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Post by malloony on Apr 28, 2016 1:20:43 GMT -8
I am currently developing outdoor cooking gear. It will be multi-functional, but I need to know what functions it should have.
Do you guys have any suggestions?
And how would you like it; lightweight, small, stainless,...?
Thanks for helping me out!
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Post by malloony on Apr 28, 2016 2:34:02 GMT -8
Allright, i'll try: It is true that I am not being specific, that is because I do not fully know what I am going to make. I know it is for cooking, i know that it is for people that love being outdoors, but i don't know what it will look like. So I asked you guys the question of what functions my tool needs to have, what the product should be capable of doing. Like, does it need a knife for cutting (obviously, yes). But what else would you like it to do? Would you like a spoon, a fork, a spatula or something completely different? if so, what? This product is still in the beginning fase, but in order to create a concept I need to know what you want it to do. Is this a bit less vague?? I hope so -Thomas
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bp2go
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Post by bp2go on Apr 28, 2016 2:45:12 GMT -8
Would you like a spoon... Are we being pranked? This is a joke, right?
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amaruq
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Call me Little Spoon
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Post by amaruq on Apr 28, 2016 3:45:12 GMT -8
By golly! I've always thought my stove could be improved with the addition of a knife.
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reuben
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Post by reuben on Apr 28, 2016 3:49:53 GMT -8
A whisk would be nice.
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Post by malloony on Apr 28, 2016 3:59:40 GMT -8
Just to clarify, no you are not being trolled. If you cannot answer seriously, I cannot proceed with the development. So if you will be so kind, only serious answers. If you have any questions, i am glad to answer them
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Apr 28, 2016 4:48:35 GMT -8
The only cooking I do is boiling water, then adding that to a bag of dehydrated food, or freeze-dried. I don't need a knife, but a long handled spoon is nice. I can get lexan ones for under $1. A light weight tea pot is what I use now, and it cost me just under $20. Stainless is too heavy. Any cooking pot should weigh less than 5 ounces, and have a 6 inch diameter base. Currently, my stove and pot combined weigh under 6 ounces. If you can improve on that, for less than $40 total, you might have a market.
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Post by malloony on Apr 28, 2016 4:51:15 GMT -8
Thank you Zeke, I'll look into it. If you or anyone else has another great idea, i am all ears!
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almostthere
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putting on my hiking shoes....
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Post by almostthere on Apr 28, 2016 6:55:05 GMT -8
Reinventing the wheel, over and over?
Sure. I can post a picture of the dozen or so kitchen setups on my shelf. I researched and built several stoves, researched more and bought others.
I did not however come begging with vague requests for help from random people. There are plenty of resources just sitting around like zenstoves.net for you to do your own reading and thinking. You should understand the thing you're intending to do - lots of others are already way beyond you. Understanding the competition is a big part of your market research. Pretty clear you're not getting that piece yet.
Look up Zelph, Mini Bull Designs, Caldera Cones, Trail Designs, Packafeather, and those gazillion others who are still in business making kitchen kits. Make something lighter, more compact, more functional, more innovative. Have fun googling.
You are also not the only one who expected us to do their market research for them. So you can expect a little cynicism from people.
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markskor
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Post by markskor on Apr 28, 2016 7:07:05 GMT -8
Always amazed by this type of query. Someone, who has not spent a whole lot of time (cooking or just being) in the wilderness, joins a backpacking discussion group where they are obviously clueless, attempts to improve a piece of equipment that he knows little to nothing about its nuances...then gets peeved when being called out for being naive. I do not know if this a class assignment but respectfully...Maybe do some homework before asking for any specifics.
However, whatever your "it" turns out to be -
"It" must be as light as possible, stand up to repeated trail abuse, can multi-task, be an improvement over what is now readily available, be reasonably priced, pack up small, be well-made, and work - every time. BTW, this whole thing sounds like you are trying to re-invent the spoon without ever having used one...(fase?).
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almostthere
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putting on my hiking shoes....
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Post by almostthere on Apr 28, 2016 7:22:36 GMT -8
And yeah, it kinda pisses me off. See, I did a TON of searching, reading, books and websites, just to buy my own stove, pot, whatever.
I know more than most people about what's out there because I DID THE WORK. Most people walk into REI and buy what the clerk hands them. YOU can't even do that, go to REI, look at what's on a SHELF IN FRONT OF YOU, or be bothered to google things and come up with a more articulate post requesting information. In fact, you really couldn't be more vague. I guess you need a good grade on some project, or maybe you really expect to sell stuff online for quick cash, but seriously? And then you get upset because people are poking fun at you - well, shoot, we do more research than you do and we aren't even trying to make anything.
So take yer lumps - you are earning them. And yet - here we are still helping you out, despite all the eye rolling, and you're getting some of the information you ask for. Even if we're pissing you off, hopefully you can see that you actually got help despite this lazy post of yours.
And then there's my friend - she goes to the recycle bin, cuts the top off a pop can, and uses that to boil water for a few trips. When it's too battered to use she gets another. Beat that for cheap, light, functional -- and totally unmarketable.
I run my own business (not related to backpacking at all) and I buy backpacking gear from cottage gear makers (people who make gear in their garage) -- and it's really quite galling to be expected to just prop up someone who clearly hasn't done anything to come up with an informed question.
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amaruq
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Post by amaruq on Apr 28, 2016 7:30:30 GMT -8
lol @ the nuclear response.
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markskor
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Post by markskor on Apr 28, 2016 8:03:50 GMT -8
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zeke
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Post by zeke on Apr 28, 2016 8:12:06 GMT -8
I'm thinking this is more in line with kitchen gear, and not the stove. Pot, cutting board, knife, whatever. Plenty of companies out there making pot sets, and some of them make tea pots.
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jazzmom
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Post by jazzmom on Apr 28, 2016 8:15:59 GMT -8
Since you posted on a backpacking forum, I assume you mean cooking gear for backpackers when you say "outdoor cooking gear". (I have a Weber grill on my deck that would quality as outdoor cooking gear, but I don't think you mean that.)[/p]
Cooking on the trail is really no different than cooking anywhere. Some cooking gear in your home kitchen may be "multi-functional" but, in general, it all breaks down into a few basic items -- heat source (stove), cooking vessel (pot, pan, etc.), utensils.
Backpackers like gear to be functional, reliable, small and lightweight.
My suggestion would be to start by browsing through REI's "camp kitchen" section for backpacking: www.rei.com/c/camp-kitchen?r=category%3Acamping-and-hiking%7Ccamp-kitchen%3Bbest-use%3ABackpacking&pagesize=90&ir=category%3Acamp-kitchen
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