this is the honey stove i use iv had it about 2 years and its designed so when packed flat it fits in the leg pocket on a pair of combats. im not sure of the weight but its not much. i used to carry a ally wind breaker it was very light but it was quite bulky and was a bit awkward to fit into my pack so i got some heavy duty tinfoil its about twice the thickness of normal stuff and folds up lovely and its easy to get a couple of twigs and stick them into the ground to hold the foil iv also used coats scarves all sorts just make sure there not to close to the flames lol
i have several cook kits depending on where, how long and how many people there will be. from my day out kit thats meth stove honey stove crusader mug and few cuppa soups and tea bags up to the full set that has a couple of honey stoves and meth burners and a gas stove and griddle for an open fire.
i have a bit of cotton cloth about 1 or 2 feet square i use it to qive the meth burner a wipe before packing away and then i wrap the cloth round the stove and pop it into a zip lock bag. then i pop it into either my crusader cup or my billy can the cloth stops it rattling about and the bag stops the smell of meth getting into your cooking pots.
as for sleeping i have a thermilight sleep mat its the type that self inflates to about 1" thick but rolls up small and packs in a side pocket of my pack, if i use the tenth wonder hammock then i just lay the mat inside with my sleeping bag on top but in the DD hammock there is a special pocket that the sleep mat fits into. i have used an underblanket but i found it was way to bulky and it didnt make any difference at night. the other reason i prefer the sleep mat is if i want to use the hammock as a bivy bag on the ground i can with the mat but with an underblanket its harder.
as for winter camping iv never had a problem with a hammock. in the winter i like to carry my 4meter x 4meter tarp that way i can set the hammock up a couple of feet off the ground and then have the tarp over me and touching the ground either side i also fold one end in so im enclosed on 3 sides if i put the hammock on the ground as a bivy bag i can close both ends of the tarp off so its like a tent but without the poles just rope and pegs or sticks. iv camped out at -21 and not had any problems.
i have a lightweight sleeping bag thats rated down to -12 i think its a 3 to 4 season but not sure and in the winter i also carry a exarmy wool blanket and i use it wrapped around my shoulders while sitting by the fire eating, drinking or what ever and when i bed down i lay it on the sleepmat with my sleeping bag ontop and then wrap it over the top of me when im in the sleeping bag its kept me warm on many a cold night even down to -21.
i think it all depends on you. how much comfort do you want and how willing you are to carry the weight. over the years iv made thousands of kits up of all types cook kits, sleep kits, shelter kits ect each time iv made changes to either the comfort or options within the kit has changed or iv changed things to make it lighter or smaller. i dont think i will ever settle on a kit thats half the fun trying new stuff out.
one of the biggest tips i think i can give for making any kit is throw in a cheap flint and steel fire lighter if your matches or lighter get wet or run out then a flint and steel will always get you out of trouble.
stuee
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