I had presumed there was some sort of cultural usage behind the design and initial target consumers. I pictured some chap pouring some water into a dainty teacup with a side of crumpets. Whereas, in the US it's like great, I can boil water but coffee is life and COWBOY coffee just shy of abundant life and one needs to fill that cup or mug as quickly as possible!😊
Ridge Monkey products are very popular amongst the UK overnight fishing community. But the highest profile item is the "sandwich maker" . This has become so popular in the van life and car camping fraternity that even the copies are called a Ridge Monkey , Many people use them for every style of outdoor cooking, frying, baking, or boiling small food items
Patented in the US in 1925 (Charles Champion) and also in 1949 with variations by Toas-Tite "The Tostwich" ;) So Australia stole it from the Yanks!@@ike8236
HI LUKE 👋 THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THIS OUT . LOOKS LIKE ONE PAIN IN THE BUTT ! HOPE FAMILY & FRIENDS ARE DOING WELL 🙏 BE SAFE! HAVE FUN ! GOD BLESS YOU ALL ALWAYS ON YOUR ADVENTURES 🙏 THANK YOU 😊
I've got the round Trangia kettle that you show at 11:10. Now, that is a super kettle and I've been using it for over 20 years ! It's also good for storing my cutlery and packets of coffee etc.
We Brits boil water in kettles. That's their function. Cooking in a kettle makes no sense. If you insist on boiling water and cooking in a single product, then buy a saucepan for heavens sake. Incidentally , a saucepan negates all issues with kettles. You are being subtly guided towards kettles when saucepans with lids do a much better job. Wise Up!
Englishman here. We only boil water, to make tea or filter coffee, I can honestly say in my 55 years on the planet, no one I know in the UK has ever made coffee in a kettle.
I am familiar with Ridge Monkey products here in the UK. They are not designed for hikers/campers. They are are aimed at Carp fishermen who overnight by the water. These fishermen rarely carry this equipment far and are less concerned with its weight, efficiency and practicality than hikers etc. It's horses for courses really. If you want gear that is great for camping buy from a company who specialise in camping gear.
@@aarondavies8486 I've been a carp fisherman and a hiker for 50+ years. In that time I've never walked more than about 2 miles with my fishing gear, whereas when I'm hiking i may walk 25 miles. So i do know, probably a lot better than you know!
@jeremymanning2132 not carp gear though is it like bivvy that weighs like 10kg bedchair that's another 18kg like to see you walk 2 miles with carp gear pml
@@aarondavies8486 You've just made my point that carp fishermen don't carry stuff far! Big difference in the two hobbies, totally different gear, hence my original statement.
I see a lot of people making two very specific claims in defense of this product. One is that this is only for boiling water--nothing else. I agree that doing anything other than boiling water in any kettle is unwise, however, nothing about this kettle seems advantageous for boiling water, and a lot of problems with this kettle are still problems even if all one does is boiling water. Furthermore, there are kettles without the flaws of this one that also aren't the worst for doing more than boiling water for those people who insist on dirtying their kettles, and the option to do more with a kettle can only be a plus. The other defense I'm seeing is that this is for "British carp fishermen." Do British carp fishermen have a really specialized need regarding boiling water and pouring it that everyone else doesn't that this flawed kettle supports? I doubt it and suspect that a kettle that is better for everyone else would also be better for British carp fishermen.
@@pitcheung5354 nope. I have both. The square shape sits better on an old school gas burner stove as opposed to a backpacking stove or a spirit burner like the Trangia kit.
You need to pick up a Kessel 2.0 from Uberleben. I have the Ti version and love it. 1L. Lid is basically and old fashioned pot lid style, so when you take it off, the whole top of the kettle is open. Easy to pour into, cook in, and I even often eat my trail meals out of it. The handle attaches at the side so it can be positioned a few different ways. Altogether a very well designed piece of gear. I highly recommend it.
So I'm from the UK, and can say that we use a teapot for tea, a coffee pot for coffee and the kettle will only have water in it unless It's a kettle in a hotel room. A hotel kettle has been used for baked beans, pot noodle (cooking in the kettle), washing socks, opening other peoples mail, as a loo and many more stupid things, (see the internet 😆 ) But our personal kettle will only contain water. 🧐
Thank you for sharing your perspective! It's interesting to hear about the different uses of kettles in the UK. In terms of outdoor gear and home backup power products, the Segway Portable PowerStation Cube Series seems like a fantastic option. It offers a massive capacity, fast recharging, versatile sockets, and comprehensive protections. Plus, its waterproof technology ensures it's ready for any adventure. Definitely worth considering for outdoor enthusiasts and RV lovers!
I mean… okay. But that seems like a really dumb design philosophy. Especially for outdoor products. Which are defined by being robust and multifunctional. I mean.. why make a kettle that can literally only be used for one thing? There are literally thousands that can boil water, coffee, tea, etc with no issues.
As a business owner, the word "review" is nothing more than one's opinion about something. For every 1 person that claims not to like something, they're 1,000 ppl that will. Perhaps the issues here aren't with the product but with the user as I don't know anyone who cooks or makes coffee inside a kettle. I do like he showed a product that I would not have heard of otherwise and can't wait to try. Thanks.
Good honest review. Watching this video, there is nothing you've covered that I would argue about. All of your issues are valid. Thank you Luke. Stay safe and God bless.
If not made from aluminium i would probably entertain one.We Brits are more 'make do' about such stuff.All we need is hot water for the tea-bag none of that coffee jiggery pokery.Aeropress for that.
Was tempted in the summer the 2 litre is only around £25 but a lot of kettles spouts are to small over in the UK but have never cleaned a camping kettle out
ive had my ridgemonkey for 8 years and love it, gets used atleast 4-5 times a week fishing and at work .... dont think your ment to put coffee grounds in it its for boiling water thats all ... cleans easy just throw it in the dish washer
The first Ridgemonkey product I came across was it's sandwich maker which splits in two to make two frying pans, it is superb and now much copied. They also produced a square canister stove to match the sandwich maker, with an attachment to support the sandwich maker handle, that could be connected to a second stove to produce two rings connected to a single canister, along with various hardshell bags to fit their products. The kettle is designed to fit on the square stove (I don't dispute your findings regarding the kettle). If he sent you the sandwich toaster have a look at that, there are loads of recipe videos on TH-cam for it. I have both the Mk1 and 2 versions of the standard sandwich maker, the Mk2 having removable handles which fit inside the toaster.
Designed for Carp fishing in the UK Luke. No ridgemonkey product goes out without serious testing and the Kettle is used for boiling water, I have never seen someone boil anything else in one, certainly not in the UK. One test you may want to show is a boil test against the Trangia kettle. Speed of the boil would be of interest, otherwise excellent personal review as always. If you reached out to them and asked about the 'issues' I'm sure they would get back to you, extremely approachable if you have/had concerns.
Safer, used with the ridgemonkey stove it doesn’t slide off so easy on uneven ground. Boils water quicker as it has a larger surface area to heat up. Smaller spout allows safer steaming of hook lengths. Carp anglers would know about that. Modular, fits nicely into kit bag. Purposely designed to do a job.
I respect Luke and his reviews but he has got it wrong with this kettle. It’s designed as part of a system, the stove you use it with has a square pot stand so the kettle fits snuggly on it and won’t slip. The storage bag Ridge monkey sells is also designed to accommodate the square kettles. It wasn’t designed for open fires. I have the next size up and it’s a fine kettle for boiling water, In the UK people very rarely make cowboy coffee and we use a kettle for water and don’t cross contaminate. I like the spout, it’s great for pour over coffee. It’s anodised aluminium so the folks scared of aluminium contamination can rest easy. I have never managed to drop the lid into the kettle. If you want a cup of water use the damn cup to measure it, I can’t believe Luke has made an issue of this it’s made him look rather foolish in my opinion.
@@SnowyAspenHills There's many other examples too. Boiling a kettle (not the pot) on a Fire Maple stove and complaining that boil times don't match the manufacturer was my smh, and his all you need to know about tents vid that completely forgetting environmental temps and called full mesh tent "3 seasons". It's all quantity not quality.
The reason manhole covers are round is that it is not possible for them to fall through the hole they cover. Any other shape lid will fit through the hole they cover.
All manhole covers that aren’t in the road (Utility ones) are rectangular in the UK. It would be a freaking nightmare working on the drainage though a round opening.
To be honest, some flaws you mentioned I don't think are really that bad like the small spout and slow rate of flow. The handles could have been a little too tight from factory (I know you don't tinker with gear) and I think coul easily by "fixed". The cleaning is an issue, however I would argue that if someon is bringing kettle to camping they also have mugs and pots so no need to boil anything else than water in the kettle. Otherwise a pot would be better choice to supplement more functions.
I think the cleaning is a pretty serious issue: If you can not clean it properly, even water will grow things. Especially if you stuff it back into; A: Backpack full of other things, like your clothes. B: A tote that goes back into your car, and then into the garage for a couple weeks, or months. Simply put? It is not well designed. Why deal with bad design, when there are better, higher quality, more usable products, that cost less?
@@dposcuroHe stuck his finger in there so he obviously could have cleaned it. He shook it and water came out, he obviously could have shaken it when he was drying it off.
I have the kettle. I have never needed to move the handles when it's on the heat. Fold them down, fill it, fold them up and put on the heat. Even the Trangia kettle I also have, the handle sort of clicks in to place, id never try and fold that down whilst it was on the boil either.
@@dposcuro I've had mine years, I've never cleaned it. If it ever grew anything... Guess what boiling water does to water? Purification.. I've put Bank Bag filtered river water in mine more than once for the purpose of purifying it.
Interesting review. Perhaps fill up the kettle before putting it on the stove, and pull the handles up fully together before (those handles will loosen up after use and the tiniest bit of teflon grease). Measure out the required amount of water in your cup then pour in the kettle before putting it on the stove, you do not need to see any water level this way (dont the majority do this anyway?). The UK market does not put coffee in the kettle, it goes in the cup (that's just how we roll using instant coffee), a kettle is just a boiling water device, nothing more over here, so never any need to clean your kettle!. Once the lid is on after filling there is no need to take it off again, so any problems with the lid going inside can only possibly happen once at the filing stage when everything is still cold and even then only if you are really slap dash. Yes the spout is a little small, but what's the rush??? its not a pouring race... You have to remember, this is designed for the UK day/over night fishing market and not serious back packing/survival use. Its use is to make a cup of tea with in the afternoon or on an evening!, or perhaps at most a Pot Noodle. I own one in case you have not guessed (the 1L version) and think it's actually a great little kettle for it's intended purpose, it's also great how you can just put all your brew kit inside the kettle easily thanks to its square lid.
As I'm living in Sweden I would buy a Trangia. They are made here in a small family owned shop in the northern part of our country and I have had my Trangia stove since I was a teenager and I still have it and I'm 58 now. The quality is just on top.
Its great that Marvin(?) sent this to you to an honest review, because it helps us all. So a bigger opening with a simplified lid, a spout with a larger diameter and having just one handle, and it would be "Kettle of the year". Yes, its things that would have been discovered if the company had testet it in real use, including in bad condtions. I do not get, why they complicated and added weight in designing the handles and the lid. Well, many companies do not use a second on that kind of testing. But Trangia allways works!
Good honest review 👏 I've the toasted sandwich maker and its handy with so many flaws id love to here your thoughts on it hopefully you get one, one day..
Here in the US, kettle also means boiling water. I never cook in my kettle,even coffee. However I think your review is spot on, they all look like major usage flaws.
After years of using that kettle I never thought there would be ppl that found it complicated to use. It’s for use on the same brand stove to boil water so not the cleaning issue you make out if you use it as intended. The shape and size also makes sense if you had the carry box that all the gear fits in.
the Ridge Monkey website says it can be use on ANY direct heat source, but can be used with their stove for a fast boil. So Luke is spot on with his review as usual. This is just a poorly designed kettle and with Luke's feedback hopefully the company can improve upon the design. Nothing wrong with negative feedback if it can help improve a product.
S&G Trading (NW) Ltd, PO Box 289, Widnes, England, WA8 2FP The Ridge Monkey probably threw you off. They should have been called Sht Monkey!! But their address is in "God Save The Queen" country!!!
I have a GSI 1L which it is not truly but does do 2 full mugs of tea or coffee so i kept it. Dont use aluminum so no trangia. Also use a pot when i don't want to lug it. But it reminds me of my childhood so i use it. I'm whimsical sometimes so why not.
That spout was the first thing I saw.. why.. just why? UK market so it has to look like a teapot? Then the other issues on top of it. I think I'll be sticking with my Sea to Summit X-Kettle. Huge opening, normal pour lip, handles that stand up but aren't stiff.
Have you ever had any experience with the Cabelas Outback Lodge tent? Reason I ask is because that is the tent I survived in for a year in all four seasons for the year, I had it for some time before and I employed a tarp over top for even better rain and snow deflection. If you haven’t reviewed it, it is still sold and I’d be interested in seeing what you think of it. 😁
I have one of those. I absolutely love it. There's nothing I can fault it for. So this review will be interesting. 😁 I have to say, I've never seen anyone over here add coffee to the kettle how Luke does, i certainly never have, kettles are for boiling water. The slow rate of flow is also a plus for me for use with a pour over coffee maker or for instant. If you angle the handles right you can lift the lid straight up, not that I would whilst it's on the heat, fill and place and wait for steam.
Seems like a poorly designed kettle. Maybe not the best for backpackers, as it was more designed for other uses. But those who like it are just defending it for no really good reason. Why wouldn't you want it improved upon? The small spout is odd, and no real reason they shouldn't make it a bit larger. If you want to pour slowly, you just pour slowly, but being forced to do so due to a poor design is silly. Luke has some good feedback on how the kettle can be improved and if I were making this product, any feedback on how my product could be better I would welcome it.
OK you are basicaly saying that the customer has to "learn" how to use this kettle properly. Why using a kettle have to be so complicated ? It's a kettle, not a nuclear power plant 🤦♂
As far as the water level goes you can use a small stick in the hole as it fills I hope the delayed would get easier to open and close over time and there's no cure for the handles they have to be bigger
I would like to see you use a space/emergency/mylar blanket over a small camp fire to direct heat into a tarp tent. Maybe a plow tent over the fire with the opening directed into the tarp tent of your choice to see if it directs the heat safely for cool weather camping. There will probably be enough space between the two for any smoke to escape but the reflective blanket might in theory be directed right into your shelter. Just a video idea. Or anything to do with emergency mylar space blankets would be cool.
@@kniterI think some company owners (or marketers) are so arrogant they truly believe they have an outstanding product that Luke will fall for it instantaneously. How wrong can they be?
@@johnb-us6bf Maybe so but he mentions in the vid that he got sent a lot of RidgeMonkey products but he's only reviewed the one he hates. I've used lots of RidgeMonkey products(not the kettle though) and they've mostly been good quality. It isn't really that unbiased to select the poorest product as the representative review of a company, maybe he wouldn't have done that if it was a US company.
Hi Luke!: Whether you use that thing to boil water or to make coffee, or what, it's not a very good design! If there was some real reason to make the kettle square in the first place (say, it had to fit in a square cookset or something), that would be different maybe. But it seems like they were thinking lets make a SQUARE kettle, no one else has one of these! Just doesn't seem practical to me. That's why MOST containers that hold liquids have been round for centuries! Just makes more sense. That handle thing also is strange to me. Why two handles in the first place? I know several of the makers have twin folding handles, but a single one seems easier to make and less costly to manufacture. I am no expert on design or manufacturing, but I lot of household kettles have a single handle. Anyway, thanks again, Luke for showing us what to avoid!
The cleaning aspect is the big deal breaker, I suppose. The handles are likely stiff because they are made of plastic. The pour rate is slow, but not likely that big of a deal. You can tell how much you put in by knowing how much you had starting. If you're using a graduated water bottle, this is pretty easy. The lid could probably be manipulated easier with a small stick. It sounds like several minor annoyances turned into a negative experience.
Haha you got me....I was thinking "that doesn't look too bad" 🤣 It's awful as you say...and unsanitary if leftover water stagnates in storage. Personally I just use my stainless pot that has a spout. It can hold 48 ounces and pours like a kettle, it's good for boing water for my tea, to rehydrate food, or to make water drinkable, even eat out of it. Plus everything else nests inside it like my Toaks pot/mug, napkins and Dawn for cleaning. I always saw a kettle as extra gear that isn't needed, I mean who isn't already going to have a pot?
I'm from the U.S and the only con I would agree on is the cleaning part of it. I don't own one but the other cons can be delt with . Poor slowly and what or how does it poor with the lid on? and the handles may loosen up the more their used, the handles can be replaced or ordered with paracord as you showed which are prob. 100% better than plastic . would I buy it prob. not but to each their own Right.
Im English and have never heard of them,quick browse and now know why,i dont carp fish or have a campervan.its not hiking kit or for cooking in,just boiling water for tea.thats all.
Horses for courses, its British and works so well for our camping community. Such a good container for boiling water, not making coffee, not for cooking in and certainly not for Americans.
UK viewer here. I agree it looks pretty terrible. I'd seen it in shops and thought it will not work for me. I do think some of these issues are relatively minor - drying for example - I always dry my kettle on a heat source anyway. We don't tend to boil anything other than water in kettles so cleaning wouldn't be an issue. . But overall I agree - it is terrible,i would not buy it. It's a shame because Ridgemonkey make some great products, their sandwich toaster is something I use all the time and is a great product, but someone at Ridgemonkey screwed up with this kettle.
Not a bad review Luke Some things are right but as the owner of the 1tr Ridge monkey i will give you the fact that the handles are stiff to start with, but with use do ease but not to the point they flop over, you say about burning your fingers if you leave them down the same could be said for the kettle you used as comparison at the end. Now i found it strange you putting the grounds inside the kettle, i've only seen you do this once before, the rest of the times you have used filters (could it be that it's not American made?) yes the spout is small, but gives more controlled pour over larger spout. you didn't add that due to it's shape it give your burner more wind protection or that the flame has larger heating area. you say about trapped water, for mine i just empty it out put it over the burner for half a minute there it is all dry, but there again i don't put coffee grounds or tea in mine just water. Now you put a a video of why American camping industry dying? you were spot on they got complacent and here is another reason why, you tried the kettle you used the 2 burner stove, it will be interesting on what you think of the pans.
Luke, you mentioned the wolf pack in your outro. I get the reference to it for you and your channel. I was just curious to know if you have ever read about Robin Olds and his Wolf Pack in Vietnam? If you are looking for a good story look him up. You won't be disappointed.
thats why manhole are round so the cover will not fall into it. From the first look, already can tell that it has a lot of flaws. Thanks for the review
honestly with a bigger spout, slightly bigger hole, a different food safe light coating, some better handles, and maybe moving those vent holes so they dont put steam on your hand, i could see this being a really good kettle noticed that im basically listing most of the things about a kettle lmao
Ridgemonkey made this kettle to fit their gas stoves, to boil water without coffee in it. Once a kettle dries out its not dirty. I have one and agree about the small lid falling inside, the handles loosen with use.
no one, especially in the UK, is using clean water. All those TDS, minerals, chemicals, etc leave behind all that nastiness that makes me say "no thanks" when people offer me tea. Too many people don't wash their kettles, that's just nasty.
Think about this! I saw that this type of kettle is best used on top of wood stove where it provides a large surface area. Because the surface area of the kettle is large too, water boils quickly on top of the wood stove. It is best used inside of a ten with wood stove!
Hi Luke I'm watching from the Philippines, I'm a mountaineer over 30 years. While I'm watching your video I think you don't know how to use the square kettle.You pour the water in the kettle you forgot to fold first the handle I think that's the worse you review I see in your video . For me no matter what the form of the kettle round or square it's the same can boil a hot water. And you know how to use it. I think you have to learn more before reviewing about the product. Thank you.
You don't put coffee grounds into a kettle! it's for boiling water, and only for boiling water! I know someone in the US that decided it would be a good idea to use their kettle to boil up pot pourri (why??!!) they had to throw it out because they could never get non flavoured water out of it ever again, why would you do such a thing?
@@jamesantolik5734 Do you mean a teapot? where you put tea leaves into it and then pour boiling water (out of the kettle) into it to make tea? Same idea as a coffee pot, just reserved for tea otherwise you'll taint the flavour of the tea if you use it for coffee (or pot pourri)
Dirty? Coffee grounds? It’s a kettle. It’s a tool to boil water. No less but definitely no more. If you want to make coffee or soup, you need to not be using a kettle.
Great review, Luke! I'm impressed that even with a product you hate, you always start with legitimate pros before getting into the cons. And with products you love, you find a few cons. Well done!
Good comparison - the Trangia kettle is an excellent "standard" choice. One has to justify why a kettle is BETTER than a Trangia. And I agree that the Ridge Monkey looks "cool", but does not seem better than the Trangia. [I use an old kettle that is lighter, and does not have a lid, so you fill it through the pouring spout - it is really a kettle-shaped aluminium water container, with a folding handle. It is about 50 years old. Works really well as a kettle, but you cannot store kit in it. I also have a "collapsible kettle" - it collapses to shorter than the Trangia, but it is a good bit heavier than the Trangia (stainless steel base!). Not much good for storing stuff in because it has a very small lid - BUT it will fit in a drawer / bicycle pannier etc when a Trangia would be too tall. Both can comfortably boil a litre of water - the nominal capacity of each is a good bit more, of course, but I find a litre to be about the amount I want - 500ml for 2 packs of instant ramen/pasta/soup etc in a blue plastic bowl I have (27g with lid), and 500ml for a LARGE mug of tea (in a 650ml plastic mug with lid)]. Summary: The Trangia kettle is an excellent "standard model" to compare other Kettles to. If it is not better than a Trangia, just buy a Trangia. If it is worse than a Trangia - still buy a Trangia.🤣 That Ridge Monkey kettle does not look better than the Trangia (or, for my uses, it does not look more useful than the two kettles I already have)
I picked my ridge monkey up because of the shape and it's height. Square and low. I can pack out a cook kit inside it and put it in my pack at the back without eating too much pack space etc. My Trangia kettle is fantastic, I love it, but it's round and a little higher with handle tabs sticking up a few MM above the lid. I can pack a cook kit inside it again, but it doesn't fill a square space in a bag, it fills a round space. Like a zero in a square, there's voids around the edges. Iyswim. I would put coffee grounds in a Trangia kettle, I wouldn't put them in the ridge monkey whilst the water is boiling, it's a boiling water only kettle imo, not a coffee pot iyswim
My opinion on your research on this kettle. I do like the shape it's different, but however with all the croves and layers of metal. It's a mold Paradise waiting to make you sick. I Prefer the old fashioned round kettle. Easy cleaning and easy cooking .
Us Brits don't tend to make Cowboy coffee, i've certainly never tried it. When hiking/camping I use my jetboil or a titanium pot to boil water. I do like the square form factor as it looks like it would make packing easier, but agree with you that it has some major design flaws. I would only use a kettle if static camping at a location that I was using as a base camp.
You really should try cowboy coffee. We made it in the Army in canteen cups. I wonder if Brits make “cowboy tea,” where one would throw loose tea leaves in a pot of hot water. That’s how I make my tea. Maybe that’s the normal way to make tea. I don’t know. Cowboys don’t drink tea, however. I have a horse and would never let him see me making tea.
I bought a simple aluminum kettle from Walmart for about six dollars five or so years ago. It still does its thing, and it's easy to clean. That "monkey " kettle looks like the designer overthhought it...too complicated.
No one in the UK would EVER make coffee in a kettle. In fact, we ONLY use kettles to boil water.
Don’t forget to keep your pinky up!
I had presumed there was some sort of cultural usage behind the design and initial target consumers.
I pictured some chap pouring some water into a dainty teacup with a side of crumpets.
Whereas, in the US it's like great, I can boil water but coffee is life and COWBOY coffee just shy of abundant life and one needs to fill that cup or mug as quickly as possible!😊
Idk I thought the post still stood with him complaining about the water bc that can create mildew
Agreed but still looks like a hassel to use. The square shape is cool though. I wouldn't use aluminium cook ware unless I absolutely have to.
Ridge Monkey products are very popular amongst the UK overnight fishing community. But the highest profile item is the "sandwich maker" . This has become so popular in the van life and car camping fraternity that even the copies are called a Ridge Monkey , Many people use them for every style of outdoor cooking, frying, baking, or boiling small food items
Originally patented in Australia in 1949, Ridge Monkey copied the idea too.
Patented in the US in 1925 (Charles Champion) and also in 1949 with variations by Toas-Tite "The Tostwich" ;) So Australia stole it from the Yanks!@@ike8236
HI LUKE 👋
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THIS OUT . LOOKS LIKE ONE PAIN IN THE BUTT ! HOPE FAMILY & FRIENDS ARE DOING WELL 🙏
BE SAFE! HAVE FUN ! GOD BLESS YOU ALL ALWAYS ON YOUR ADVENTURES 🙏 THANK YOU 😊
Sorry man colemans been making a long handled cast iron and cast aluminum sandwich maker FOREVER
@@ike8236 Yeah, we Aussies have been using that fold-up sandwich maker for 70+ years...
"I can't tell how much water I've put in this kettle!!" *continues pouring from graduated water bottle* 🤣
Sorry, it's too funny.
I've got the round Trangia kettle that you show at 11:10. Now, that is a super kettle and I've been using it for over 20 years ! It's also good for storing my cutlery and packets of coffee etc.
To be fair, British people wouldn’t put anything except water in it to use.
I JUST GRABBED MY PHONE AFTER WATCHING THIS ON THE TV TO LEAVE THE EXACT SAME COMMENT HAHAHA
Put coffee in a kettle, that's what a coffee pot is for. 🧐
We Brits boil water in kettles. That's their function. Cooking in a kettle makes no sense. If you insist on boiling water and cooking in a single product, then buy a saucepan for heavens sake. Incidentally , a saucepan negates all issues with kettles. You are being subtly guided towards kettles when saucepans with lids do a much better job. Wise Up!
Englishman here. We only boil water, to make tea or filter coffee, I can honestly say in my 55 years on the planet, no one I know in the UK has ever made coffee in a kettle.
Luke what other kittel do you like better and was it cold there will we see Susie with more information for us woman 15:08
I am familiar with Ridge Monkey products here in the UK. They are not designed for hikers/campers. They are are aimed at Carp fishermen who overnight by the water. These fishermen rarely carry this equipment far and are less concerned with its weight, efficiency and practicality than hikers etc.
It's horses for courses really. If you want gear that is great for camping buy from a company who specialise in camping gear.
Hahahah you obviously don't know then do you why do we have carp barrows then if we don't walk far pml mine is electric to power barrow
@@aarondavies8486
I've been a carp fisherman and a hiker for 50+ years. In that time I've never walked more than about 2 miles with my fishing gear, whereas when I'm hiking i may walk 25 miles.
So i do know, probably a lot better than you know!
@jeremymanning2132 not carp gear though is it like bivvy that weighs like 10kg bedchair that's another 18kg like to see you walk 2 miles with carp gear pml
@@aarondavies8486
You've just made my point that carp fishermen don't carry stuff far!
Big difference in the two hobbies, totally different gear, hence my original statement.
@@jeremymanning2132 you have never fished in Europe then
I see a lot of people making two very specific claims in defense of this product.
One is that this is only for boiling water--nothing else. I agree that doing anything other than boiling water in any kettle is unwise, however, nothing about this kettle seems advantageous for boiling water, and a lot of problems with this kettle are still problems even if all one does is boiling water. Furthermore, there are kettles without the flaws of this one that also aren't the worst for doing more than boiling water for those people who insist on dirtying their kettles, and the option to do more with a kettle can only be a plus.
The other defense I'm seeing is that this is for "British carp fishermen." Do British carp fishermen have a really specialized need regarding boiling water and pouring it that everyone else doesn't that this flawed kettle supports? I doubt it and suspect that a kettle that is better for everyone else would also be better for British carp fishermen.
i am sure if you give the "British carp fishermen" a Trangia and they will throw this square one away.
@@pitcheung5354 nope. I have both. The square shape sits better on an old school gas burner stove as opposed to a backpacking stove or a spirit burner like the Trangia kit.
British carp are scared of normal kettles and prefer fishermen that use square ones.
You need to pick up a Kessel 2.0 from Uberleben. I have the Ti version and love it. 1L. Lid is basically and old fashioned pot lid style, so when you take it off, the whole top of the kettle is open. Easy to pour into, cook in, and I even often eat my trail meals out of it. The handle attaches at the side so it can be positioned a few different ways. Altogether a very well designed piece of gear. I highly recommend it.
Thank you, I will look into this and consider it for purchasing. Been looking for a good kettle
So I'm from the UK, and can say that we use a teapot for tea, a coffee pot for coffee and the kettle will only have water in it unless It's a kettle in a hotel room.
A hotel kettle has been used for baked beans, pot noodle (cooking in the kettle), washing socks, opening other peoples mail, as a loo and many more stupid things, (see the internet 😆 )
But our personal kettle will only contain water. 🧐
I'm also from the UK and never would I ever put baked beans in a kettle. Not even a hotel one.
Everything else though...
Thank you for sharing your perspective! It's interesting to hear about the different uses of kettles in the UK. In terms of outdoor gear and home backup power products, the Segway Portable PowerStation Cube Series seems like a fantastic option. It offers a massive capacity, fast recharging, versatile sockets, and comprehensive protections. Plus, its waterproof technology ensures it's ready for any adventure. Definitely worth considering for outdoor enthusiasts and RV lovers!
I mean… okay. But that seems like a really dumb design philosophy. Especially for outdoor products. Which are defined by being robust and multifunctional. I mean.. why make a kettle that can literally only be used for one thing? There are literally thousands that can boil water, coffee, tea, etc with no issues.
What did i just watch? 15 minutes of some ‘expert’ failing to operate a kettle. Should I assume it was intended as a spoof?
As a business owner, the word "review" is nothing more than one's opinion about something. For every 1 person that claims not to like something, they're 1,000 ppl that will. Perhaps the issues here aren't with the product but with the user as I don't know anyone who cooks or makes coffee inside a kettle. I do like he showed a product that I would not have heard of otherwise and can't wait to try. Thanks.
Good honest review. Watching this video, there is nothing you've covered that I would argue about. All of your issues are valid. Thank you Luke. Stay safe and God bless.
If not made from aluminium i would probably entertain one.We Brits are more 'make do' about such stuff.All we need is hot water for the tea-bag none of that coffee jiggery pokery.Aeropress for that.
Operator error sir.
I have had no problems using this product.
Kettles are for boiling water, if you wamt to cook as well, take a pot it does both.
You might want to pre-measure the amount of water to be boiled by using the cup, that way you'd prevent over filling? Just a thought.
Ludicrous statements coming from Luke on this review, and the bit about overflow quite frankly is laughable.
Think it's used more in the campervan community - seen the ridge monkey double sided frying pans and the pots mainly
Was tempted in the summer the 2 litre is only around £25 but a lot of kettles spouts are to small over in the UK but have never cleaned a camping kettle out
ive had my ridgemonkey for 8 years and love it, gets used atleast 4-5 times a week fishing and at work .... dont think your ment to put coffee grounds in it its for boiling water thats all ... cleans easy just throw it in the dish washer
The first Ridgemonkey product I came across was it's sandwich maker which splits in two to make two frying pans, it is superb and now much copied. They also produced a square canister stove to match the sandwich maker, with an attachment to support the sandwich maker handle, that could be connected to a second stove to produce two rings connected to a single canister, along with various hardshell bags to fit their products. The kettle is designed to fit on the square stove (I don't dispute your findings regarding the kettle). If he sent you the sandwich toaster have a look at that, there are loads of recipe videos on TH-cam for it. I have both the Mk1 and 2 versions of the standard sandwich maker, the Mk2 having removable handles which fit inside the toaster.
9:05 That's why lots of lids make in circle...
if someone fail the lid into the 2L pot, can they easily to take it out?
Great video as usual, thanks!
Designed for Carp fishing in the UK Luke. No ridgemonkey product goes out without serious testing and the Kettle is used for boiling water, I have never seen someone boil anything else in one, certainly not in the UK. One test you may want to show is a boil test against the Trangia kettle. Speed of the boil would be of interest, otherwise excellent personal review as always.
If you reached out to them and asked about the 'issues' I'm sure they would get back to you, extremely approachable if you have/had concerns.
On what aspect is this design an advantage for the british carp fishermen ?
Safer, used with the ridgemonkey stove it doesn’t slide off so easy on uneven ground.
Boils water quicker as it has a larger surface area to heat up.
Smaller spout allows safer steaming of hook lengths. Carp anglers would know about that.
Modular, fits nicely into kit bag.
Purposely designed to do a job.
Steaming rigs and fitting in our square bags. Ridgemonkey makes most their cooking products square @@philippek81
I respect Luke and his reviews but he has got it wrong with this kettle.
It’s designed as part of a system, the stove you use it with has a square pot stand so the kettle fits snuggly on it and won’t slip. The storage bag Ridge monkey sells is also designed to accommodate the square kettles. It wasn’t designed for open fires.
I have the next size up and it’s a fine kettle for boiling water, In the UK people very rarely make cowboy coffee and we use a kettle for water and don’t cross contaminate. I like the spout, it’s great for pour over coffee. It’s anodised aluminium so the folks scared of aluminium contamination can rest easy. I have never managed to drop the lid into the kettle. If you want a cup of water use the damn cup to measure it, I can’t believe Luke has made an issue of this it’s made him look rather foolish in my opinion.
@@SnowyAspenHills There's many other examples too. Boiling a kettle (not the pot) on a Fire Maple stove and complaining that boil times don't match the manufacturer was my smh, and his all you need to know about tents vid that completely forgetting environmental temps and called full mesh tent "3 seasons". It's all quantity not quality.
The reason manhole covers are round is that it is not possible for them to fall through the hole they cover. Any other shape lid will fit through the hole they cover.
we have some square cover that are seem more easily to open than circle one
but as you say its more easy to fail into the chamber.
All manhole covers that aren’t in the road (Utility ones) are rectangular in the UK. It would be a freaking nightmare working on the drainage though a round opening.
To be honest, some flaws you mentioned I don't think are really that bad like the small spout and slow rate of flow. The handles could have been a little too tight from factory (I know you don't tinker with gear) and I think coul easily by "fixed". The cleaning is an issue, however I would argue that if someon is bringing kettle to camping they also have mugs and pots so no need to boil anything else than water in the kettle. Otherwise a pot would be better choice to supplement more functions.
you are not completely wrong but why would you buy this when you can get one with none of the flaws for less
I think the cleaning is a pretty serious issue: If you can not clean it properly, even water will grow things. Especially if you stuff it back into;
A: Backpack full of other things, like your clothes.
B: A tote that goes back into your car, and then into the garage for a couple weeks, or months.
Simply put? It is not well designed. Why deal with bad design, when there are better, higher quality, more usable products, that cost less?
@@dposcuroHe stuck his finger in there so he obviously could have cleaned it. He shook it and water came out, he obviously could have shaken it when he was drying it off.
I have the kettle.
I have never needed to move the handles when it's on the heat.
Fold them down, fill it, fold them up and put on the heat.
Even the Trangia kettle I also have, the handle sort of clicks in to place, id never try and fold that down whilst it was on the boil either.
@@dposcuro I've had mine years, I've never cleaned it. If it ever grew anything... Guess what boiling water does to water? Purification..
I've put Bank Bag filtered river water in mine more than once for the purpose of purifying it.
Thanks for reviewing. have been looking for a replacement. I would never make coffee in a tea pot take up too much room in my pack.
Interesting review. Perhaps fill up the kettle before putting it on the stove, and pull the handles up fully together before (those handles will loosen up after use and the tiniest bit of teflon grease). Measure out the required amount of water in your cup then pour in the kettle before putting it on the stove, you do not need to see any water level this way (dont the majority do this anyway?). The UK market does not put coffee in the kettle, it goes in the cup (that's just how we roll using instant coffee), a kettle is just a boiling water device, nothing more over here, so never any need to clean your kettle!. Once the lid is on after filling there is no need to take it off again, so any problems with the lid going inside can only possibly happen once at the filing stage when everything is still cold and even then only if you are really slap dash. Yes the spout is a little small, but what's the rush??? its not a pouring race... You have to remember, this is designed for the UK day/over night fishing market and not serious back packing/survival use. Its use is to make a cup of tea with in the afternoon or on an evening!, or perhaps at most a Pot Noodle. I own one in case you have not guessed (the 1L version) and think it's actually a great little kettle for it's intended purpose, it's also great how you can just put all your brew kit inside the kettle easily thanks to its square lid.
Popular in the UK? I can't say I've ever heard of them :)
Also from UK and have never heard of them
Same, can't say I ever heard of them either, can't say I heard any of the UK outdoor channels I am subscribing to talk about them either.
I have the sandwich maker
S&G Trading (NW) Ltd,
PO Box 289,
Widnes,
England,
WA8 2FP
Might not have hear of them because they probably SUCK!!!
I have the kettle. I know a few who have the sandwich thing, I don't, looks like a breville for the camp fire.
As I'm living in Sweden I would buy a Trangia. They are made here in a small family owned shop in the northern part of our country and I have had my Trangia stove since I was a teenager and I still have it and I'm 58 now. The quality is just on top.
Its great that Marvin(?) sent this to you to an honest review, because it helps us all.
So a bigger opening with a simplified lid, a spout with a larger diameter and having just one handle, and it would be "Kettle of the year".
Yes, its things that would have been discovered if the company had testet it in real use, including in bad condtions.
I do not get, why they complicated and added weight in designing the handles and the lid.
Well, many companies do not use a second on that kind of testing.
But Trangia allways works!
Good honest review 👏 I've the toasted sandwich maker and its handy with so many flaws id love to here your thoughts on it hopefully you get one, one day..
Here in the US, kettle also means boiling water. I never cook in my kettle,even coffee. However I think your review is spot on, they all look like major usage flaws.
If the water is not clean enough and night after night it could become a problem.
After years of using that kettle I never thought there would be ppl that found it complicated to use. It’s for use on the same brand stove to boil water so not the cleaning issue you make out if you use it as intended. The shape and size also makes sense if you had the carry box that all the gear fits in.
the Ridge Monkey website says it can be use on ANY direct heat source, but can be used with their stove for a fast boil. So Luke is spot on with his review as usual. This is just a poorly designed kettle and with Luke's feedback hopefully the company can improve upon the design. Nothing wrong with negative feedback if it can help improve a product.
@@Nonchillante or they keep selling to ppl that don’t find a kettle complicated 😂
I'm a UK wild camper and I have never heard of Ridge Monkey.
It’s more of a carp fishing brand
@@BullRoarer_ yes 🙂. I've just had a look at them. Not the type of kit I'd take for wild camping.
S&G Trading (NW) Ltd,
PO Box 289,
Widnes,
England,
WA8 2FP
The Ridge Monkey probably threw you off. They should have been called Sht Monkey!! But their address is in "God Save The Queen" country!!!
There's a good reason why you've never heard of it. Because their products sucks.
I have a GSI 1L which it is not truly but does do 2 full mugs of tea or coffee so i kept it. Dont use aluminum so no trangia. Also use a pot when i don't want to lug it. But it reminds me of my childhood so i use it. I'm whimsical sometimes so why not.
That spout was the first thing I saw.. why.. just why? UK market so it has to look like a teapot? Then the other issues on top of it. I think I'll be sticking with my Sea to Summit X-Kettle. Huge opening, normal pour lip, handles that stand up but aren't stiff.
Have you ever had any experience with the Cabelas Outback Lodge tent? Reason I ask is because that is the tent I survived in for a year in all four seasons for the year, I had it for some time before and I employed a tarp over top for even better rain and snow deflection. If you haven’t reviewed it, it is still sold and I’d be interested in seeing what you think of it. 😁
I seem to remember the Trangia kettle got a terrible review when it was looked at by Luke.
I have one of those.
I absolutely love it. There's nothing I can fault it for. So this review will be interesting. 😁
I have to say, I've never seen anyone over here add coffee to the kettle how Luke does, i certainly never have, kettles are for boiling water.
The slow rate of flow is also a plus for me for use with a pour over coffee maker or for instant.
If you angle the handles right you can lift the lid straight up, not that I would whilst it's on the heat, fill and place and wait for steam.
it sucks lol
@@BittlsIt only sucks if you don’t know what a kettle is.
Did you watch the video?@@aunoates6617
Seems like a poorly designed kettle. Maybe not the best for backpackers, as it was more designed for other uses. But those who like it are just defending it for no really good reason. Why wouldn't you want it improved upon? The small spout is odd, and no real reason they shouldn't make it a bit larger. If you want to pour slowly, you just pour slowly, but being forced to do so due to a poor design is silly. Luke has some good feedback on how the kettle can be improved and if I were making this product, any feedback on how my product could be better I would welcome it.
OK you are basicaly saying that the customer has to "learn" how to use this kettle properly. Why using a kettle have to be so complicated ? It's a kettle, not a nuclear power plant 🤦♂
As far as the water level goes you can use a small stick in the hole as it fills I hope the delayed would get easier to open and close over time and there's no cure for the handles they have to be bigger
There's a reason manholes covers are round, a round lid can never fit thru the opening.
Thorough review!
Interesting!! Are you going to give us the results of the other items?
Jeepers! You're in the shade! Take your freaking sunglasses off.
I would like to see you use a space/emergency/mylar blanket over a small camp fire to direct heat into a tarp tent. Maybe a plow tent over the fire with the opening directed into the tarp tent of your choice to see if it directs the heat safely for cool weather camping. There will probably be enough space between the two for any smoke to escape but the reflective blanket might in theory be directed right into your shelter.
Just a video idea. Or anything to do with emergency mylar space blankets would be cool.
What are the chances that these "viewers" who send a bunch of stuff from that company are representing those companies?
It's the first thing that comes to mind but if that was the case here they would have been better off not sending anything!
I don't think it matters, from what I can see he reviews stuff without any bias.
Good possibility but at least TOGR is honest about that specific product. "IT SUCKS"!!!
@@kniterI think some company owners (or marketers) are so arrogant they truly believe they have an outstanding product that Luke will fall for it instantaneously. How wrong can they be?
@@johnb-us6bf Maybe so but he mentions in the vid that he got sent a lot of RidgeMonkey products but he's only reviewed the one he hates. I've used lots of RidgeMonkey products(not the kettle though) and they've mostly been good quality. It isn't really that unbiased to select the poorest product as the representative review of a company, maybe he wouldn't have done that if it was a US company.
Bet a baby bottle brush would clean it quickly,...but happy for the honest review!
Hi Luke!: Whether you use that thing to boil water or to make coffee, or what, it's not a very good design! If there was some real reason to make the kettle square in the first place (say, it had to fit in a square cookset or something), that would be different maybe. But it seems like they were thinking lets make a SQUARE kettle, no one else has one of these! Just doesn't seem practical to me. That's why MOST containers that hold liquids have been round for centuries! Just makes more sense. That handle thing also is strange to me. Why two handles in the first place? I know several of the makers have twin folding handles, but a single one seems easier to make and less costly to manufacture. I am no expert on design or manufacturing, but I lot of household kettles have a single handle. Anyway, thanks again, Luke for showing us what to avoid!
It fits a square gas stove, Luke didn’t do his research and is talking crap.
About the square lid ... Do you know why man hole covers are round? It's so they cannot fall in when trying to remove them.
How are Springbar Tents? I see nomads using them in the desert in Quartzsite, AZ.
The cleaning aspect is the big deal breaker, I suppose. The handles are likely stiff because they are made of plastic. The pour rate is slow, but not likely that big of a deal. You can tell how much you put in by knowing how much you had starting. If you're using a graduated water bottle, this is pretty easy. The lid could probably be manipulated easier with a small stick. It sounds like several minor annoyances turned into a negative experience.
Haha you got me....I was thinking "that doesn't look too bad" 🤣 It's awful as you say...and unsanitary if leftover water stagnates in storage. Personally I just use my stainless pot that has a spout. It can hold 48 ounces and pours like a kettle, it's good for boing water for my tea, to rehydrate food, or to make water drinkable, even eat out of it. Plus everything else nests inside it like my Toaks pot/mug, napkins and Dawn for cleaning. I always saw a kettle as extra gear that isn't needed, I mean who isn't already going to have a pot?
Thank you for your views on this kettle. Never thought about all those cons on this one. So happy with my kettle, only pro's.
😊
I'm from the U.S and the only con I would agree on is the cleaning part of it. I don't own one but the other cons can be delt with . Poor slowly and what or how does it poor with the lid on? and the handles may loosen up the more their used, the handles can be replaced or ordered with paracord as you showed which are prob. 100% better than plastic . would I buy it prob. not but to each their own Right.
Im English and have never heard of them,quick browse and now know why,i dont carp fish or have a campervan.its not hiking kit or for cooking in,just boiling water for tea.thats all.
“Just boiling water in” that’s what a kettle is for.
Have you ever tested the bearskin hoodies?
Horses for courses, its British and works so well for our camping community. Such a good container for boiling water, not making coffee, not for cooking in and certainly not for Americans.
You need to try out a ghillie kettle. Have been using one for a few years and it is great. Basically it is a rocket stove kettle
I had a Kelly Kettle version. Loved that thing.
Thank you for sharing this video about kettles testing! Mr. Luke ☕☕
UK viewer here. I agree it looks pretty terrible. I'd seen it in shops and thought it will not work for me. I do think some of these issues are relatively minor - drying for example - I always dry my kettle on a heat source anyway. We don't tend to boil anything other than water in kettles so cleaning wouldn't be an issue. . But overall I agree - it is terrible,i would not buy it. It's a shame because Ridgemonkey make some great products, their sandwich toaster is something I use all the time and is a great product, but someone at Ridgemonkey screwed up with this kettle.
Not a bad review Luke
Some things are right but as the owner of the 1tr Ridge monkey i will give you the fact that the handles are stiff to start with, but with use do ease but not to the point they flop over, you say about burning your fingers if you leave them down the same could be said for the kettle you used as comparison at the end. Now i found it strange you putting the grounds inside the kettle, i've only seen you do this once before, the rest of the times you have used filters (could it be that it's not American made?) yes the spout is small, but gives more controlled pour over larger spout. you didn't add that due to it's shape it give your burner more wind protection or that the flame has larger heating area. you say about trapped water, for mine i just empty it out put it over the burner for half a minute there it is all dry, but there again i don't put coffee grounds or tea in mine just water.
Now you put a a video of why American camping industry dying? you were spot on they got complacent and here is another reason why, you tried the kettle you used the 2 burner stove, it will be interesting on what you think of the pans.
That's why manhole covers are round instead of any other shape. Won't fall in.
Hi Luke, is that fleece a new patriot jacket from helikon hex?
I would like to know more about that meal! Never saw that brand until now.
Luke, you mentioned the wolf pack in your outro. I get the reference to it for you and your channel. I was just curious to know if you have ever read about Robin Olds and his Wolf Pack in Vietnam? If you are looking for a good story look him up. You won't be disappointed.
thats why manhole are round so the cover will not fall into it.
From the first look, already can tell that it has a lot of flaws.
Thanks for the review
honestly with a bigger spout, slightly bigger hole, a different food safe light coating, some better handles, and maybe moving those vent holes so they dont put steam on your hand, i could see this being a really good kettle
noticed that im basically listing most of the things about a kettle
lmao
It is food safe it’s anodised aluminium, it’s not designed for cooking in.
How to keep a straight face in that get up is a talent
Makes sense. This is why I LOVE your Channel the honesty
Most of the time I would agree but he is talking bollocks on this review I’m afraid to say.
Ridgemonkey made this kettle to fit their gas stoves, to boil water without coffee in it. Once a kettle dries out its not dirty. I have one and agree about the small lid falling inside, the handles loosen with use.
no one, especially in the UK, is using clean water. All those TDS, minerals, chemicals, etc leave behind all that nastiness that makes me say "no thanks" when people offer me tea. Too many people don't wash their kettles, that's just nasty.
@@Frindleeguy those people say they just fill with water (with minerals and chemicals they can't see) and no need to clean.
Besides the hard cleaning and drying....cool looking.
I bought a Ridgemonkey - Connect DEEP PAN & Griddle Granite Edition and it really is not safe and well thought out. So it seems this is there way.
It seems goofy to judge a kettle based on how well it can cook food. It's not a cooking pot, it's a kettle.
It's not all about the cooking thing. It's about the bad design of this product in general, even for boiling water
If I use this square kettle with a round stove, will the water in the corners of the kettle still get hot?😅
Think about this! I saw that this type of kettle is best used on top of wood stove where it provides a large surface area. Because the surface area of the kettle is large too, water boils quickly on top of the wood stove. It is best used inside of a ten with wood stove!
Hi Luke I'm watching from the Philippines, I'm a mountaineer over 30 years. While I'm watching your video I think you don't know how to use the square kettle.You pour the water in the kettle you forgot to fold first the handle I think that's the worse you review I see in your video . For me no matter what the form of the kettle round or square it's the same can boil a hot water. And you know how to use it. I think you have to learn more before reviewing about the product. Thank you.
Could you explain us the mistery about using this strange kettle ? In what way does this weird design offer an advantage over a "normal" kettle ?
You don't put coffee grounds into a kettle! it's for boiling water, and only for boiling water! I know someone in the US that decided it would be a good idea to use their kettle to boil up pot pourri (why??!!) they had to throw it out because they could never get non flavoured water out of it ever again, why would you do such a thing?
What about a tea kettle? Is it for tea only?
@@jamesantolik5734 Do you mean a teapot? where you put tea leaves into it and then pour boiling water (out of the kettle) into it to make tea? Same idea as a coffee pot, just reserved for tea otherwise you'll taint the flavour of the tea if you use it for coffee (or pot pourri)
It's better when camping equipment have several uses. I think it's normal to take a single piece of gear for boiling water, or making tea or coffee.
As someone from Europe, I really miss "metric subtitles". Bring them back please. Especially for temperatures.
Love your honest reviews!
Can you review keyless ignition next?
I'm expecting a rantathon!
Will it boil water
You tested it for months with all those issues? I would have turned it into a plant pot after the first use if I had half the problems you had.
Thanks for the review, as foe me, I'll stick with my 1L SS kettle.
Good review. I love my Trangia kettle, Its my go to cooking system on hikes and bikepacking trips.
Dirty? Coffee grounds? It’s a kettle. It’s a tool to boil water. No less but definitely no more. If you want to make coffee or soup, you need to not be using a kettle.
Love my MSR stainless kettle. I can’t think of anything wrong with it.
Great review, Luke! I'm impressed that even with a product you hate, you always start with legitimate pros before getting into the cons. And with products you love, you find a few cons. Well done!
I'm a Brit, got to say, never heard of Ridge Monkey...
Saw them at the campervan show liked the frying pans are good and popular for vans.
Next up the fur lined coffee mug !
Good comparison - the Trangia kettle is an excellent "standard" choice. One has to justify why a kettle is BETTER than a Trangia. And I agree that the Ridge Monkey looks "cool", but does not seem better than the Trangia.
[I use an old kettle that is lighter, and does not have a lid, so you fill it through the pouring spout - it is really a kettle-shaped aluminium water container, with a folding handle. It is about 50 years old. Works really well as a kettle, but you cannot store kit in it.
I also have a "collapsible kettle" - it collapses to shorter than the Trangia, but it is a good bit heavier than the Trangia (stainless steel base!). Not much good for storing stuff in because it has a very small lid - BUT it will fit in a drawer / bicycle pannier etc when a Trangia would be too tall.
Both can comfortably boil a litre of water - the nominal capacity of each is a good bit more, of course, but I find a litre to be about the amount I want - 500ml for 2 packs of instant ramen/pasta/soup etc in a blue plastic bowl I have (27g with lid), and 500ml for a LARGE mug of tea (in a 650ml plastic mug with lid)].
Summary: The Trangia kettle is an excellent "standard model" to compare other Kettles to. If it is not better than a Trangia, just buy a Trangia. If it is worse than a Trangia - still buy a Trangia.🤣
That Ridge Monkey kettle does not look better than the Trangia (or, for my uses, it does not look more useful than the two kettles I already have)
I picked my ridge monkey up because of the shape and it's height. Square and low. I can pack out a cook kit inside it and put it in my pack at the back without eating too much pack space etc.
My Trangia kettle is fantastic, I love it, but it's round and a little higher with handle tabs sticking up a few MM above the lid. I can pack a cook kit inside it again, but it doesn't fill a square space in a bag, it fills a round space. Like a zero in a square, there's voids around the edges. Iyswim.
I would put coffee grounds in a Trangia kettle, I wouldn't put them in the ridge monkey whilst the water is boiling, it's a boiling water only kettle imo, not a coffee pot iyswim
No British person would be making 'cowboy coffee' in a kettle, kettles are for boiling water, for tea.
The square cap makes me think of an educational video I saw when I was a kid. Explaining why most manhole is round.
Fun fact! It is impossible for a round lid to fall into its associated round hole.
My opinion on your research on this kettle. I do like the shape it's different, but however with all the croves and layers of metal. It's a mold Paradise waiting to make you sick. I Prefer the old fashioned round kettle. Easy cleaning and easy cooking .
Us Brits don't tend to make Cowboy coffee, i've certainly never tried it.
When hiking/camping I use my jetboil or a titanium pot to boil water.
I do like the square form factor as it looks like it would make packing easier, but agree with you that it has some major design flaws. I would only use a kettle if static camping at a location that I was using as a base camp.
You really should try cowboy coffee. We made it in the Army in canteen cups. I wonder if Brits make “cowboy tea,” where one would throw loose tea leaves in a pot of hot water. That’s how I make my tea. Maybe that’s the normal way to make tea. I don’t know. Cowboys don’t drink tea, however. I have a horse and would never let him see me making tea.
That kettle is a hot mess 😂
Luke, you pointed out why manhole covers are round and not square. Great review of a pretty awful kettle.
Hah! Years ago, that used to be an interview question at tech companies like Microsoft.
👍 Thanks for the heads up. ...Alan 🇨🇱
This is just one of those products that you have scratch your head and say "What nimrod thought THIS thing was a good idea?"
Imagine the UK FUBARing a kettle.🤣🤣
Trangia for life! Never had an issue and easy to clean.
I bought a simple aluminum kettle from Walmart for about six dollars five or so years ago. It still does its thing, and it's easy to clean. That "monkey " kettle looks like the designer overthhought it...too complicated.
Ridge Monkey is more of carp fishing brand than a camping brand to be fair
The kettle works the same whether you are fishing or camping
@@Fyfferealestateteam I didn’t say it didn’t, I was merely pointing out to people that are saying they’ve never heard of the brand before.
Have you ever seen anyone put coffee into the kettle? I've not.
Kettles are for boiling water... 🤣