To all mountain lovers—and myself included—when you tuck a cooker into your backpack, don’t you usually store the gas canister, burner head, and a small cup together with it? How to make your gear as compact as possible within the limited space of a backpack—that’s a shared wish among hikers. From that very idea, we began developing the "Trail Pot R500." Our theme was simple: Could we make it more compact, more space-efficient, and easier to carry on the mountain?

First and foremost, we focused on the diameter. We chose the perfect size of 104mm, just right to fully accommodate a standard 110-size cartridge stored upside down. This eliminates wasted space and prevents any damage to the inside of the cooker. Furthermore, we aimed for a true "Cinderella fit," so it would neatly nest inside other common cookers as well. Regarding depth, we targeted a height of 100mm—just enough to snugly fit a compact burner head. With this size, the full capacity is 500ml. It’s perfectly suited for heating 180ml of freeze-dried rice and 120ml of coffee, tailored precisely for a single meal’s "boiling water" needs.

One part of the development that required extensive trial and error was the lid. Early on, we considered screw caps, locking mechanisms, and various designs. High-seal polypropylene (PP), commonly used in Tupperware, was a strong candidate, but it fell short on heat resistance for boiling water. After testing many options, we ultimately settled on a heat-resistant silicone cap. However, this introduced new challenges: how to maximize airtightness? How to make it easy to attach and remove during use? And most importantly, how to prevent the lid from coming off inside the backpack? We repeatedly revised the silicone’s hardness, cross-sectional thickness, and weight balance. The result was a two-tiered rib structure. This innovative design firmly holds the cartridge in place, functions as a lid when flipped over during boiling, and also secures the handle—a truly groundbreaking concept.

Thanks to this single silicone cap, the "Trail Pot R500" is no longer just a water-boiling tool—it also serves as a functional container. I genuinely look forward to seeing how users will make the most of this gear. Now, pack it up and head out.

Pack and Go!