EATING PROPERLY AT THE SHARP END OF EXPEDITIONS IS THE MOST VITAL THING YOU CAN DO. THERE’S SEVERAL PARTS TO THE EQUATION, AND AN OFTEN-OVERLOOKED LINK IN THE CHAIN IS THE THING YOU EAT OUT OF. PEOPLE GET CARRIED AWAY WITH THEIR SPORK OR THEIR CHOPSTICKS, BUT THE VESSEL YOU HOLD IT ALL WITH IS AS IMPORTANT AS YOUR SLEEPING BAG, BOOTS AND TENT – GET IT WRONG AND PROBLEMS ARISE THAT CAN END TRIPS.
SOUND DRAMATIC? THE #1 REASON WE SEE PEOPLE TURN AROUND IS THE FOOD ISN’T DOING IT FOR THEM ANY MORE. SOMETIMES IT’S THE STUFF IN BASECAMP, BUT MORE OFTEN IT’S AN INABILITY TO EAT ENOUGH UP HIGH IN THE CONFINES OF A SMALL TENT WITH ONLY HOT WATER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. ADD TO THE MIX A CUP THAT DOESN’T HELP YOUR FOOD REHYDRATE, OR LETS IT GET COLD FAST, OR IS EASILY LOST, OR SPILLS EASILY OR IS HARD TO HOLD – AND YOUR CHIPPING AWAY AT PERFORMANCE IN WAYS THAT WOULD BE UNACCEPTABLE WITH ANY OTHER BIT OF GEAR.
ALMOST EVERY TRIP WE SEE CLIMBERS SHOW UP WITH A CUP UNSUITED TO THE TASK; STUPID FOLDING DESIGNS, TITANIUM THAT RETAINS NO HEAT, LIDS THAT DON’T STOP LEAKS, NO WAY OF CLIPPING SECURELY IN A LEDGE, DESIGNS THAT LEAK, METAL THAT’S COLD TO THE TOUCH, HANDLES THAT DON’T WORK. TO BE FRANK, THERE’S EFFECTIVELY NO DECENT EXPEDITION-GRADE MUGS TO BE HAD.
EXCEPT THE MONTBELL THERMO 330.
.
DESPITE BEING HEADQUARTERED IN JAPAN, MONTBELL ISN’T A COMPANY WE INTERACT WITH MUCH BUT WE KNOW HAS A CULT FOLLOWING WITH THEIR ULTRALIGHT GEAR. THE THERMO 330 STANDS OUT THOUGH. WE SEARCHED LONG AND HARD TO FIND A CUP THAT FITS EXPEDITION CRITERIA;
– MUST BE BIG ENOUGH FOR HALF A FREEZE DRIED MEAL, A DOUBLE COFFEE OR A BIG SOUP
– MUST BE TOUGH ENOUGH TO DIG SNOW
– MUST INSULATE EFFECTIVELY
– MUST HAVE A STRONG CLIP IN
– MUST HAVE A SCREW-ON LID
– MUST NOT BE COLD TO THE TOUCH
– MUST BE UNBREAKABLE
.
SERIOUSLY, WE FOUND NOTHING ELSE THAT EVEN COMES CLOSE. THERE’S A FEW CUPS FROM COMPANIES LIKE GSI & MSR THAT ARE, AT BEST, OK. BUT THEY ONLY COVER ABOUT HALF THE LIST OF DEMANDS.
THE MONTBELL THERMO 330 IS A CUP YOU CAN SMASH UP CHUNKS OF COMPRESSED SNOW WITH, YOU CAN SIT ON, YOU CAN DIG A SNOW HOLE WITH. WE USE THEM TO CARRY LIGHTS AND CAMERA LENSES IN.
THE HANDLE WON’T BREAK, EVER, AND IS BIG ENOUGH TO GET GLOVED FINGERS THROUGH AND CLIP TO ANY BINER. THE LID HAS A HUGE THREAD TO SCREW DOWN ON AND THE FLIP UP DRINK HOLE COVER, DESPITE NO BEING SOMETHING WE NEED, IS TOUGH ENOUGH YOU CAN USE TO LEVER OPEN THE THREAD WHEN IT INEVITABLY FREEZES CLOSED. BEING PLASTIC IT WON’T DENT, CRACK OR SAG.
NOT BEING METAL IT NEITHER BURNS WHEN HOT NOR GETS TOO COLD TO TOUGH, AND IS INSULATED EASILY WELL ENOUGH IN THE WALLS, LID AND BASE TO GET FOOD REHYDRATING AT 7500m.
THE COLOURS ARE BRIGHT, IT ACCEPTS STICKERS & DUCT TAPE AND OH YEAH – IT’S CHEAP. FOR SOMETHING WE MAKE SOUND LIKE IT SHOULD WIN AN ISPO AWARD, THEY ARE CHEAP ENOUGH SO YOU CAN HAVE A FEW.
RARE IS THERE A BIT OF GEAR SO VITAL THAT HITS THE NUMBERS SO WELL AS THE MONTBELL THERMO 330.
