Sea to Summit X-pot 4.0 liter vs Sailing 3 Quart Silicone Pot

[Greg]

Sea to Summit X-pot 4.0 liter (moosejaw.com)
$59.96
1.20 lbs
Expanded: 10.0" x 10.0" x 3.5"
Collapsed Height: 1.77"

Sailing 3 Quart Silicone Pot (amazon.com)
$23.95
2.45 lbs
Expanded: 9.4" x 13.6" x 4.7"
Collapsed Height: 2.20" (modified lid flipped)

I have the older version of the Sailing pot. It has a slightly domed lid. The newer version's lid is flat with a plastic rim and knob. I've removed the metal knob handle and replaced it with some leather and stainless hardware reusing the silicon seal for the bolt that passes through the glass.

Not considering weight since its carried in a truck. I'm also going to assume that the silicon is the same quality since I have no way to test that.

X-pot Likes:

• Wider metal base. With silicon pots you have to be careful and prevent flames from contacting the silicon sides. A wider base makes you have to try harder to ruin your pot. This is somewhat countered by the Sailing pot with higher sides on the metal base.
  
  
• Smaller and packs easier.
  
  
• Larger cooking capacity. 4.0L = 4.2 quarts.

X-pot Dislikes:

• Plastic lid. I've deformed a plastic lid on a Jet Boil pot cooking a rice meal. It never got near the flames. The X-pot lid is a different plastic but I'm still wary of it. (see this post)
  
  
• The wider base makes collapsing the pot not as easy. If you don't push down evenly then a side deforms and does not fold properly.
  
  
• Tiny silicon flaps for handles.

Sailing Pot Likes:

• Obviously the cost.
  
  
• Even though the handles get in the way when packing the wide stainless rim top and high sidewall on the base forces the pot to collapse in the right areas.
  
  
• The higher expanded sidewall generally helps keep the cooking area cleaner.

Sailing Pot Dislikes:

• The glass lid. That's just asking for trouble. The X-pot's lid does not fit on the Sailing pot but I'm sure I can pick up a stainless steel lid for around $15.00 from a restaurant supply store.
  
  
• Out of the box it's not really ready to go into the cooking kit. I had to remove the knob on the lid and scrounge around the garage for some replacement parts to be able to flip the lid to make it pack better.

In Summary
If you have some leeway with regards with weight and packing volume, and if you are not worried about replacing the lid when it eventually breaks, then The Sailing Pot would be the way to go.

moosejaw.com's price is a sale price. I would not pay full price for the X-pot simply because they will be on sale again.

I'm comparing 2 different capacities for basically the same packing size. If you are interested in same volume of cooking capacity then you need to compare the 2.8L X-pot to the 3 quart Sailing Pot. If you intent on replacing the glass lid on the sailing Pot consider that added cost too.

Sea to Summit X-pot 2.8 liter (moosejaw.com)
$44.96
0.72 lbs
Expanded: 8.4" x 8.4" x 4.7"
Collapsed Height: 1.5"

Bad Photos of Stainless vs Aluminum

 

[Greg]

Nesting Items
This is also a 1 to 1 comparison and does not take into consideration that Sea-to-Summit items generally nest when in a set. e.g. the teapot packs inside the 2.8L pot which packs inside the 4.0L pot. Though the Sailing pot with a flat lid could also fit a Sea-to-Summit teapot along with some collapsible cups as well.

 

[Greg]

Regarding the lid warping on the Sea to Summit X-pots

"We do recommend only "cooking/heating" liquid items in the X-pots. So, boiling water, pasta, soups, these types of meals that are a majority liquid are able to disperse the heat properly. We do not recommend frying items in the pot. We do make an X-Pan, which is our version of a frying pan, this would be best for frying up tortillas (one of my favorite camp items as well) or other items that wouldn't have the proper amount of liquid associated to disperse the heat. Many of the lid issues are a result from folks attaching the "Tabs" to the lid while cooking. The pot itself will expand and contract throughout the heating and cooling process. When the "tabs" are connected this causes the lid to bend and flex along with the pot. The results of this flexing can crack the lid or deform the supportive ring at the top of the pot. Leaving these "tabs" open during heating greatly reduces the flexing that can damage the lid or deform the ring."

While the Sailing pot is restricted to the same restriction of cooking/heating liquid items. You would have to try really hard to warp the stainless steel rim.