(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best camping flatware

Sure here my take on your kit.

Much of your gear, is old school, thus real heavy, like things wrapped or made in leather. Seek to lighten up. Replace some with multiple usage instead of single use when possible.

You will increase your mileage with less efforts by reducing bulk and weight.

I love the pipes, I bring a few cigars myself. I like smoking stogies late at night by camp fire. Helps with bugs.

I would replace the 2 flasks with a single 3L water bladder.

Carry a box of Aquatabs, water filtering is not always enough. (Viruses in some context) and to cleanup/purify your water bladder.

The plastic spork (mine broke in the middle of a meal) with a titanium spork (exta long so it fits nicely inside those meal bags without burning or contaminating your meal on inserting your dirty camping fingers into your meal at each shovel full).

Substitute those meal bags with oatmeal and dehydrated fruit for breakfasts and lentils and rice, mixed with dehydrated mushrooms and vegetables for most meals. Made fresh at each site by simply boiling it in water with some seasoning, and is much healthier and low sodium and no preservative. It's less weight, more compact and each meal costing under $1.50 or less.

You can use Red Lentil, yellow or black , add rice, third of a cup of two colors around 1/2 cup total, add dehydrated veggies, shopped shiitake mushrooms or your favored dehydrated and chopped mushroom etc... Salt, pepper, etc, Fill water to the 500 ML mark, boil and voilà. You wont be able to find a cheaper yet healthy meal packed smaller, lighter and higher energy in any other way. This is a time proven recipe.

You can keep one or two envelope meals for when too tired to prep a real meal...

Add some energy bars, or protein bars for lunches, do not stop to eat, simply hike while munching on those, and you will never be hungry during hikes. Drink more fluids than usual.

You need a hat. (helps prevent heat exhaustion and heat stroke). Practice hat on in the sunlight, and hat off in the shades. It makes wearing a hat more bearable and reduces moisture loss.

You need bug repellent, and a facial bug net (depending on when and where, black flies can be a real issue).

Those simple meals should be complemented with "Electrolytes" boosters on hikes where you sweat profusely on hot days to replace fluids and other essential chemicals your body needs. Your sweat expresses chemicals that deplete your electrolytes and can make you sick to your stomach even though you hydrate, as water alone doest replace depleted body salts.

You have too many knives, you only need one. I substituted 3 of mine with a single mini multi tool and Light my fire knife which is so light my mini multi tool is actually heavier. You can sometimes find fully functional super mini multi tools in dollar stores for under $5.00 you really don't need anything more...

You need some para-cord (550 Lbs test). Great for surviving unexpected events or If only to repair shoe laces, hang food bags away from bears on a 15 foot branch or use as an line to secure a tent or tarp for day use on rainy days.

You need a small hiker's saw, with plastic handle (ultra light yet functional).

Ditch those gripless shoes and get real hikers, they provide real grip on slick even wet dirt, synthetics are ultra light, they breathe and you wont have any blisters. These look bloody uncomfortable for genuine long mileage hiking.

Get some carbon fiber hiking poles. (Costco has great robust light weight units for under $30.00)

Ditch the Kindle and learn mindfulness meditation. After all you are in deep wilderness in nature, learn to enjoy it...

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.

I'm seriously in love with this bag. I've gone through a bunch of flimsy lunch bags that always get gross because they're hard to keep clean, or aren't big enough to fit extras like an orange or a grapefruit.

My usual lunch containers are one or two Sistema containers, a monbento box, a set of utensils, and a set of collapsible chopsticks. I don't always have all of that, but they all fit easily with room for extras.

This one is HUGE, with lots of room for an ice pack at the bottom plus all the stuff you could want for a full day.

I found mine at a local store with a reputation for good quality products, but it's available online here: https://ca.soyoung.ca/collections/large-cooler-bags

I use a Kershaw fork/spoon and pocket knife. It's not an all-in-one solution, though I think keeping a good knife separately is better than trying to integrate it swiss-army style. The fork/spoon is really solid and has lasted me at least five years with moderate use. Seems very durable, I definitely recommend checking into it!

Mine is called the Kershaw 1140x Ration, and I love it! It does come in other sizes.

I rarely have a campfire while backcountry backpacking. (I also live in the PNW)
Like you said - there are often full-time or seasonal restrictions on fires. Other times it just isn't worth the effort to start one.

I do LOVE fires when car camping. Especially in official campsites where there is wood for sale and a metal fire pit.

----
I use a canister stove for cooking when backpacking. It's quick and easy. They are pretty cheap and light too.

My setup:

• https://www.msrgear.com/pocketrocket-2
  
• https://snowpeak.com/collections/cookware/products/trek-700-titanium
  
• https://www.optimusstoves.com/us/us/18-8016166-optimus-titanium-long-spoon
  
  Fuel canisters are $5 each and last multiple trips.
  
  ----
  Here is another setup for cheaper:
  
  
• https://www.amazon.com/BRS-Outdoor-Camping-Portable-Ultralight/dp/B00NNMF70U
  
• https://www.amazon.com/Camping-Equipment-Wuudi-Outdoor-Cookware/dp/B010X507KY
  
• https://www.amazon.com/GSI-Outdoors-Soup-Spoons-2pk/dp/B00BQL5R5U

There are such things but they suck, not sure why you'd want them together anyway.

Edit: actually I stand corrected if all you want is a bottle opener on the spoon, may not be long enough for mountain house meals though - Spork 1 Unit, Titanium Spork (Spoon Fork) With Bottle Opener Extra Strong Ultra Lightweight (Ti), Healthy & Eco-Friendly Spoon, Fork & Bottle Opener for Travel / Camping in Easy to Store Cloth Case https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LX7VOM1/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_nJpyzbBZEZ5CW

I...actually have 2 sets of these, 1 of which I keep in my car, and they actually work pretty well!

https://smile.amazon.com/Folding-Tableware-Stainless-Utensils-Foldable/dp/B071VLPL6P/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1522615614&sr=8-5&keywords=3pcs+Stainless+Steel+Camping+Flatware+Set

Coleman Campers Utensil Set. Personally, I love them.

Anything you can eat cold will be portable. You can carry a camping/travel set of utensils for when you sit down to eat.

• You can also do chicken/turkey drumsticks.
  
  
• Salads with meats. I bought some 2oz jello shot containers to keep the dressing separate until ready to eat. Again with the jello shot containers to keep the granola fresh.
  
  
• Apples and peanut butter.
  
  
• Summer pastas (cold pastas with meats/vegies).
  
  
• Cold soups
  
  
• Humus and various things to dip. I prefer some pita or Nan, carrots, cucumbers, cauliflower, etc.
  
  
• Yogurt with reduced fruit and granola. Basically, take a cup of frozen fruit (I typically use blueberries or strawberries) and heat them in a sauce pan until you can mash them. Put a portion in a mason jar, top with Greek yogurt.
  
  
• Nuts and berries.
  
  
• DIY dried fruit and/or make homemade fruit roll ups with things like nutritional yeast or chia seeds.
  
  If you don't feel like you're getting the nutrients you want, try taking some protein powder with you in a sandwich baggy in a mixer bottle or other. Anything that you like a nutty flavor on, you can add nutritional yeast, which is packed with nutrients and vitamins.

You can always fold a piece of paper into an impromptu funnel. Instead of a stir stick, I travel with a LMF Spork. It fits the inside of the AeroPress well and is useful to eat with when your delivery food forgot a fork or spoon.

I have one of these. It's too short for me since I usually eat straight out of the mountain house bag. When I do use it with a bowl or plate my fingers get covered in food. I personally like the Seat to Summit kit

Titanum spoons are common in the camping and backpacking world if you google here’s a nice one that you can maybe have laser engraved with his name if you want.

https://www.amazon.com/Keith-Titanium-Ti5201-Spoon/dp/B071SFHGTM

> Definitely need a spork for that one.

Having just used mine on my DC, I highly recommend one of these:
this is similar to mine, but not exact

•Ferro Rod
• stuff sacks https://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Products-Ultimate-Sack-Three-Pack/dp/B001AZNATC
•head lamp
• silverware https://www.amazon.com/Columbia-River-Knife-Tool-X-Large/dp/B00B2HZQN6
•paracord
• first aid kit

It depends on what he already has. I could keep naming things. These are all gifts I would appreciate

Campers/backpackers do. Actually there are quite a few titanium silverware sets marketed to backpackers because it's lighter, and every gram matters when you're carrying a pack for a hundred miles.

The backpacking ones are like 1/3 of the cost of this kickstarter, of course.

I was dead-set on a JetBoil MiniMo. Walked into REI with a more experienced buddy and we put this setup together...its smaller and lighter than a mini-mo and way more flexible for the future:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BKJNYchiEo

parts list:
Snow Peak 700 - https://smile.amazon.com/Snow-Peak-Trek-Titanium-Cookset/dp/B000AR2N7Q

4oz fuel - https://smile.amazon.com/Jetboil-Jetpower-4-Season-Fuel-Blend/dp/B000NMAMOO

jetboil base - https://smile.amazon.com/Jetboil-Fuel-Can-Stabilizer-Size/dp/B00MUYUDC4

BRS stove - https://smile.amazon.com/BRS-3000T-Outdoor-Camping-Cooking-Ultra-light/dp/B072N82R83

bic mini lighter - https://smile.amazon.com/Lot-Mini-Ebony-Black-Lighters/dp/B00863W71I

MSR french press - https://smile.amazon.com/MSR-Windburner-Coffee-Press-Kit/dp/B00YOBML2Q

Vargo folding spork - https://smile.amazon.com/Vargo-T-217-Titanium-Folding-Spork/dp/B004R1LYEO

PackTowel UL face towel - https://smile.amazon.com/Packtowl-UltraLite-Face-Towel-Clay/dp/B017W4M7N4

dish soap - https://smile.amazon.com/Sea-Summit-Wilderness-Ounce-250ml/dp/B0029W1394

Get a longer spoon. Those food bags are tall and it looks like your spoon is the standard camping size. I got an extended handle spoon and avoided getting my hands in my food. Also, moist towelettes for your hands and any cleanup (I used my alcohol pads from my first aid kit instead).
Tapirus Long Handle Spoon and Spork Set - Deep Reach Stainless Steel Cooking Eatin... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0727TH411/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_Vwe0CbC1T0H68

Keep one of these at work

Kershaw Ration Multi-Tool (1140X) 3Cr13MoV Stainless Steel Unibody Construction with Light-Gray Non-Reflective Bead-Blasted Finish, Multi-Function Spoon and Fork, Carabiner Gate, Bottle Opener,1.3 OZ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EFBH7RI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wqjXCb6435FPF

Stanley cook set, DZO cup , gsi cup , snowpeak life max stove , jetboil canister holder , Keith ti spork . MSR fuel, lighter, small bottle, and micro fiber rag were found at either REI or Walmart.

$20 for lifetime utensils?

naw, not enough titanium

Carry one of these
https://www.amazon.com/Tapirus-Utensils-Stainless-Lightweight-Construction/dp/B015QHZLIW?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_3

I use this hobo knife. Comes in handy for more than just eating too!

Coleman Camper's Utensil Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009PUQLE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_gaMIBbRR7T1YT