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Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

MisSal, I saw a Kelly Kettle in action this week

33 replies

Slubberdegullion · 10/04/2010 20:15

and I think I want one now too.

Two very trendy and youthful looking people with an extremely attractive dog were boiling up water with it on the beach, all casual like.

I walked past and clocked it and thought 'I bet that is one of those Kelly Kettles', so I sauntered past reaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllyyyyyyyyyyyy slooooooooooooooooooooowly and pretended to admire their dog, when in reality I was admiring their swift boiling of water apparatus.

I sauntered past slowly a few more times before I asked them if it was one, and it was. They showed me the little tiny bits of wood they were burning and both told me how very very fast it boils the water.

I returned to dh full of enthusiasm and filled him in. He gave me the and said we could get a cup of boiling water from the cafe on the beach any time we wanted it.

I don't think I'll be getting one any time soon, but still, nice bit of kit

OP posts:
Soups · 10/04/2010 21:18

I got one for my husband and he didn't have much luck with it. I need to have another play with it, he may not have been using the right fuel, or he was fiddling and huffing too much! There seemed to be lots of smoke and not much hot water

I do like making a cuppa on the beach We use the Trangia for the beach, or my backpacking stove (boils in 3 mins) elsewhere.

The best thing about my Trangia is getting to the beach early and having a fry up for brunch, the smell of eggs and bacon makes passers by green go in envy LOL

Original poster
Slubberdegullion · 10/04/2010 21:32

The bloke was doing quite a lot of fiddling too, but it looked like quite therapeutic fiddling.

When we start camping proper we take our cobb onto the beach for the same reason as you Soup. It's quite mean really subjecting other people to the smell of frying bacon

OP posts:
Soups · 10/04/2010 21:37

Maybe that's the problem with my husband, he's a stress bunny LOL Can't pull of the cool fiddling look.

I really want to get a Cobb

Original poster
Slubberdegullion · 10/04/2010 21:58

heh heh
I was slightly allured by casual kelly kettle fiddling man and his dog. He did it lying on his side

There is no fiddling required with the cobb, just light the cobb stones and away you go

OP posts:
MisSalLaneous · 11/04/2010 11:27

Ooooh, now see, if you, a camping expert, was impressed, it must be brilliant, surely! Hmm, might have another browse... Do you know what size they had? Was it really huge or do you think it would be easy enough to carry around?

I think you're right about it being kind of therapeutic - I think there is just something about an actual fire that fascinates me. The cavewomen in me, perhaps...

Original poster
Slubberdegullion · 11/04/2010 17:40

hahahahahahah

me? a campimg expert? hahahahah

No indeed. I blether on
about it but really am but a relative newcomer to the mn campers.

They had the biggun, it was BIG, too big really for two people's cups of tea. It did look a bit cumbersome tbh. They said that there was a smaller version, which is what I would get, if I were getting one, which I am not .

The tinkering value is what appealed to me. I was sad to see they were burning little pre-brought in chunks of wood, and not dried seaweed or other combustables to be found upon the beach.

i thought that was kind of the point.

OP posts:
MisSalLaneous · 11/04/2010 18:36

NO. You are the expert. I'm using you to back up my argument, so now is not the time to be humble.

Yes, how odd to carry everything with. The whole idea is surely to use the available surrounds as far as possible, otherwise a gas kettle would do just as well! When If I get one, I might keep some fire material inside in case I get stuck for dry twigs to start the fire with, but not everything. Well, I don't think I would.

I went to Decathlon today to do some pointless browsing, and was a little disappointed that they didn't stock the KK - I want to see it in real life.

CaptainNancy · 11/04/2010 19:41

Roffle at lying on his side... that's how dh cooks when he's camping too!

How big are the cobbs when packed (coveting, but have v v tight packing space)

Original poster
Slubberdegullion · 12/04/2010 13:05

Sal, you are too kind, but if you want to use me as a persuasive tool with your husband then go for it .

I have never been to a Decathalon. I'm rather glad of this. It sounds like the Ikea of camping. I'd go in to buy some spare guys and come out with an inflatable camping reindeer or somesuch.

Nancy, as marvellous as the cobb is I'm afraid it is not a small thing. Infact it is a mighty shit to pack as it is all round and domey and I can't line things up against it, or put things nicely on top of it in the car.

I'm trying to think what to compare it with in size. Maybe a 4 month old baby, or um a red panda.

OP posts:
troutpout · 12/04/2010 16:08

I have a kk. Dh bought it for me
used it once. It's kinda bulky . I don't know... Maybe if I was doing a bare essentials camp ... No cooking ... It might be useful but tbh I can't see the point past that.

I am however quite willing to support anyone in their bid to purchase any much needed wanted camping item... So tell your husband that it is indeed a musthave

BramblyHedge · 12/04/2010 16:55

Oh I want one of these now and was thinking DP might like it for his bday . He wants a Tilley lamp and it seems to be the same vein as that (I won't let him have one because of the kids (4 and 20m).

But we already have a trangia kettle so can't really justify it [sob]

MisSalLaneous · 12/04/2010 18:27

Hmm, well, I'm sticking to my story that you lot have been practically born in a tent, but am a little put off by your experience, troutpout. As per your suggestion, I am however not sharing this newfound knowledge with The Voice Of Reason. I guess it might still be great for day trips though - I like Slubber's story of the coffee/tea on the beach. Never mind the fact that we never go to the beach...

Slubber, never have I heard a better description of Decathlon. Some really good finds, but a lot of rubbish. Problem is, it's kind of cool rubbish that is just cheap enough to make you think "ah, might as well". I almost walked out of there with a pop-up tent. Never mind the fact that I'm still sulking because I don't have a bell tent and we've got a perfectly good "modern" tent...

Original poster
Slubberdegullion · 12/04/2010 18:59

Sal, you can never have too many tents.

This is the moto that is invisible and yet known to all mn campers.

Those quechua pop ups ARE the biz though. I would have gone for one over my outwells any day were it not for not being near a Decathalon.

OP posts:
CaptainNancy · 12/04/2010 19:16

Hmm... presumably a 4mo baby without a car seat? Maybe doable... maybe a new car?

Original poster
Slubberdegullion · 12/04/2010 19:24

I'd push for a new car if I were you

OP posts:
CaptainNancy · 12/04/2010 20:10

Is there actually going to be a mn camp this year ...?

Original poster
Slubberdegullion · 12/04/2010 20:17

dunno

There was a sort of meet up somewhere last year, but the thread deciding on where to go/when to go got overly long and I became despondent.

OP posts:
iheartdusty · 12/04/2010 20:28

we have a KK

I bought it for me DH and we have never used it. It is bulky, and presumably after you have used it it stays hot for quite a while so you can't casually sling it in a bag and walk off. In terms of size I would say it is comparable to a large kitchen electric kettle, probably slightly taller.

Anyway we tend to drink beer on the beach, not tea.

maybe next year I'll be ready to sell it, but I'll give it one last shot and see if we use it this year.

MisSalLaneous · 12/04/2010 20:38

Hmm, this is not going the way I hoped... But why oh why oh why can't I find any to buy (not new, second hand and cheaper) on ebay? I'm checking every now and again just in case!

seeker · 13/04/2010 08:56

You've got this whole KellyKettle thing wrong. It's not to do with lying on the beach with little bits of seaweed. That way lies clouds of smoke, tepid water and banning orders. No, what you do is put in a small(ish) chunk of fire lighter , a bit or newspaper and some very dry sticks. Drop in a match and leap backwards in a balletic manner. There is an amazing whump, a roar, a jet of flame that shoots up the chimney and almost immediately dies down, leaving a small heap of ash, and a tank of really really boiling water. Honestly. In about 2 minutes, max. Can't do that with a Trangia!

Think Top Gear rather than Hey Nonny Nonny Round the Toadstool and you'll get the idea!

seeker · 13/04/2010 09:12

Cobbs?

Yes or no?

sarah293 · 13/04/2010 09:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

seeker · 13/04/2010 09:36

And the squirting of barbecue lighting fuel is very satisfying, and can produce the sound of a small jet engine of done properly!

MisSalLaneous · 13/04/2010 09:54

Now see, jet engines I like! It's my birthday in a couple of weeks, perhaps now is the time to stop dropping major hints then.

bronze · 13/04/2010 10:00

I bet that 'laid back' man didn't light it properly either. A flint and steel is whats needed if he didn't rub two sticks together.

All these lovely things are beyond me. I just don't have the money so I come on these threads and lust