You’re probably asking yourself, “What is a cozy and why should I care?”
Fair enough, something with a name like “cozy” is probably lame right? Wrong! This little rig is worth it’s weight in gold, although it’s not very heavy. Perfect for the ultra-light hiker and camper.
First, what is it and what is it used for?
A cozy is just a small container used to help heat food, so you don’t use up all your fuel. Mine is made from a powdered lemonade container. The top is a measuring cup and the bottom part is what I use to heat noodles and other foods in.
Here’s how you make one:
- Obtain a suitable empty container – the Country Time Lemonade container is perfect.
- Cut the top off the main body, but leave enough so that the cup can still attach.
- Take duct tape or Gorilla tape and wrap it around the body of the container. This will be the main body of the cozy. Use enough tape so that when you pour boiling water in it it won’t burn your hand.
That’s it!
To use it, simply put the noodles in the cup, boil water, pour the water in on top of the noodles, and put the cover on. Let it sit for four or five minutes and enjoy a hot cup of noodle soup or whatever it is you want to boil!
The top can be used as a coffee cup or drinking cup.
When I pack it away I usually put my stove, or some paracord or twine, or something inside it so that the space isn’t wasted in my pack.
Try it out and see what you think. I’ve made a few of these over the years and it’s now a basic part of my kit and as you can see from the pictures I use it all the time.
Country Time makes a great container for a cozy.
I keep my stove, matches, and other stuff inside the cozy when traveling.
Notice the top of the cozy itself has been cut down a little.
This is one of my favorite combinations in the field.
-Jarhead Survivor
BTW:
Here’s the stove set up I’m currently carrying around.
This is my stove set up for this particular bug-in bag.
Low light picture of the flame.
21 comments
This is pretty cool. Seems to work like the “As seen on TV” Pasta N More.
Maybe a lightweight metal version would provide even more uses in a survival or camping situation.
That’s exactly what that pasta thing is.
Could you put a link to it here? I’d like to see it.
There are a few different versions.
The Pasta Boat
http://www.pastaboat.tv
Fasta Pasta
http://www.fastapasta cooker.com
And this thing that reminds me of the French Press that RangerMan wrote about a couple of years ago(sorry for the long link)
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=pasta+cooker&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=XXM&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=ivns&resnum=2&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=14372789909378149110&sa=X&ei=Q33MTeSXDarv0gGi0LXzBA&ved=0CI8BEPMCMAA&biw=1366&bih=575#
it’s cheaper, and quieter than a “mess kit”.
Yeah, you can only use it for stuff like soup, oatmeal, or reconstituting food or whatever, but it definitely has a place in my pack.
Way cool – thanks, I like ‘products made from freebie’ DIY projects, this sounds like a good one. Would you recommend lining the bottle (before duct tape) with foil or mylar for extra reflectance? Maybe it doesn’t really make that much of a difference.
Thanks again.
J.R. – that’s something I’ve never tried actually. The only thing I’d be worried about is the tape eventually working loose because the mylar wouldn’t be bound to the cozy itself. If you do it let me know how it works out.
How about a sleeve made of Reflectrix to put the rig in? It would reduce heat loss and can be rolled up and put inside with the other things. Regards. WVtreehanger sends.
Just one concern, is it really safe to put boiling water in a plastic container? I know that in a survival or short term situation, carcinogens aren’t really a concern, but since I use by BOB for camping, I would have doubts about it. I boil water and cook in my military canteen cup.
I think it really depends on the type of plastic. I know that you can do so with Nalgene bottles (I’ve used them to cook noodles in the microwave before), especially the newer BPA free bottles. You can also get a metal cup that fits over the bottom of the Nalgene bottle that, in theory can be used to boil water in. Essentially a more yuppie version of the military canteen and canteen cup, just with a smaller cup.
John – I don’t know if it would cause carcinogens or not. Honestly, I don’t pay attention to a lot of that stuff. I know I should, but it seems like there are so many things out there that can kill you that I don’t even think about it.
What can I say…. I’m from L.A. The bad guys have guns, good guys don’t, and they shove contradicting and paranoid health information down our throats for entertainment.
l love this! Can’t wait to make one and try it!
I actually found this on the internet years ago. If I could remember the site I’d give credit for it as it’s not my original idea. Just wanted to be honest!
But it is a very cool idea.
eeeeeeewwwwwww…I’ve never thought about coffee mixed with Ramen Noodles before… ;O)
What?? Man, it’s like soup and a sandwich at a coffee shop… just without the sandwich and the coffee shop. 🙂
I like this. And that Country Time container has a slightly indented “neck” that would allow you to put some paracord around it to make a way to clip it to a pack.
I have a large insulated cup with a handle, but over time, using it for hot liquids (or maybe just the dishwasher) has warped it inside.
Great idea!
There is a devise that is actually designed for this purpose . Its called a tiffin box ( kinda strange cuz they are actually round ) They are what is used in India to transport meals in . They are stainless steel and come in all shapes and sizes . Mine is a 5″ two stacker . Doesn’t take up much room in the pack and I can boil water in it as well as store left over food . Mine worked out so well , I’m thinking about getting a 6 stacker and have my meals pre planned ( just add water ) The clamps are tough and have never opened by accident . One thing that is a habit with me is rubbing beeswax on the seam between cans , hasn’t leaked yet sloshing around in a pack . I found an article on you-tube about how to make them out of tuna cans , the still shots looked cool but its a pay vid , so I didn’t watch it . Good Article
http://www.instructables.com/id/Tiffin-Box-from-Tuna-Cans/
There ya go. Gotta love Instructables 🙂
BTW- Loving this blog. Just found you today while researching some ideas on homemade MREs.
I got my hands on a couple of IRP-Ps ( Russian MRE ) Well …… they are bigger than ours ( was told Russian soldiers put them on the outside of their packs ) and the taste ? Well they are not bad … not great but not bad . You need to heat up the meat cans or they are just gross . Heated they are tasty . Just put out of your mind how it looks . The bars ( 4 ) are not bad . This ration is heavy into meat and grain . The can of ” fat ” I tried and was gross warm or cold . Not sure but it may be supposed to be used as a stew ….. dunno . I left it alone after the heated bite . Still prefer Datrix rations and package stripped dehydrated food combo in my pack .
MRE = Meal Refused by Ethiopians ( humor from another site )