On cold days in the mountains, especially when I’m out snowshoeing, I often long for a hot drink while I’m out on the trail. If I’m camping or backpacking, I have my reliable JetBoil PCS back at base camp, but now I have found a convenient and relatively light weight method for taking along hot chocolate, hot soup, or whatever brew you wish!
The Canadian company Innate Gear just released a new product, the Shiru Vacuum Food Container. I put it to the test over the last month on a few snowshoe day hikes. Here’s what I found:
Pros:
- Definitely works! It is designed to keep hot food or liquids hot for 5 hours and cold food cold for 5 hours. I enjoyed several hot chicken noodle lunches! I did take the manufacturer’s advice and warmed the Shiru with hot water prior to putting the soup in.
- The lid is quite handy. It can be used as a serving cup, which makes it nice for sharing the hot contents with friends.
Cons:
- Weight The Shiru is great to take along on a day hike or to work, but it does weigh 13 ounces empty. That’s not super heavy, but when added to a backpack filled with other supplies and gear, every ounce matters.
Specs
- Capacity for 12 fluid ounces
- Costs about $20
- BPA free of course, which I expect from all products on the market these days
- Made of premium 304, 18/8 stainless steel (high quality food grade materials there is nothing to worry about!)
Excellent point, Bobbi. Yes, some ultralight hikers and especially ultralight backpackers even remove tags from their clothes to shave weight! the Shiru is great for a dayhike 🙂
Thanks for the review; you are so right about the weight, as hikers are so concerned about the weight of everything including extra buttons or even labels of clothing that some would cut off to reduce the weight they carry. But on the other hand for a one day or shorter hikes where you could enjoy the hot liquids, the attractive Shiru may fit perfectly in your plans.
Enjoy the trails!
I like your review of the vacuum food container. It would work well in a lunch box/bag too to take to work or school.