What is Reddit's opinion of Lewis N. Portable Immersion Water Heater + Electric Kettle Alternative for Coffee, Tea + Hot Chocolate, Camping, Travel + Office w/Travel Adapter, White, 120/240v?

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I bring a coffee kit. A portable immersion boiler, a small french press, and some really good coffee. I like having a good cup of coffee in the morning and the extra space used by this is worth it.

I still have to buy milk or cream at the local grocery store, but that's not that big of a deal.

Yes. Small and lightweight. But never have it plugged in and out of water. https://www.amazon.com/Calentador-inmersión-eléctrico-chocolate-120/dp/B001U0PA7M/ref=as_li_ss_tl?dchild=1&keywords=immersion+heater&qid=1594004960&sr=8-19&linkCode=sl1&tag=thecompleatcarry&linkId=60dd7caf66a6687b15c9a59d40...

Immersion portable wins for me, super small to pack and nothing is easier to keep clean.

https://www.amazon.com/Lewis-N-Clark-Immersion-Portable/dp/B001U0PA7M/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=2PI674UGVCP2H&keywords=hot+water+wand&qid=1648956122&sprefix=hot+water+wand%2Caps%2C330&sr=8-3

Check out r/trailmeals for ideas - backpackers eat like this all the time. You could get a tiny stove very cheap once you’re there, but if you don’t want to do that, do you have electric outlets at the cabins? You can’t use a hot plate or anything, but you can use a portable hot water heater like this and it will allow you to eat a huge array of things without actually cooking. Backpacker meals are really easy to make with just hot water, and there are companies out there whose stuff is actually quite good. You can also eat oatmeal, soup, instant coffee, and all kinds of other stuff this way. You’d need a small pot and a cozy for it, but that’s about it.

Do you have anything? Microwave? A cup size hot water immersion heater? How about a warm automobile engine?

I mean you could sustain yourself with 2 weeks worth of homemade granola, fruit, and nut bars, but I really wouldn't want to.

It's an immersion heater. Place it in a mug of water (or a pot) and it heats the water to boiling.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001U0PA7M

you could use an electric immersion water heater! you just put the coil in your cup, plug it in and it boils the water. Very old school, but maybe useful in your situation?

just googled it, because I couldn't even remember the name and found some on amazon.

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https://www.amazon.com/Lewis-N-Clark-Immersion-Portable/dp/B001U0PA7M/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=Cup+Water+Heater&qid=1611002404&sr=8-2

They were like this, but with more coils from memory: https://www.amazon.com.au/Lewis-Portable-Travel-Immersion-Heater/dp/B001U0PA7M

If you have electricity you could use an immersion water heater, like this one. On 120v they're not that great, but with 220v they tend to be pretty good. Still kinda slow though.

If you have access to an electrical outlet, you can heat a single cup of water with one of these. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001U0PA7M

I have done this in hotels for years, but never on a train.

You will also need a ceramic coffee mug to heat the water in, because this thing gets hot. And a metal spoon to stir the instant coffee into the boiling water. Instant coffee added to boiling water won't dissolve without stirring. Nasty!!

Same set up works well to heat water for instant oatmeal packets.

The product page says it is 300 watts, maybe there is an r/Amtrak Redditor who knows whether or not the outlets in coach will support 2.5 amps.

Carry an immersion water boiler around for personal use - foiled

Have heard they're not that safe though

First, thanks for the laugh. Ha!

Second, good on staying married. Keep that the priority and consider this the (hopefully temporary) cost of doing business.

Third, there is a expression in the hiking community which likely applies here: You pack your fears.

To achieve the versatile minimalism of onebagging, you need to be open to volatility in areas you've previously managed through, to borrow another expression "When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail."

You can't expect anyone to downsize in travel if they perceive their net-experience will be more volatile than it already is.

So where to start?...

Start with where you are. Meet her where she's at. You gotta start somewhere and that's usually the right place.

In your above example, ask yourself, "Can I offer her/us an equally robust approach to managing volatility which requires less volume in our kit?"

i.e. Don't ask your wife to not "pack her fears". Instead, address the fundamentals driving her to pack that way in the first place.

. . . . . .

Another saying is: That which gets measured gets managed. Try to quantify her fears. Take them out of the scary world of black-and-white, good-and-bad, fine-or-catastrophe and put them onto a slope. Give yourself some flexibility.

Right now...your experience reads like she doesn't know she has other viable options.

• Toiletries: Take note of what she brought. Make a list. Don't tell her she can't have what is important to her. Figure out what 2oz-3oz travel size bottles would be appropriate. Pick some up as a test. And at the same time, identify what products you could get locally if that is preferred. But don't tell her to "do without". That will simply amplify the fear of volatility.

• Access to Hot Water: It's clear this is something she prioritizes. Most hotels will actually have kettles they can send up to the room if you ask. (Call ahead to check.)

Immersion hot water heaters are a thing. Some folks bring them for their coffee. Use well, they replace that desire to bring a 3L kettle. You can buy mugs locally or pack ultralight camping ones. (And if you want ceramic, again, many hotels will have something if you but ask nicely...they just don't put them in every room because of the cleaning issues.)

• A Hard Container Of Tea: This is rationing. She's entitled to have a luxury item, and it honestly is easier to get a decent cup of coffee than a decent cup of tea...depending on where you are traveling. In Asia, you will have no issue getting tea (or coffee). But how many tea bags to take? # of Days + 10-15% = # of Teabags...then put them in a ziploc freezer bag.

Again, the issue is her "packing her fears" and not seeing the alternative.

• A huge bag of crackers: This one is pretty common. It comes down to, starkly, low grade food insecurity. (Unless there is a medical condition involved). How do you address this? Always have ≈500-1,000calories in your bag. Keep your wife fed. If she gets hungry, it's too late...she'll want for the crackers.

• 1.5m cable: That can actually be really handy if the USB outlets aren't where you want them. I personally carry both a 3ft and 6ft cable. They serve different purposes.

• 5 pound battery: But here? Get here a better battery. You're going to share it anyways. Check out the Nitecore NB20000. It's not cheap, but it is small and very powerful. Unless she's trying to run a laptop, that battery will provide multiple charges.

• She said I looked dehydrated...: All you can do here is anticipate 1) she cares about you and 2) she's projecting her own fears. You never want to be left without water. A good rule of thumb for you might be "Carry water for myself + 0.5L for my wife." Eventually, she'll carry her own...but it gets back to "Packing your fears."

• She needs a check bag because.... shoes!: Start with what shoes she needs. Don't judge. For many, travel is not routine and they want for the glamour of it. Don't invalidate that want. But the way to work with shoes is separating the required shoes vs. the luxury/bonus shoes.

Q: How do I brooch this subject without getting divorced?

A: You broach it by talking about "What does ease of travel look like to you?" You shared everything half in jest...but half not. What's going on is you have a gap between what "ease" looks like for both of you. She's packing more because she is approaching volatility different than you.

Focus on that. Meet her where she is at.

Ever watch Pleasantville? You'll get nowhere if you tell her she wrong. Because she is not wrong...she's got something that works for her current priorities. Show her that a technicolor world of travel is safe and predictable, then you've got a chance.

And if not, you've always got CouchSurfing if things go sideways for you. You're already packed and prepared.

Good luck. :)

This thing?

It looks like a plug-in heating element.

Edit: Like this

I prefer this model

I prefer the Lewis & Clark model here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001U0PA7M/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_U_x_OahAEbW7EJT28

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UL listed and I have used other (non-electrical) of their branded items w/o troubles.

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I would suggest a read of the first review. Makes some key points about how and why this works and how easy it can be to dry fire (kill) the internals if you aren't always diligent.

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> It is helpful to know a little about how a product like this works so you can avoid misuse and the associated frustration. The company I work for makes residental water heater elements. I have sat through countless meetings with engineers about how electric elements work...so I have a little more knowledge of submersible elements. This item is designed in an identical way to a home electric water heater element. Electricity flows through a copper core in the center of the element producing heat, which is then dispersed throughout the liquid it is submersed in. If the element is not A. fully submersed or B. taken out even for a second while plugged in....it will dry fire. What is a dry fire? The tiny copper wire inside the element overheats in one spot and breaks...stopping the flow of electrons and thus the heat. There is no way to fix it...it is just game over...throw it away. ANY plumber will tell you that tank dry fires are the #1 cause of element failures in residential water heaters.
Thus you can see the opportunity to just by a very brief careless moment to dry fire this element. Don't have it submersed to the lip of the cup...congratulations...you just dry fired it, throw it away. Took it out of the cup before unplugging it? Congratulations...you just dry fired it, throw it away...game over.
I have been using mine for many months while traveling and have not had an issue at all...however I am quite vigilant about how I use it...careful to fill the cup to the top...even covering the clip on the handle...and then I unplug it about 30 seconds before taking it out of the cup. If you do this...you won't ever have a problem....if you do? You'll be on Amazon venting your anger with a crappy review over your own negligence. Since no hotel in Las Vegas has in room coffee...this little bably saves me $4.00 a day plus an early AM trip to the lobby. This is always on my Vegas or international travel "must take" list, along with some Starbucks instant coffee...mug and sugar. If you are a methodical vigilant person...don't be scared by the bad reviews. If you are scatter brained morning multitasker....save your Money.

I've not used this particular device yet but the logic presented is sound, UL listing and branding made me a bit more comfortable, and all in all it seemed worth adding to the discussion.

Will report back when I've run it through its paces but I'm away from my storage/cooking gear needed so it'll be a little while.

Thanks! Always happy to share a comfort. ;)

I think this is the one I have.