We’ve had the privilege of testing a few GSI products, and the folks over at GSI have yet to disappoint. I needed a good cooking setup for backpacking and when I was given the Halulite MicroDualist for testing and review, I couldn‘t wait to get started.
The GSI Halulite MicroDualist is basically all the cookware you will need to boil water and eat meals that require re-hydration. The MicroDualist comes with a 1.4 liter Halulite pot with plastic lid, two bowls, two insulated drink cups, two telescoping foons (sporks), and a bag for a stove. Halulite is a lightweight proprietary blend of aluminum. The pot has an anodized finish. All of the kit packs inside the pot which then is put inside the stuff sack/welded sink. Yes that‘s right, the stuff sack has a rubbery coating on the inside that allows it to become a wash basin for your kitchenware.
Each piece of the MicroDualist has been carefully thought and incorporates useful features. The handle of the cook pot locks into position to hold the lid on for carrying, and of course a position for holding onto the pot. The bowls and cups have markings for fluid ounces and milliliters. The drink cups are insulated with a band of neoprene-like material that is removable for washing. The foons have telescoping handles that allow them to shrink in size for packing. The lid of the pot incorporates holes to vent steam and allow the lid to function as a strainer. This is a very functional piece of gear.
I have boiled several pots of water in the GSI MicroDualist with soda can alcohol stoves that I built, and I‘ve used purchased stoves. The diameter of the pot works great with my homemade stoves. The flames extend to the edge of the pot and sometimes barely beyond. Little heat is wasted there. The lid of the pot has a fold down tab in the middle that provides a good place to lift it without burning your fingers.
GSI places warning labels on the foons to point out a small hazard. When packing, the handle of the foon slides over the bowl. If you are not careful, you can jam the end of the handle into one of your digits. I do have to remind myself to keep my fingers clear when retracting the handle, but I‘ve not had a problem. The foons are sturdy enough to eat overcooked sticky oatmeal and I had no troubles with them breaking down.
I was a bit concerned with the shape of the drinking cups, but after having a sip or two decided there was no problem there. The insulation does keep your fingers away from the heat. I don‘t like lids on my cups very much, and don‘t use these lids a lot, but they do work as intended. The low and wide design of the bowls and cups does help to keep them upright and prevent spilling.
I weighed the Halulite MicroDualist in several ways. The weight of everything as packaged is 17.8 ounces. When only packing for yourself, leave behind one mess kit, and the sink/stuff sack for a weight of 12.9 ounces. If going truly minimalist, the pot itself weighs in at 9.3 ounces.
At an MSRP of 54.95, I think the GSI Halulite MicroDualist offers excellent value. Check it and all of the other great GSI gear at www.gsioutdoors.com.
– Mark