Skip to main content

Bear Bowl cook pot weighs less than cell phone and folds down to the size of your wallet

There’s no way around it. If you want warm food on the trail, then you have to carry a cook pot. It sounds simple, but, in reality, it’s not. The pots are space hogs — they need to be big enough to boil water and rehydrate your food, and their round shape makes them difficult to stuff neatly in your pack. And the bigger they are, the more weight they add to your bag. If you understand the struggle, then you should check out the Bear Bowl from Bear Minimum.

The Bear Bowl is the world’s first cook pot to fit in your pocket. Yes, your pocket. And it’s not like any other cook pot you’ve seen — it’s square with four folds, two snaps, and a paracord handle. The sides of the pot are made of a food grade, flame resistant material that is cut to fold down into a package about the size of your wallet and weighing less than a cell phone. At the bottom of the Bear Bowl is a 4-inch aluminum base that allows you to rest the pot comfortably on almost any cooking stove and fuel source combination. It holds a respectable 32 ounces of liquid and can reach a boil in approximately five to eight minutes.

Recommended Videos

When you are done eating, cleaning the Bear Bowl is a cinch. Just unsnap the pot, lay it out flat and wipe it down. Because it is flat, you can actually wash all the food out of every crack and crevice. You also can dry the entire surface before packing it back into your bag. The ability to thoroughly clean and dry the Bear Bowl is critical — there is nothing worse than sitting down to cook dinner after a long day on the trail and finding stinky water or old food residue in your pot.

We admit the  Bear Bowl is an odd-looking item, but this unique shape is crucial to the pot’s packability and performance. And performance it provides. “I tested the Bear Bowl on a real SERE training event and it performed throughout the duration in both the intended uses (on a small backpacker stove) and survival scenarios (over a fire).” said S.E.R.E. Specialist Contractor Leif Swenson, USAF. “After testing the Bear Bowl in the field I would recommend it to anyone who would like to reduce space in their pack and still keep a way to cook and boil in the field.”

The Bear Bowl is available for pre-order via IndieGoGo. Early Bird orders of the Bear Bowl will ship with a set of GSI Stackable Cutlery and are available for $19 plus shipping. The pot is expected to ship in June 2017, just in time for the summer backpacking season.

Kelly Hodgkins
Kelly's been writing online for ten years, working at Gizmodo, TUAW, and BGR among others. Living near the White Mountains of…
Aventon goes all in on smart security and connectivity on Level 3 commuter e-bike
Aventon Level 3 right profile with Queen Mary in the background.

Aventon invited me to a pre-launch press briefing on its new Level.3 commuter e-bike in Long Beach, California. The Level.3 has several significant upgrades from the Level.2, including increased range and an adjustable suspension seat post, but the greatest upgrade is the Aventon Control Unit (ACU).

The ACU is a proprietary technology that incorporates 4G, Bluetooth connectivity, and GPS tracking. It enables a host of security, convenience, and personalization features. The Level 3 isn't the first Aventon model with the ACU; the Abound SR utility and cargo e-bike was the initial ACU-equipped e-bike.

Read more
Anker Solix EverFrost 2 Giveaway (Winner Selected)
anker solix everfrost 2 electric cooler giveaway february 2025 1024a241 40be 4543 9e71 cf91899c8f33

Would you believe that Anker, an electronics brand that's known for its power banks, also has an electric cooler? Known as the Anker Solix EverFrost, it's the perfect companion for backyard parties and outdoor adventures. It's so good that it's getting a sequel in the form of the Anker Solix EverFrost 2, and you've got a chance to win one!

Anker's giveaway for the Anker Solix EverFrost 2 runs from February 27 to March 27, which means you've got a month to send in your entries. You're going to want to do so as early as you can just to make sure that you don't forget. There will be only one lucky winner of the all-new electric cooler, so we wish you the best of luck!

Read more
Aventon launches Abound LR super-cargo smart e-bike
Aventon Abound LR left rear three-quarter view facing Long Beach harbor.

Aventon announced the Abound LR e-bike, a longer alternative to the Abound SR and original Aventon Abound cargo e-bike lineup. During a pre-launch press briefing for the Abound LR in February, Aventon characterized the Abound SR as an all-purpose utility and cargo bike and the Abound LR as a cargo carrier for families and a possible replacement for a second car.

The new long-rack LR version shares the short-rack SR's technical and ACU-based smart features and most physical details, except length and weight. The Abound LR is 8 pounds heavier and 7.1 inches longer than the SR. The two new Abound models are similar to the Chevy Tahoe and Suburban, two other vehicles built for the same purpose; one's just longer.
Abound LR features and capabilities

Read more