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Pots and Pans

Top Picks

How we choose: The best pots and pans highlighted here were selected based on 304 reviews of 137 products. Our top picks are those that are readily-available in the United States and have received the highest overall ratings from reviewers.

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GSI Outdoors Halulite Microdualist Cookset

user rating: 5 of 5 (6 reviews)

Compact, light and convenient. Perfect Trekkers cookset.

Reasons to Buy

  • Packable
  • Light
  • Comfortably accommodates 2
  • Scratch resistant
  • Packed with features

Reasons to Avoid

  • Flimsy and hard to clean sporks
  • Rubber handle can melt from liquid gas stoves (but not canister stoves)

I bought this a couple of years ago and fell in love with it! I'm able to pack my entire cooking setup without sacrificing more space in my pack! Everything nestles inside of itself nicely! What I like: Packable, lightweight 2 insulated cups with lids (I can finally leave the mug at home), 2 eating bowls, All plastic is BPA free! Strainer on pot lid, Integrated rubber handle (leave pot gripper at home). What I don't like: Flimsy and hard to clean spork. I replaced these with a Light My Fire utensil. Rubber handle can melt from larger stoves Wish I could store 2 canisters with my stove. All in all, I'll be buying more product from GSI in the future. I have my eyes on the Minimalist!

Read more: GSI Outdoors Halulite Microdualist Cookset reviews (6)

Sea to Summit X-Pot 2.8L

user rating: 4.5 of 5 (4 reviews)

A unique and innovative product to fill the niche of collapsible cookware, the 2.8 L X-Pot performs well as a pot for heating water and re-hydrating/cooking foods. It also serves additional functions as a water catchment/collection bucket, measuring device, and basin for chemically treating water and washing dishes. It is a bit on the heavy side at around 11 oz. and so is best suited for groups of two or more. It is also limited to use with backpacking stoves. If you like being able to cook on an open fire, this pot is not for you.

Reasons to Buy

  • Takes up less space in your pack when collapsed
  • Has the capaicty to boil up to 2 liters
  • Unique, specilized design

Reasons to Avoid

  • A bit heavy for a solo backpacker
  • In certain circumstances, not as efficient at boiling water as metal pots
  • Durability of silicone

Specs X-Pot: 8.4” dia. X 4.7” tall x 1.5” tall collapsed, 2.8 L capacity. The advertised weight is 10.2 oz but it was actually 11.8 oz on my scale…this included the lid. X-Bowl:  5” dia. (though I measured 6”) x 2.25” tall, 650 ml capacity, 2.9 oz. The bottom is solid and can be used as a cutting board. X-Mug: 4.5” dia. x 3.25” tall, 480 ml capacity (I measured only about 400 ml), 2.2 oz.  The mug has a solid rim which facilitates sipping (but not pouring). The mug and bowl set weigh a little over 5 oz; 5.9 oz if you include the complimentary storage bag.

Read more: Sea to Summit X-Pot 2.8L reviews (4)

GSI Outdoors Halulite Minimalist Cookset

user rating: 4.5 of 5 (15 reviews)

Weighing in at 6.3oz and costing under $30 caused me to rethink the value of titanium. This cookset may be the last I ever own!

Reasons to Buy

  • 6.3oz!
  • Pot lid doubles as travel mug lid--hike and drink coffee
  • Takes us minimal pack space
  • All-in-one cooking

Reasons to Avoid

  • The "foon" (fork/spoon) is flimsy and too short
  • Koozie is same color as pot (see review)
  • "Snugness" of Koozie (see review)

I was searching for Titanium, when I came upon the GSI Halulite Minimalist Cookset. The first thing that caught my eye was the price—$28. No, that wasn't a mistake or an advertised special. That was the regular price on Backcountry.com. Of course, being that cheap it couldn't POSSIBLY be a quality product...could it? So I began researching reviews—here on Trailspace, on retail sites, and on a few...er...other review sites. I read reviews ranging from car campers to AT thru-hikers to folks who spend more time backpacking than living in their homes.

Read more: GSI Outdoors Halulite Minimalist Cookset reviews (15)

GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Backpacker Cookset

user rating: 4.5 of 5 (3 reviews)

Everything two backpackers could ask for in a smartly-designed package (whose storage tub even serves a dual purpose). After camping with tubs full of kitchen gear, taking up entire seats of the car? We're more than thrilled with the small size and high level of functionality this cookset offers.

Reasons to Buy

  • Lightweight
  • Well-organized
  • Compact
  • Easy to clean
  • Durable

Reasons to Avoid

  • Only one folding pot/pan handle
  • Handle conducts heat

Back when I was out with my girlfriend on our very first car camping trip, we lugged-in an entire Rubbermaid tub full of kitchen cookware and utensils. It was large enough to take up a car seat, heavy enough to throw out a healthy back, and cumbersome enough to make the simplest meal frustrating. Something had to change.  When you look for a good cookset, you want something that solves the aforementioned problems.  This does. It is pictured above with my Crossover Kitchen Kit and a couple LMF sporks.

Read more: GSI Outdoors Pinnacle Backpacker Cookset reviews (3)

Explore more top-rated pots and pans from GSI Outdoors:

Snow Peak Titanium Trek 700

user rating: 5 of 5 (6 reviews)

A lightweight, titanium pot. Perfect volume for the solo backpacker. Volume measurements stamped inside. Small fuel canisters fit inside with room for small stoves.

Reasons to Buy

  • Lightweight
  • Perfect volume for solo backpacker
  • Titanium is light and tough
  • Fuel canister and small stove fits inside
  • Lots of aftermarket accys

Reasons to Avoid

  • Lid is heavy, doesn't snap on, and has a hook that snags stuff in pack
  • Thin titanium is not best heat transfer for delicate cooking

Been using my old 600ml Snow Peak cup as my solo cookpot on my AT sections, but found it just a little small as my hunger got bigger. I like to boil enough water in the morning to fill my coffee cup and make oatmeal, and 600 ml just didn't cut it. I couldn't squeeze a fuel canister in it either, which adding to pack volume. I was also wishing it had some volume measurements in it to facilitating cooking stuff like rice, oatmeal, etc. Well, my birthday came around, and Mary got me a brand new Snow Peak Titanium Trek 700 cookpot! I had researched it.

Read more: Snow Peak Titanium Trek 700 reviews (6)

Fire Maple Petrel Ultralight Pot

user rating: 4.5 of 5 (2 reviews)

Very fast boiling, small backpacking pot

Reasons to Buy

  • Fast boil
  • Helps reduce wind blow on stove
  • Light 5.9 oz with lid
  • Inexpensive
  • 110 G fuel bottle fits inside
  • Internal markings for water amount

Reasons to Avoid

  • Small size, would prefer larger diameter
  • May not fit your existing stove—PocketRocket 2 does not quite fit in the fin slots
  • Some sharp bits on handle ends
  • 230 gram and larger fuel bottle will not fit inside
  • Handle design can collapse if you squeeze while pouring

After seeing some reviews, I decided to give this a go. I started testing with my old 900ML cheapo aluminum pot that has served me well for the past 5 or so years. Coupled with an MSR Pocket Rocket 2. Going against the PocketRocket 2 and FireMaple Petrel G3. For both tests, I am cranking the PR2 to full blast—something I don't normally do, but for the sake of science. I did both boils with no lid on. I normally boil with lids on as I do find it a little faster. But since I needed the thermometer to stick up, no lids were used on either.

Read more: Fire Maple Petrel Ultralight Pot reviews (2)

Snow Peak Titanium Cook & Save

user rating: 5 of 5 (2 reviews)

Titanium Pot used for 3-4 people. Capacity advertised on Snow Peak website is 2 Liters (68 oz), though that's a bit generous even if that's to the rim. Usable capacity is 2 quarts (1.89L). Plastic lid looks to prevent waste, or at least cover the leftovers from the elements for awhile.

Reasons to Buy

  • Large enough for group cooking AND lightweight, 8 oz.
  • Can be used on gas stove and/or open fire
  • The pot-plastic lid-Ti lid fits tightly together
  • Folding handles sturdy and convenient
  • Measuring lines (oz and liters) are engraved
  • Supplies can be stored inside pot
  • Easy to clean
  • Mesh bag included

Reasons to Avoid

  • Titanium lid definitely cannot be used as a pan, but a hefty plate!
  • Likely will only use 1.5L of total pot capacity, or the water will overflow/food likely to spill... cooking yes, but saving no
  • This is really my fault... Cooked with it on the electric stove, and it now has an electric coil design on the inside. Continues to be safe and useful. Consider it a limitation of titanium.

I've had this for a month now, used it once, and can now speak to its features, design, and function. This is the largest titanium pot Snow Peak makes, which is probably for the three people and up crowd, too big for two people.   I was looking for something the family could use, which is two adults and three small kids. I looked at a few 1.5L pots, some stainless steel but eventually felt more comfortable with this dandy of a pot. As mentioned above, I will likely only fill it to the 1.5L line, which allows for an inch in case the water boils, or if I'm stirring some food.

Read more: Snow Peak Titanium Cook & Save reviews (2)

MSR Quick 2 Pot Set

user rating: 5 of 5 (2 reviews)

All that I need from camping pots. They're very light, durable, non-stick, and compact—perfect kit from MSR!

Reasons to Buy

  • Lightweight
  • Durable
  • Non-stick
  • Smart compact design

Reasons to Avoid

  • Some plastic parts look flimsy

To be honest I never agreed with the idea of paying top dollar for a camping pot. I used to travel with a simple battered old aluminium pot I got for free with a van I bought while travelling in New Zealand. That pot served me for years, and it even had a lid you can lock to the pot. But every good thing comes to an end and I started to really worry about how much aluminium flakes I'm actually consuming with each meal :) Plus I really desired a non-stick cover to simplify the task of cleaning.

Read more: MSR Quick 2 Pot Set reviews (2)

Snow Peak Titanium Cook Set, 3Pcs

user rating: 5 of 5 (6 reviews)

Wonderful lightweight stove, a fast and light necessity for overnighters. Not meant for large meals.

Reasons to Buy

  • Small
  • Lightweight

Small and light are the two words to describe this set. Boil water, warm up some scrambled eggs. This cookset is very nice and will feed as many people as you would like, provided you have the patience for multiple boils. For my fast and light, I remove everything but the biggest pot and put my stove in it.   This set shoudl last you forever, cleans up easy, and looks very nice. I agree with the other reviewers, that the handle system is sufficiently durable and stable. Just don't expect this to perform like a calphalon pan.  

Read more: Snow Peak Titanium Cook Set, 3Pcs reviews (6)

Explore more top-rated pots and pans from Snow Peak:

MSR Alpine StowAway Pots

user rating: 4 of 5 (4 reviews)

Top non-titanium pot for the hiking, car camping, youth scout! Great two-person pot for backpacking trips and the locking lid is a great feature!

Reasons to Buy

  • Durable material (stainless steel)
  • Stowaway/locking lid
  • Open fire or stove ready due to steel
  • Locking handle (also see "Cons" for position of this locking mechanism)

Reasons to Avoid

  • Heavier weight (15.5 ounces)
  • Handle is smaller/leaner than seems necessary considering position of the handle locking mechanism

This a 2013 holiday gift, but I've used a friend's on several other occasions. My review is for the 1.1L (1100ml) StowAway pot.   The pot has a locking lid and the handle can snap down and lock on the side so you can lift up the pot with confidence.  I typically just heat up water and pour it into something else (freeze-dried meal, bowl with oatmeal, etc.).  This way my pot will stay clean and I can put my food containers hanging from a rope away from bears.  I usually keep a shammy to dry the inside off.

Read more: MSR Alpine StowAway Pots reviews (4)

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