Last Updated on August 2, 2023 by Dean Anderson
There are a lot of little elements that, when they go wrong, can ruin a camping experience or backpacking trip.
Eating is an important part of camping, and being unable to prepare your food can most definitely bring an early end to any trip. Outdoor cooking equipment is going to play a key role in how reliably you can do just that. So, we’re going to look for the best camping cookware on the market. We’ll try and help you realize what you need from them, and which Is the perfect option for you.
What you want from your camping cook set
We’re going to judge the following products on what qualities you should hope to expect from any camping cook set you buy. Beyond the simple features like how many pieces you get per set and what materials they’re made out of, we’re going to look at their real value.
Non-stick coating, how well they conduct heat, how easy they are to clean; these are all factors that will dictate how usable your cookware is with a modern camping stove for instance.
How long they last and how prone they are to damage can make a set much more reliable or it can make them a waste of money after one trip.
Finally, we’re going to look at what unique advantages one set might have over the others and which kind of people they might be best suited to. Some might be better suited to campers than backpackers, for instance.
1. Winterial Camping Cookware and Pot Set 10 Piece Set For Camping / Backpacking / Hiking / Trekking – Cheap and light camping pans
Our first competitor is the Winterial Camping Cookware and Pot Set. This is a collection of eleven different items. It includes two large pots with lids, a frying pan, a tea kettle, a ladle, a bowl, one serving spoon, a cleaning sponge and a bag to carry it all in.
The Winterial is the lightest of the 3 sets on test
Altogether, it weighs 1.5lbs and takes up 3.5’’ x 6.75’’ of space, the lightest of these three sets. All cooking pieces are made of aluminum oxide with a non-stick Teflon coating. It’s the least expensive item we looked at by a significant margin, close to half the price of the GSI Outdoors kit.
Pros
- Coated with high-quality nonstick Teflon.
- All pots and containers are easy-to-clean
- Lightweight, compact, and easy to pack away
- Due to ease of use, it’s a great choice for backpackers, hikers, and trekkers
- Aluminum oxide material means it resists rust, dents, and scratches
- Great value for what you get, includes a few nice extras like carrying bag and sponge
Cons
- Not as good for larger camping excursions of more than three people.
- Teflon causes a few issues, such as being unable to use metal scrubbing cloths and having to be careful with high-temperatures
- Handles get very hot if exposed to direct heat, so it’s only suited for small flames
- Aluminum oxide, while full of advantages, does take quite some time to heat up
- With only one bowl and one spoon, you’re going to need some extras if you’re travelling as a duo
The conclusion
The Winterial collection makes a great, low-budget choice for those on more active trips involving one or two people.
It’s good value for money, with enough cookware to keep any trip well fed. The small size and lightweight qualities make it perfect for hiking or backpacking, where every square inch of space counts. However, that strength is also a weakness. The pots are just about large enough to cook for one or two people, certainly no more.
Though it takes a little while to heat up, aluminum oxide is a great material for carrying heat and will cook/boil anything you want it to.
2. MSR Quick 2 System – Decent set of outdoor cooking pots that can be used over the fire too
Our second competitor is the most expensive. The MRS Quick 2 System which sets the price midpoint for our comparison.
There are two pots here of different sizes, a strainer lid, two deep dish plates, two stainless steel mugs, and one Talon pot handle. That’s eight pieces in total, two less than the Winterial.
When it’s all put together, it weighs 1.95lbs and takes up 6’’ x 9’’ inches in space, meaning it’s also somewhat bigger and somewhat heavier.
Good quality stainless steel mugs
The cookware is aluminum oxide (packaged with the alternative name: hard-anodized aluminum) while the mugs are stainless steel. One of the pots (the smaller of the two) has a non-stick coating, while the other does not.
Pros
- Mugs make a great addition
- The larger size makes it a better option for bigger groups
- Despite the size, it still fits together well to make a compact package
- Aluminum oxide carries the same resilience and heat-conducting advantages as the Winterial set
- Stainless steel, on the other hand, is a great material for the mugs which do well as retaining the heat of any drink
- The choice of both stick and nonstick pots offer some options
- While not as light as the Winterial set, it’s still lightweight and compact enough to make a solid choice for both camping and hiking trips
Cons
- Aluminum oxide and Teflon coating has the same disadvantages as named in the Winterial set
- Not as light, so it might not be suited for long journeys that require a great deal of endurance
- A higher cost for fewer items, even though they are bigger
- The lid only fits the bigger pot, meaning options with the smaller pot are limited
- While an option, the smaller pot without nonstick can require a little extra effort to clean
The conclusion
As they are significantly larger, though there are less of them,the MRS set is clearly designed for more people. Though it still accommodates hiking and backpacking as opposed to just camping.
The fact it can be cooked over a larger fire offers it an advantage over the Winterial set and the mugs are a solid addition. However, when it comes to value for money, it’s hard to justify paying more for a set that doesn’t have as many items, especially the bag and sponge of the Winterial set which are great for utility.
3. GSI Outdoors – Bugaboo Base Camper, Superior Backcountry Cookware Since 1985 – The best quality but at twice the price it’s not the best camping cookware here in terms of value
Finally, we’re looking at the GSI Outdoors Bugaloo Base Camper. Of the different options available, we’re looking at the medium set.
All sets contain the same pieces, just in different sizes so you can go large or small if you want. There are eight pieces in total, including two different sized pots, a frying pan, two nylon strainer lids, a cutting board, a folding pot handle and a stuff/sink sack.
Non stick as standard and generally made of better quality materials
All cookware is non-stick thanks to the Teflon Classic coating and is made of aluminum. The lids and handles are made of heat-resistant material, however. Altogether, it’s the most expensive item we looked at, costing around double the price of the Winterial set. It’s also the heaviest, weighing 2.95lbs and when put together, taking up 5.4 x 9.1 inches of space.
Pros
- Sturdiest and most resilient of the lot
- Again, the same heat-conducting and material quality benefits of aluminum oxide and Teflon coating
- Lacks the hot handle issues of the others heat-resistant material on both them and the lids
- Different size options with different price points allow some flexibility depending on the size of the group
- Chopping board is a great addition, making food prep easier
- Combined with the nonstick purposes, time spent around the pot is reduced significantly
Cons
- Aluminum oxide and Teflon have the same issues as with the other sets
- The cost is a concern, as all three options are more expensive than both other products
- Much heavier than both the other competitors, even though it’s not particularly bigger than the MRS set
- Better suited for camping, not for backpacking, but still convenient enough to pack and transport via car
The conclusion
The priciest, heaviest, and largest of the lot, the GSI Outdoors kit is the highest quality set with plenty of options and a few advantages over its competitors in terms of convenience. However, that alone isn’t enough to justify the fact it costs double the price of the Winterial set.
It is uniquely suited, however, for larger gatherings, with the ability to cook multiple pots and pans at once. If you’re inviting the extended family to camp with you and you’re sleeping not too far from the car, then it might be worth considering. Otherwise, it’s hard to see why you would choose this over the other sets.
The winner of the best camping cookware review is…
The best camping cookware your money can buy is the Winterial set. For backpackers, it’s easily the best choice given how compact and light it is. It might not be the best suited for larger camping groups, in which case you might want to look at the MRS Quick 2 System but for all others, the cost-effectiveness alone makes it the most attractive package to us.
On the other hand, the GSI Outdoors is a quality cooking kit, it just doesn’t justify the price hike over the others. They all have the same flaws and the same strengths in terms of material, so it’s about thinking of the size of the group and how mobile you need your cook kit to be.
Eight years ago, I took a risk and left a miserable office job to follow a lifestyle career that involved my love for the great outdoors. I’ve taken my love for camping, hiking and travel to the next level by running my small campground with a friend near Portland, Oregon. It’s for way less money but this has truly been a dream come true and the running involves lots of family and friends.
The next evolution of that was to get online and start allcampingstuff.com. At our campground, I spend a lot of time setting up camping equipment for customers and disposing of the garbage products they leave behind. If I can help just a few people with advice on good camping gear, then this website venture will be worth it.
So, if you want to avoid the duds and spend your money wisely you’ve hopefully come to the right place.
