Have you ever wished that your cookpot might be used to hold additional water? Have you ever ever unintentionally melted your plastic cold-soaking jar whereas cooking ramen with water from a motel room espresso pot? Nicely, the funky and helpful BOT HD from Vargo is price a glance, even when your reply to each is, “Huh? No.”
The BOT, whose title is a mishmash of “bottle” and “pot,” combines the capabilities of each. It’s a titanium pot with a watertight screwtop lid. It’s additionally a water bottle that may deal with the warmth of a range. It’s a cold-soaking jar that can be utilized to cook dinner over a campfire. Yep, it’s loads of issues, and has the potential to streamline and add versatility to your kitchen setup.
As a cussed cold-soaker who enjoys a spoonful of his associate’s scorching meals every time he can get one, I’ve had my eye on the BOT for years. With a month of mountain climbing with out her and her range, it was lastly time for this large boy to develop up and get his personal kitchen. Lastly, it was time to strive the BOT, and right here’s what I discovered.
Vargo BOT HD Titanium Pot At-a-Look

The Vargo BOT HD is like another titanium pot, apart from that freaky-cool screwtop lid.
MSRP: $110
Weight: 5.4 ounces
Quantity: 34 fluid ounces
Dimensions: ~4 inches diameter, 6.3 inches tall
Supplies: Titanium, heat-resistant O-ring
Nation of Origin: China
Supposed Use
The BOT lineup was designed with versatility in thoughts. With titanium development and a watertight screwtop lid, this factor is a cookpot, water bottle, chilly soak jar, and/or dry bag. You could possibly even use it to ship a message in a bottle.
Do you would like that your cook dinner pot might additionally carry water throughout lengthy dry stretches of path? Do you chilly soak, however typically need a scorching meal with out melting your plastic jar? Nicely, these are two eventualities that the BOT was invented to handle, and a extra inventive individual can most likely assume of some extra.
Circumstances of Evaluate

My BOT cooked up loads of large meals and pots of tea on the JMT this summer time.
My BOT HD was my meals vessel for the whole summer time. I began with loads of chilly soaking on Colorado’s Rainbow Path, then switched to cooking most days on the John Muir Path (JMT). In the course of the latter, my mother and I shared a BOT-full for morning tea, scorching dinner, and night tea.
We largely cooked meals (beans, couscous, Knorr, ramen) immediately within the pot fairly than boiling water for pouch use. The bigger 34oz quantity of the HD mannequin was enough to feed us each after which some. In the course of the day, I saved my range (BRS-3000T), water filter (Katadyn BeFree), lighter, and a small gas canister (110g) contained in the BOT.
Vargo BOT HD Options

Test it out: The BOT HD has folding handles, quantity markings, and that screw lid. Discover how the lid is the other way up when heating the BOT.
Screwtop lid: The BOT’s lid is threaded to screw onto the pot physique. That is the distinguishing characteristic relative to different titanium cook dinner pots. A rubber O-ring supplies a leakproof seal for all of your jostling pleasure, and permits you to carry water and/or soak meals whereas mountain climbing. Simply make sure that to unscrew the lid earlier than putting the BOT close to a warmth supply except you need to lick your meals from the bottom. Flip the lid upside-down for explosion-free cooking.
Titanium: 100% titanium development helps the BOT stay light-weight and powerful. And there aren’t any bizarre coatings to fret about scratching or leaching into your meals. Be careful, although — the skinny materials transfers warmth quickly, so stir meals often to keep away from burning.
Folding handles: The wire handles fold flush with the skin of the BOT for transport and are available collectively once you need to decide it up. That’s proper, no want for a separate pot holder with the BOT HD. The BOT XL and BOT-700 even have handles. The unique BOT doesn’t.
Measurement markings: Quantity measurements are stamped into the sidewall in 100ml increments from 300-900ml. It is likely to be good to have fluid ounce graduations embossed on the opposite aspect, however if you happen to don’t know methods to convert to fluid ounces, simply overestimate. There’s nothing flawed with making your slop a little bit soupy and extra-hydrating.
Why BOT?

Afternoon snack is able to go after soaking it over the past hour of mountain climbing. No want to attend or cook dinner withe the BOT.
I began cold-soaking throughout my first thru-hike on the PCT in 2015, a nasty behavior that I’ve largely saved ever since. Through the years, I’ve tried all kinds of vessels to carry out this obligation, from peanut butter jars to a mini nalgene and a horrible bag thingy from CNOC. Nevertheless, none of those have been excellent, and on these uncommon events that I needed to cook dinner one thing scorching, these plasticky implements let me down.
I used to be interested in the BOT as a result of it guarantees to be a sturdy cold-soaker that eliminates plastic and may deal with scorching meals every time I need it. So far as I’m conscious, this mix makes it one in all a form. Throughout heat journeys, I’ll depart my range at house and cold-soak my dinner earlier than reaching camp. In the course of the shoulder seasons, all I have to do is add a gas canister and range for some cozy scorching meals. Voilà! The BOT can do each.
Others is likely to be drawn to the BOT as a result of it might serve double obligation as a water bottle throughout the day whereas additionally getting used to organize dinner within the night. This might be particularly useful on trails with lengthy dry stretches between water sources. I’m you, PCT, CDT, AZT, FT, and so forth. Heck, even the Appalachian Path has some long-ish water carries. And oh yeah, the BOT can be utilized as a scorching water bottle to maintain you heat on chilly nights.
The reality is, in case your menu features a combination of cold-soaking and scorching meals, there isn’t a easy method to put together each that I do know of, apart from the BOT. You may boil water in a metallic pot, however you’ll want a separate sealable container (ziploc dishevelled or jar) to soak whereas mountain climbing. You may survive on rehydrated chilly mush in a jar, however your range will soften a gap proper by it if you happen to ever get a hankering for one thing scorching.
The BOT actually ain’t excellent, nevertheless it’s an enormous step in the fitting course for hybrid eaters like me.
How’d It Do?
After a summer time of heavy use, my BOT HD continues to be pristine and has earned a everlasting house in my backpacking kitchen. Not solely did it dwell as much as all of my expectations, nevertheless it averted many of the pitfalls that had repelled me for years. Positive, I burned some oatmeal that may stay charred to the underside for eternity, and the pot is considerably heavier than my crusty peanut butter jar, nevertheless it proved its price.
Finally, it is likely to be a easy activity, however from cold-soaking for simply me to cooking for 2, my BOT pulled it off simply.
Which BOT Is Finest?

High: the stuff I carried within the BOT HD more often than not. Backside: all that stuff within the BOT HD.
Out of the 4 BOT fashions within the steady, I went with the large, 1-liter BOT HD. I favored that capability, particularly as a result of it could be used to cook dinner for 2, and it appeared like a no brainer to get the one with folding handles. It’s larger than most solo hikers will want, however regardless of the boosted quantity, the HD shares the identical side-pocket-friendly diameter because the shorter BOT-700. For a modest weight penalty (+0.6oz), the additional storage appears like a worthy tradeoff to me.
When you’re not involved with aspect pockets, the BOT XL is a shorter, extra steady model of the HD. Whereas the narrower BOTs can maintain a small 110g gas canister inside, this squatter BOT nests with 230g canisters.
Chilly-Soaking

Getting my small lunch portion of dehydrated refried beans soaking for later. With the BOT, I simply screwed on the lid and saved mountain climbing.
There’s nothing wild or revolutionary in regards to the cold-soaking capabilities of the BOT. Identical to one would with a plastic jar, add water, dry meals, after which wait. If you wish to get wild, strive including the meals first. With the watertight lid, it’s secure to stroll whilst you soak and even do a handstand. I like this methodology for meals with longer rehydrating instances, resembling thick-cut oats, ramen, and Knorr sides, so I can eat as quickly as I cease.
Professional-tip: For gloppier meals, begin the rehydrating course of at the start of a break so it has time to “gel” earlier than you begin mountain climbing once more. This can decrease splashing and maintain the hard-to-clean lid cleaner.
Cooking

Pushing that 34-ounce capability to the restrict by combining a field of couscous and a Knorr aspect right into a single dinner for 2.
Cooking with the BOT HD is just like utilizing different light-weight titanium pots. The skinny materials is horrible at spreading warmth evenly, so burning meals is a continuing threat for all meals that aren’t of the “boil water, add dry meals, and wait” selection. The slim diameter additionally locations the handles within the scorching exhaust that billows across the backside. Thankfully, they quiet down rapidly, and neither of those downsides is especially distinctive or thrilling.
The place the BOT HD differs is in its tip-prone peak and bizarre lid. Little doubt about it, the slim and tall profile requires cautious balancing when full. Anytime I used to be heating the BOT over my tiny range, I guarded it intently to stop a devastating spill. And that was after taking a protracted minute to stage the cooking floor earlier than flicking my Bic. Ultralight canister stoves aren’t precisely revered for his or her stability, however the dimensions of the BOT HD exacerbate this situation. The broader BOT XL makes it a more sensible choice for clumsier customers or earthquake-prone areas.
The lid is funky however simple to make use of. Simply just remember to unscrew and flip it the other way up earlier than heating something up. In any other case … Growth! I feel (I don’t receives a commission sufficient to do this myself). The lid can also be deep sufficient (~8 fluid ounces) that one might most likely use it to cook dinner an egg or as a small cup for fancy drinks.
The ultimate distinguishing “scorching characteristic” of the BOT is the bonus capability to function a scorching water bottle. With non-watertight pots, pulling this off requires a separate heat-resistant water bottle, which is a heavy addition to any gear record. With the BOT, simply warmth up the water, screw on the lid, and tuck it wherever you need.
Weight
Does anybody even care about an oz as of late? (Lol, in fact I do.) Yeah, properly, the BOT will not be the lightest pot round. That threaded lid is made with far more titanium than the standard flat lid included with different pots, and so it weighs far more.
Nonetheless, we’re speaking a couple of lower than 2-ounce distinction between this larger BOT HD and the traditional Toaks 750ml pot. That’s lower than a single Clif Bar. My suggestion? If the bonus versatility of a screwtop lid is even barely intriguing to you, don’t sweat the additional ounces.
Now, if we’re evaluating the 5.4-ounce BOT HD with a 1- or 2-ounce peanut butter jar? Oh boy, that’s like two complete Clif Bars weight distinction. Ludicrous. Truly no, it’s not. Belief me, your ultralight cred can climate this storm.
Stress Lock
It was largely the fabled strain lock that saved me from the BOT for therefore a few years. Apparently, the lid can grow to be sealed shut when subjected to giant swings in temperature or elevation (aka strain modifications). As lame as that sounds, I discovered it to be a non-issue throughout my fairly regular utilization. Even with large elevation modifications within the Excessive Sierra, unscrewing the BOT was by no means a problem. And whereas an unopenable lid is a chance, the problem was infinitely much less prevalent than I feared it could be.
Vargo BOT HD Professionals

It’s arduous to see, however the BOT is in the fitting aspect pocket, the place I all the time carried it together with a 1-liter water bottle. It’s good that it matches there.
Multi-purpose: As you’ve gathered by now, the BOT might be helpful in a number of methods. Relying on the remainder of your gear setup, it’d mix the perform of a number of objects, or it might present extra versatility. Now your pot can also be a water bottle, so you possibly can depart one behind. Now you possibly can chilly soak securely and cook dinner with out melting, all utilizing the identical vessel.
Secure storage: I’m not the primary hiker to retailer a bunch of tidbits inside my cookpot, however I do assume that the BOT does it higher than most others. The lid is safe, so you possibly can put every kind of necessary issues in there with confidence that they’ll nonetheless be even after you dash away from that basically freaky spider. It’s waterproof too.
Proportions: All BOTs apart from the broader BOT XL are sized to suit properly in your typical backpack’s aspect pocket together with el classico Smartwater bottle. Inflexible pots and jars might be awkward to pack, so I like that my BOT has an apparent house. Mixed with the above professional, it might act as a bonus safety pocket for small objects. And whereas different titanium pots would possibly slot in the identical spot, they lack the safe lid, which helps the BOT resist deformation from the fixed squishing and jostling.
Huge parts: When you’re cooking for 2, or simply actually hungry, the 34-ounce capability of the BOT HD is probably going sufficient to maintain it a one-pot meal. That’s nice for chopping weight on partnered journeys, nevertheless it additionally limits spillage throughout solo meals.
Cleansing: The BOT is generally simple to maintain clear. Arms match within the huge mouth if the meals was finger-licking good (please, don’t lick your nasty hiker fingers), and the lid prevents splashing throughout shake-cleaning.
Selection: When you just like the titanium-pot-with-a-lid factor however don’t like the dimensions of the BOT HD, there are different choices for you. The BOT XL is shorter and wider with the identical quantity. The unique BOT retains the capability and form however removes the handles for unparalleled sleekness. And the BOT-700 is a shorter model well-suited for many solo hikers.
Vargo BOT HD Cons

As you possibly can see, I’m not the most effective at centering a pot on a range. My ineptitude, mixed with the tallness of the BOT HD, made tea time treacherous.
Value: ¡Ay, caramba! In contrast with different titanium cookpots, the BOT is considerably costlier. It’s additionally a special animal, so possibly this isn’t a good comparability. Nevertheless, except the screwtop fulfills a transparent want, it is likely to be arduous to justify the added value.
Stress lock: As I discussed above, some customers report that the BOT’s lid can grow to be unopenable throughout large strain swings. I by no means skilled this, however it might occur. My guess is that temperature modifications are the worst offender (i.e. scorching water bottle). Vargo even weighs in on the problem — “To depressurize, use a uninteresting, flat object to elevate up the O-ring to permit air to enter the BOT.”
Heavier: The screw lid is the good half in regards to the BOT, and it’s additionally what makes it so heavy relative to different titanium pots. As with value, if this characteristic isn’t one thing that you simply truly need, then there are superior alternate options which can be lighter and cheaper.
Tippy: The BOT HD is tall. That signifies that balancing it whereas full on a tiny, uneven camp range can typically be treacherous. I by no means unintentionally dumped mine, however I used to be hyper-vigilant. Finally, I feel this inconvenience is properly price it for the additional capability and skill to slot in a aspect pocket, however the BOT XL or BOT-700 are extra steady choices.
Cleansing: Aha! Not really easy in any case! The lid has an interior lip on the underside edge, which is large enough to catch meals but sufficiently small to make cleansing awkward. With a little bit care, it’s simple to maintain meals out within the first place (one thing that will solely occur whereas cold-soaking), however tremendous goopy stuff can get lodged in there. And realizing hikers, as soon as in, it’s by no means popping out.
Remaining Ideas

Dwelling giant with the Vargo BOT HD on an alpine seashore within the Excessive Sierra. Let’s maintain this partnership going.
When you made it this far, then you definately most likely don’t need to hear any extra in regards to the BOT or my opinions. Nicely too unhealthy!
Truly, I don’t have anything to say aside from the BOT HD is a real enchancment over the mediocre, melt-prone cold-soaking containers of my previous. I want I had made the change sooner. And to not toot my very own horn or something, however after over 10,000 miles of rehydrating my mushy meals in aforementioned mediocrity, I used to be nonetheless in search of an ideal answer.
Whereas the BOT isn’t excellent, it’s rattling shut, and I take into account my search concluded. If the value scares you, yeah, I get that. $110 buys loads of peanut butter jars, however the BOT is constructed to outlast your sneakers, tent, sleeping pad, and possibly even your knees.
Store the Vargo BOT HD
Comparable Ultralight Pots
Vargo BOT XL
MSRP: $110
Weight: 5.5 ounces
Quantity: 37 fluid ounces
Materials: Titanium
Vargo BOT-700
MSRP: $100
Weight: 4.8 ounces
Quantity: 23 fluid ounces
Materials: Titanium
Toaks Titanium 750ml Pot
MSRP: $27
Weight: 3.6 ounces
Quantity: 25 fluid ounces
Materials: Titanium
MSR Titan Kettle — 900ml
MSRP: $65
Weight: 4.4 ounces
Quantity: 30.4 fluid ounces
Materials: Titanium
Peanut Butter Jar
MSRP: Free if you happen to like peanut butter
Weight: 1-2 ounces
Quantity: 16, 28, 40, 80 fluid ounces
Materials: PET
Disclaimer: The Vargo BOT HD was donated for the aim of evaluate.
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