TGO Rating: 4 stars

The Caldera Ti-Tri is the result of collaboration between two small specialist US lightweight backpacking companies, Titanium Goat and Trail Designs. It’s a version of the latter’s Caldera Cone made from titanium and designed so that it can be used with wood.

The Ti-Tri also comes with alcohol burner and solid fuel stand, hence the name, plus a pot and fuel bottle and a bag and cup into which it all fits. There’s an optional titanium floor. Titanium Goat sells two versions, with a 550ml pot and a 900ml pot, weighing 198g and 269g (including alcohol and solid fuel burner) and costing $110 and $125 respectively, while Trail Designs will make up custom sizes to fit any size of Caldera Cone. For this feature Trail Designs made me up two Ti-Tri systems with Anti-Gravity Gear 850ml and two-litre pots. Including a plastic carrying container (doubles as a mug) and optional floor but without the alcohol burner (16g), fuel bottle (22g) and solid fuel stand (7g) the two systems weigh 264.5 grams and 376 grams, which is very light.

Caldera Cones act as combined windshields and pot supports. The pot fits in the top of the cone, preventing heat exiting there, while air enters through vents in the cone. It’s a very efficient system. The Ti-Tri cones are made from springy titanium and are easier to roll up than the aluminium ones. The design of the cone is the same except for four small holes near the top, which are for two titanium tent pegs that support the pot, raising it much higher than when using meths or solid fuel and allowing room for the fire. All the cones have a deep cutaway on one side. This is for inserting fuel without having to remove the pot. The fire itself can be lit on the ground but I recommend the optional two-part titanium floor, which protects the ground and makes dealing with the ashes much easier. Once a small fire is burning, the cone can be placed over it and the pot put on the top. The cone contains the fire well though flames can emerge through the air vents and the fuel opening. Wind resistance is good but the unit is so light that care needs to be taken that it doesn’t blow away before the pot is placed on top. To keep the fire roaring the bottom vents should be placed into the wind so that a chimney effect is created.

While not designed primarily as a wood stove, the Ti-Tri works pretty well with a fire inside. The cone does the same windshield, chimney and pot support job as with a meths burner. The weight is very low and the cone is more flexible and easier to use than the standard version. One could say that this is the luxury Caldera Cone.

TECHNICAL SPEC
Design: cone windscreen
Materials: titanium
Boil time: none claimed
Weight: 73g for two-litre pot cone, 55g for 0.7-litre pot cone
Likes: ultralight, meths/solid fuel option
Dislikes: cones only fit one pan size

www.titaniumgoat.com
www.traildesigns.com