Nothing can supersede the pleasure of cooking in the outdoors if you have the right gears with you. Though it’s possible to cook with your household cookware, this is not always a smart idea in the light of the fact that majority of the traditional cookwares are too bulky and weighty making it extremely troublesome to carry and move around. So purchasing a couple of good backpacking cookwares can solve this problem. This article will help you to pick out the 10 best backpacking cookwares.
Quick Comparison: Top Best Backpacking Cookware
**Below, you'll find our expert's reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.
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How to choose the best set of backpacking cookware?
There are various elements you need to consider before choosing your backpacking cookware. Type of material, weight, lids, durability, and capacity are vital among them.
Aluminum, titanium and stainless steel are the most commonly used materials. Aluminum cookwares are cheap, lightweight and conduct heat well. These are the three primary reasons why people have aluminum as their first preference. But aluminum cookwares can leak toxic metals from it into your food causing a high level of health risks. Also, aluminum has less durability. So aluminum isn’t always a good option to opt.
If you are seeking for the best backpacking cookwares, then the ones made of titanium would be better. It is lighter than aluminum, harder than steel and it doesn’t cause the oozing of toxic chemicals into your food. Also, the handles are thin and remain cool enough to touch. But it’s expensive than the other available options.
Stainless steel cookwares were once very popular, though most of the companies have now switched to titanium and aluminum. Its bit heavier compared to the other two, making it difficult to clean. However, quality lightweight stainless steel cookwares are also available now. Both stainless steel and titanium are more durable than aluminum.
Ensure that the cookware you choose doesn’t consume half the space of your backpack. So always take care of the weight and volume of the cookwares considering the number of people you would be cooking for. This has a direct impact on your solace also. Those made of aluminum and titanium are good options for minimizing the weight.
Always go for medium sized pots no matter what sort of trip you take, whether solo or group, stay prepared. Next are lids. Using lids reduce your cooking time and save fuel especially when are fit tight. They likewise keep your stoves clean by avoiding splatter. Some lids can also be used as plates for reducing your load.
Review of Some of The Best Backpacking Cookware
Our #1 Rated
Our #1 Rated
Rated out of 5
- It’s the largest stowaway pot of MSR
- Built of high-quality stainless steel
- Weighs 1.21 LB with 775 ml capacity
- Best for two backpackers
Pros
- Durable
- Has an excellent lock system which ensures that the lid stays tight and firm
- The handle can be locked
Cons
- Heavy
- Doesn’t pour well
Our #2 Rated
Our #2 Rated
Rated out of 5
- It’s a 10 piece cookware mess kit
- Built of non-toxic anodized aluminum
- The set includes a nonstick pot of 1-liter capacity, pot cover, a nonstick pan, two bowls, a folding stainless steel spork, a soup spoon, a wooden spoon spatula, a cleaning sponge, a nylon travel bag drawstring pouch, a perfect marshmallow roasting and smores making guide with 10 recipes Ebook
Features
Pros
- Easy to store due to its collapsible design
- Lightweight
- Compact and sturdy design
- BPA free
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Too small for two backpackers
- The bowls may not be of any use
Our #3 Rated
Our #3 Rated
Rated out of 5
- Built of titanium
- Weighs 3.6oz
- Has 750ml capacity
- A mesh sack and a lid with lockable grip are included
- Foldable handles
Features
Pros
- Corrosion resistant
- Can withstand high temperatures
- No metallic aftertaste
- Simple to clean
Cons
- Handles conduct heat
- Loses heat quickly
- Uneven heating
Our #4 Rated
Our #4 Rated
Rated out of 5
Features
- Built of durable 18/8 food-grade stainless steel
- Weighs 5lb
- Frying pan has a multilayer base
- The set includes a pot with vented lid, 946 ml frying pan, cutting board, spatula, serving spoon, plates, bowls, sporks, dish drying rack, and trivet
Pros
- Durable
- BPA free ( Bisphenol A)
- Excellent lid
- Even heating due to the presence of multilayer base
- Scratch resistant
- Rustproof
Cons
- No nonstick coating
- Heavy
Our #5 Rated
Our #5 Rated
Rated out of 5
- Made of hard anodized aluminum
- the set includes stainless steel foldable knife, fork, spoon, a canister stand tripod, a mini stove with piezo ignition, an anodized aluminum nonstick pot, a nonstick frying pan, two bowls, soup spoon, rice ladle, loofah sponge, carabiner and a nylon bag
- Best for 1-2 backpackers to use
Features
Pros
- The bowls and soup spoon are BPA free
- Small and lightweight
- Resistant to wears and tears
- Has nontoxic internal surface material
- Quick heat conduction
- Handles are resistant to high temperatures
- Simple to clean
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
- Flimsy stove
Our #6 Rated
Our #6 Rated
Rated out of 5
- It’s a versatile multifunctional set which can brew, boil and cook as well
- Built of 18/8 stainless steel
- Weighs 0.62 LB
- Has lifetime limited warranty by the manufacturer
Features
Pros
- Has nesting system which saves space
- Dishwasher safe
- BPA free
- Has vented melt resistant nylon lid
- Has locking handle
Cons
- It rapidly loses heat
Our #7 Rated
Our #7 Rated
Rated out of 5
- An 11 piece set
- Weighs 1.5 lbs
- All the pieces are made of lightweight aluminum oxide and have a nonstick Teflon coating
- The set includes two large pot and lid, a frying pan, a tea kettle, a serving ladle, a personal bowl, a serving spoon, cleaning sponge and a carry bag
Features
Pros
- Lightweight
- Compact design
- Durable
- Affordable price
- Impervious to high temperatures and scratches
Cons
- Lower capacity
Our #8 Rated
Our #8 Rated
Rated 4.6 out of 5
Features
- Built of ultra-thin stainless steel
- Weighs 1lb
- Pot has the 1.5-liter capacity
- Best for camping to serve 2-4 people
- The set includes a stainless steel pot, kettle lid, bowl, stuff sack
Pros
- It can pour like a kettle for making an appetizing coffee and can cook a full meal like a pot too
- Easy to clean without the fear of material getting scratched
- Durable
- Its heat Shield concentrates flames and blocks wind
Cons
- Hard to add fuel
Our #9 Rated
Our #9 Rated
Rated out of 5
- Built of non-toxic anodized aluminum
- Weighs 1.2 lbs
- Set includes a Non-stick pan pot bowl spoon set and a mini stove with piezo ignition
- Perfectly designed for one or two backpackers
Features
Pros
- The cook set contains room for keeping spices and utensils for space consumption
- Comes with a mesh storage bag
- Lightweight
- Compact
Cons
- The silicon handles melt very easily
- Uneven heat conduction
- No plates or utensils are included
Our #10 Rated
Our #10 Rated
Rated out of 5
- A two-person camping cookware set
- Built of hard-anodized aluminum
- Set consists of a 1.5L nonstick pot, a 2.5L hard-anodized pot, strainer lid, 2 Deep Dish plates, 2 Double-Wall Insulated mugs, 1 Talon pot handle
- Weighs 1.76 lbs
Features
Pros
- A complete cook and eat system
- Lightweight and compact
- Durable
- Firm handles
- Simple to clean
Cons
- Skillet is not included
- Bulky
- Little expensive
How to clean your backpacking cookware set?
Keeping your cookware set clean is as vital as picking up the best one and preparing delicious food using it. There are a few factors you need to take care of once you wrap up your meals.
Ensure that you don’t burn food onto your pans. Wash it instantly after use or at least fill them with water. Never scrap your cookware set with steel, wool or even green scrub pads as they can leave minor scratches on your cookware sets inside which food particles can get stuck and burnt while cooking. This will make cooking more troublesome and less enjoyable for you. Rather use a delicate bristled brush, a sponge, or an old piece of cloth.
Ensure that you use mild Eco-friendly soaps as most of the time you are probably going to wash them in the outdoors. Then, wipe them dry without soap or water.
Once you are finished washing, please make sure you pack them appropriately and precisely. All these have a direct impact on the lifespan of your cookware sets and furthermore the taste and food hygiene.
Foot note!!
Taking a little break to get lost in the wilderness of nature far from the chaos and regular schedules of our life is inevitable. Cooking the meals on your own and enjoying it in the woods would be the best part your journey with any doubt. So backpacking the right gears with you would guarantee this most enjoyable one wouldn’t turn into a burden and muddle your trail.