SectionHiker.com Backpacking Gear Reviews and FAQs 
Cross Bands are four-way silicone elastic bands that keep backpacking and camping cook sets closed so the lids don’t rattle when you hike. They also have a million other uses around the home, such as keeping puzzle boxes and game boxes closed, playing cards stacked, and so on. To put them on, wrap one dimension around your pot and then pull the perpendicular strands out to achieve the X-orientation. You’ll get the hang of it very quickly.
Cross Bands are available in multiple sizes that fit cook pots or objects of different diameters and widths:
- 4″ long bands are good for pots/objects 8″-12″ in circumference
- 6″ long bands are good for pots/objects 12″-18″ in circumference (1L Evernew Pasta, 0.9L Evernew)
- 9″ long bands are good for pots/objects 18″-26″ in circumference (0.8L Jetboil, 1.3L Evernew)
- 4″ long bands are good for pots/objects 24″-36″ in circumference
The only downside to using these Cross Bands for backpacking is that they can be easy to lose if you don’t keep close track of them when you take them off. Like all things backpacking, develop a system, and put the bands in the same place whenever you remove it – like in your pocket, or around your wrist or ponytail, so you know where to find it when you need it again! And be sure to buy ones that are very brightly colored, so you can find them if you drop them on the ground.
Weightwise, they are also really light:
- the 4″ cross band weighs 6 grams
- the 6″ cross band weighs 8.1 grams
- the 9″ cross band weighs 14.4 grams
- the 12″ cross band weighs 26.4 grams
Cross Bands Silicone X-Bands
Durability
Sizing
Lightweight
Effectiveness
Stops Cookware from Rattling
Garage Grown gear sells these Cross Bands individually or you can buy them directly from the manufacturer in 20-packs in assorted colors with 5 bands of each size on Amazon. Either way, you’ll probably want to try multiple sizes to get a perfect fit and to use them in multiple places.
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I bought these at Litesmith in orange many years ago (they came in a set of sizes then, if I remember correctly) and they have been extremely useful keeping stuff together. You are probably right that you have to be careful to keep track of them, but I found the orange stands out well on the occasion they end up on the ground. Just got back from a week long canoe trip where I used four of these for different purposes. As you show, there is always at least one on whatever cook kit I take backpacking.
I found these handy but did manage to break one. Of course, my personal motto of “Don’t force it, just use a bigger hammer!” might have had something to do with it.
One of these could solve my folding cane issue. I could keep one end wrapped around the cane so it’s always handy. Of course keeping the pot sets and other sundry gear together is always helpful.
These work great for converting any cook pot/lid set into a cold soak container. Just cut a piece of food grade silicone sheeting a little bigger than the lid and put it between the lid and pot, then hold it all together with the cross band.
All the best, Scott
I bought one of these for my pot and was disappointed that it broke after 2 or 3 uses.
Just catching up on this review, sorry. I use HMG pods to store various items including my quilt/bag … would you say these bands would work on the pods to compress them vertically? The quilt/bag expands to the volume allowed (of course). Thanks.
Yeah probably. Inexpensive enough to try/