SOTO New River Pot Review

Bottom Line

The SOTO New River Pot is an excellent budget-friendly option that delivers solid all-around performance without overcomplicating things. Its 1-liter capacity hits a sweet spot for most backpackers, and the aluminum construction heats quickly and evenly for consistent cooking. It’s also light enough to appeal to many ultralight hikers, especially those looking to save weight without paying titanium prices. For simple backcountry use, it checks all the right boxes.

Where it falls short is optimal usability and cooking performance. The lack of non-stick properties makes real cooking and cleanup more frustrating. And the minimal feature set takes a little away from the overall joy of using it. It’s best suited for boiling water and basic meals rather than more involved cooking

We tested the New River Pot on a mix of Colorado trips, from desert camps to higher-elevation backcountry outings, along with controlled boil testing. It proved to be reliable and efficient, just not as dialed in as more premium cooksets on our best backpacking cookware list.

How We Tested

We tested this pot in a variety of Rocky Mountain camps, from desert overnights to higher elevations. In addition to field use, we ran controlled boil tests and even cooked with it in our home kitchen. Our assessment draws on extensive experience using a wide range of backpacking cookware in real-world conditions.

Cooking Performance

The biggest things that the SOTO New River Pot has going for it in terms of cooking performance are its decently wide base and good heat distribution. This allows for food and water to heat up quickly and consistently 

That said, the thin aluminum construction heats up fast and can be easy to overdo, especially when reheating food or doing more involved cooking. It’s best to keep a close eye on it to avoid burning food in the pot.

The surface also offers very little in the way of non-stick properties, so food tends to stick and burn more easily, making cleanup a chore. For that reason, this pot is best suited for simple tasks like boiling water rather than more complex cooking.

Weight & Packability

The SOTO New River Pot, although heavier than titanium alternatives, offers an excellent capacity-to-weight ratio. For a full 1-liter aluminum pot, 5.3 ounces is impressively light — translating to about 189 milliliters per ounce, which outperforms many other aluminum options.

The pot’s spacious interior makes it easy to pack your entire cookset in one neat package. It takes up only about 4.5 cubic inches of pack space but can easily hold an 8-ounce fuel canister, a small folding canister stove, and a lighter, with the lid fully closed.

The main drawback is the lid design. It doesn’t stay secured on its own, so you’ll need to rely on the included stuff sack to keep everything contained. Without it, it’s tough to keep everything tidy and contained.

Usability

The pot design is pretty minimal, with two folding handles and a plastic lid with a pour spout. The handles are nice and sturdy, with a rubber coating that insulates them from heat.

The lid, on the other hand, is a bit lacking. It doesn’t stay in place on its own, so you have to hold it in place with one hand while you use the drain spout. The spout itself works, but can be a little leaky, which is not ideal. The flimsy rubber tab that acts as the lid’s handle isn’t the sturdiest, but it helps to cut down on weight.

Durability

So far, the SOTO New River Pot has held up well with no major durability concerns. The handles feel solid, and the welds connecting them to the pot are robust. The aluminum body also resists heat warping better than many thin titanium pots, which adds to its long-term reliability.

Our main areas of concern are the plastic lid and the mesh stuff sack. Plastic is obviously not as strong as metal, so it could potentially crack, and the rubber tab isn’t held on by much. If it were us, we would replace the mesh stuff sack with something more durable since it’s critical in keeping your cookset secure inside your pack.

Should You Buy the SOTO New River Pot?

The SOTO New River Pot is a very affordable option that offers great value. It’s a large-capacity pot that heats up quickly and evenly and includes all of the major essentials. It’s even light enough to satisfy most ultralight enthusiasts, offering a piece of ultralight gear without a high cost of entry. The New River Pot is one of those options that we can honestly recommend to anyone from beginners to experienced backpackers.

That said, if you’re seeking excellence in a specific function, there are better alternatives out there. The lack of non-stick performance makes cooking and cleanup more difficult, so it’s best suited for boiling water or simple meals. And while it’s light for its size, dedicated gram counters can still find lighter alternatives. If you’re looking for more refined features or a more cooking-focused design, there are better options available.

What Other Backpacking Cookware Should You Consider?

Our full guide to backpacking cookware includes options for everyone — from the most minimal ultralight pots to full family-style cooksets.

GSI Outdoors Halulite Review: The Halulite features a very similar design to the New River Pot — same capacity, similar shape, and minimal design. It’s not as lightweight, but it’s more durable and has slightly better cooking performance.

Evernew Pasta Pot 1L Review: This one is our favorite 1-liter titanium pot. The titanium comes at a higher cost, but also offers significant weight savings and more usability. We especially love how well the lid stays on the pot while draining and pouring.

Toaks Titanium 750mL: Although it’s slightly smaller in capacity, the Toaks Titanium is our favorite ultralight budget buy. We’ve carried this pot for thousands of miles thanks to its minimal weight and size. It’s really only meant for boiling water, but if that’s all you need, it’ll get the job done without breaking the bank.