Comments on: Cookware buying guide

By: Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101)

Knife Xpert 157 (aka Chad 101) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0000

Mountain House meals require only a pot to boil water and a spoon or fork.

By: T-Man

T-Man — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 10:13:24 +0000

I use some simple army mess tins and they are perfect.

By: Smitty

Smitty — Thu, 26 May 2011 23:58:57 +0000

Just use a pot nothing fancy

By: Sly Fox

Sly Fox — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 18:18:20 +0000

This topic seems to be the hardest for my new scouts to figure out. Through use, we have found the scout mess kit inaddiquite, it crimps in packs and the handle of the small pot tends to not be centered so items tip out and the pan handel can’t hold any real weight like hamburger w/o bending. Most of our scouts still wanting a mess kit use a military kit made of steel; they’re read good and often cheaper. Our older boys use Orikasu foldable meal kits. They lay flat in a back-pack, weigh almost nothing and clean real easy with a drop of camp suds. (I’ve had mine for 4 years now) For pots we carry the GSI 4 piece kit. They too clean up real easy and can handle campfire cooking. For messy cooking where pot cleaning might not be easy, we carry #10 food cans w/ bail wire attached for handles; once used, cut the bottom off, flatten and dispose of when possible. Since its been recycled, it’s also a green concept.
For silverware the light my fire unit gets an A+. We did break one once but the scout was at fault.
As always, try several items and then choose what’s best for you.

By: fluteman

fluteman — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 11:17:24 +0000

If you are camping in a stationary place, and not hiking or backpacking, cast iron cookware is the way to go. The initial investment you make will last you more than a lifetime, is nonstick and versatile.

By: monkeymann

monkeymann — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 19:43:43 +0000

WARNING!!! STAY AWAY FROM ALL TETHLON COOKWEAR BECAUSE OVERHEATED TETHLON CAN BE POISONUS!!!PLEASE RESEARCH THIS (BUT NOT FROM CAMPING COMPANYS BECAUSE THEY ARE THE ONES SELLING THEM!)
STAY WITH STAINLESS OR TITANIUM.

By: lemon head

lemon head — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 20:40:09 +0000

get coleman cookware its great

By: GEAR MAN

GEAR MAN — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:20:00 +0000

I love the GSI Pinnacle Soloist cookset. It is great for backpacking because it is so light and small, but it is just as tough as other base camp cookware. You can fit a small canister stove (and canister) in it. The lid is great because it has a strainer built into it, and it fits the small bowl/cup that the cookset comes with. And the stuff sack doubles as a washbasin.

By: GEAR MAN

GEAR MAN — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 23:58:34 +0000

GSI makes some cool cookware.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 05:21:30 +0000

stay away from allumiun it absorbs tatse and doesnt handle high heat well

By: LUMBERJACK

LUMBERJACK — Tue, 11 May 2010 22:16:31 +0000

fozzils are wishful thinking. ask anybody that owns them and they will tell you that you cant ever get oil or grease off them.
but thats cool if your a vegetarian I’m not one

By: Old Scout

Old Scout — Wed, 05 May 2010 20:24:16 +0000

great article, I carry a spoon,small pot, small titanium tea pot, Tupperware bowl with lid and a plastic mug. sometimes a Frisbee for a plate if more then myself will be eating out of my pot.

By: GEAR MAN

GEAR MAN — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 06:24:18 +0000

Mountain House and Backpacker’s Pantry have lots of meals that are very easy to cook, and are great for backpacking as well as regular camping.

By: GEAR MAN

GEAR MAN — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 03:52:56 +0000

If you have your own cookset, make sure you have some stuff to help with cleanup when you use them. A roll of paper towels, a steel wool scrubbie, and a dry cloth in a plastic baggie works well.

By the way, the steel wool scrubbie can be an emergency fire starter if you have a battery!

By: GEAR MAN

GEAR MAN — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 03:49:18 +0000

A Light My Fire spork is very good for any form of camping. I have ran mine over with a semi and it didn’t get a scratch!!!!!

By: GEAR MAN

GEAR MAN — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 03:46:49 +0000

Military mess-kits are very good for your personal eating kit. You can find them at any army-navy surplus store. They are very cheap and very durable. If you could use it in war, I think it can survive us boy scouts!!!!

By: lightmyfire

lightmyfire — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:35:10 +0000

the light my fire mess kit is the best its light durable and has everthing you need and is way better than the bsa metel one

By: whitennerdiest

whitennerdiest — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:47:48 +0000

I agree with Mountain Camper 201

By: AU FAN97

AU FAN97 — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:08:59 +0000

good guide very helpful

By: Mountain Camper 201

Mountain Camper 201 — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:03:25 +0000

The Cub Scout and Boy Scout aluminum Mess kit doesn’t require alot of room in the back pack, is durable enough to be cleaned using steel wool and hand wash dishwashing liquid, and may be adapted to itself to create a small single serving soup kettle, an aluminum skillet to fry sunfish and small carp on, and has a folding eight ounce aluminum drinking cup. The mess kit is a great item to cook with. All that is lacking from a complete backpacking kitchen are a quilted hot dish cloth to prevent burns from holding an aluminum skillet over a lit campfire and a backpacker’s cast iron skillet used to cook food and scare away wildlife who may be interested in whatever a person is preparing for a meal.