeak titanium 2 quart pot at 9.2 ounces and $80. The Snowpeak includes a frying pan that probably accounts for most of the extra weight and could be left behind. It also is probably closer to (maybe even over) its nominal capacity. And it has builtin handles – add 1.4 oz to the AGG for the pot lifter. But the AGG pot seem perfectly practicable for two people, with a net weight probably one ounce over the Snowpeak alternative, and I could buy more than four for the price of one Snowpeak.

No decision just yet, I need to think about what we eat from as well. With two people you can’t just use the pot.

The AGG lid, unlike the Snowpeak, won’t really work as a plate. The bail gets in the way.

I bought a SVEA 123 stove from eBay ($23.50 plus shipping.) I’m planning to go backpacking with my Boddington can alcohol stove, but I’ve always wanted a SVEA, and when Julie goes with me she’ll want something more robust for real cooking.

The stove arrived … bent.

It was shipped unpadded (and full of fuel too, but that’s another matter.)

Apparently the box it was in took a tremendous blow at some point, probably thrown around in the truck, perhaps repeatedly. There was no real outer damage on the box, just a little scuffing, but the burner on the stove is bent at about a 20 degree angle off vertical, and the aluminum cup has a big dent in the top.

The seller has promised to ship a replacement stove, not in as nice shape, but since I’ll have one that works and one for parts I’m OK with that.

It’s possible I may be able to bend the stem back upright and use the stove as is. But I’m not going to try until I have all the issues resolved with the seller. He seems sincere, and I think it’s a better solution for both of us if he keeps the money and I don’t have to ship a broken stove cross-country.