[A genuine, self-funded review] A hands-on review of the ultra-lightweight aluminum cooker and alcohol stove "GARUD kanamari400 & ao" for minimalists who want to enjoy both "ultra-light" and "delicious" food.
written by Yosuke.C
I've never been confident in my physical strength, so I naturally started choosing lighter gear, and before I knew it, most of my gear was on the lighter side.
Now, whenever I see an item that is extremely light, I just want to try it out, and although the original purpose was to cover my physical strength, I now feel like I'm enjoying the process of using such strange items that make me think, ``What is this?''
Among these, I found a cooker and alcohol stove made by GARUD
The cooker itself and all the accessories that go with it weigh just 80g, making it incredibly light.
Regardless of whether they are easy to use or not, this extraordinary lightness and sharpness is exactly what I like about this cooking system. So, this time I was GARUD 's ultra-lightweight aluminum cooker " kanamari400 ", alcohol stove " ao ", pod lifter " tsuibami ", and windshield/trivet " hizutsu " this season, so I'll review them right away.
table of contents
Main features of GARUD kanamari400 & ao
The GARUD "kanamari400" is an ultra-lightweight cooker with a lid made from an ultra-thin aluminum alloy that's easy to use and easy to cook with. It was born from the idea that, since it was hard to find an item that suited his style of "camping with lightweight gear," he decided to "make one himself." While most lightweight cookers on the market are made from titanium, the kanamari400 pursued his goal of "cooking delicious rice even in an ultra-lightweight environment," deliberately using aluminum alloy instead of titanium, which has low thermal conductivity. By cutting it as thin as possible, the cooker weighs an extremely light 31g, with the lid weighing just 10g. It fits inside a Ziploc heat-resistant plastic container, making it portable without the need for a storage bag.
ao developed to be used in conjunction with the Kanamari 400 , is made from machined aluminum alloy. Its beautiful body strikes a balance between strength and lightness, and its carbon felt combustion mechanism reduces the risk of breakdowns or accidents. Rather than boiling water quickly with high heat, this stove excels at cooking rice, cooking other dishes, and keeping food warm with its stable, long-lasting combustion.
Favorite points of kanamari400
- Made of aluminum, it's easy to cook rice (you can cook 0.5 cups at a time)
- The capacity is 400ml, so you can prepare just enough water for one meal if you use hot water for rehydration.
- Despite being made of aluminum, it is incredibly light, weighing just 41g including the lid.
- It fits perfectly in a Ziploc bag and can hold everything you need for cooking.
- Hard anodized aluminum improves corrosion resistance and develops a unique patina over time.
Points to note about the kanamari400
- Because it is lightweight, the body shakes when boiling.
- It's just big enough to boil water for one meal, so be careful not to let it boil over.
- There are no markings inside the cup, making it difficult to measure
Favorite points of ao
- Simple structure means no worries about problems
- The carbon felt system prevents fuel from spilling and makes it easy to handle.
- Can be heated continuously over low heat (suitable for cooking rice)
Points of interest for ao
- Not suitable for people who want to boil water quickly
Main specifications and evaluation of kanamari400
| Item name | kanamari400 |
|---|---|
| size |
|
| capacity | 400ml |
| weight |
|
| material | aluminum alloy |
| Reference price | 7,480 yen |
| Outdoor Gearzine Review | |
| Thermal conductivity | ★★★★★ |
| Ease of cooking | ★★★☆☆ |
| Functionality | ★★★☆☆ |
| weight | ★★★★★ |
| Portability | ★★★★★ |
| Durability | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Suitable situations | Solo hikers who want to cut down on weight as much as possible, but also want to be able to cook a decent amount of food in addition to boiling water. |
Main specs and reviews of ao
| Item name | ao |
|---|---|
| size | Φ50 x 31 [mm] |
| weight | 21g |
| material | Aluminum alloy, carbon |
| Reference price | 5,060 yen |
| Outdoor Gearzine Review | |
| Burning power | ★★★☆☆ |
| Wind resistant | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Easy to cook rice or simmer | ★★★★☆ |
| weight | ★★★★★ |
| Portability | ★★★★★ |
| Functionality | ★★★☆☆ |
| Durability | ★★★☆☆ |
| Versatility | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Suitable situations | This ultra-lightweight solo hiker stove can be used as a main stove for quickly boiling water, as well as for cooking rice and slow cooking. |
Detailed review
Weight and packability
Weight 80g without fuel and Ziploc
the kanamari400 does not have a handle. It is a cooker that comes with a non-handle cup and a lid that also has no knobs. Its capacity is 400ml (when full), making it one of the smallest cookers available. The cooker weighs 31g and the lid weighs 10g, for a total weight of just under 50g. the kanamari400 is the Evernew titanium cooker "Ti400NH," but it weighs just 34g, making kanamari400 than Ti400NH in terms of weight alone. It can be said to be one of the lightest cookers and cups in the 400ml class.
Lightweight, weighing just 41g including the lid
In addition to the cookers and stoves introduced here, GARUD also has a lineup of products such as the pod lifter " tsuibami " and a dedicated windshield " hizutsu " that can also be used as a grate, and by combining these products you can create the perfect "ultra-lightweight rice cooking set."
The tsuibami pot lifter allows you to grip the cookware between your thumb and index finger, allowing you to not only lift the cookware but also operate the lid, making it a must-have when using the non-handle Kanamari 400. Its light weight of just 6g the Kanamari 400 's handleless design. Because this pod lifter is so small, handling large cookware requires significant fingertip pressure, reducing maneuverability. However, it was easy to use with a capacity of around 400ml. Because non-handle cookware can be easily handled while heating, even beginners can easily handle them with confidence.
It can be used by pinching it with your fingers. It can handle a 400ml cooker without any problems.
Of course, if you're a fan of crispy UL, you can choose not to use a pod lifter, but the cooker is made of aluminum, which has high thermal conductivity, so the sides of the cooker get hotter than a titanium cooker, making it almost impossible to hold with bare hands. If you don't use a pod lifter, you'll need to take precautions such as wearing gloves.
The trivet , which doubles as a windshield, is made of 0.15mm thick stainless steel and weighs 12g. When assembled, it forms a 70 x 65mm cylindrical shape that covers the alcohol stove. Stainless steel is used for the parts that are most susceptible to wind, and mesh sections on the top and bottom prevent oxygen deficiency within the windshield and make it easier to check the combustion status. When disassembled, the trivet is in sheet form, so it can be stored in the gaps between the pots. It is a highly versatile trivet, even when used alone.
The kanamari400 , 21g alcohol stove ao , tsuibami and hizutsu all weigh just 80g, making for a cooking kit weighing less than 100g. Even if you add a Ziploc bag, lighter and fuel (30ml) to that, it weighs just 165.3g. Furthermore, all of this the kanamari400 , making it possible to have everything you need for cooking all in one place (see photo below).
The lighter is a Bic mini, and the alcohol bottle is an Evernew 30ml. The total weight is 165.3g.
Fits perfectly inside Ziploc screw containers, no need for a storage bag
The Kanamari 400 fits perfectly inside Asahi Kasei's Ziploc screw container (473ml). Ziploc screw containers are a familiar staple in the UL community, where simple rehydration cooking is the norm. They're designed to fit perfectly, and as proof of this, when the Kanamari 400 , the screw container comes with it as a case. This is something that mass-produced manufacturers can't do, and it's a playful and interesting touch. Of course, the screw container is practical for conveniently eating freeze-dried foods, but it also makes sense, as it protects the Kanamari 400 itself, which is processed to be as thin as possible.
The more you use it, the more character it develops thanks to the hard anodized surface.
The of the ultra-thin aluminum alloy is hard anodized to improve corrosion resistance (to prevent corrosion and rust). As a result, as you start using this cooker, cracks will gradually appear on the initially smooth surface (see photo below).
These cracks do not indicate deterioration and do not affect the use of the cookware, but on the other hand, no two cookwares will have the same pattern. This means that the more you use it, the more it will develop its own unique character, and it is a wonderful feature that allows you to enjoy the changes that occur over time.
Field performance
karnamari400: It takes some getting used to, but I'm very satisfied with the exceptionally fast boiling time and ease of use.
The Kanamari 400 has a capacity of 400ml when full, but the practical capacity for boiling water is only 300ml, which is by no means a generous size. However, it is enough for one serving of Cup Noodles (around 300ml), one serving of a typical freeze-dried product (150ml-180ml), and powdered soup, so it covers the minimum amount of hot water needed for one person to prepare one meal, and as an ultra-lightweight solo hiker, this just-right size is a welcome addition.
Since it's built to the limits of weight and capacity, it does require some care when handling. You need to keep a close eye on it to make sure it doesn't boil over, and even if you have a pod lifter, the cooker tends to wobble when it's fully boiled, so you have to be careful when picking it up. It can be a hassle until you get used to it.
The Kanamari 400 also the amount needed for one meal. The bottom line is about 150ml, which can be used as a guide when making a cup of coffee or soup, so I didn't find the lack of markings to be a problem. In fact, since these lines essentially serve as the scale, you can see the lines from any angle, making it easy to use.
The lower line is approximately 150 ml, and the upper line is approximately 300 ml
The Kanamari 400 is an ultra-thin aluminum alloy cookware , and because it is made of aluminum and is ultra-thin, it has outstanding thermal conductivity. When I actually tried it using a gas stove in a normal environment, it boiled water extremely quickly, just as I expected.
It takes about 1 minute to boil about 300ml of water, which is really quick (see photo). The material is very thin and transfers heat very well, so be careful not to overheat it.
Alcohol stove ao: Easy to use with a stable flame, perfect for long-lasting heat. However, be careful of cold and wind.
The ao is an alcohol stove made of a machined aluminum cup filled with carbon felt. When hiking or mountaineering with UL equipment, the main function of an alcohol stove is to boil water rather than cook food, but the ao can also boil water normally if you are on flat ground and in a calm, windless environment.
However, it was not ideal when it came to quickly boiling water in harsh environments.
For example, a Kanamarini 400 on top of the Ao and Hizutsu . After about 10 minutes of heating, the water got hot, but it didn't boil completely, and I ended up running out of fuel. As such, the Ao 's maximum heat output is inferior to that of other open-jet alcohol stoves that boast high heat output, so it cannot be said to be suitable for quickly boiling water in all environments.
On the other hand, cooking rice or keeping where you need a steady, low flame burning for a long time , would be quite difficult with the open-jet alcohol stove mentioned above, but on the other hand, ao x kanamari you can do this without any ingenuity.
It's a rather unique alcohol stove, and while it may not be the best choice for mountaineering or hiking, its weight of just 21g means it's not impossible to slip into your gear. Use it as a secondary stove to cook rice or keep food warm. Even just being able to do this will greatly improve the quality of your mountain meals, making them even more luxurious.
The heat is not strong, but it burns with a stable flame.
I actually cooked rice with the kanamari400 and ao combo and tried it.
of the aluminum cooker Kanamari 400 the ao which can maintain stable cooking over a long period of time with the perfect heat control over a low flame, could be a minimal-weight rice cooking system for solo hikers. To prove this, I tried cooking rice with this combination myself, and in my multiple attempts, all the rice came out fluffy and without burning.
It can cook 0.5 cups of rice, making it the perfect size for preparing a single meal.
Incidentally, as an aside, the trick to cooking delicious rice is to "take the time to let the rice absorb the water" and "check the inside frequently." The Kanamari 400 is too small for cooking, but it's perfect for boiling water and cooking rice, and it has a unique character that titanium cookers don't have. When I the Kanamari 400 and the ao , I let the rice absorb the water for about 30 minutes, then cooked it for about 12 minutes and steamed it for 10 minutes, resulting in fluffy rice.
It can actually cook 0.5 cups of rice at a time. I often fail when cooking rice with titanium, but the Kanamari 400 cooked it fluffy. For those who prefer a slightly larger capacity, the larger Kanamari 600 is also available. If you really want to eat a lot of rice, the 600 is the way to go, but in terms of ease of cooking and weight the Kanamari 400 felt like a better balance for a lightweight solo hiker.
Summary: Is it enough to just focus on lightness? UL's new cooking system enriches the tasteless dining table
When I enjoy UL hiking, I don't just buy gear to shave off every gram, but I think it's okay to have fun while keeping things light, and to sneak in some equipment that may not be necessary, and enjoy the short time you spend at your destination. Carrying a bottle of local sake purchased at the foot of the mountain and enjoying a drink with a spectacular view. Even if I lighten my gear by 100g, I still sneak in a bottle of sake that caught my eye at the foot of the mountain and wear it. I love this kind of enjoyment, so I might sneak in my ao and kanamari400
Written by: Yosuke.C
People who act with just one backpack with the motto of "as light as possible" so that they don't get inconvenient.
From spring to autumn, I chase after char deep in the mountains and go fishing in the mountain stream. We walked the mountains in search of spectacular views that cannot be seen from the ground. Camping to be healed by the bonfire. Snowboarding is a floating mountain with a mountain of silver.
A freelance writer who has been enjoying the outdoors for over 20 years and enjoying the outdoors in his own way all year round. Based on my experience writing articles for more than dozens of outdoor web media, I will be sharing my own experiences and tools that I have been using.
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