This collection of cookware from Sea to Summit has been available for a couple of years.
I have been mostly using freeze-dried and instant foods for quite a long time and have been an advocate of freezer bag cooking, which is the lightest and quickest way to carry and prepare meals.
I am slowly going back towards actually cooking meals on the trail to improve the quality of foods I eat. For those who want to cook food, the Alpha series of cookware is hard to beat.
So much thought and effort went into the design, that if one is in the market for new cookware they should check out the Sea to Summit Alpha series of pots and pans.
Alpha Cookware
The Alpha Pots come in four sizes and two sizes for the pans.
I haven’t used a fry pan backpacking for nearly 50 years, ever since I quit bringing my fishing rod and reel on trips. My intention was to start fishing on my backpacking trips in the Sierra Nevada this year. However, mostly due to the coronavirus pandemic, I haven’t been to the Sierra this year. I did buy the 8 inch diameter pan.
Pot Selection
For most three season use I generally bring a pot around 1 liter in volume. For winter when I need to melt snow for water I bring either a 1.5 or 2.0 liter pot. For my needs, the 1.2 liter and the 1.9 liter Alpha pots would fit the bill.
But I was able to buy an Alpha 2 Pot Set 2.2 that included a set of Sea to Summit Delta Light dinnerware at a great price. This set comes with a 1.2 liter pot and a 2.7 liter pot. If figured that if the 2.7 liter pot was too large, I could use it in our camper and buy a separate 1.9 liter Alpha pot.
I don’t plan on bringing both pots on any trip, but the entire set nests into a nice compact package.
Alpha 2 Pot Set 2.2
The pictures below demonstrate the set.
Pot and Pan Material
The hard-anodized aluminum is durable and distributes the heat much better than my titanium pots, which is why I bought these. The pots and pans are non-stick, but when cooking things like eggs, fish, meat, etc. I do add a light coating of canola oil. Although titanium is stronger and lighter than aluminum, it is a poor choice for actual cooking.
There isn’t much of a weight penalty using the Alpha Cookware versus titanium. Below is a comparison table using some of my titanium pots:
Alpha Cookware Features
Pivot Lock Pot Handles
The handles swing in to lock the lid in place when the cookware is stored.
For use, the handle swings out and snaps into a metal fitting on the side of the pot, which is then complete secured with a plastic lock.
The handle when locked in is secure. It feels like any pot in your home kitchen.
Lid Lifter and Lid Holder
The center of each lid has a silicone lid lifter that can lift the lid with three fingers.
There is a small “hook” on the underside of the lid that allows the lid to be hung on the side of the pot while stirring food. Often we don’t have a nice clean surface to put our pot lid on while we are stirring or working with our food in the pot.
Lid Vent and Strainer
Graduation Markings Inside Each Pot
Instructions
A nice touch, but not really necessary, are the instructions for the Pivot Lock Handle and how to care for the pot, that are printed on each pot. The care instructions are a good reminder.
Fry Pan Folding and Locking Handle
When the handle is pulled open it automatically locks in place. The retract the handle, just push the blue button forward and fold the handle across the bottom of the pan.
Dinnerware
The Alpha 2 Pot Set 2.2 comes with two bowls and two cups, which are color matched if two people are sharing the cook set.
Bowls
The bowls nest (one is slightly larger) and fit into the bottom of the 2.7L pot.
I have never used bowls or plates when backpacking, always just eating directly out of a pot of a freezer bag. I am finding some advantages to using a bowl. So we shall see how it goes in the future.
Insulated Cups
Cup volume is 12.3 ounces. The insulation sleeves keep beverages warm for a while and the lid is secure. Overall it’s a nice cup at 2.7 ounces (76 grams). Given all of this, I am still absolute thrilled with my GSI Infinity cup. But the Delta Light cup is better than most cups I have used.
Dishcloth
The set comes with a 10-inch diameter dishcloth that includes a fabric loop to hang it out to dry. The dishcloth is made from some sort of microfiber. It’s a nice piece, but since I am already carrying a bandana, I usually leave the dishcloth at home.
Alpha 2 Pot Set 2.2 Component Weights
MSR Alpine Spatula
I didn’t have a spatula, so I bought this one.
21 grams or ¾ ounce. It works well and folds for storage.
Alpha Cook Set in Action
First of all, I am not going to be cooking meals in the desert where water is sparse. I’ll keep to freezer bag cooking.
So far I really, really like the pots and pan. The 2.7L might turn out to be too large — we’ll see — if it is I’ll probably get the 1.9L pot for winter snow melting.
The cups are good, but I’ll mostly stick to the GSI Infinity Cup.
I like the bowl more and more.
You don’t have to buy an entire cook set, you can purchase individual pieces.
A long-term review would require years and hundreds of meals. So the question remains whether or not the silicone and plastic pieces will hold up over time. I have no reason to think they won’t but time is always the true judge.
Fried Eggs & Refried Beans
Scrambled Egg Burritos
Sea to Summit Alpha Lightweight Aluminum Nesting Camping Cookware Set, 4.2 (10-Piece)
$229.02 (as of October 17, 2024 22:08 GMT -07:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
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