Titanium Cooking Pots

[Humakt]

Chaps.
In that quest to make things lighter, I was thinking of getting a titanium pot for boiling and cooking.
But I've heard that titanium isn't that good at heat transfer and is a relatively poor material for cooking in. Quite simply, stainless and ally make much better cooking pots.
Is this true, or just anti-titanium humbug? More importantly, does anyone have personal experience of cooking on both titanium, stainless, and ally, and can say what they found?
And all that kind of stuff.
Cheers.

[Ehecatl]

I was intrigued and so did some googling. I found the following site (http://www.engineersedge.com/properties_of_metals.htm) and also cross referenced it with another site.

It would seem that you've heard correctly. Compared to Ali and copper, titanium is a poor conductor of heat (better than wood though)

Metal Thermal Conductivity
Aluminum 136
Copper 231
Titanium 99.0% 12.65
Wood (oak) 0.17

[Humakt]

I also found this, which some may find interesting:

http://tonysbushwalking.wordpress.co...-cooking-pots/

[AJ]

Disclaimer: I don't have Ti pots.
Along the lines of the link above, I read on a forum/article/voices in my head, that Ti does not conduct heat well and therefore you get hot/cold spots when cooking. However there was some concern over aluminium pots health wise. But I grew up eating from aluminium pots and I seem to be all right.

Stop laughing.

I am alright.

Mostly.

[Rasputin]

Never used Ti, I wont spend that sort of money on them. I didnt like my alli kettle as it always left a taste in my T but since I got a hard anodized kettle its fine. I have a lot of alli and SS pan sets that are sure to outlive me so even if I thought Ti was a better bet (and I dont ) I still wouldnt be buying. ATB Ken

[Martin]

I have a Ti pot and a mug and they are great. Don't forget that the material is very strong so it's thinner than a steel pot and much much lighter. It's great for boiling water and cools down quickly so that you don't burn your lips when you drink from it. I can get my mug to a good rolling boil in a minute or two on my MSR Pocket Rocket stove. I won't go back to my Zebra now.

Martin

[OakAshandThorn]

I've never owned or used any titanium cook-set, but you can make a DIY alternative which is just as light if not a bit lighter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzWxP_b3dZM
This has replaced my Zebra and holds close to the same amount of liquid. Mind you, I wouldn't use it for more than "boil-'n-bag" meals unless you can find a wider coffee can so the heat will distribute better and not scorch food on the bottom. Other than that, the numbers don't lie, and you'll save at least $50 ~30£.

[jus_young]

I'm another for titanium pots. If anything, I would say that you have to go a little careful as it can be easy to scorch the contents when cooking. They are very good for warming the Spiced Rum and Coke on a cool evening.

[Humakt]

Hmm...I'm undecided.
I was open to be talked into it.
But I have heard and read a few things now about uneven cooking and scorching. I suppose that shouldn't matter since its main use will be to boil water. But spending all that money on somethign just to boil water...can't quite reconcile that with myself.
It looks as though the weight saving is little or neglible against ally pots. Although I don't use aluminium myself. But I'm also thinking of space saving as well as weight saving. I can currently get all my brew kit, and collapsible mug, into a stainless Crusader mess kit. The flatter, wider, shape of the Crusader tin also means it boils faster than a deeper pot. And the Crusader lid also functions as a frying pan. So if I get a titanium pot, which will weigh less, it may cause more bulk - I'll have to think about how I get my brew kit in it, plu something for cooking in.
I'm not sure that saving 250grams in weight is worth the extra bulk and having the brew/cook kit in separate bits. It's all so convenient right now and as good at space saving as I reckon I can realistically get. Added to that is the £50 or so price tag of an item I don't really need.
So the jury is out. My initial ardour has cooled somewhat.
Now, if someone did titanium Crusader style mess tins, that just may offer the spice and variety the relationship is lacking...

[Rasputin]

But spending all that money on somethign just to boil water...can't quite reconcile that with myself

My sentiment entirely