Walking Equipment and Accessories

Primus Trek Pot Set | Review

You can't go wrong with this extremely convenient cooking set from Primus

Why We Chose The Primus Trek Pot Set: Compact design, durable, convenient

What we have here is a pot set that’s as convenient and packable as they come. Featuring a 1L pot, a 0.6L one with a lid, a mini frying pan and a mesh sack and three handles. All-in-all the set weighs a very decent 410g.

Who Is the Primus Trek Pot Set For?

This set is absolutely spot on for anyone who likes a more intricate meal when they’re camping and want to get a few things on the go. You could, for instance, cook some spaghetti in the 1L pot, whisk an egg in the 0.6L and fry some bacon in the frying pan and voila you’ve got yourself some camp cooked carbonara.

What about something for the gram-counting lightweight hikers? It would probably be a little overkill for anyone who’s content with carrying just a tiny pot to boil water for a freeze fried meal, but still, 410g certainly isn’t intolerable or inconvenient. More on this in the Tester’s Verdict from Will further down.

This is a pot set that’s as convenient and packable as they come. Photo: Mike Brindley

Design

This is a very well thought-out set. Ultimate convenience and packability seems to be what Primus were aiming for when they designed it. To start with, the whole set packs into itself like a Russian doll, with one of the handles then doubling as a lock that keeps it all held closed, and you can even fit a small stove like a Primus Firestick or Microntrail AND a small gas canister inside for even more packing efficiency.

Handily, the smaller pot comes with a little mesh sack which will stop it from clanging around and driving you mad. Packed up, the whole set is 145mm in height and 145mm in diameter. To put that into perspective, it’s about the same size as a small to medium flower pot, or a small biscuit tin. If that’s any help…

A lid for the smaller pot features a silicon handle and handy strainer. Photo: Mike Brindley

The lid for the large pot also doubles as a frying pan. Photo: Mike Brindley

The top handles cleverly doubles as a lock, keeping everything closed. Photo: Mike Brindley

Other things to note include the fact that the frying pan doubles as a lid for the main pot to speed up the boiling time. There’s also a plastic lid for the smaller pot that has a silicon handle and handy strainer.

As for the materials, all the pots are made from a hard-anodised aluminium with a ceramic, non-stick coating.

Tester’s Verdict

Will Renwick, editor of Outdoors Magic

“I’m one of those hikers that normally tries to only bring the bare minimum. You only need to watch this video I put together about my weird trail recipes to see just how much of a cooking minimalist I can be. So, what I’m trying to say is that this pot set would be too luxurious for most of my long distance walking. However, I can definitely see myself using this on weekend hikes – those kind of quick microadventure-like getaways.”

All the pots are made from a hard-anodised aluminium with a ceramic, non-stick coating. Photo: Jordan Tiernan

“I was really, really impressed by the packability of this set and the neat design-thinking that went into it. The bundle is small and surprisingly light, so it’s therefore not much of a burden for those Saturday night trips. It certainly beats the Duke of Edinburgh-recommended stove sets I got used to in my first few years of hiking, that’s for sure.

“On a couple of recent wild camps, I’ve managed to fit my Primus Firestick stove, two folding forks and even a small gas canister inside the complete set, making for a nice and conveniently compact bundle about the size of a rolled up Therm-a-rest.

“I liked the quality of the pans as well. I’ve used them about five times now, including on a couple of wild camps, and I haven’t had anything burn to the bottom yet which is a good sign. Nor has there been much discolouration or marking to the metal either. It’s still early days mind, I’ll have to try and update this when I’ve done a bit more testing.

“€79.95 isn’t cheap but considering the quality of this product, I would say you’re getting quite good value for money here.”

Testing the Primus Trek Pot Set wild camping in the Lake District. Photo: Jordan Tiernan

Trade Secrets

Eric Svartström, R&D Manager at Primus.

“We wanted to make a compact set of pots with as many features as possible that wouldn’t take up much space when packed. This would enable the outdoor chef to challenge themselves with the possibility of what they could create with the two pots and the small, but very useful fry pan. Perhaps making the perfect ramen by cooking noodles in the big pot, a poached egg in the smaller pot and crispy bacon in the fry pan.”

“The handle lock is patent pended and we are, of course, proud of how it smoothly locks to its bracket.

“The Trek Pot Set was tested by field and lab tests, as standard, and an early prototype was taken on a long bike trip through Norway.”