Ridgemonkey Square Kettle 1.1ltr, 10C5060432141158C10

Product Information

If you need a larger capacity titanium camping kettle than the MSR Titan then have a look at this offering from iBasingo. But Frederico from The Rugged Bunch was more effusive about Zettle: “I love that it is small and easily transportable so that customers can pay at their tables. The software is also really easy-to-use, and accessible for my customers.” If you do encounter an issue, Square and Zettle have online knowledge centres that can be accessed at any time – helpful if you trade during odd hours. However, actual customer support is only available during working hours (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm).

I find Zettle easy-to-use and straightforward. It has everything we need. I haven’t considered switching to a different device and don’t plan to any time soon.” Russell Hobbs are not known for making dedicated camping gear, and this little gem is no exception. However, the Russell Hobbs Compact Electric Kettle fulfills all the key features we consider essential. It also does this by looking extremely elegant in brushed stainless steel and using a premium glass jug body. The downside for all this style is a higher than average price point. We think it’s well worth it though. The mains cord and heating element are held within a separate base unit which glows softly blue when power is applied and looks great. Once the kettle is boiled, the kettle switches off automatically and the jug can be removed from the electric supply – this means it’s extremely safe.Zettle does not bowl us over in this category – but then, neither does Square. In fact, this is the latter's lowest-performing section.

The Titan is essentially a titanium pot with a spout in the rim and a thin dual handle for lifting up. The handle looks flimsy but does not get too hot and does it’s job well. When not in use, it folds flush against the kettle body to aid storage. Did we mention that this kettle is only 118 grams?The new Panasonic kettles challenge convention and tradition. Making a bold statement, their robust shape and simple design introduces a new dimension to the jug kettle. Ease of use is important for small business owners, who won't have a large tech team or IT support to help out if you encounter any issues. This goes hand-in-hand with customer support, so we also looked at the channels available for expert advice and guidance in the event of a fault.

There is also a lid with a separate red handle. This should be fitted in place snugly to allow the water to boil as rapidly as possible. All of the touch points are also well executed, from the comfortable handle that stays cool to the touch to the soft open lid and non-drip spout. It also comes with a polishing cloth included to buff away any fingerprints its stainless steel body might collect.This kettle also offers the ability to heat water to five different temperatures – 40, 75, 85, 95 and 100°C – which is great if you’re a coffee or herbal tea aficionado who knows the exact best degree centigrade for your brew. The technology in this kettle will impress you with every use. During testing, we loved the temperature gauge lever and the fact that the dial on the body of the kettle lets you know the temperature even when it's away from the base. We also enjoyed how speedy the boiling was, and the light-up design as it climbs in temperature was great for making sure it was actually switched on, and knowing when it had finished boiling.

Final verdict

Every extra feature that Square has reduces the amount you'll have to spend on other software products – the main reason we gave Square a higher score for value for money than Zettle. Business development Aluminium is a great alternative to titanium as long as it is anodized. The strength-to-weight ratio is still excellent (although not quite as good), but it is considerably cheaper. As a rule, you will pay roughly half the price of titanium for the same capacity. This area is all about scaling and so it's an important feature if you want to grow your business and audience base. Continuing the trend, Zettle scores much more poorly here than Square to achieve eighth position overall in our ranking (versus Square's first place). For kettles which don’t use electricity but instead boil water via a naked flame on a gas, wood or alcohol camping stove then a metal base will be required as a minimum. Often though, the whole kettle will be made from metal. We recently produced an in-depth roundup of the best stoves for camping. Most electric camping kettles are made of hardened plastic to keep the weight down. Your only consideration then really turns into the size of the kettle you need. For example, you may wish to save space in your travel kit by choosing a smaller kettle than you would typically use at home.