Thinking about spending a week in touch with nature? Then, most likely you are aware that in order to have a nice and memorable camping time; you need proper gear, including camping utensils. That is why today we’ll be sharing with you everything you need to know about all the camping utensils you’ll ever need.
Camping utensils are absolutely necessary when you think about camping and spending time in the great outdoors. You certainly do not want to forget about your set of cutlery and utensils and go through that unnecessary suffering on what should be an exciting adventure experience.
Before making any investments, you’ll want to consider a few things. With many options in the market, it might sound a bit challenging knowing what would be a good choice, but if what you want is to make sure you have the right camping equipment, keep reading and find all the camping utensils you’ll ever need for every camp kitchen.
Camping Utensils FAQ’s
Why do you need camping utensils?
- Investing in a dedicated set of cutlery and utensils for camping will preserve your ‘at home’ items and they’ll be much better suited to use at camp.
- When having the proper utensils; preparing and eating lightweight backpacking meals to campfire cooking and picnics, becomes the perfect excuse to eat great food in the outdoors.
- Having the right utensils will also ensure that you get the best camp cooking and eating experience possible.
What type of utensils should you look for when camping?
Sporks
Sporks are double-ended camping utensils with a spoon at one end and a fork at the other. Often, the fork has a serrated edge to replace the need for a knife. Sporks were originally made out of plastic and tended to break due to the nature of their curved design. However, there are lots of metal Sporks available which solve this issue.
Folding camping utensils
Folding utensils are awesome for their compactness, lightweight, and multi-tasking prowess on backcountry journeys. These are good options for packing and space-saving. A full set of folding camping utensils easily fit into a cooking pot or nestle in with other items without sticking out.
Camping cutlery sets
Cutlery sets usually comprise three separate items: a knife, a fork, and a spoon. Some also come with chopsticks and most are either contained in a small case or bag or attached together with a carabiner or similar.
Camp cooking utensils
Utensils for camping cooking vary from non-stick, lightweight spatulas to good old-fashioned wooden spoons and everything in between. What you need for your own camp cooking will depend upon the type of cooking you are doing.
Campfire cooking and grilling require very different utensils (tongs, spatula, long fork, etc) than when preparing lightweight trail meals. You may want to opt for a full set of camp cooking utensils, complete with a carrying case and chopping board.
What are sporks good for?
Most sporks are a spoon with fork pins at the top. The spoon is often more shallow than a regular spoon and the tines of the fork part are short. The tines of a fork are great for holding down food that needs to be cut before eating, like steak or anything big.
Is a spork the best utensil?
Although it may surprise you that there are even that many different sporks to choose from, don’t underestimate the surprising nuances of this seemingly simple yet exceptional hybrid utensil. The most fun, food-portmanteau since brunch, the spork is the fundamental tool for your outdoor cooking and eating requirements.
What to keep in mind when choosing camping utensils?
- Type of food: Boil in the bag backpacking meals require little more than a Spork or spoon to cook and eat. If you go down this route, be sure that all your meals are as simple to prepare and eat.
- Type of camping: If you’re backpacking and hiking then opt for something lightweight and packable with multi-purpose functions; think Spork. If you have multiple items in your set then a carry case is also useful to prevent them from getting lost in your pack.
- Multipurpose: If you intend to use your cutlery set to cook with as well as to eat with then it’s likely you’ll need something more comprehensive than just a Spork, though this does depend upon your cooking style. It’s always useful to have a metal fork at the ready when cooking over the fire, and a knife has endless uses.
- The number of people eating: If you’re car camping with your family, a camp cutlery set with multiple knives, forks, and spoons is essential.
- Cutlery material: What your camping cutlery is made of is fairly important if you want to get the right camping utensils for you.
What cutlery material options do you have?
- Plastic: Inexpensive, lightweight, dishwasher safe, some are durable. Not that nice to eat with, knives tend not to be very effective, not great for cooking with.
- Titanium: Though very expensive, these are super lightweight, highly durable, nice to eat with and hold, dishwasher safe, good for cooking and campfires.
- Aluminum: Some alloys aren’t dishwasher safe; however, these are lightweight, durable, good for cooking with, nice to eat with.
- Stainless Steel: Highly durable, inexpensive, dishwasher safe, good for cooking and campfires, nice to eat with.
- Bioplastics: Eco-friendly, lightweight, most are pretty durable, lightweight.
- Bamboo: Eco-friendly, lightweight, very durable, good for cooking with, nice to hold and eat with; but not great in the dishwasher.
- Wood: Eco-friendly, naturally antibacterial, good for cooking nice to hold and eat with, durable.
Camping Utensils
Primus TrailSpork Ti
Combined fork, knife, and spoon made of durable titanium TrailSpork Ti is a fork, knife, and spoon in one.
Titanium is both lightweight and very strong, as well as durable. The spork is designed to be the only tool you need to bring on your adventures, as it can be used both as cooking utensils and cutlery.
The Primus TrailSpork Ti is one of the more stylish pieces of camping cutlery on our list. It features a deep, slightly square spoon, which is great for eating soups as well as cooking.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Fork, knife, and spoon in one
- Durable titanium
Cons:
- No knife component
- A little on the short side for pre-packed
Sea to Summit Alpha Light 3 Piece Set
The AlphaLight Cutlery uses a durable hard-anodized aircraft-grade aluminum combined with a sleek-yet-strong shape to create an extremely lightweight utensil at a surprisingly affordable price.
By hard anodizing the aluminum it forms a kind of “exoskeleton” so the shape of the utensils can be slimmer and lighter. This hardened shell also encapsulates the aluminum, so there’s no risk of the alloy leaching into food.
Pros:
- Lightest metal cutlery on the market
- Ultralight, strong 7075-T6 aircraft aluminum alloy
- Smooth matte finish
Cons:
- Not dishwasher safe
To-Go Ware Bamboo Utensil Set
To-Go Ware set gives you a fork, spoon, knife, and chopsticks, all made from lightweight and strong bamboo wood.
Utensils are hand-finished with natural, food-safe wood oil; bamboo wood does not stain or absorb flavors.
Included RePEaT holder is made out of recycled PET plastic, giving new life to used plastic bottles.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Versatile
- Eco-Friendly
- Enjoyable to eat with
Cons:
- Knife not good for cutting
Light My Fire Spork
Functions as a spoon, fork, and knife, with a serrated edge on the side of the fork. An extra-long handle makes it easier to stir, cook and serve meals.
Made from BPA-free bio-based plastics; dishwasher safe, heat-resistant, and safe to use with nonstick cookware. Designed specifically for Light My Fire by Scandinavian designer Joachim Nordwall.
Pros:
- Super lightweight
- Dishwasher safe
- Eco-friendly
Cons:
- Short for pre-packed backpacking meals
Bitty BigQ Folding Cutlery Set
This is an ultralight, durable titanium Cup/Mug set which includes a 450 ml 100% titanium mug with lid and 3 Piece Folding Cutlery. This Titanium Cup Set is ideal for backpacking and any outdoor activities.
Setup an open fire and cook with Bitty Big Q Camp Grill Rack and Bitty Big Q Titanium Cup. You can also use it as an everyday coffee and teacup/mug.
Moreover, you can cook or reheat using Bitty Big Q Titanium Cup/Mug directly on the stove in your kitchen. Three-piece folding cutlery can be stored in the cup while not in use.
Pros:
- Highly packable
Comes in a drawstring bag
Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Only sold with a mug
Human Gear GoBites Trio
Trio’s low-profile storage case keeps things clean during transport, and the lightweight, durable utensils will stand up to years of abuse. The Trio tools are designed with eating in mind–comfortable to hold but robust enough for serious eating.
The knife blade is sharp enough to cut a piece of chicken and the fork tines are long enough to twirl spaghetti. Handy touches like an included toothpick and a metal bottle opener embedded in the knife round out the set.
All models are built on the same foundation: real tools for real humans. All GoBites are made from a special, extremely durable nylon and backed by a lifetime warranty. GoBites are also BPA-free, PC-free, and phthalate-free.
Pros:
- Versatile
- Good case
- Includes toothpick and bottle opener
Cons:
- Plastic
MSR Titan Fork and Spoon Set
These titanium utensils deliver ultralight utility and unquestionable durability. They come on a screw-locked cable so they’re as easy to keep track of, as they are to carry.
At 30g / 1oz, this 2-piece cutlery set is still very lightweight and both the spoon and fork are a joy to eat with.
It is also dishwasher safe which means that the titanium finish doesn’t degrade with washes. Plus, they’re slim to hold with slightly more satisfying angles at the head.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Good length
Cons:
- No knife
Sea to Summit Titanium Spork
Titanium remains a premium material for camp cutlery. It is lightweight while being incredibly strong and resistant to wear.
Titanium cutlery is very rigid, and won’t break if they end up awkwardly placed in the bottom of your pack.
Most importantly, titanium is food safe, has a very high resistance to corrosion, and will last longer than an alloy equivalent.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Dishwasher safe
Cons:
- No serrated edge
Expedition Foods Unbreakable Spoon
Long reach silicon spoon for use with freeze-dried ‘Add water to bag’ meals. The spoon is perfect for your backpack, boat, picnic basket, lunchbox, purse, or briefcase.
As the name states, the Expedition Foods Unbreakable Spoon is pretty bombproof and made of extremely durable material. Helpfully, the silicon is also heat resistant and doesn’t melt in hot / boiling water.
Pros:
- Durable
- Won’t scratch non-stick cookware
- Great for camp cooking
Cons:
- Not very lengthy
MSR Alpine Long Tool Spoon
Featuring a jet-and-cable tool for servicing your MSR liquid-fuel stoves on one end, this stainless steel clad spoon has an extra-long handle to reach the bottom of tall pots and stand-up pouch meals.
Stainless steel and titanium pots may be used over an open fire, with caution. You should expect some soot, and if you place the pot is too hot of an environment, some warping.
Pros:
- Super durable
- Nice to eat with
- Great for cooking with too
Cons:
- Only good for eating spoonable foods
