The right equipment – for cooking, sleeping, or otherwise – can make the difference between a successful camping trip and a miserable family memory.
Having the proper gear for you and your outdoor adventure is a vital step in enjoying the environment without carrying your house on your back.
Many people who first decide that they want to go on a camping trip don’t know where to start with buying supplies, whether for a day hike from a car campsite to a month-long life odyssey.
There are three key criteria your camping cooking gear needs to hit: portability, durability and ease of use.
The first thing to fetch is something in which to make food.
This brings up the question of what exactly goes into deciding what kind of pots, pans, and utensils you will need on your camping trip.
There are three key criteria your camping cooking gear needs to hit: portability, durability and ease of use.
Best Camping Cooking Gear
Texsport Black Ice “The Scouter” Hard Anodized Cook Set
If you are an experienced camper with a large party to feed while on the move around the wilderness, this Texsport Black Ice Scouter cook set will fit your bill with room to spare. With five pieces to this set, there’s plenty to go around.
The largest pot in the set can hold 1.5 quarts, enough to reheat everything from chicken soup to refried beans for the whole family. Despite this size, the set still nests together to keep volume reduced to the minimum capacity for packing.
You’ll never have to worry about scalding your skin with these insulated pot handles.
You’ll never have to worry about scalding your skin with these insulated pot handles. Coated and folding, you will have protection even against the potential forgetful spell where you have to unlock the handles from their closed position when the pot is in use.
Unlike other cooking sets designed for campground compaction, this set comes with lids for its pots, protecting their contents from the elements and any critters who may want to steal your food, not to mention allowing safe storage for snacking later.
Coleman 5-Piece Aluminum Mess Kit
Not every camper needs tools for a group, of course. If you are a solo adventurer in the world who just needs a few surfaces to eat from, a simple solution to your culinary needs is this Coleman mess kit.
This set contains not only a single pot and a pan, but also a cup and a plate to keep your trip from requiring extraneous purchases for dining ease. At the very least, it will keep you from having to eat your beans straight from the pot.
Because this set is made from thin aluminum, it is feather light and easy to clip to the outside of your pack.
Because this set is made from thin aluminum, it is feather light and easy to clip to the outside of your pack to free up space inside without overbalancing you at every step. It’s also easy to clean and rust-resistant!
Portable and versatile, this kit is for the mobile lone wolf: hiking up the Appalachian Trail, through the Rocky Mountains or around Yellowstone, you’ll only need a fire and a sheet of metal on which to cook when you’re out in the wild.
Outop Outdoor Camping Cookware Set
The Outop four-piece set is for the compact and utilitarian camping style. Each piece has depth, so even though two are labeled as lids they can all be used to hold and store food, doubling as a plate or bowl.
The silicon-covered handles allow you to cook without needing protection from the hot metal. However, because they can fold up against the curve of the pots, they don’t impede the stacking abilities so you can slot them together for easy transportation.
Since these pots do not collapse flat, they double as a container within your pack.
Since these pots do not collapse flat, they double as a container within your pack, holding all the necessary cooking accessories in the inside pot for ease of access. No need to dig through your clothes for the fish fry!
Along with the mesh bag that comes with it, this set is a perfect catch-all to keep stocked for a “grab and go” trip. The design will help minimize packing time both before and during your vacation into the woods.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes camping cooking gear different from normal cookware?
Cookware meant for camping is designed to be compact and lightweight, taking up as little volume and mass in your pack as possible.
Cookware meant for camping is designed to be compact and lightweight, taking up as little volume and mass in your pack as possible. Plates and utensils often double up, with a fork’s handle serrated on one side for a knife, or a plate that collapses into a triangle to stick in a side pouch.
Cooking equipment accomplishes this feat by stacking and compacting. Most pot and pan sets can be condensed into one cylinder, with the smaller pots nesting in the larger like a set of Russian matryoshka dolls. They often even include a convenient internal cup to protect small and easily crushed food items.
Can I use them outside of a camp?
The heavier duty pots and pans can stand up to the test of the coals, too, so you don’t have to have a camp stove rigging to be able to use them.
Because most camping cooking equipment is designed for transportation, many are concerned about their durability and reusability beyond a simple kerosene camp stove. Not to worry, though – they are made to last, many with the same coatings found in your everyday kitchen utensils to make them clean and easy to use.
The heavier duty pots and pans can stand up to the test of the coals, too, so you don’t have to have a camp stove rigging to be able to use them. Not all materials will stand up to a bare flame, though, so make sure that you select the best camping cooking gear for your needs if this is how you plan to whip up meals.
What kinds of materials are used?
Cutlery tends to be bright, light plastic, but things that go into heat, like pots, pans, and serving utensils, have to be more durable than that.
Like backpack frames and tent poles, camping cooking gear is designed to be easy to carry and fold into small pockets. The makeup can range from specially designed metal alloys to simple aluminum to colorful plastics, depending on the needs and uses of the specific item.
Cutlery tends to be bright, light plastic, but things that go into heat, like pots, pans, and serving utensils, have to be more durable than that. Sometimes they are untreated, but often they are coated with Teflon or a non-stick solvent so that they are easier to clean when you may not have the option for a steel wool scrub.
In Summary
If you want to have a fun, safe and easy hike, you have to put your best foot forward and start with the best camping cooking equipment to fit what you need.
Whether simple or elaborate, having the right gear to eat from will make your adventure one more step towards memorable.
These are the best products related to Best Camping Cooking Gear based on product quality, customer satisfaction, and price: