So you want to bring some of the comforts of home out into the wilderness. While you might not get the fine dining experience, backpacking cookware allows you to cook on a small camping stove or fire. Unless you plan on eating protein bars and sandwiches all weekend a cooking set is nearly a necessity. Luckily cooking sets are getting smaller and easier to use every year.
What’s The Best Backpacking Cookware Set?
1. Sea to Summit X-Set 31 5-Piece Pot Set
Notable Features:
- Lightweight and Durable Design
- Made out Of Ribbed Silicon With Hard Anodized Aluminum Base
- Folds Down into Nesting Pot Base
- Translucent Lid With Built in Strainer
The Sea to Summit X-31 Cookware set was built specifically with backpackers in mind. Designed to fold flat and rest on the bottom of your hiking backpack. This 5-Piece Cooking system uses food grade silicon walls to keep your food warm and secure while allowing for easy storage. With a 2.8L cookpot 2 bowls and 2 mugs this is the perfect cookware set for 2. If you plan on spending a lot of time in the woods this lightweight option is well worth its high price tag.
2. GSI Outdoors Nesting Cook Set
Notable Features:
- Perfect For The Entire Family
- Durable and Long Lasting
- Heavy Duty Design
If you are a little sketched out by the idea of cooking on a silicon pot the GSI Outdoors cook Set is another great option. It’s the perfect set for the entire family featuring a 3-liter pot/lid strainer, 2-liter pot/lid, 9” frypan, four insulated mugs, four bowls, four plates, and a stuff sack/welded sink. All of this equipment fits securely into the crush proof 3 liter pot. With secure handles and heavy duty construction this cookware set is well worth the high price tag.
3. MSR Quick 2 Cooking System
Notable Features:
- Hard Anodized Aluminum Construction
- Ultra Light Design
- 2.5L and 1.5L Cooking Pot
MSR Quick 2 System is a compact cooking solution designed for 2 people. All of the cooking equipment is made of a hard anodized aluminum to minimize weight. The set comes with a 2.5L Pot, 1.5L Pot and 2 Plates and Insulated mugs. MSR designed this set to be the go to solution for a wide range of backcountry meals.
4. GSI Outdoors Halulite Microdualist Cookset for Two
Notable Features:
- Moderately Priced 2 Person Cooking Set
- Fits into a Small Convenient Package
- Includes a Sip Through Lid To Eliminate Spills
- Conducts Heat Better Than Competition
GSI Outdoors designed their Halulite Microdualist cooking set to minimize the footprint in your cooking setup. By using the highly conductive Halulite metal GSI was able to reduce the amount of fuel needed to cook. When finished cooking everything nests neatly into the 1.4 Liter Cooking Pot. If you are looking for a two piece cooking set you should definitely consider the Halulite Microdualist.
5. Coleman Rugged 6-Piece Family Cookset
Notable Features:
- Nesting Design
- NonStick Coating
- Rugged Construction
There’s a reason Coleman has long been touted as the camping industry king. Their rugged 6 piece family cookset is a convenient and affordable solution for all your cooking needs. With sturdy construction 2 stockpots and a frying pan this set has everything you need to cook a family’s dinner. Just remember to pack a set of compact plates and cups.
6. Stanley Adventure Base 4X Camp Cook Set
Notable Features:
- Stainless Steel Construction
- Includes A Cooking Pots and Frying Pan
- Nesting System Saves Space
- Includes Utensils,Cutting Board and Strainer
Stanley’s Adventure Base Camp Cook set is one of the most comprehensive cooking sets on the market. With heavy duty stainless steel construction you won’t have to worry about damaging your cooking equipment. With a little bit of everything this cooking set has everything needed to cook for a family of 4.
7. MalloMe 1 Liter Camping Cookware Mess Kit
Notable Features:
- Affordably Priced Cooking Set
- Includes Frying Pan and Pot
- Serving Utensils
- 2 BPA Free Bowls and Spork
Why spend a small fortune when you don’t have to. The affordably priced MalloMe cookset is one of the most purchased items in the camping industry. With it’s lightweight design and small footprint you can’t go wrong with this cooking set.
8. Stanley Mountain Compact Stainless Steel Cook Set
Notable Features:
- Mug/Bowl Design
- Cook For 1 Person
- Includes Nesting Pot/vented lid, mug/bowl and folding spork
If you are going out into the woods on your own or simply want to cook small portions the Mountain Compact Cook Set is a great option. When nestled together this cook set is about the size of a large coffee mug. Everything including your fuel canister stows neatly in this lightweight package.
9. Terra Hiker Camping Nonstick Cookware Set
Notable Features:
- Includes Pot, Pan and Teapot
- Nonstick Cooking Surfaces
- Includes Serving Utensils and Bowl
Terra Hikers cookware set is another affordable solution for campers and backpackers. It’s one of the few cookware sets that include a nesting teapot to allow you to easily boil water. With everything included from cooking to serving this is a great low cost option.
10. Gold Armour 17Pcs Camping Cookware Mess Kit With Stove
Notable Features:
- Includes a Pan and Pot
- Bowls and Silverware for 2
- Compact Propane Stove included
The Gold Armour Cookware set has just about everything a pair of people would need to cook. With an additional propane canister you’ll be off cooking in no time. This is one of the few cookware sets that include a portable camping stove.
Choosing The Best Camping Cookware Set
It really isn’t difficult to find a cookware set for your next camping or hiking trip. With multiple options on the market choosing a set will likely come down to these four main Components.
Portability: The main component of all great backpacking or hiking gear is portability. Without a lightweight and compact package you aren’t going to want to carry it into the field. The most compact option would be the Sea to Summit X Pot Set. With its fully collapsible design and silicon construction this set is both lightweight and portable. Other great lightweight options are aluminum and stainless steel construction.
Durability: If you plan on camping frequently there’s no question about it you want a stainless steel cooking set. Stainless steel sets weigh a little bit more than aluminum sets, but they are much stronger. With complete resistance to rust and corrosion you can’t go wrong with a stainless steel set.
Group Size: You’re really going to need to figure out an approximate group size for the majority of your camping trips. While it might seem like a good idea to clean and reuse equipment made for small groups. It will be a serious pain in the butt to clean up and make back to back meals. Unless I’m planning a long distance trip requiring extremely lightweight gear I always plan on bringing a 4 person cook set.
Easy Clean Up: Cleanup is one of the often neglected components of a good camping trip. One of the first things on my camping checklist is a small bottle of dish soap. You’re going to want to buy no stick cookware that can be easily cleaned up without much fuss.