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A great set of camping cookware brings the comfort of the kitchen to the campsite. The Gear4U Camping Cookware Mess Kit is our top pick because it contains 13 useful items that tuck together into one compact package weighing just 1.3 pounds.
A journey into the wilderness affords an escape from the hustle, clutter, and worries of our busy modern lives. But just because a camping trip means leaving behind the myriad gadgets and appliances most of us use on a daily basis, that doesn't mean your adventure has to be fraught with needless difficulties. With the right gear, time spent out in the field can be rustic yet still convenient when it comes to preparing food. In fact, with a good set of camping cookware, you can move beyond the basic need for nutrition and prepare meals that are truly tasty.
As happens with so many people who find themselves spending more and more time hiking and camping, I went through an evolutionary process with the gear I used. I started off with an older, heavier air mat and sleeping bag. My first tent was a cheap and flimsy model I found on eBay for the same price as a single tank of gas. My first boots were hand-me-downs.
I bought my first set of camping cookware for five or six bucks at an army surplus store. It was made of thin, stamped aluminum, and after only a few uses, the metal tarnished with exposure to moisture, the pot and pan discolored from the flame of the stove, and all of the components became so warped and dented that the set no longer fit together properly.
Now having used several superior camping cookware sets, the poor quality of a set that cheap is no surprise to me. What might be a pleasant surprise to you, though, is how many high-quality camp cooking sets you can get for a modest price. There's a lot of great camp cookware out there for between $20 and $30 that will last for years of use with proper care.
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The best camping cookware set overall
Why you'll love it: The Gear4U Camping Cookware Mess Kit comes with everything you need to prepare and serve a fine meal for two, including a pot and pan, cups, bowls, and spoons.
There are three things about the Gear4U Camping Cookware Mess Kit that, when combined, make it a true standout. First, it's a comprehensive set, featuring a pot and pan, bowls, cups, cooking tools, and spoons for eating. Second, the kit costs less than $25 before tax and shipping. Third, all told, this 13-piece kit weighs only 1.3 pounds.
Now, it's not the lowest priced kit on our list, and it's not the lightest weight set, either. But when you combine a fair price with a low weight with a lot of components, you get a camp cooking kit that certainly deserves your consideration.
This kit comes with a 3.5-cup pot suitable for preparing a sizeable portion of pasta, soup, stew, and so forth, and a pan that measures six inches across and is ideal for frying eggs, preparing pancakes, and making other campout classics.
The cups each hold a modest six ounces, but they also pack down into discs less than an inch thick, so you can't really expect much more. The included bowls and spoons make it easy to enjoy your favorite camp cuisine, no added flatware or dinnerware needed.
Most campers who have used the Gear4U Camping Cookware Mess are thrilled with this "great little mess kit" that's "perfect for backpacking," in the words of one owner. Another satisfied customer calls it " everything you need in a compact [set]."
A writer with Sweet Kitchen noted the set's "durability" thanks to "hard-anodized aluminum construction," while a video unboxing on YouTube clearly demonstrated how small a package this comprehensive kit packs down into for travel or storage.
Pros: Lightweight and durable, compact when packed up, fair price point, comprehensive
Cons: Handles and rivets prone to rust, lid only fits frying pan
The best low-cost camping cookware
Why you'll love it: The MalloMe 10-Piece Cookware Mess Kit has all the lightweight but durable pot, pan, and cooking accessories you need for a great price.
There is a lot to like about the MalloMe 10-Piece Cookware Mess Kit, but let's be honest: The best part is the small price. At less than 22 bucks, this is one of the cheapest camp cooking sets you can buy that's not made of cheap, inferior materials.
The pot, pan, and lid are fabricated from FDA-approved anodized aluminum and have folding heat insulated nonslip grips. You get two BPA-free bowls, a folding spork made out stainless steel, a wooden cooking spatula, and a soup spoon.
Why the kit comes with two bowls yet only one spoon and one spork, I have to admit I don't really understand. Two spoons and two forks or two sporks would have made more sense to me, but as those are really just bonus accessories, let's give them a pass here. What counts are the one-liter pot and the nonstick pan, both of which are well made and lightweight. In fact, the whole kit weighs only 1.2 pounds.
Oh, and when you use the included sponge, this nonstick cookware cleans up easily, which you'll appreciate as you probably have to stow your pot and pan in your backpack next to your clothing and sleeping bag.
This set is beloved by thousands of campers, and it enjoys a glowing 4.7-star rating with nearly 3,000 reviews posted on Amazon.
One camper, a retired army vet, said of the MalloMe 10-Piece Cookware Mess Kit: "This little kit did exactly what it was supposed to do, it is light and strong, and well made." Another owner called it an "A+ set!"
In a comprehensive write up with Tents & Camp Gear, a gear tester called the set "compact and convenient" and "truly an all-in-one type of set." A video reviewer with It's All Relative Reviews appreciated how it "packs down light and small" into the included nylon sack.
Pros: Great low price, easy to clean, comes with multiple accessories
Cons: Pot and pan are too small for some meals/users
The best lightweight camping cookware
Why you'll love it: The HealthPro Titanium Camping Cookware Set cooking kit will only add 9.2 ounces of gear weight, but it has everything you need.
If you have a 12-ounce can of beer or soda nearby, go ahead and pick it up. Feel that weight? That's about 30% more than the entire weight of this three-piece camping cookware set from HealthPro. How can this set weigh so very little? Simple: It's made from titanium. And yes, in case you're wondering, that does drive up the price quite a bit.
The HealthPro Titanium Camping Cookware Set actually costs more than twice as much as many mess kits, and it comes without any of the accessories included with many sets. But for the person who's serious about reducing gear weight, its $48 price is money well spent. Not only is titanium very lightweight, but it's also durable, tasteless and odorless, and it conducts heat quickly and evenly for an efficient cooking session.
The kit comes with two pots and a pan; the latter can be inverted to use as a lid that helps keep in the heat and/or protect your food from rain, snow, or dust. The pots can be used separately or nestled together to create a double boiler. All three items are also suitable for use as dinnerware, standing in for a bowl or a large mug. You'll just need to provide your own spoon.
It's no surprise that of the dozens of positive reviews, most owners comment on this 4.5-star rated kit's weight. One user remarks that it's well designed and "ridiculously light," while another doesn't mind the price, noting that "considering it's made out of a material that is, for all practical purposes, nearly impossible to refine and fabricate, it's cheap."
The professionals in the gear review world are also fans of the HealthPro Titanium Camping Cookware Set. In a video review, a tester with Backpacking Gear Reviews appreciated the set's "sturdy rubber coated handles" and also noted that the components are dishwasher safe.
And a writer with BackPacking.net pointed out that titanium weighs only half as much as stainless steel while offering the same durability.
Pros: Fantastically lightweight, durable, even heat transfer
Cons: Quite expensive for category, no accessories included
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