Cookware

Recent Cookware Reviews

Toaks Titanium Long Handle Spoon

I totally LOVE my TOAKS long handled spoon and it's NOT just for camping: I generally carry it with me in my purse as a regular thing! It's perfect for getting to the bottom of a container, and it's an asset that its bowl is both rounded and straight to fetch the last bit of whatever from the bottom. It cleans easily, weighs practically nothing, is perfect for stirring the soup pot or for sauteing, and, in a pinch, can serve as a back scratcher! ;-)Really .. I ask you .. what's not to LOVE!?! Full review

Toaks Titanium Long Handle Spoon

Excellent spoon does exactly what you need it to.   So it's a spoon. If you do any amount of backpacking at some point you will likely encounter at least one freeze dried meal.  There are people who do not of course but I am not one of those people. If you are one such person you already know that eating from the container these meals is an annoyance. You will often get some measure of the meal on your fingers  using a standard sized spoon to dig into it. Enter the long handle spoon. This one… Full review

REI Pack-Away 12 Soft Cooler

It does what it says it will do, but... Filled with 8.5 lbs. of ice, the Pack-Away 12 will keep 12 cans below 40°F for up to 32 hrs. This is the first line in the product description at REI. It is accurate but it does include the hours the cold water keeps things cool. Once the ice melts, you're keeping stuff in a bucket of water but if you've anything in the cooler besides drinks, it can get messy unless those containers are 100% water tight. Ziplocs won't do it, as we found out. We bought this… Full review

Elfo Swissgold Coffee Filter

The ELFO brand is no longer available but the item is now exclusively sold in North America as the Coffee-4-me by Designandgrace. Originally designed in Switzerland and still engineered by a Swiss company, this is a lightweight and efficient way to make coffee by the cup, wherever you have access to hot water. In just two minutes your coffee is ready, with no paper wasted and rapid cleanup.   Full review

GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Dualist HS

I bought this new at REI. I have cooked curry and pancakes with no issue. I really don’t understand the pissy comments that sound like Ralph Nader’s “ unsafe at any speed” damning report. Woo Hoo! Love this set. I will continue to use this design, however my complete backpack little, including Osprey 75 liter pack, and tarp and hammock from  Eno. Other stuff, as well. I have replaced it with the Glacier Dualist, as stainless, while not as great for all cooking, is much more durable than… Full review

Hydro Flask 40 oz Wide Mouth

Kinda wish I wouldn’t have spent $50 on it. I like it, but it doesn’t keep water cold unless you have ice. Which I hate, because why am I spending so much when I should’ve just purchased a regular bottle. Too late to return it, nothing I can do about it I know. I’m just telling people so they know before purchasing. If you drop it and it’s a far drop on accident on hard floor, street, rocks (hiking), etc. there will be 97% chance that there’s a dent in it. Sometimes big, sometimes little,… Full review

Great to Go by Huhtamaki 165 mm Wooden Cutlery Set

An ultralight wooden knife and fork intended for single use but worth hanging on to for multiple adventures.   You get what you pay for... (Continuing my tradition of reviewing backcountry cutlery on Trailspace -- see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) On our recent hike of Sweden’s Kungsleden, we planned to buy pasta along the way from the rather limited stores at small huts rather than carry it from the start of each stage, with the possibility that the only pasta available would be spaghetti. The thing about… Full review

Sea to Summit X-Brew Coffee Dripper

Not quite idiot-proof. And I can be an idiot—especially in the foggy end of the morning, ha ha. I am no javanista, but I can recognize that this pour-over has the capacity to make an EXCELLENT cup of coffee. Or with a minor error in judgement, it can make an awful mess. Long story short, this is an excellent coffee maker—if you really know what you are doing. Background: Let me be upfront—I am a tea drinker. I like a good cup of coffee, and I like to think that I can recognize a good cup of… Full review

Silipint Lidded Bowl Set

A set of three lidded bowls (10oz, 20oz, and 30oz) that function well and have nice secure lids and non-slip silicone surfaces. Smallest one is good for a cup or small container, biggest one makes for a great bowl. Easy to use and easy to clean. Just wish the sizes were a little different. Conditions:  I’ve used the Silipint Lidded Bowl Set for three months and have tested them in a variety of manners, including: Storing trail snacks Storing soup to be reheated later Making soup while hunting… Full review