table of contents
- The joy of attaching it to a can, the excitement of walking, the fun of searching - by owning it, the possibilities are endless.
- What is ALBoilith330?
- Main Specifications and ratings
- Detailed review and basic explanation
- Testing while checking temperature changes
- Operational tests in the city and various other locations
- And now the ALBoilith Pot 330 Lid is here!
- summary
The joy of attaching it to a can, the excitement of walking, the fun of searching - by owning it, the possibilities are endless.
TMR Industries (hereafter referred to as TMR) has been making waves in the industry with the release of numerous gears. When this was announced, I thought they had come up with something incredible. I got this one hoping to test it as soon as possible, but its elegance made it a rather long test (wry smile).
I would like to write a thorough review here.
What is ALBoilith330?
It's a can cooler that doesn't just keep 350ml cans cold, but also functions as a cooker after fulfilling its mission, eliminating the dead weight that's a drawback of previous products. And while that was the extent of its functionality at the time of release, with the purchase of the separately sold ALBoilith Pot 330 Lid, it can now also be used as a water bottle and hot water bottle, making it worthy of being called a multi-cooker, or perhaps even a cooker? It's now transforming into a piece of gear that's bursting with possibilities.
Favorite points
- Capacity to boil water needed for most cup noodles etc.
- The cooling capacity of the can is quite effective.
- The world's first machined aluminum can cooler
- No compromise on quality
- Made of aluminum, it can also be used as a cooktop
- Above all, it satisfies the desire to own it when you get it.
- If used carefully, it will last a lifetime
Interesting points
- However, it would be nice if it had a little more cooling power (there is room for individual creativity).
- Since it is an extremely thin, machined product, care must be taken when handling it.
- Therefore, it is not suitable for those who want to use it roughly just because it is light.
Main Specifications and ratings
| Gear Name | ALBoilith330 |
|---|---|
| size | Maximum outer diameter: φ80.3 mm / inner diameter: φ75.0 mm / height: 109.4 mm |
| capacity | Maximum 360ml |
| material | Body: Machined aluminum (0.4mm thick) / Heat insulation: Astrofoil |
| weight | With lid 50g (60g including insulation) / Without lid minimum 30g |
| remarks | Made in Tochigi, Japan |
| Outdoor Gearzine Review | |
| Originality | ★★★★★★ |
| weight | ★★★★★ |
| Cooling power | ★★★☆☆ |
| Storageability | ★★★★☆ |
| Durability | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Ease of use | ★★★★☆ |
| Versatility | ★★★★★ |
Detailed review and basic explanation
First, the basic set contents of the ALBoilith 330 (hereafter referred to as Boilith) are simple: the main body, top lid, and one each of side and bottom Astrofoil. The single-wall design allows it to be used as both a can cooler and a cooktop. While most so-called insulated cans are designed with a double-walled vacuum structure for maximum cooling power, the bold omission of this section means that it can also be used as a cooktop, albeit with reduced cooling power.
The main body is a masterpiece made by cutting a solid cylindrical piece of aluminum down to a thickness of 0.4 mm, and the material has been left as is and not anodized. This may lead to the release of a black anodized version, which is also available in limited quantities for other TMR products.
As a result of all the trimming, it's an extremely thin and lightweight cooker (only 30g!), but that does mean it's weak in terms of strength. The cooker itself is probably strong enough that a man could easily crush it with both hands. If it's dropped or hit, it will dent easily, so be careful or it may end up completely dented. So, the most important thing to be careful of is using it as a stand-alone cooker; the step ensures a certain degree of strength if you have a reasonably strong lid attached, but you should still avoid drops and collisions. Because of its strength, you need to place it in a well-thought-out position when packing, but you don't need to worry too much about it when you're using it with unopened canned drinks in it, as the total strength is at its highest. It's compact and easy to store.
The lid acts as an Astrofoil holder, almost completely covering 350ml cans. The cooker alone is approximately 89mm high, and with the lid attached it is 30mm tall, bringing the total height to 109.4mm.
Testing while checking temperature changes
First, we tested it in Satoyama. For this test, we used this non-contact thermometer, but since it was a little different from its original purpose, we were not able to measure the temperature accurately, so please use the temperature changes as a reference.
There was a vending machine just before the mountain entry point, so I bought a can of drink there and set it in the boiler along with the reference test product. You might think, "Isn't this current can temperature a little high?" You were right. I later realized that when measuring the top of an aluminum can, the non-contact thermometer would display a slightly higher reading due to its thickness. However, the temperature change was accurate, so I considered it sufficient for the test.
About an hour and a half has passed since we started hiking, and it's time to check the temperature change. I dragged a friend along for the test, so we compared three variations. From the left: a Thermos ice pack + Cordura ice pack made by Sola Titanium Gear, a Frozen Break Gel PET bottle koozie from Workman that I happened to have, and a voile wrapped in a bandana. All contents are 350ml cans.
First up is Voilis + Bandana.
Workman is surprisingly expensive. Is the temperature escaping from above too much?
As expected, the dedicated double-walled vacuum sealer has the best cooling power, but the difference is only about 3°C. How do you look at this? TMR's official comment also states that cooling with a voile requires ingenuity, and that if you just want to keep something cold, the dedicated product has the advantage. However, it is true that if you hold it in your hand without a voile seal, it will quickly become lukewarm due to the thermal conductivity of aluminum.
It can be used for about an hour without any temperature change, but with some ingenuity it can last for two to three hours. Therefore, it is not suitable as a can cooler for mountain climbing where you want to drink something at the end of a half-day trip, but it is perfectly fine for quenching your thirst along the way.
After it's finished its role as a can cooler, it can be used as a cooker to boil water for lunch. If it only needs to be used for hot water, you don't need to carry an extra cooker, which can ultimately lead to weight savings. However, since it doesn't have a memory, you need to keep track of how much you're using, and because it's so thin, it's strictly forbidden to run it empty.
The name 330 represents the Better Life advocated by TMR, and when using the cooker alone, the "just right water level" is around 330ml, and when it is full, it reaches a maximum of 360ml.
Operational tests in the city and various other locations
The can cooler mode can be used not only in the mountains but also in town, and I would like to use it. The insulated can fit perfectly on the mountain hike, but the slightly larger Boiler can only fit if you remove the bottom of the Astrofoil that comes with this BPC. However, since you don't have to hold the Boiler directly, it is advantageous in terms of temperature changes.
It can fit 350ml cans in width, so it can also be used with cans with caps like this one. While using it around town, I noticed that normally, when you feel thirsty, you'd buy something from a vending machine and drink it straight away, but with a bottle of boiled water in your hand, you start to wonder when and where you should buy it, and I realized that the whole process has become something to look forward to.
I think that's actually amazing, and I wonder if there is a gear that can change your way of thinking like that.
So rather than drinking it right after you buy it, you think about where you should drink it after you buy it. It's the same when you're in the mountains, and I think that enriches your thinking. A nice view and a cold drink, it's a luxurious moment.
I measured the temperature on the side of the can afterwards, and it seems to be about this temperature right after purchasing it from a vending machine.
After about an hour, the temperature seems to rise by about 3 to 4 degrees Celsius, so under normal operating conditions, it seems like the coffee will stay nice and cold for about an hour to an hour and a half.
And now the ALBoilith Pot 330 Lid is here!
This is the optional ALBoilith Pot 330 Lid, sold separately.
The back is equipped with a removable silicone gasket, and the screw type allows you to operate it while keeping the contents sealed.
This is what it looks like when you replace it with a regular top lid. The lid weighs 17-18g, making it quite lightweight at about 50g! In this mode, it can be used as a water bottle, and boils water even faster when used as a kettle cooker. The removable silicone gasket is fine to leave on, but just in case, it's recommended to unscrew the lid and place it upside down when boiling water. In that case, it's fine to leave the gasket on.
You can also use it as a hot water bottle by trapping boiled water inside. I have never used it in hot water bottle mode, so I can't say for sure, but I am a little concerned about its strength if I use it together with my sleeping bag. So, if you want to use it when it's a little cold, put the boilie turned into a hot water bottle in your sleeping bag first to warm it up. I think it would be better to use it separately when sleeping, as I tend to sleep in a rough position.
Also, if it has a lid, it can be used for more than just liquids, so you can put snacks in it or simply use it as a storage container. With just one lid, the possibilities are endless, and it can be used in any way you like!
summary
What did you think of the ALBoilith 330? It's a can cooler, but it's expandable beyond just that. It's not cheap (suggested retail price: ¥13,200), but if used carefully, it can last a lifetime. The joy of carrying a chilled can of beverage with you to the mountains, and enjoying it in your favorite setting, is something special and exceptional. And it seems like there's more beyond the lid!? The full scope of Boilith is still unclear, but I'm excited and filled with excitement and potential.
By the way, if you set the cans and leave them bare, frost will form like this, but what will you do about it? It's kind of fun to think about it. I'm looking forward to finding the "just right" balance that embodies TMR's slogan, Better light, Better Life.
I'm really curious about TMR, who created something so strange (in a good way), so I'll be sending you a sequel to this story about Moka and TMR soon, so I hope you'll look forward to that as well!
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Yans
