Homemade Backpacking Gear

by Jason Klass

Difficulty Rating:  1

Material Sourcing:  3

I love my Antigravity gear pots but I hate burned fingers from lifting the lid.  Alcohol-stove flames are notorious for singing arm hair and burning wrists or fingers while trying to lift the handles of pot lids.  I had a length of fiberglass wick laying around and this simple solution occured to me:  a lightweight and flame-resistant handle.

Weight:  0.1 oz.

• 1/8 in. KF rope wick available here:  http://www.flammaaeterna.com/
• Sharp scissors

Simply cut about 9 1/2" of the wick, double it over itself to form a loop, tie one overhand knot in the tag end and you're done.  Now, just loop the wick to the lid handle using a loop-to-loop connection like a zipper pull (shown:  Antigravitygear 3 cup pot).  Length of the handle can be adjusted for personal taste.

When cooking, try to prop the handle to stand up above the lid (as shown in the first picture).  This isn't because the wick will burn or melt, but because it will be easier to grab than if it lays flat as shown above. The material is stiff enough to stand up in this way.  To prevent it from falling down, pull the wick tightly so the loop cinches up against the metal handle before you put the lid on the pot.  This will stiffen the wick allowing it to stay in place more easily.

To remove the lid, grab the handle quickly and lift. The clearance given by the wick is enough to easily lift or replace the lid without burning your hands (though replacing the lid requires a bit of practice).  I feel that this is a very practical solution to something I've been frustrated by for a long while.

The looped wick also allows you to hang the hot lid on a tree branch avoiding burned hands and solving the problem of where to put the lid while you add or stir your food without setting it in the dirt.

On some pots like these Antigravitygear ones, a plastic coating can help insulate the direct heat from the metal handle but will not protect your hands and fingers from radiant heat escaping steam and invisible flames.