Reddit mentions: The best camping cooking utensils

Hiii 💖

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And then how cute are these hot dog/marshmallow roasting sticks


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Thanks for the contest!

I love shopping, so this was so much fun! I might add a couple more links in reply to this if I find anything else 😁😊



My random wants WL ::: http://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/38YD4RSUNA3GT

Okay, cool. A few things to start off with:

• first and foremost, read the FAQs. Good primer in there, and search/read the subreddit itself for more specific stuff. We've covered a lot around here, and multiple times. Soak it in, digest it a bit, then apply the best option to suit your situation.
  
  
• good job coming back around to reply directly to my and Independent's comments; that gives us a notification on our next login, so we know you were talking back, and links us back here to read and reply. You have no idea how many people new to this site don't figure that out for months, and it displays that you have the initiative and problem solving skills to get by. Breathe a bit easier, you're not doin' too bad.
  
  
• Your back/neck issues probably aren't as restrictive as you (we?) may have thought; I'm missing some small portions of my back (with no idea where they went), I have nerve damage in my neck, back, and arms, and several other vertebrae/disks are generally pretty pissed off about what I've done to them. I get around pretty well, though I'm a bit vocal when I do it, grunting and groaning my way about most days. There's plenty more like us, too, and it's good fortune that your physical issues aren't as oppressive as they could be. That'll come in handy later as well.
  
  
• You may well be able to skip out on a roof fan. I've never had a roof fan in any of my own vans (though a couple had unpowered vents), and have gotten along fine. I historically buy the $13 clip-on 12v fan from WalMart once or twice a year (they wear out, but are cheap enough to consider disposable), and run them off an extra battery I install. Times are changing, though, and I've recently found USB-rechargeable battery-operated fans by Holmes at Target - $15, but claims a 6-hour battery life on low. One fan blowing in and on you will help you feel cool enough to sleep, while cycling out air to remove the moisture you put off, so you don't have condensation forming and leading to hidden mold issues. You can recharge these, little USB power-packs, and some other key items while running the van through regular course, then unplug them for use during van-off time, so you don't drain your starter battery. I'm not a fan of those O2Breeze guys, because I hate swapping batteries constantly, which would be a considerable expenditure for a full-timer.
  
  
• For showering, I'll suggest first that you look into Planet Fitness Black Card. It's $20/month, and gives you unlimited showers, filtered water, massage chairs, WiFi, restrooms, and some other minor perks at any of their locations. If you'll be near any major metro area, this covers daily hygeine. When I stuck more around-town, I'd often visit twice per day - once for hygeine needs, and again just to relax, use the wifi, and work on me. If you can find some secluded enough spots to do it, you can clip your tarp to your opened van door(s) to make a temporary shower stall, then use something like a pump-pressure garden sprayer to hose yourself down and wash up. For a bit less workout to accomplish that, you can also score a rechargeable shower pump that simply drops into a jug with a wide-enough mouth. My similar model does ~20 showers per charge.
  
  
• Cooking is its own can of worms, but I'm a cheap bastard thrifty individual, and have built a poor-man's portable kitchen setup a few times over. I usually start with some basics from Dollar Tree to get me started - tongs, a grill grate, paperware, food containers, etc can get you by until you can "spend" on something better, and most of their food doesn't need refrigeration. Here's what my current everyday-use kitchen setup consists of:
  
  

1. Gerber ComplEAT - this really has everything you need-need except a knife, and I just use my everyday-carry pocket knife most often to complement it. Long-handled fork and spoon, spatula, veggie peeler, package/can/bottle opener, and tongs all in one very-portable set. I mostly use it just for cooking. Again, I'm cheap, so I eyed it for a long time before splurging on it (the $20-something version), and I can't complain.
   
   
2. Backpacker pot/stove kit - half the cost of my previous 3-pot kit, and comes with the stove! Perfect size for soloers, and under $25. The stove, can of gas, a couple paper towel layers between to avoid scratches and rattling, and another small item or two all fit inside the can. It comes with a mesh bag, and the Gerber set slides down in alongside it, just barely poking out the top. The $5 can of gas lasts me a whole month, at one or two uses per day, often just to boil water or warm something up.
   
   
3. Magellan Camp Cooking Knife - $8, and this is what I use as my tableware. TWO of these will fit inside the above pot/stove kit, with the stove, gas, and paper towel layers between.
   
   
4. A bag of charcoal - This and those dollar-store tongs enables you to utilize any park or campsite grill you come across, which you can totally use the linked pot kit on while grilling food, adding flavor, and enjoying the outdoors. I try to do dinner most days like this, weather-permitting.
   
   
5. Cheap camp shovel and/or machete - either can be used to dig a Dakota Fire Pit (if your back can handle it; it's pretty minor labor), which observes Leave No Trace rules, is low-key, and super-efficient. The main hole can be a single shovel-head wide, and the air hole needn't be wider than the shovel handle. Ignore the "direction of wind" arrow in the linked diagram; it makes its own draft by design. Another excellent application of the above pot kit, and the fuel is free.
   
   
6. Stainless steel camp mugs - I have an older Marlboro branded set that was given to me, but these can be had for as little as $2 each. They serve as my own cups/bowls, and my dog's water dish.
   
   
7. THE DOG! - I've yet to find a better dishwasher. Especially with stainless or anodized aluminum, this cuts cleanup down to sanitization, and they're happy to do it. My dog is quite small, and so I just chuck a handful of kibble into a recently-dirtied pot, and set 'er down.
   
   
8. Wilderness Wash - This is actually my everything-soap. I use it to wash dishes, my belongings, and myself. Rinses clean, is as environmentally-safe as it gets (though still don't put it on the ground within a few hundred feet of a water source or rain gutter) and super-portable, and is the only product I've found yet that can cut diesel grime (from my day job), yet doesn't make my skin break out. A dime-sized drop does all the dishes, quarter-size does me, and a 3oz bottle lasts me all month.
   
   
9. Viva brand paper towels - another one-product wonder. They're really similar to the blue "shop towels" you find at the auto parts store, but are white, soft, super-sturdy, and hella-absorbent. They're a little expensive as paper towels go, but I use them as paper plates, automotive rags, for cleaning, sweat towels, and even toilet paper (when the toilet isn't of the flush variety).
   
   All this (except the dog) fits in a 5-gallon bucket if you put it all together, but I keep the machete, shovel, grill grate, charcoal, and a small BBQ in the back, and the kitchen-y stuff altogether amidships where I usually am.

Hey everyone! I just spent most of last year camping out while travelling all around the US, here's some of my favorite gear that we still use around the house:


Not BIFL but I use my HMDX Jam portable speaker - Great portable, rechargeable bluetooth speaker. Use it around the house all the time for music in the shower, while cooking, or working on the car outside. Amazing audio quality with surprisingly deep bass for such a small speaker. If you put it on a semi-flexible flat surface like a garbage can or overturned canoe it'll also vibrate that and make even more bass!

MSR Alpine cutting board - Small enough to leave out on the counter without taking up room if you just need to cut something small/quick.

Black Diamond Storm Headlamp - As others in the thread have said, these things are extremely useful, but this one in particular is awesome. Watertight seals, ridiculously bright but dimmable long-throw spot or medium proximity lighting mode that throws an even 180 degree field of light for close up work, and red LEDs to preserve nightvision.

Nalgene On-The-Fly - After trying out a ton of water bottles, these are my favorite! Super tough Nalgene bottle, the cap is a lot easier to drink from than an open nalgene bottle, never leaks and you can open them with one hand. Also you can screw the lid on other Nalgene wide mouth bottles.

Oh, I have been a real idiot many times in my life.

One, I had meant to hide hide away my next months rent money in an envelope but instead must have stuck in my shorts pocket that ended up in the laundry. When I washed those shorts a week later, only a few of the bills made their way out into the laundry (the rest was still folded up, well washed) in the pocket. But, I thought I had won the lottery! Extra money!! I blew that cash like it was nothing and then a few days later when I put on those shorts and put my hand in my pocket - and found my rent cash minus what I blown earlier in the week thinking it was FREE MONEY - I realized I was a moron. A broke moron that had to come up with some money very quickly!

I would love love love these $9 Coleman tableware for camping trips if I win.

Oh, and: "10 minutes later I get a credit card alert saying someone tried to charge $230 to my card. " ---> what was that about? Just curious.

Lightsaber Lamp or chopsticks are pretty cool. This apron, this thermos, these playing cards, this bottle opener, and this ice cube tray are also pretty sweet!

There's a variety of cat tote bags but I personally love this one or this one. I also love these coasters, this plush, this game, this cup, and these magnets.

This camping first aid kit looks super useful, as does this multitool, and you can never have too many torches. An inflatable pillow, or a funky backpack cover might be cool too.

I'm not great at looking for stuff for kids yet, so I can't really cover that aspect, but I hope you like some of these suggestions!

​

I might have a few ideas for you: First don't forget to take a can opener, a knife for chopping and slicing, and a cutting board to work with. you might also want to take a dish cloth that you can use while there and spices. Make a list of the spices you will need for the dishes you intend to cook and get travel spice containers to take with. it will cost a mint to buy those in an area you don't know.

Something like this might not be too bad

https://www.amazon.com/Pawaca-Portable-Stainless-Seasoning-Essential/dp/B07D9KZNF8/

and this could come in pretty handy even for the crock pot

https://www.amazon.com/Camp-Kitchen-Utensil-Organizer-Travel/dp/B01A1A5GAW/

and these would also be great! to take extra spices that you will only be using a little of like cinnamon etc.

https://www.amazon.com/Plymor-Heavy-Plastic-Reclosable-Zipper/dp/B0194CUOAK/

​

Now for some recipes

https://www.copymethat.com/r/4hlLTG0/campbells-creamy-chicken-and-wild-rice-r/

https://www.copymethat.com/r/JtEJCb9/chicken-taco-crock-pot-recipe/

https://www.copymethat.com/r/wxM21qf/creamy-beef-potato-stew-better-homes-gar/

https://www.copymethat.com/r/ChBtHB8/creamy-chicken-and-potatoes-good-houseke/

https://www.copymethat.com/r/MfpTwv2/slow-cooker-3-ingredient-italian-chicken/

you could probably add meat to this if need be

https://www.copymethat.com/r/Ey5bm9s/slow-cooker-enchilada-quinoa/

you can cook the noodles in the micro

https://www.copymethat.com/r/ghkH95K/royal-round-steak/

​

Here are a few microwave cooking recipe links.

https://greatist.com/health/surprising-healthy-microwave-recipes

https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/recipes-you-can-make-in-a-microwave/

https://www.thekitchn.com/21-essential-recipes-to-make-in-your-microwave-228826

Good Luck! hope your trip is a success!

I'd really like to win this for camping. Thanks for the contest! Happy Cake Day! I hope you're having an awesome Thursday! <3

My spoon:

https://www.amazon.com/TOAKS-Titanium-Handle-Spoon-Polished/dp/B00J1BV01C/

Long handle is important for getting into the bottom of the dehydrated meals and tall cups. Polished end is much better than the sandpaper feel of non polished spoons against your teeth.

My fork:

https://www.amazon.com/Titanium-Dinner-Length-Lightweight-8-Inch/dp/B01I4100QK/

The fork is just the cheapest titanium fork I could find not a part of a set. It was $10 when I bought it.

My knife:

https://www.amazon.com/Zero-Tolerance-0450-Pocketknife-Ball-Bearing/dp/B00URWXY86

The knife is my everyday carry knife, it is always with me anyways. I know this knife probably isn't what you are looking for.

If you don't need the long spoon. Maybe check out this:

https://www.amazon.com/TOAKS-Titanium-3-Piece-Cutlery-Set/dp/B0098FEUXQ/

There are plenty of knockoff sets of these that may save you a couple bucks. But, I still recommend polished ends. The feeling of non polished utensils against your teeth is really unpleasant, and they are much easier to clean.


Also consider a pair of chopsticks. They are very light and easy to clean. I prefer a textured surface for these. I don't find myself rubbing my teeth against chopsticks as much and polished metal chopsticks can be very slippery in your hand and picking up food.

• If you don't boil water for breakfast, you could probably get away with just one large JetBoil canister.
  
  
• Switch the the Nalgene for a Gatoraide.
  
  
• 1 pair of undies and only 1 t-shirt. Ditch the sweatband. Choose pants or running shorts not both.
  
  
• Your fork-spoon is going to break. This guy has survived the entire AT and the Colorado Trail.
  
  Every other piece of advice would be accompanied by a expensive shopping list so I won't give it. I'll respect the spirit of just going with what you have. Hope you have a great trip!

Cookware

What I have now is beat up and wort would love some new cookware to hike in with me. In fact, tomorrow am I am taking a group of kids on a long hike for my summer internship. Always good to have reliable gear!
Thanks for the contest! :)

This is the type of cookset I carry: http://www.amazon.com/Open-Country-Backpacker-Person-Cook/dp/B000KEJX7M/ref=sr_1_66?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1419915963&sr=1-66&keywords=mess+kit

I leave the plates and cups at home, because I just use the pan I cook in as a plate and I use the other half for drinking coffee/cocoa or whatnot. With the plates and cups out (there is a clamp handle that's not pictured) it weighs 10 oz. I can also pack my stove inside of it, whether I use my Primus Classic Trail or a soda can stove with support. I like a set like this because it gives me the option to have a wider pan to cook things in, but it also boils water nice and quickly. If you end up doing anything like pancakes or anything that you'd want a skillet for, the wide pan is very handy. The convenience of the pan and the storage space is worth the extra couple of ounces to me.

Did a ton of research for a camping trip last year. (assuming you mean hiking and camping, not just driving your car around)

For high-quality at a low price, my friends and I were completely satisfied by:

• Water Pump
  
• Pick up some Nalgene bottles
  
• Camping Utensil Set (seem to have gone up in price)
  
• Campsuds. A must.
  
• Amazing little Camp Stove
  
• And OMFG Raspberry Crumble was addictive!!
  
  (p.s. I bet /r/Camping has better tips than /r/amazone )

Not sure about the cooking set and coffee maker, but aluminum is the third most abundant material on Earth. You probably breathe more aluminum than you cook into your food. You certainly get WAY more aluminum in some antacid tablets than even acidic food would put into your stomach from cooking on aluminum cookware.

Info on that.

I understand about the Teflon issue; Teflon itself isn't harmful to humans, as the molecule is large and inert IIRC, but the chemicals used to get Teflon to stick to pots and pans is pretty nasty. But that only become a problem if you get the temperature of the cookware above about 600F (again, IIRC) that that becomes a real issue though. The heat breaks down the chemical bonds of that adhere the Teflon to the metal. And those chemicals aren't the greatest thing to ingest repeatedly.

But if you look for the hard anodized aluminum sets, you should be fine. Mine clean up pretty easily too. Here's links to each:

Texsport Scouter
Texsport Trailblazer

Coleman stove and a headlamp. Linked some stuff below too. I also always bring a large bowl and get water from the water stations and fill it up and use that as a water basin to wash my hands.

camping set

pump for jugs of water

pot set

awesome table

these towels save space and are epically good for long hair and your body, they dry within an hour!

I've had this Guyot spork and spatula set for years. They clip together and go in my lunchbox. The packaging says that their manufacturing process is actually carbon-negative, so there is less pollution in the world after they're made, but I'm pretty sure that just means they've been recycled.

I like these from GSI because they're the perfect size for 2-3 day trips, don't leak, and they roll up / compress to nothing when empty.

Found a nice Nylon set on Amazon once I started looking in camping gear - Thanks!

Something like some kitchen utensil organizer?

It's always little things like these that always make my trip better.

I have a Schmidt Bros. Titan. It's the top knife here. Unfortunately I don't see it listed out of a set anymore.

It looks nice, it's sharp, and feels great.

CampMaid makes very nice skillet bags in small, medium, and large sizes. Looks like the small size fits a 10" pan.

I am a big fan of the Snow Peak Titanium 900 and the Open Country Plastic Measuring Cup, along with a [Sea To Summit Alpha Spoon] (http://www.amazon.com/Sea-Summit-Alpha-Light-Utensils/dp/B0029Z6882/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1417667085&sr=8-2-fkmr1&keywords=sea+to+summit+spoon+small). I also like the Caldera Cone System for a cooking system.

Open Country Backpacker 2 Person Cook Set for $20

I've had a few sets but this is my favorite. It's cheap, has all you will need and even fits together into one small and light package. A pot, a pan, 2 plates, 2 cups and a clamp grabber thing. You can go more expensive with titanium cook sets but imho they aren't worth the money. Shaving 4oz isnt worth an extra $50 to me. These will take a beating but never let you down.