I have a caldera cone and an MSR Titanium pot. The cone comes in a plastic container that screws together and holds the pepsi can stove, the cone, and I can fit my alcohol and some matches in there as well. Not too bad. But except for keeping the cone from being destroyed and all the items together it's really just extra weight.

Is there some way I can ditch the plastic container to save a little weight yet not leave the cone vulnerable to damage?

The caldera cone comes in two varieties, aluminum or titanium. The aluminum one is pretty easy to mash, so the plastic container is almost necessary. A few users have tried a smaller diameter plastic container. The titanium variety is a lot harder to mash. Some users roll it up and carry it in a fabric bag or cuben fiber bag. It is still possible to mash it, depending on where this goes in your backpack.

I think it would be better if the plastic container did not have the screw threads. It would be less secure, but it would be better for eating and cleaning.

--B.G.--

I have the aluminum one in case anyone else has a suggestion. A bag might work if I can find something longer for my alcohol.

Piper, if you have an alcohol bottle that is the right size, you can wrap the aluminum caldera cone around it for transport. However, I'm thinking that is a pretty large alcohol bottle and it might be heavy. There is nothing that says that the alcohol bottle has to be full.

--B.G.--

I've seen people cut the bottom off soda bottles, and store the rolled cone inside it.

I carry mine in a "Smart Water" bottle that Russ gave me when he made my cone.

It works well because unlike most water bottles it is a simple, perfect cylinder with a flat bottom. Cut the top off and the cone and a bunch of other stuff fit right in there. A 12-10 stove nests into the top if you invert it.

Weighs almost nothing.

Include aluminum beverage cans with the top cut off. With a Reflectix cozy and a silicon sipper ring, this type of caddy becomes an insulated drinking mug as well.

A cheap plastic fountain soda cup works well too.

The CC caddy is food grade and can take boiling water.
So I use the top as a cup and all of it to re-hydrate my food.
(not always as I also use the plastic vacuum bags)
But if that does not work for you, yes just use 1.25 L a soda bottle (cut the top part off )
Franco

I've thought about using the caddy for eating but I always just eat out of my pot. I really wish I could just fit the whole deal inside my pot. That would take up a lot less space. But alas, not possible. I love the cone though and don't want to give it up!

I stepped on my little stove, though! Straightened it back upright with dental tools and pliers. Hopefully it will still work.

There's always the option of spending some $'s to purchase the Caldera Sidswinder system so everything will fit in your pot. Sell your other system here and the cost of the Sidewinder will be less painful.

http://www.traildesigns.com/stoves/caldera-sidewinder

I have owned several cones. For me using alcohol or Esbit means that I am just boiling water for freezer bag cooking or hot drinks. The best set-up I have found is the GVP kit where the cone fits inside the Fosters can. I tried going the pot route and ended up damaging the aluminum cone, precisely the issue you are trying to overcome. The alternative is one of the two-piece cone setups that fit into your MSR pot.

I keep the kit in a cuben sack. So the entire kit is under 4 oz.