Kelly Kettle Ultimate Scout review
Kelly Kettle Ultimate 'Scout' Kit (1.2L, Stainless Steel, with Cups and Plates)
By Tom Calder
This is the basic Scout kit with extras: the same 1.2-litre double-walled kettle, which the maker says boils in three to five minutes on twigs, pine cones or scrunched paper, plus a hobo stove, two cups and two plates, all in one drawstring bag. The pot support lets the small pot cook on the chimney while the water heats. It is an open flame and for outdoor use only: set it on a level, non-flammable surface well away from buildings, fill the kettle before lighting and never let it boil dry, and never light it indoors or in a tent or porch.
- Best for
- A household or small group that wants one wood-fired set to boil water, cook and serve from, with no gas, batteries or fuel to buy.
- Skip it if
- You only need the kettle and cook set (the basic Scout kit is lighter and cheaper), or you want a…
We earn a commission if you buy through the retailer links on this page. It doesn't change our verdict. How we make money →
Researched, not used. We haven't used this product. This review is built from the maker's specifications, owner reports and our own sizing.
What we like
- Free, endless fuel: a handful of garden twigs or paper is enough, so there is no canister to run out of
- More complete than the basic kit: a hobo stove that turns the fire base into a small wood stove, plus two cups and two plates
- Stainless steel kettle and accessories, and the whole set packs into the kettle and its carry bag
Worth knowing
- Heavier than the basic kit, at about 2.1 kg against 1.4 kg, so it suits a shed or car boot better than a grab bag
- Slower and messier than a gas stove, and you need dry kindling to hand; with only two cups and two plates, a larger household will want more
ⓘ As an Amazon Associate, PreparedBritain earns from qualifying purchases. We may earn a commission when you buy, or a fee when you request a quote, through our links. When two products are close, commission can decide which one we pick. A clearly better product always wins. Amazon prices come from Amazon's own product data and show the date and time they were retrieved. Prices at other retailers are checked by us, less often. Prices and stock can change at any time, so always check the retailer's price before you buy.
Our review
The Ultimate Scout Kit is Kelly Kettle's 1.2-litre stainless steel chimney kettle with everything the maker sells to go with it: a cook set, pot support, hobo stove, two cups, two plates and a carry bag, 2.1 kg all in. It boils on twigs and paper in three to five minutes, so a household can make hot drinks and cook simple meals through a long cut with nothing to buy. It is an open fire, for outdoors only.
What you get
Kelly Kettle lists the kit as the 1.2-litre stainless steel kettle and fire base, a cook set of 0.85-litre pot, frying pan that doubles as a lid, two-piece grill and gripper handle, a two-piece pot support, a 500 ml and a 350 ml cup, the hobo stove, two camping plates and a drawstring bag. Total weight is 2.1 kg excluding packaging, the packed height is 27 cm, the kettle is 15.5 cm wide and the fire base 18.5 cm at its widest. All the metal parts are stainless steel; the cups have silicone grips.
How it works
The kettle is a water jacket around a chimney. You light a small fire of twigs, bark, pine cones or paper in the base, sit the kettle on it and feed fuel down the chimney, and the flames heat the water across the whole inner wall. Kelly Kettle says it boils in three to five minutes outdoors in any weather. The pot support sits on the chimney so the small pot can cook while the water heats, and the hobo stove converts the fire base into a little wood burner for the frying pan once the kettle comes off. Our cooking without power guide shows how to plan meals around a single boil.
Using it safely
Kelly Kettle's instructions are specific: never put the kettle on the fire unless the water chamber is full, do not let it boil dry, never hold the handle above the chimney when it is lit, never use it with the stopper in the spout, and never touch the outside of the kettle or the fire base in use because they will be hot. Carry it upright when it holds water, use surplus water to put out the fire, and let everything cool before packing it away.
Kelly Kettle's pages do not talk about indoor use, so we will: it is an open wood fire that makes smoke and carbon monoxide, and the NHS advice on carbon monoxide poisoning applies. Use it outdoors on bare ground or paving, away from fences, sheds and branches, never in a house, garage, tent or porch. Keep children and pets back, and have a bucket of water beside it.
How it compares
The basic Scout kit is the same kettle without the cook set, cups, plates and hobo stove, at about 1 kg, and is the better buy if you only want to boil water. On the camping stoves page, the BioLite CampStove 2+ also burns wood and charges a phone but holds far less. The Primus Essential Trail and MSR PocketRocket are quicker and cleaner on gas, with cartridges to buy and store. The Ultimate kit is the one set that boils, cooks and serves two people from garden fuel.
Our verdict
A complete, nearly unbreakable outdoor kitchen for a household that wants hot water and simple cooking with no fuel to run out. Buy it if you have a safe outdoor spot and want the cook set and hobo stove; buy the basic Scout if you only want tea. Skip it if you have no outdoor space for a small fire, or want a quick, clean boil without lighting anything.
A researched review, built from the maker's specs, manual and UK listings; facts checked 2 Nov 2026. Sources: Kelly Kettle: Ultimate Scout Kit, stainless steel; Kelly Kettle: how to use the Kelly Kettle; NHS: carbon monoxide poisoning.
Who shouldn't buy this
You only need the kettle and cook set (the basic Scout kit is lighter and cheaper), or you want a quick, clean boil with no fire to light: a small gas stove is simpler there. If you have no safe outdoor space, neither is for you: wood and gas stoves alike are for outdoor use only.
Key specs
| Type | Wood-fired volcano kettle + cook set, cups and plates |
| Fuel | Sticks, twigs, pine cones, paper |
| Boil time | 4 min |
This is a Researched review: we haven't used this product. We check every specification against at least two independent sources, re-check the UK price on a schedule where we can track it automatically, and say plainly who it isn't for. Commissions never change a rating.
If this isn’t the one
Best for A featherweight, dependable burner with instant piezo ignition for boiling water and simple cooking in a grab bag or camping kit.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 16:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Best for A family or small group wanting one outdoor kit that boils a larger kettle and cooks a hot meal on sticks, with no gas or batteries to buy.
in stock when checked
Best for A near-indestructible backup cooker for power cuts and camping, using cheap, widely-available meths.
as of 2 Nov 2026, 16:07 GMT · Details
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.co.uk at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Questions
What is the difference between the Scout and the Ultimate Scout kit?
Same 1.2-litre kettle and fire base. The Ultimate adds the cook set, pot support, hobo stove, two cups, two plates and a bag, and weighs 2.1 kg against about 1 kg.
How long does it take to boil?
Kelly Kettle says three to five minutes outdoors in any weather, using twigs, pine cones, bark or paper. A second boil follows in about the same time.
Can I use a Kelly Kettle indoors or in a porch?
No. It is an open wood fire that produces smoke and carbon monoxide. Use it outdoors on a non-flammable surface, away from buildings.
Can I cook on it while the water boils?
Yes. The pot support sits on the chimney for the 0.85-litre pot, and the hobo stove converts the fire base for the frying pan once the kettle is lifted off.
Free alerts for your home
Home Alerts emails you when a power cut, a Met Office warning or a flood warning covers your postcode. Free for your own home. Sign up in a minute.
Start free →