In my experience, pots happen. Somehow finding just the right pot to fit a stove, or a place in the pack, or getting something a little bigger or smaller or lighter has led to quite an accumulation.

Older backpackers, who still have sharp eyes, can spot the once ubiquitous “Nesting Billy” style aluminum pot. There is a set of smaller, anodized aluminum pots that I used for a long time before the anodizing started wearing off. (Cleaning burnt food off the bottom had something to do with it.) My current favorites are titanium Snow Peak pots. They are light, pretty tough, clean up easily and tolerate serious overheating (for dry baking). I pair them with cone windscreens described in my Stoves and Fuel post. Really pots, stoves and windscreens form a system. When I pick a pot, and a stove, then I will take the windscreen that matches.

My current rotation includes both the small and large pot from a Snow Peak Mini-Compact titanium set and a Snow Peak 600 ml. titanium mug. I like the Mini-Compact set because the lids can be used as frying pans and the lower aspect ratio gives a broader bottom for heat transfer with a more open pot for cooking. I will take the small pot for solo trips and the larger pot or both if my wife and I go out. Both go if I am kayak camping with more elaborate cooking and no real penalty for weight. The 600 ml. mug is used for minimalist solo outings with simple cooking. Ultra-light cottage manufacturers make lids for the 600 ml. mug.  I made mine from the lid of a 28 oz. can and a cork stopper. The holes drilled in the edges of the lid strain noodles and vent steam – simple and cheap.