The first rule of cutting your pack weight? If you don’t need it, don’t bring it. That dictum has led me and people I know to leave everything from trekking poles to full-size headlamps to our tents behind. So it’s hard to imagine why a dedicated lightweight backpacker would decide to add a tea kettle to their stripped-down pack.
After more than a year with MSR’s Pika Ultralight Teapot, however, I’ve become a convert. Consider: At 5.2 ounces for the 1-liter model, the Pika is as light or lighter than many other stripped-down pots. And while it might not double as a water bottle, assuming that you don’t plan on cooking anything more complicated than a dehydrated meal, it’s versatile and works well enough to fully replace a more traditional pot. Here, I go long on my love for my backpacking teapot—and make my argument for why they’re worth a try.